trip report / july fourth, twenty-fourteen

[*vi*]

It' great to hear your trip report from Negril, I'm living vicariously through your trip report. I spent a lot of time at Bourbon Reach on my last reach, I found it more comfortable when I was accompanied with someone. While there alone the men tend to be total pest, pestier than the bug that was trying to use your body as a bed. By the way the color and design of that bug was beautiful, if it was an outfit I would definitely wear it. Too bad On the Rocks doesn't have parties there any longer. I went a couple of times and enjoyed my time there. I have heard a lot about Just Natural but never ate there, I'll make it my business to check them out on my next reach.

LOL Butterfly about those bugs!!! Yes, do check out Just Natural. I probably didn't get hassled at Bourbon Beach because I was never alone. But I was ready for the pests if they zoomed in on me.

[*vi*]

Just finished reading your whole adventure Vi thank you so much for taking the time to post it. Love your insight and pictures.

THANKS for reading the report newfiegirl. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[*vi*]

Paid and thanked Miss Theresa for the delicious meal and superb hospitality then made my way outside. Mr. B (Drivah B) was there to meet me and held the door open as I slid my over-stuffed body inside.

“Thank you for waiting.”
“You enjoy the meal?”
“Yes, it was good. You weren’t hungry?”
“I don’t eat at those places. I go to certain cook shops for soup or fish or I cook myself. What did you have?”
“Lobster.”
“I fix lobster any way you want it. Curry lobster. Lobster thermidor. Garlic lobster. Grilled…I prefer to grill lobster. You like conch?”
“I love conch.”
Where do you want to go now?”
“I don’t know. I guess somewhere on the beach. Do you drink?”
“Yes.”
“Want to join me for a drink?”
“Yes, I would like that. Can I choose the place?”
“Sure.”
“A local place up the road.”

We pull up to the side of a tiny shop. The inside was only large enough for 3 maybe four people. I stood outside the door peeking in. Two women, drenched from sweat, were behind the counter waiting on the stream of people shouting their needs and passing money.

“What do you drink, Vi?”
“Rum.”
“Me too. White or red?”
“Either.”
“I only drink white rum but will get whatever you want.”
“No…no, white is fine with me.”

I watched Mr. B dash inside, deliver his request over the other shouting customers them come out with a half pint of JB overproof, a bottle of water to chase along with two cups of ice. I take one of the iced filled cups and follow him to the front of the shop away from the small crowd waiting their opportunity to squeeze inside.

I hear music! Nice old school roots. Excellent sound, loud but not thunderous to where you don’t understand the words or can’t carry on a conversation. He twists the cap off the small glass bottle and pours the rum in my cup. Then came the water, but not too much I instructed. I waited until his cup was filled before taking a sip. An instant smile came over my face as that first swallow of rum traveled through my body.

Four domino games were in progress within the small enclosure in the front of the shop. Words and laughter could be heard over the slam of the oblong, cream-colored tiles hitting the wood tables. A faint cloud of smoke stayed suspended in the air completing the scene.

We didn’t talk. I’m sure he was giving me time to take it all it. I think something from King Yellowman was playing. I’m probably wrong because you don’t hear a lot of his music these days. But the voice reminded me of his.

No one cared who I was. I felt welcomed yet loved being ignored.

By my third sip I was rocking to the beat of each song and locking onto the pulse of the action. I took out my camera threatening to take pictures; no on second thought I want videos…more than one. I was dying to record it all and bring this visual and feeling back with me. The overproof was giving me some courage, but not enough. I snapped three shots then turned the camera off.

Mr. B came over and took the camera from me.

“You can take pictures, Vi.”
“I didn’t feel comfortable. But what I really wanted was video.”
“Set it up for video. I’ll do it.”

Camera turned back on and set to video, he presses “rec” like I showed him then walked about without objection. I stood watching quietly as he captured memories I will treasure forever.

JAMAICA! JAH-MAAAY-KA!!
JAMAICA! JAH-MAAAY-KA!!
yesss sar, dis is what it’s hall about!!!!

