Reggaewoman's 5th trip to Hedo II - Feb 2nd thru 6th, 2002
I decided I would try something different this trip, splitting my time between Hedo (first 4 nights) and Legends, a smaller hotel on Negril's 7 mile beach the last 4 nights. As my screenname implies, I love reggae music, actually I love that and pretty much everything else about Jamaica including the laid back atmosphere of Negril. I chose this week because there was supposed to be big name music acts in Negril for several nights in celebration of Bob Marley's birthday. But, in true Jamaican style it got changed at the last minute to another location, Nine Miles, which is hours away. I gave myself a minute to pout about this and then got over it. I was lucky enough to be going to Negril/Hedo and I planned to enjoy it!
I took AJ from Ohare. I was sitting next to a couple (J&L) who asked where I was going and I said Negril. (I'm so tired of being looked at like I'm some kind of slut if I say Hedonism, so that's why I just said Negril). I asked where they were going and they said Hedonism! Oh, so am I! says me. They turned out to be a fantastic and VERY fun couple (they won lots of contests, including her for best fake orgasm) and I really enjoyed the time I spent with them. He was a scuba diver so that was great too.
Everything went really fast at Sangster as far as immigration and customs. You can really tell that tourism is down. It should have been busy that time of year. [Do THEY know how much they have hurt countries like Jamaica that depend on US tourism dollars]?
Took the bus in with about a dozen people going to Hedo. There was a couple on the bus, J & S, who recognized me from visitor list corresponding. J had done some pre-trip organizing of people from Denny's visitor's list arranging for us to meet for dinner the first night. I have to say this meant alot to me. Although I'm brave enough to travel alone, sometimes it can be really difficult to go to dinner. That may sound silly, I'm sure people think there are a lot more things to be concerned about as a solo woman traveler than going to dinner, but dining alone is the one thing that makes me think twice about traveling solo. So J, if you are reading this, I want you to know, that I must have been having a particularly tough night or just tired from my trip, but in any case, I dont think I could have left my room that first night if it werent for you arranging that get-together. Thank You so much for taking the time to organize that! I had such a nice time and everyone was so friendly.
Later, I went to Veronica's with J&L. I find the piano bar entertaining as long as Dave is singing. Once everyone else starts singing, I leave. Rarely have I heard anyone with a good voice and I would prefer if the songbook had more songs by Piano players like Stevie Wonder (including of course "Boogie On Reggaewoman", which by the way has lyrics about being nude so that would fit right in w/Hedo -hell, Dave could probably even get me to strip on the piano with that song!)and more Elton John and Billy Joel.
After that, it was the disco. I could not believe it was empty on a Saturday night. Last June, I went during Ultimate Men of Hedo, and the disco that Saturday was great!! This time It seemed the music was catering to guests cause there was no dancehall, hip-hop, reggae, techno/funky stuff, instead, it was just plain BORING! Lot of Mambo number 5 type stuff. Also, I was surpised (and dissappointed) that there were no locals, (which might explain the boring music). Is Hedo catering to the guests on that one too.
I did go to the nude hottub that night, well, actually I stood about 50 yards away and looked at it. I didnt see anyone I recognized and as I expected it looked like a couples thing so I left.
Next morning, I went out for my walk down the beach which is one of my favorite things to do while at Hedo. The beach has a lot of trees down in the water when you get past Beaches Inn, because of the hurricane, so you have to go up on the grassy part around them or into the water. There used to be a big boat laying on its side on the beach and that got blown to bits and scattered around. My first day I saw a good-looking, naked guy in the water excercising. I stopped to talk with him - he put his shorts on for me :( and I continued to meet him each morning to excercise, even after I moved to Legends later in the week.
I did four scuba dives with G of G&J from vistor's list as my buddy on several dives. G&J, I really enjoyed meeting you two. Would like to know what you thought of Hedo.
Did you ever figure out what the yellow towel on doorknob meant? G, were you part of the circus act after all that training? You definitely are an 'A' type, HaHa.
