January Web Gang 01-17 to 01-27 2002.
This was our second year as the Web Gang and from a group of twenty six couples in 2001 we were fifty one couples and some GREAT singles for 2002. This promised to be a lot more work, but also a lot more FUN! Once again we arrived on the island a week prior to the official Web Gang week.
Departure from NY: With all the new security procedures in place, we figured JFK was going to be a nightmare, our tickets advised a 180 minute check in and our flight was at 8.00am. Arrived at JFK at 5.15am and we were ushered right to the AJ counter without any delays. Individual security checks were more thorough. Flight 10 left on time and we were ready for some much deserved fun.
Arrival in MBJ: We landed in MBJ ten minutes ahead of schedule and the plane did hit the tarmac very rapidly, even sounded like we blew a tire. Many faces had a brief moment of sheer horror, but being boisterous New Yorkers we clapped hard and were determined if we made it this far we werent going to die in Montego Bay! Jamaican customs were a pain, opened all our cases and despite a memo from Hedonism II that we were going to be carrying glow items, mardi gras beads and party gags they took their sweet time and went through every last item. Finally when they realized we were heading for the zoo, they agreed to let us proceed without further delay.
Departure for Negril: We had previously RSVPd Tim Air, as we were carrying a lot of Web Gang supplies and by the time we reached the airstrip, Tim Air was backed up for over an hour, AJ Express had one plane down and two pilots who didnt show and after almost two hours of waiting around and consent to leave some baggage behind we were finally heading home.
Arrival To Hedo: Walking into the lobby, was overwhelming, familiar staff faces were appearing from everywhere and the fact most of them knew Bridget escaped unscathed from NYC on 09-11 made it even more emotional. The outpour of love, messages of goodwill, support and friendship previously expressed, were now reinforced in person all round, with choking hugs and big smiles. THERE IS NO PLACE IN THE WORLD LIKE HEDONISM II, and we were still waiting to reunite with all the Web Gang, many who are dear personal friends. We were assigned room #1160, for those of you who know the layout, we were the last room on the prude garden side, pretty much a stones throw away from Sandals! We didnt care, we had a place to dump the bags and to lay down our heads.
1st Week at Hedo (01-12 to 01-18): The next week was a blur, coming off NY time, preparing for the arrival of the Web Gang on the following Saturday & Sunday. In the meantime, it was a perfect relationship time, we spent our time exploring the new upgrades and getting to know the new entertainment crew and of course catching up on all the gossip with all our steadfast buddies, Tavis, Joan, Delano, Gary, Patrick, Paul, Lucky, and Norman to name a few. Wednesday we were all hyped as Gerry & Irene (GO WAWA) our Canadian Web Gang Co-Founders were arriving from Toronto. Early evening as I wandered up to the lobby, there they were! It was so GOOD to see them again and once again thank them for all their efforts on the CA side of the border in getting all our CA members organized. Gerry & Irene were staying at Hidden Paradise until their official check in at Hedonism on Saturday. We had dinner, watched the show and escorted them to Hidden Paradise for their much needed rest. For the next few days before the official start of Web Gang week, Craig & Teena and Ed & Kathy also arrived on the island, and graciously volunteered their time in folding Web Gang t-shirts, making gift packs, taking time to recruit new members, bring drinks to the check in table set up at the lobby, help organize for the pending arrivals and much, much more!
Once again thank you one and all J
Web Gang Week Commences: Whoo hoo! The Saturday arrivals came in full force and smiles were all round, Gerry & Irene also sat with us and we assisted in getting everyone to their rooms as quickly as possible, handing out drinks and catching up on a years worth of events. It was a tiring day but fulfilling, and we hung in there knowing the majority of our members were arriving on Sunday. Sunday was another hectic day, but seeing that coach bus pull up with all the Canadian arrivals was one of the highlights of the day! Again heartfelt hugs, screams of glee and a tear or two was seen. Trays of frozen daiquiris were handed out followed by the sign-in paperwork, identification and chalking of the bags, for delivery to the rooms and let the games begin!
Web Gang Highlights:
Seeing all our friends again and feeling like we never missed a beat, even though it was a year since we had all seen each other!
All the new members who actively participated in all the activities and made an effort to introduce themselves and make dinner every evening at our assigned Web Gang tables.
The Web Gang taking over the waterslide one afternoon and going down the slide over and over and over!
The very lovely and talented ladies of the Web Gang who showed the world, real breasts are better than any augmented creation of science and out of the ten or so contestants, at least eight of the ladies were Web Gang for the wet t-shirt competition.
