Lisa (aka Willa) - February, 2008
Something new to learn, see and/or do each time!
(Trip #5: February 16-24, 2008 as a single non-lifestyle gal
‘Jamaican-0ut’)
Getting There
The flight, immigration, SC lounge, shuttle ride to the resort, and
check-in were all great this trip.
The immigration area had been completely re-designed & set up
since my last trip over a year ago.
The immigration officer (female) took my passport and
immigration form then looked at me in partial shock.
She proceeded to ask me if I was traveling by myself, if I
was meeting friends, and once I said ‘No’ to those questions, she
asked if I really knew where I was going.
I say I had been to the ‘Zoo’ before and she just looked at
me and smiled. Then when
she was looking at the information she had pulled up on the computer
screen she smiled again – not sure if the actual destination is
listed for each visit, but I smiled back thinking that she was
seeing 5 listings for Hedo II trips and 1 for a previous Hedo III
trip.
J
Once past immigration, I collected my checked bag, waited briefly
for customs and arrived at the SC lounge within minutes.
I was able to check-in at the counter, grab the small bottle
of water and sit down for only a minute before they were announcing
the shuttle loading.
This time an SC rep escorted us out to the shuttle (no luggage guy)
and after waiting for a few more people to arrive, we were off.
We did stop at the midway point – a bathroom stop was needed
by a lovely lady who later became a new hedo friend and who also
kindly asked the driver to avoid bumps on the way there... Hehe!
We didn’t stop long and then within minutes of arriving at
the resort Michael recognized me, I got my room keycard
and we were on the way to my room where he checked to make
sure the A/C was working and everything was ok.
¶
Future guests: remember to ask for the front desk to punch a hole &
give you a wrist band – they do have some.
¶
There were coupons in the room key envelope that could be used at
the shops – so be on the look out for these.
I got a free Hedonism “Pleasure Comes in Many Forms” T-Shirt
for spending a certain amount in the gift shop.
Room
Overall the room was clean, set up with a flower & bath towel on the
bed, plant cuttings in a vase on the side table and a new clock
radio. I didn’t have hot
water or A/C issues at all during my trip.
They have Lever 2000 and a sweet smelling shower gel/shampoo
in self-dispensing containers in the shower.
I did have water leaking onto the floor outside the shower
throughout the week - even though I did see that they had put a
plastic guard on the vertical edge. I did notice that my window did
not lock, but I was on the 2nd floor and didn’t spend
time worrying about it.
My main maid was excellent as far as stocking towels and cleaning
the room. The one day
she was not there, her replacement was not as good – missing towels…
¶
Future guests: watch out for the puddle outside the shower & put a
towel down – so you don’t slip (like I did the 2nd day).
Weather
The weather throughout the week was a bit different than what I am
used to for that time period.
It was sunny up to about 2pm when it got cloudy and rained
more than usual. There
were also a few downpours around 7pm during the week.
Using the lounge chairs as shelters and a beach towel as an
umbrella seemed to work well, though I didn’t get out onto the ocean
as much because of the weather (& the fact that I usually didn’t get
to the beach until after noon).
People
On my first day there I met the great group of people who I hung out
with all week (I don’t mention many names to protect the innocent
(hehe!) – not because I don’t remember you – you know who you are!).
A few who are members of this
site are Lewis & Alice and Max & Brandy, though I am sure there are
others who are on here as well.
I became Lew’s 2nd wife on a night when
As always, I found my new hedo family and the trip for me is all
about the people (guests and staff) with some sun, water, fun &
disco dancing thrown in for an extremely good time.
Thanks to all & I miss you already!!!
Just a few of many memorable moments:
J
¶
A week of breast & butt inspections by a talented inspector who was
later body painted to reflect this duty and later had a few
apprentices to help him keep up with them.
¶
Having pictures taken in the hallway next to the lobby of the
group’s female butts with some inspecting being done – while a
shuttle of newly arrived guests unloaded – what a welcome to hedo
moment! Ha!
¶
As a single gal, I was readily informed as to who had a ‘big bamboo’
throughout the week and then I seem to remember being called a panda
- still not sure
why…hmm… <wink, wink>
¶
Being kissed on the butt in the dining area one night & then seeing
those lip prints on the bathroom seat.
¶
The saga of the ‘shark’ (single guy who was always looking for an
opening…) – Fins Up ‘mon!
¶
There is always something I see at hedo that I have never seen
before and this one was, as someone there said, like watching a
train wreck – you don’t want to see it, but you can’t seem look away
either. The ‘finger-licking
good man’ (in a very twisted way) who was all about getting some
male on male action and whose mating sign seemed to be touching his
own back end and then putting his fingers in his mouth.
I can’t say I want a repeat of this performance and neither
do the staff who he tried to attract with this same calling.
¶
Traveling to Jamaica to meet people from around the corner/in my
home area who I didn’t know before.
Can’t wait to see you guys again soon!
¶
Laughing until my stomach hurt – thank you wonderful people – you
always make my trip the best one yet!
Evening Entertainment
The entertainment in the main dining room was great most of the
week, the house band’s lead singer is extremely talented & in my
opinion marketable. Memory is faded as to what the entertainment was
on the first Saturday night (except that the house band performed)
and Sunday (though it may have been a staff performance).
On Monday the beach was set up with tables and platform for
entertainment, but due to the rain, it all was moved to the main
dining area where the theme was a ‘Ho Down’ with country music being
played by an outside talent.