I love everything about the scuba dives..the boat ride out, the joking around with the other divers and divemasters, the good reggae music they play on the boat, the way O'Neil helps a woman get her wet suit on as only O'Neil can, (even the dive boat has the Hedo sexual charge), I love the divemasters, and this week we had a lot of people going out on the dives and it was comforting for me to know we had at least two guests who were divemasters, C and M, who helped out. I saw a huge green moray eel, a huge nurse shark, big sea turtles, trumpetfish, stingrays and more, it was great. And I bought another scuba video from Color Negril.
I went to the nude side once on the second day. I dont particularly like the nude side, but I knew that was where all the DennyP Visitor list people were so I went. Enjoyed meeting S who had just arrived. (Also, Hi to Su, who is practically my neighbor). Got cold at the nude bar so we went into the cool tub. M & K were in there and he said "so, you decided to come to the dark side" Ha Ha
I found the drinks on the nude side to be really bad, even the Red Stripe. This made me think there must be truth to what people say about the inverse relationship between quality of service and amount of PDA's allowed. The drinks were great on the prude side at Paulettes bar. In fact, I spend virtually all my time on the prude side, and I had never felt there was any decrease in quality of service til I went to the nude side. If anything the prude side is better than ever with the new facilities.
There were two couples at the swimup bar, the guys were sitting on the stools getting blowjobs from their wives/girlfriends. I guess some people would say if I dont like it, get a drink from the other side of the bar. That's what I did. However, I think they should be the ones to take it somewhere else and not shove it in my face so that I have to go elsewhere. I consider that to be disrespectful to other guests. If it's Lifestyle's week and they have booked most of the place and everyone is there for open sex, that's different. The week I was there was not a Lifestyle week, so they should have respected the fact that not everyone wants to see them in action and they should have been more discreet and especially not do it where people are trying to get drinks.
I did the sunset cruise on Monday. I was not happy to see Rasta Ralphie on the boat, he wasnt on the last two times I went, I thought he just did the day cruise. I prefer to hear the good tapes/CD's they play than him - he's too touristy. When we got to Rick's, I decided to snorkel over. At one point I happened to look up and realized the boat that transfers people was within an inch of me and I had to push away from it. Looking back, I think the motor was off so they must have realized they were practically on top of me and shut it off. I think the boat driver must have gotten distracted by a woman who had just jumped from the cliff and landed on her back. Oh well, I got to Ricks' in one piece. Saw E & B from DennyP visitor's list at Rick's. I hope people who are reading this can see how using Denny's visitor list can really help make your vacation even more enjoyable. Anyways, decided to indulge in some sugar cane with E and her friends. So, we walked down the road looking for privacy when a local guy on a scooter stopped by. He led us to a public bar/restaurant down the road where we kicked back and indulged and had some stripes. This is what I love about Negril. So casual. I would have liked to have stayed another hour there but I had to get back to the Catamaran.
I could have really done without Rasta Ralphie and his limbo contest toward the end of the cruise. I can see it on the daytime, but my favorite part of the sunset cruise is dancing to the great music they usually play as the skies are getting really colorful, sitting in the net, or sitting on the edge of one of the booms? and just taking it all in. Instead, they had everyone inside doing the limbo, getting them to cheer loudly as we're pulling in so people on shore would hear and think "what a fun boat- I have to go on that", i.e. it's an advertising gimmick.
Tuesday was lobster night which of course meant I slept thru dinner. Made it out for PJ night, cant miss that and it was great as usual. I dont get why everyone leaves after the awards, that's when the music started getting really good. I hooked up with my roommate's friend and we danced and danced. I realized how hungry I was AFTER they put away the midnite buffet of course.
The new waterslide looks like a lot of fun. I could not get up the nerve to try it. I used to love waterslides until I had an accident on one. This waterslide, like the Spa, fitness center, Japanese restaurant and the walkways are beneficial to both nudes and prudes so I dont undestand all the complaining on the board that says the new improvements are for prudes only or a waste of money. The rock climbing wall and ice skating rink look like they cost about 1% of the total dollars spent on improvements so the griping has really been for nothing in my opinion. I will like the new swimup bar better if it ever warms up.