Got to give props to the guys of the Web Gang for their participation in the bodies in motion competition-someone we know REALLY likes fruit salad.
The Entertainment Staff and Rohan for the BEST display of reggae dancing and body moves only a Jamaican could pull off, at the Reggae-Gras party on the beach. Chippendales are only junior wood chucks in comparison.and they did it for free!
At the Reggae Gras beach party, again Web Gang members participating and winning and to the entertainment staff who dragged all 6ft 5 ins of Vince onto the stage and made him dance!
The Web Gang taking a prize in EVERY category on Toga Night.
Using body paint to give a whole lot of support to our CA travel agent-Skyventure. No ad executive could have come up with that one (thanks to Tim & Cheryl), for inquisitive minds, check out our picture album over at the club, (http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/hedo2webgang)
A hearty welcome to the mascots of this trip, Blow up Bob and Molly the Sheep (you need to see it to believe it, under New Couple 2002 in our picture album at the club, thanks to Lady G for posting).
The ingenious re-invention of the ring toss game, what would Mom say? Glow bracelets and a top quality strap on, minus the strap!
Chris P. for his ability to pick locks, without his help Vince still might be indisposed, nekkid and looking like a shackled convict wandering around the pool for someone to help him out! (Could be more a dangerous predicament at Hedo than in the real world!)
Mark & Lyndas emotional and sincere vow renewal on the beach on a glorious Negril afternoon, surrounded by friends and being considered a part of their most innermost circle, thank you.
Again being able to celebrate Craig & Teenas second anniversary at Pastafaris with our closest friends, not to mention the two bottles of champagne and two bottles of Italian red wine (carefully carried all the way from Maine) we consumed!
John & Jen: John for being such a good sport when we made him a human birthday cake for his special day, and Jen for being such a good wife and giving him (and all of the piano bar) a birthday memory never to be forgotten.
Monty: Another birthday boy, but we hadnt the time to make him a human birthday cake, but a few of the Web Gang ladies ambushed him with birthday kisses and hugs, only to have that reciprocated in a delicious way by this Southern gentleman, involving fresh whipped cream and lots of tongue! Only at Hedonism II!
The acknowledgement by Hedonism II of our presence as a group and the support of all the Web Gang members at the weekly reunion party, showing full support in their Web Gang shirts.
The Web Gang wake up call, involving getting the some of the group to go to the room to wake up Patty and then Bridget (who were in a unconscious state and totally busted!), ten or so bodies climbing all over the bed and cameras clicking to capture the worst photo face of the whole trip!
Ashley of the Entertainment Staff who sang solo one evening for show time, that voice is a gift, the Tina Turner numbers were as good as the real deal diva herself!
The Ricky Martin She Bangs dance sequence, put on by Paul & Roxanne and Rohan & Lucky the first week we were there, my God, the flexibility of those Jamaican bodies in sequence with the Latin beat unbelievable, a MUST see!
Our private Mardi Gras party on Friday, where once again everyone outdone themselves and had spectacular and original costumes.
Dinner at the Japanese restaurant, after three days of trying to get a reservation, having Saki with our closest friends and being fully catered to by Marlon our wonderful chef, who even artistically arranged the stir fry vegetables to say love the Web Gang!
The horseback riding trip to Rhodes Plantation, where even Wawa fully represented!
The afternoon chats by the prude pool where most of the CA Web Gang always saved a prime spot for the rest of us!
The shopping trip to Time Square, where one of the gang misunderstood drop the booze (we were trying to take a few family pictures) and instead thought she heard show us your boobs, and proceeded to flash the mall insteadJ
All the love and support for us, anytime we sported a NY Yankees shirt or the NYPD & NYFD gear, this was one trip we will never forget. Total strangers taking the time to talk with us and always express support for the greatest city on earth.
The support of ALL our Canadian members, who, no matter how scanty the outfit managed to attach their US & CA flag pin, somewhere!
Conclusion:
Hedo is a wonderful place for lifetime friendships. There is NO PLACE on earth that leaves such a fuzzy feeling for those you spent a precious week with in Paradise.
This was proven over and over to us by each and every member who participated in the activities, saved a beach chair, got a warm beach towel, all the bar runs etc, etc.
As each year progresses, even though we dont always see each other when we are back in home, birthdays and holidays are not forgotten.
Hedo is what gets us through the year, no matter what life throws at you, personally or professionally.
Remember, be wicked for a week! The smile will last all year, the memories for a lifetime!
See you all in Jan 2003Bridget & Vince, US Web Gang.