“Now you.”
“Now me what???!!” I take a sip waiting to hear what he had in mind.
“You get in the video. Step in the shop. Walk to the window.”
“Okay!!...No I can’t.” I looked around and saw a clear path. All of a sudden I liked the idea and cooperated.”

“Go in further. Go into the light.”

I stepped carefully across the uneven ground giggling all the way to the little window. Turned to face the camera and saying to myself, this is so not like me. Still giggling, I make my way back towards the door like a wannabee movie star.

Get this…I never look at the video just loved it happened.

It started to drizzle…I wasn’t ready to go. “Let’s stand to the side.” “No, Vi. Let’s go somewhere else. You want to go have a drink beachside?”

“Yes!”

[TAH]

Strike while the iron is hot.
Looks like traffic will be picking up in this thread now that you're famous!

[*vi*]

lol TAH!!!!!! I don't want to be famous...I just want to put the spotlight pon JAMAICA!!!!!!

[*vi*]

I nurse the rest of my rum & water (ice melted) as we leave the westend and enter the beach road. I was looking forward to a fresh drink and a quiet place to chat. Mr. B just drove.

The phone rings. I see it’s Drivah A. He wants me to ride with him and continue hanging out when he’s finished working. I said to myself, why on earth would I leave this perfect night to simply “hang”??

“No darlin. But thanks for thinking about me.”
“No problem. You still need me to take you to the airport?”
“Airport?? No, not the airport I need you to take me to the bus. Remember?”
“That’s right. What time?”
“Can I call you back tomorrow with the time?”
“No problem. But listen, can you keep tomorrow night open for me?”
“umm yeah, sure.”

Mr. B turns onto Alfred’s lot.

Only a handful of people were at the bar when we came through the path. A nice comfortable sort but they look like they were about to leave. We sat and ordered drinks. Mr. B got pineapple juice & rum. I got tonic water & rum.

Mine was strong so I knew one was going to be enough.

We talked…asking each other “getting-to-know-you questions Part 2”. Deeper questions than what was discussed at On the Rocks. I liked his company more and more but wasn’t going to rush anything or read anything into his attention towards me.

I took a picture of our drinks and discovered the camera was still set to video. I turned the dial setting but couldn’t see which one I landed on so I set it down to look for my glasses. Mr. B picks it up and starts taking pictures. I nixed looking for the glasses and went back to my drink.

I was feeling good.

Mr. B looked puzzled. He didn’t like how the photos were looking. We took a couple together. Just goofing off. Again, he said something is not right. I looked at them.

“They look fine to me. Lift the flash.”

He did. Two more pictures but was still dissatisfied so he turned it off and sat it next to me.

We finished our drinks and he took me to my place. I got his number and said I would call him in the morning to take me to breakfast. He said he will be available. We said good night and I staggered to my room.

Freshened up a little, I crawled into bed and do what I do at the end of every night in Jamaica…I look at my pictures from the day.

I get to the ones that were taken at Alfreds and start laughing hard out loud. I discovered why Mr. B was so unhappy with the pictures he took. I accidently put the setting on fish-eye effect.

LOL

This is what our drinks looked like…you can only imagine how stupid our faces looked. And I was too blind and too drunk to see the problem. Yeap I was feeling gooooooood!





Good night Jamaica

[sher]

Vi, I'm loving your report! It's like I'm right there with you. I was just in Negril two weeks ago but it feels like an eternity since I was there! More please!

[JitterBug]

just to get our imagination . . . "tantalizing" . . .

[butterfly]

Your definitely my kind of girl, I love the way you vacation. Time to be alone, and learn yourself and get familiar with your inner self. The beautiful nature of Jamaica make for a perfect place to do just that. I enjoy time alone, not mistaking that I am in any way lonely. I also enjoy good company, it deters the hustlers and undesirables.

[Schuttzie]

Oh, too funny about the fish eye pictures, lol! Sounds like you were very relaxed and having a great time