Jamaica

[bremerial]

Had a vacation in Jamaica recently. If you've never been, I'd recommend going to Negril. The people are wonderful, the country beautiful and the beaches fantastic. I'd say that at the hotel we stayed at - Riu Negril Clubhouse - the amount of Americans equalled the number of Brits and I made some good friends from Atlanta and New Jersey. The currency I used was US dollar which was fine for all but the remotest area. Highlights of the tour were walking up waterfalls, quad biking through the country and swimming with dolphins.

I am planning to return next year. Just wondered if anyone has been to any other part of Jamaica that they'd recommend. I want to squeeze in as much as I can in 2015.

[Methais]

How was the weed?

[bremerial]

How was the weed?

Haha Funny you should ask.
Went on what can only be described as a 'party boat' and there was a lot of smoking going on. But didn't indulge. Never needed artificial stimulants to make me as mad as a box of frogs! (..uhh with the exception of coffee perhaps)

Lets just say there was no restriction for those who wanted to partake.

[Ker_Thwap]

I suspect you may have found the only part of Jamaica that wasn't nasty.

My friend recently visited on a cruise boat, which of course is the worst possible scenario for visiting the islands. She wasn't happy with the cleanliness, the beggars, the con men, etc. She's not really a high brow, pearl clutching person either, so it had to have been pretty bad. Everything else I've heard is really dated, so I won't convey those horror stories.

[Latrinsorm]

I suspect you may have found the only part of Jamaica that wasn't nasty.

My friend recently visited on a cruise boat, which of course is the worst possible scenario for visiting the islands. She wasn't happy with the cleanliness, the beggars, the con men, etc. She's not really a high brow, pearl clutching person either, so it had to have been pretty bad. Everything else I've heard is really dated, so I won't convey those horror stories.She did make friends with someone from NEW JERSEY, so she must have a pretty high tolerance in general.

[bremerial]

I suspect you may have found the only part of Jamaica that wasn't nasty.

My friend recently visited on a cruise boat, which of course is the worst possible scenario for visiting the islands. She wasn't happy with the cleanliness, the beggars, the con men, etc. She's not really a high brow, pearl clutching person either, so it had to have been pretty bad. Everything else I've heard is really dated, so I won't convey those horror stories.

I actually met a few people from boats who were island hopping and some expressed the same thing. I think basically you have to be on the island for more than a day to see the beauty. I was lucky to be there for a week. Admittedly I was staying in a 4 star hotel and had a nannying travel rep shepherding us.

There is a LOT of poverty there. I think our guide demonstrated it well by showing us a shack that looked like a beach hut and telling us that a family of 7 lived there. My garden shed is bigger than that! But conversely, there is a lot of wealth there too...admittedly, like most countries, the wealth was in the hands of the few. It is amazing how many millionaires have mansions on the island. Didn't get close to Oprah Winfreys home alas but it would have been great to see.

There did seem to be people trying to get me to tip them at every turn and buy stuff I didn't want to buy; but that was no worse than Hong Kong, Singapore or Thailand. Well, actually, possibly a little worse..haha.

I confess I went with some stereotypical views. But I found a people who were laid back, generous of spirit and genuinely warm and friendly. My visit was perhaps a touristy, sanitised version of a Jamaican odyssey, but I found it to be fantastic.

Of course my view might change next year :D[/quote]


She did make friends with someone from NEW JERSEY, so she must have a pretty high tolerance in general.

The friend from New joyzee was Hispanic, young, gorgeous and more interested in my 19 year old busty niece who travelled with me. Bah! The moral is, always go on holiday with someone older and uglier than you are if you want a fling! We still keep in touch by email though. I'm not too proud to have my niece's leftovers - hehe

[Gelston]

Did you go to Hell?

[bremerial]

Did you go to Hell?

Hehe. No. I think that place is in the Cayman Islands. We stayed in Jamaica.

[loxe]

I recommend taking the Appleton estate rum distillery tour. Did you jump from the cliffs at ricks.? I did the 40' level jump. Jamaicans treat people the way they are treated. With only a very few exceptions if you politely say no thank you they will leave you alone. If you say maybe later then they will wait for you to come back and bug you till you do buy something because you said later. And Jamaican rum is one of the hand full of rums made today that is pure distilled spirit with no sugars and additives to make it drinkable. Appleton extra (12) year is one of the best sipping rums in the world.

[Gelston]

Rum, just by being rum, is made with sugarcane. If it isn't distilled with sugarcane or sugarcane byproducts, it isn't rum.

[JackWhisper]

Don't argue with Gelston about his alcohol. He knows his booze! He painted his Avatar while TOTALLY bashed on moonshine, even!

[bremerial]

Our family is one that has the same alcohol in the cocktail cabinet for years. We just don't drink. Well not the oldies at least. My nephew and niece are at Uni and drink like someone told them that the world will run out of alcohol tomorrow! :D

I did the Appleton tour and the rum sampling. Just about knocked me off my feet that stuff. Wowzer! And did go to Rick's cafe but didn't jump at all. I'd twisted my ankle badly walking up Dunn's River Falls and was too afraid about the further damage I might do to it jumping in.

Loxe, I should have spoken to you before I went. I made the mistake of saying to a few people at the beginning 'maybe later' as a polite way of saying no. And they were waiting for me when I came out of venues. When I gave a clear cut - but smiling and polite - no towards the end of my time there, then then that was accepted as a no. Being straight forward helps!

Gelston, I bow to your superior knowledge of rum. :worship::worship: :D All I know is what I learned on the Appleton Estate tour

[loxe]

Gelston while corrrect about what rum is..but the trouble is currently there is a big contravercy right now because several premium rum producers (with premium priced products) have been discovered to be doctoring their product after it has been distilled and barrel aged by adding sugar and other additives to the product before it is bottled making it seem as though their rum is much smoother than it really is. Appleton rum does not do this and what you get in the bottle is what came from the cask, pure rum.

[bremerial]

I was actually quite surprised to find that the color of the rum comes from the wood. The rum evaporates naturally in the casks, but the longer you leave it in the cask the better/smoother the flavor. The price of the most expensive rum is proportionate to its rarity.

That's my lay persons understanding anyway.

[Androidpk]

You'll drink Jamaican rum but won't try out Jamaican reefer :/

[Gelston]

You'll drink Jamaican rum but won't try out Jamaican reefer :/

Because she isn't a dirty hippie.

[Androidpk]

Because she isn't a dirty hippie.

I'm not a hippie either.

[Gelston]

I'm not a hippie either.

All pot smokers are hippies. They may try to disguise themselves as other things, but it is truth.

[Androidpk]

All pot smokers are hippies. They may try to disguise themselves as other things, but it is truth.

I'd rather be a hippie than a redneck, redneck!

[Gelston]

I'd rather be a hippie than a redneck, redneck!

I sure as hell wouldn't.

[Androidpk]

http://sharineh.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/redneck.jpg?w=480

[Gelston]

Yep. Better than a dirty hippie.

[Androidpk]

Yep. Better than a dirty hippie.

You're calling Nick Offerman a dirty hippy. That's borderline treasonous!