|
|
7/8/00 through 7/17/00
I arrived at O-Hare airport at 4:30 AM Saturday morning for what was supposed to be a 6:30 AM Air Jamaica direct flight to Montego Bay. Hah!!! A day-and-a-half, 4 Plane rides, 3 Taxi rides, and 2 bus rides later, I finally arrived t Hedo. I’ll start at the beginning, as said I arrived at O-Hare at 4:30 AM. Around 6AM I ran into Dennis Taylor. I knew he was gonna be on this flight. It was about that time they announced problems with the plane and that the flight was delayed. Well, it wasn't until about 6PM that evening that we finally boarded . After flying about 15 -20 minutes the pilot announced that the problem with the wing flapper probe had not been corrected. So we were going back to O-Hare. And that’s when this psycho woman really loses it and starts complaining and swearing very loudly about the situation. I believe she spent her long wait at O'Hare getting pretty toasted. Anyways, as soon as we land she demands to get off the f****** plane. But, the pilot announces that the mechanics will take a look at the problem while we wait on the plane. he said no one can get off cause it was an international flight. Never mind that we barely got across Lake Michigan! Well, psycho woman didn't like that and was ranting and raving, and swearing more than before. At this point another woman on the plane yelled "Will Someone PLEASE make her SHUT UP!)" So, the psycho woman went after that woman and that’s when they threatened to arrest psycho woman, who thought that was a great idea cause she thought that would get her off the plane! As it turns out the mechanics determined they could not fix the problem that quickly so they cancelled the flight and the next morning’s flight as well. They put us up at a hotel which by the time we got our luggage and stood in line for vouchers and what not, we didn't get to til about 10:30 PM. We had to do a lot of luggage carrying throughout this ordeal, and here’s where I’d like to say a big THANK YOU to Dennis for carrying my heavy carry-on around for me. Not only did I have my scuba regulator in there , but I had two bottles of Jose Cuervo Tequila, so that thing weighed a lot! Well, next day we got to O-Hare at 5AM for 7AM flight to LaGuardia airport.(Dennis had thrown away our boarding passes for this flight but luckily he was able to dig them out of the trash! -hey, our brains were already mush at this point!). From Laguardia we took a bus to JFK and from JFK went to MOBAY. There was alot of cheering on that flight when we landed in MoBay.! I had not planned on taking TimAir cause I’m afraid of small planes but by that time I was kinda numb and just wanted to get to Hedo so Dennis, me and this really cool Canadian guy we met at the airport flew to Negril.
And finally around 6PM Sunday, we arrive at Hedo!!!!
Me and Dennis both got our own rooms even though we paid for single-share. I know this can make some people mad who get bumped, but we arrived on Sunday after the big Lifestyles group had left.I figure we were just lucky to be the odd number in our category..or was it the pens? I stopped by the disco for the WWW gathering while I waited for my bags. After a very long hot shower I went to the dining room and had dinner with Sharon. Met several WWW’rs and danced at the main stage, then went to Veronica’s where Ro and Rastabill showed me how to do a Flamig Marley? No thanks!! Don't like fire! I’ll stick to tequila.. Ro also showed me his unique body art..Geez, that's gotta hurt!! Ro tried to talk me into going to the nude hot tub but having never been on the nude side, I thought it might be easier to do during the day. (thanks, M). So, I went to the Disco instead. I was so happy to see that it hadn't changed much. The only thing different was that they didn't have the big floor speakers that I really liked to dance on when I was there before. The traveling caught up with me and I went to bed at 1:30.
Next day after a nice walk down the beach, (wow, they built a lot of resorts since last time I was here, 1986). I tried to get on the 11:30 scuba but it was booked. I decided to do the kayaking. That was fun. Met a guy who was having trouble trying to kayak back to shore. I tried to help him, but wasn't able to. So, the boat came and got him. I found it kind of amusing how the drug dealers would come up on their waverunners and boats trying to sell drugs. They never miss an opportunity! Only in Jamaica!
Later, I had one of the watersports guys, Deevon, take me out on the big Hobie-Cat. I love being on sailboats but don't have a clue how to sail. If I had had a few more days, I probably would have built up the nerve to try sailing one. myself. I noticed that both beaches were deserted during my ride on the Hobie-cat. Devon told me that’s because there was wet t-shirt contest going on. So I missed that. And I missed lunch. After my Hobie ride I ran into Dennis and he said he’d take me over to the nude side. My heart was beating harder and faster during that walk to the nude side. I was trying not to look nervous but I was.. I only went topless. Now, when I look back, I think I should have just gone entirely nude. But, I’m not exactly the "dive right in, the water is fine" type I’m more of just "get your feet wet" type. I stayed there a while then went on the cat cruise to Rick’s cafe. Rastabill was on that cruise, too. I jumped off the low ledge at Rick’s. There were some really good local Jamaican divers on the other side that were very entertining to watch. On the trip back some people got naked, and we mooned the people at Rick’s.