The performer was good and I do like some country music, but
my personal opinion was that it would have been better to provide a
mix of music or other fun activities instead.
Tuesday was PJ night with many people wearing their outfits
to dinner and then continuing on to the disco where bottles of rum &
T-shirts were given as prizes (including one to a lovely couple who
wore leaves and string as their outfit).
Wednesday is set up now as
Reggae night, though many, including myself, still brought beads and
fun items for Mardi Gras and there was no problem finding people to
win them.
J
Thursday was toga night and while the normal festivities were
done, there were a few people on stage as part of the Toga contest
who were not wearing togas (pants & tops) – not sure that these
should have been pulled on stage for this event.
Friday night was Gala night with the circus acts being
performed on stage & in the dance area of the dining room and then a
pool party out by the prude pool with an announcement that clothing
was optional. Saturday’s entertainment was a mixture of dancing,
house band with an outside talent brought in who played the
saxophone & sang with the band’s lead singer on many songs (very
talented group as a whole).
The piano bar was either Ike or Martin, both have skill and with
positive encouragement & audience participation can do the job well.
The saxophone player did perform a bit with Ike on Sunday and
that was a nice addition.
Then the lady I called Bubbles all week did sing a creative
rendition of New York, New York that was right in line with the
spirit of hedo – we even got a few more songs out of her while
chatting outside the bar.
J
The disco was usually busy around midnight to 2am – enough time for
me to get some dance grooves on and meet some new people.
I love to dance, so this was a highlight for me.
Friday there was a lovely lady who (after many attempts by us
to recruit someone for her) found a willing victim for a small
dominatrix show which was done with the guy bound to the disco pole.
I later heard that she found a few more the next day on the
beach. Then there was
the photography shoot of 2 loverly ladies with a babe as the scene
director – all in good fun of course!
J
Staff – Many Thanks!
A huge amount of kudos goes out to the staff who were there this
trip. Their energy was
up again this year and several thanks go out to those who took the
time to look out for me and make sure I was never left by myself.
I also appreciated the time I was allowed to ask questions
and learn more about the local culture & area.
Of course the words that I learned first were the ‘bad’ ones
– as I always do. Hehe!
Whether I go as a single or as part of a couple I tend to hang out
and really try to get to know the staff who work at this crazy place
and put up with us crazy people.
I couldn’t do their job and have always appreciated their
patience and positive energy.
I was a witness to a few staff/guest realities this week
which made me appreciate them even more.
¶
There was a dance/guest participation event in the main dining area
one night and a lady who participated wanted to have more
dance/spotlight time and then proceeded to act out after it was
clear to her that her time was over (& someone else’s was to begin).
She ended up breaking 2 microphones and basically showing her
bad side in a real way before being politely, but firmly led out of
the area. The staff
maintained their composure and continued with the show – though I
know for some it was hard to do.
¶
One night while hanging outside the disco talking to a few locals &
staff a lady leaned over the bridge above yelling for a specific
staff member. I learned
that she wanted to be with the guy and even her husband was trying
to track him down for her.
They did not give up even when being told that he couldn’t,
so he literally hid from them – later coming out again with cob webs
on his head from wherever he was hiding.
These guys can lose their jobs if found doing anything with a
guest – how selfish can a guest be to try to stalk one down for
their own needs after being told ‘No’.
Respect should apply to all.
¶
Yet another night, I was talking to a few staff members outside the
disco when a lady came out of the disco and seriously wanted to bite
a male staff (different one than above) on the chest.
He tried to gently guide her away from him several times, but
she was truly aggressive and focused.
He ended up leaving the area quickly and when she realized he
had left, she ran after him.
Given these situations it was nice to hear one staff member say that
‘some guests, who come back each year, are more like family’ while I
sat with them on the beach one day and it was nice to see that their
energy was not affected in the least.
Leaving
The day before eviction day, the resort left a message on my room
phone which was about the check out & shuttle times for the next
day. They do not leave
eviction notices anymore.
For a 5:50pm flight, I was set to check out at 12pm and board
the 2pm shuttle. At 12pm
the room key no longer works, so be sure to get everything out by
then.
I spent the time after checking out in a towel (prolonging the time
before putting my street clothes back on).
When it came time to leave, I filled out the comment card
(they are important – especially the part that asks for staff names
who made the trip a great one), and boarded the shuttle only to have
Garrett (new EC) knock on my window so that he could say good-bye.
Thought I would sneak away without tears…no luck!
The shuttle ride was a smooth & quiet one (with most people
napping). Upon entering
the airport a group of us found the end of the Air Jamaica check-in
line and it was a monster (guessing a 45 minute wait).
Luckily I was included in with 2 couples who were traveling
with a gal who was using a wheelchair (she jumped off the cliffs and
hit the water badly) as we were all shuffled to a separate check-in
area – THANKS to my hedo friends!
The security line moved very quickly and there was time for
some shopping before boarding the airplane.
The last time I was there, there were shops in the old main
area and there were only a couple shops up in the new departure
wing. Now all the shops
are in the new departure wing and it is really nice.
The flight was delayed due to a security issue with a bag (not an
airline issue), and then the flight was smooth.
At BWI they had a dog checking arriving baggage & people
waiting for it and then a scanner where random people had their
luggage scanned in the machine.
I was chosen and was asked to open my suitcase as they had
seen the snorkel tube and thought it might be something else – good
thing I didn’t pack any toys!
J
Another trip over and hmm…yep, the next one is just on the horizon –
already less than a year away fun people – see you then if not
before!