Trip Report Hedo 2 June 8-17  

Let me preface this by saying that this was my fourth trip and overall this has been my hardest trip report to write.  It took me a full two weeks to recover from this trip and I have been suffering from a severe case of DIF.  My attention span has been non-existent.  All I think about is getting back.  After my first trip I could not conceive how anything could have gotten better, but it has. (OK so my third trip was just super, but this last trip tops all.)  

I didnt plan it this way I think it was just a combination of my work and school schedule but this trip occurred roughly the same week as my first trip in 1999.  I was dumbfounded by the number of repeaters people that go the same week each year.  There were at least a dozen couples that were there the same time as my first trip.  Not only was it like I was coming home, I was coming home to a house full of old friends.  

I booked 10 days this trip.  From the time the plane took off till my second or third day I wondered if I would last the whole time.  I wondered if I could pace myself.  Oh well, I figured if I started to burn out or get bored, I would come back early, or ask to be transferred to H3 for a few days.  Those thoughts quickly flew out the window, as each day got better and was more intense than the last.  

My basic strategy was to get up at a decent hour, hang out on the beach, do the 11am scuba trip, then pace myself through the afternoon in preparation for the late nights.  I knew from past experience that I would be clothed only a few hours each day and usually get about 3-4 hours sleep each night.  I eat most meals in the dining room as it helps to break up the activities.  The only other activity that I planned was the catamaran cruise on Tuesday.  I purposely didnt do the cruise on the weekend, because I wanted to watch the turn-over of arrivals and departures.  

I met three very cool people on the bus ride in that I saw on and off the whole week.  As far as the road goes I think it was actually worse this trip than all others.  There were several areas where rock slides or piles blocked the road.  Still, I will do the bus in the future.  Somehow I feel closer to the people of Jamaica doing the bus.  

Check-in was a breeze and I headed into the dining area for lunch.  Before I even got to the buffet I ran into a couple that I had corresponded with before leaving.  I was not previously aware, but it was her birthday.  What a great place to spend your birthday!!!  Another couple that I had corresponded with since my first trip joined us for lunch.  What a welcoming committee!!  These two couples became a big part of my days there and a tear still comes to my eyes when I think of them leaving before me.  

Early in the week we quickly learned how easy it was to pick up Hedobucks and have fun playing volleyball.  The early games started as fun, but always ended up surprisingly close.  As the week went on things got more serious and competitive.  

So each day was basically similar, although they were never ordinary.  Coffee and fruit on the beach in the morning, beach, scuba, beach, play in the pool, volleyball, more beach and pool, jerk chicken and hot tub, dinner and a show, dancing in the disco, and back to the hot tub till 3 or 3:30.  

There was always something interesting going on in the pool in the afternoon.  In fact, by mid week there were some interesting pool games going on between a few key couples.  We got to know each other really well, really fast!  (If you know what I mean.)  One afternoon there was a bachelor/bachelorette party, one day muff diving record attempts and ring toss, another day there were body shots, and another day there were motor boat races where one half of a couple would lay on a float and the other half of the couple would position themselves between their mates legs performing oral exercises while kicking their way across the pool.  I brought some pool toys including a small wind-up fish that drew lots of attention.  The fish was a hit in the pool and hot tub.  I think he got kidnapped and is now living very happily in Tampa.  Things got more and more intense as the week went on to the point where I sat at dinner Saturday spacing out, amazed at what the past few days had brought.  It was that high that I spend days (2 weeks) recuperating from.  

The PJ party was outrageous.  There is a new policy of no cameras in the disco on PJ night.  Basically I think that this is a good idea, although I won first place for Most Funky with my Long Dong outfit, and would have liked to have a picture since I am retiring the outfit.  Still I respect other peoples privacy.  

The catamaran cruise had an unusually good group this trip.  I think that going on Tuesday helped as there were already a few key groups of people.  The snorkeling was almost as exciting as the scuba trips and was worth the price of the trip itself.  Right after the snorkeling I had a very strange incident of dj vu.  It hit me that the trip goes to the Pickled Parrot.  Why that did not dawn on me before is beyond me.  Maybe I blacked it out.  You see I have a history of jumping off the high cliff.  I dont know why.  It is not a macho thing for me.  My girlfriend thinks its insanityI decided to stay sober this trip and see if I still felt so inclined.  Not only did I do it, but it is even more intense when you are straight.  

There has been a high turnover in the entertainment staff and they dont seem to have it down yet.  They were almost unseen during the week, except for Entice who was frequently in the pool hitting on the women (and I dont mean playfully hitting on them).  Sometimes someone would have to go find them to remind them that an activity was planned.  In the disco at night they would frequently entertain themselves excluding the paying customers.  Still they seem young, attractive, and personable (especially Diva and Angel).  Perhaps with time they will become more focused on the paying customers.  

There are still a lot of random thoughts that are going through my mind about the trip, that are hard to put in paragraph form.  So here is a list of Highs, Lows, and Good Ideas.  

Highs:

-First the people that you meet at Hedo are the best!  There is just no way to explain it!

-There is something intoxicating about just being there.

-Running into someone from my first trip and hearing, Bubba, is that you? the rest of the week. No one calls me Bubba, but I loved hearing it.

-What is it with chiropractors?

-Augustus greeting me each morning with a good hearted teasing, John, where is the lady?

-Nude volleyball.

-Ah! Wine and cheese with meals!

-Awesome coffee!

-Free scuba and small groups who know each others abilities and pace. George (Color Negril) and the scuba staff are awesome.

-I learned a new word for Belgian girls, Wow!

-Mid-day grilled cheese and french-fries!

-Bringing home bottles of Appleton!  

Lows:

-Down time for the pool and hot tub.

-What no towels?

-No sheets for toga?!? Take one off the bed!

-The damn maid helped herself to a Leatherman pocket tool out of my dresser drawer the second day! Lock up all valuables in the safe!

-Creepy Dude/David.  This wanker gave new definition to creepy.  His exploits in the pool and hot tub were unacceptable and he drew several complaints (first to him and then to security) without results.  Vinnies and Wallies always get lots of bad PR, but this guy reached a new low.  There were a few girls that were equally disrespectful.

-Having to say Good bye to people leaving before you, or walking them to the bus. (This is more sublime than bad)

-Meeting very cool people the last two days of your trip. (Sublime)

-Bar service in the disco sucks.  There are usually 3 bartenders and you still have to wait forever. They will frequently spend time chatting amongst themselves ignoring the 6-7 people waiting.

-No lobster night and almost no fish at the grill this time.  

Good Ideas:

-Take toys! Pool toys, Toga toys, Sex toys.  Dont be embarrassed. If you think you will be embarrassed, dont worry.  Someone will have brought something more bizarre that you.

-Take a 1 Liter Nalgene for drinks in the hot tub at night.

-Talk to anybody and everybody.  I have become a better person and my attitude towards others has changed because I have met so many amazing people at Hedo. Sit with different people at meals. Dont be shy.

-Try different activities and dont think twice (unless you run the risk of disrespecting someone) about doing it. You can bet that yours will not be the worst body out there for things like body painting, the Bodies in Motion, or Wet T-Shirt Contests.

John