On Wednesay, I left for Legends. I felt like one of those pitiful children you see on TV being taken away from their home to go live with strangers. But, at the same time I was excited like I was headed for an adventure. I liked trying out different restaurants for good Jamaican dishes. Note: if anyone is going to sick from food it is me. I never felt even the slightest twinge of indigestion from my five days eating at various restaurants. I think this proves that only fresh ingredients were used in all the dishes I had because I'm sensitive to any processed foods. Here are the names of places I ate at: Cheap Bite, DeBuss (jerked chicken, a must) Miss Sonia's (beef and veg patties), Sweet Spice, Pete's -good lobster dishes and you eat at picnic tables on the beach by candlelight, & Errol's Sunset Cafe (I enjoyed sitting there for sunsets) and Selina's for breakfast and great Blue Mtn coffee. I rarely felt like I was dining alone by the way, met lots of friendly tourists and locals to talk to while eating and drinking.
For nightlife, I only went out on Thurs, Fri and Sat, and I had the best time at Alfred's on Friday, which by the way had Roots Explosion, the Hedo band playing so not only were they good but I felt at 'Home'. After Alfred's, I went to MiYard which is a late night place that stays open til dawn. I only stayed til about 3:30A. It's basically a little bar with a big yard. A cool place that I'd like to go back to.
In the daytime I did a lot of walking and Kayaking. One morning I kayaked all the way to Hedo to pick up my scuba video which I had left behind. Big mistake, since it damn near killed me. I whined to anyone that would listen that I didnt think I could Kayak all the way back. I wont say who, but help did come and I got a ride halfway back, Thank God.
General comments about H2, nudes/prudes, single guys and PDA's:
Once again, each and every single guy I met was a joy to be around, and since alot of these guys are a good 10 years younger than me, I know they werent being nice so they can get laid. I think at 42 I can tell when I'm being hit on or not. They were just genuinely nice, friendly, funny and entertaining guys who were there to have a good time like anyone else. And they did.
It always makes me laugh when I read in some people's trip reports that the prudes went running, screaming, scared away when nudes came by. What's up with that? Do you realize how often nudes are on the prude beach, especially by the dive shop..it aint the big deal that some of you seem to want to think it is. Especially now with the waterslide. Guess what, We prudes have actually seen naked people before! I have never seen a prude the least bit phazed by a nude on the prude beach.
In my opinion PDA's are more about a matter of preference than open-mindedness. Case in point, a lot of people who consider themselves very openminded cause they are all for PDA's between hetero's and gay women seem to have a real problem when it comes to PDA's between gay men. Or they are all for PDA's until it's in the dining room. So are they being closed-minded or is it simply a matter of preference about what does and doesnt turn them on. For me, PDA's are a major turn off. I could be really hot, juices flowing but if I see people getting it on it turns me off. Also, it seems for too many people PDA's have become the main reason they chose Hedo. I think its starting to overshadow the real subtle magic of Hedo that's hard to even define. Maybe I'm making too much of it but I know in talking to the locals during my stay in Negril, that Hedo really has a nasty reputation. So much so, that I learned real quick to not say where I had just spent four nights especially to local guys cause that really seemed to give them a wrong impression of me (I guess they think I'm doing it with couples, groups, other women and any guy that passes within 5 feet of me). On the one hand I could say hey live and let live, but unfortunately, I'm starting to be defined by the fact that I like to go to Hedo, in a way that doesnt define who I really am. So it seems the Live and Let live is only working in one direction. Nuff said on that.
Overall, it was a great trip. However, I would not split a trip again because just as things are really getting into full swing at hedo, I left, and just as I was getting comfortable in Negril, I had to leave. I want to go back in June and I'm planning on a full week at another small hotel in Negril (unless my friend decides she wants to go back to Hedo for Ultimate Man week again). I want to give Negril the full week to get the total experience. Ultimately, if I had enough money and time off, I would like to do a week at H2, a week at a beach hotel and a week on the cliffs.
Anyone reading this who is not a DennyP visitor list person (cause I have your emails), I would like to hear from you since I forgot to get e-mails in my rush to leave on Wednesday. Anyone know the guys from Philly? My roomate from Chicago?
DennyP, as always, thank you for the website and visitor list.