I lost my beach shoes on Monday. So the rest of the week went barefoot most of the daytime. Now, this neuroma thing I have in my foot is worse than ever and I think I’ll need to get it operated on if I’m ever gonna be able to run again. S*** happens.
Oh, and I remember going to the front desk and asking for a pen when I was on the phone with Air Jamaica and guess what, (Dennis, youre gonna love this), no pens!
Monnday evening, finally connected with my good WWW friend from Ohio. We had dinner together and then went to Veronica and the disco. Another somewhat early night (and sober) for me. I went to bed around 1:30 so I’d be in good shape for my scuba dive.
Tuesday, did the 11:30 scuba. I was a little nervous about it since it was my first time since I had gotten certified. So, I missed not having an instructor "holding my hand". I felt like I forgot everything. Then, this guy standing on deck starts telling the two guys who are getting certified all this wrong stuff about scuba diving. Like, remember to hold your breath on the way up. (you never hold your breath when scuba diving) He was just being funny but at the time I didn't think it was too funny cause I was really trying to remember the right things to do. That guy was there every morning with his "advice" for the students, and it got funnier every day. The dive was really nice.I hear Jamaica’s not supposed to be that great of a dive spot, but I’ve nothing to compare it to, so to me it’s awesome. After that I did kayaking and sailing. Went to the nude side for a while to float on my raft. But my stupid raft wouldn't hold my drink. I missed the reggae on the prude side so I went there to float for awhile. Met up with a kakyaking buddy and later we went to the nude side for some jerked chicken and jerked fish. Long wait but it sure was good.
PJ night was a blast. There were so many good "costumes" I’m glad Deb won the bondage category. I think Sharon should have won for something. I got maybe 2 hours sleep this night. (finally drank some of that damned tequila I brought with me).
Wednsday did my usual walk on the beach and watersports all day long. By late afternoon, lack of sleep hit me and I slept through the repeaters party. Wednesday, I met someone I was too hang around with most of the rest of the week. The evenings anyways, for those of you who were wondering where I was.
Thursday was the day I decided to try windsurfing.As it turns out, the instructor is probably the same instructor I had 14 years ago. He is a very good teacher and the winds are good for a beginner, not too strong but enough to give you a feel for it. Of course the further you take it ut the stronger the winds are.At least this time I didn't have to get towed in by the drug dealers. I actaully started to get the hang of tacking after trying it for several days.There was a WWW couple from Chicago in the class, too. Hope to see you guys again.
After windsurfing, I kayaked along side a friend who wanted to do a long swim without getting run over by a boat.
Later, I sat on the prude beach in early evening to watch the sunset. This became a routine. I liked the reggae they played on the prude side. I would pull a chair right up to the speaker and have a rum punch and red stripe and just relax.
Dinner, then missed most of toga party.
Friday was the same walk on the beach, scuba, kayak, windsurf, walk on beach. However when I went kakalling, I guess I took it too far to where they couldn't see me and it was getting close to closing time so they came after me and made me ride their boat back while they towed my kayak. I protested cause I didn't want to look like I couldn't get it back myself..But they insisted I take the boat ride back.
Dinner, extracurricular activities, totally missed beach party. Oh, well, there’s always next year.
Saturday, same stuff during the day, then in the early evening, went out with a friend to see Negril. Stopped at the Negril Yacht club for a red stripe. Then, later on went into town again to dinner at Winner’s, had the Oxtail which was very good. Then stopped at a couple of nightclubs on the beach. These places were really nice the way they are set up with an open air style on the beach with live bands. Only thing I didn't like was getting bit by bugs, next time I’ll make sure to wear mosquito repellant. Stopped in the disco at Hedo, which I thought was really good that night. I think they play better music when the locals are there.
Sunday, my usual daytime and early evening routine and of caurse had to pack. I started not feeling good, but went to dinner anyways. When I went back to my room I had to lie down. I ended up staying in all night cause I felt lousy. i got up at 4AM and started to get ready to go to the disco, but then i got weak again and went back to bed.
Monday, last day, sad day. By this time I was missing so many people I had met and who went home before me.. Hedo, let me stay the extra day cause i got there a day late.
The flight back was a few hours late, but that felt like nothing after the trip in.
I’ll end by saying, a good friend advised me not to goto Hedo, because I have such good memories of my first two trips there when I was in my twenties. She said I could ruin my memories of the place cause you can't go back to those special times in your life.They’re never the same. Well, I’m glad that’s one piece of advice that I did NOT take.I now have some more wonderful, funny, exciting memories to add to my other ones. Yes, it was a little bit different than the last trips, mainly due to the fact I didn't want to let loose and party too much cause I wanted to get comfortable with the scuba diving. But, it was also very similar, in that I met exceptionally friendly people, WWW’rs and others, that made my trip so special. And, I’d like to say a special thankyou to Denny P for the web site that made it possible for me to go back cause I was too chicken to go by myself and I couldn't get friends to go cause of the stories they've heard about the place. God Bless You or as Rastafarians say, Jah bless you. Somehow,though, I think you probably consider yourself already blessed with all these great people you’ve met through your website.