جامايكا رحلات و [توور غيد]

تكلّم أنا يتلقّى سابقا حول كم أنا حقّا أحبّ يهدر نهور وال [سورّووندينغ را] من [بترسفيلد] و [شروسبوري] في [وستمورلند] أبرشيّة جامايكا. أنا أفكّر يهدر نهر واحدة من أنّ أماكن خاصّة حيث أنت يستطيع شهدت الجمال حقيقيّة طبيعة. تدفّقت يراقب النوابض معدنيّة من مترو وشلال على الصخورة والنبات خصبة خضراء أنّ ينمو حول هو يكون مشهد كاملة ل ي وأنا فقط يحبّ أن يجلس وأعجبت المكان.

على ي ثاني مغامرة إلى يهدر نهر كهف لاحظ أنا هذا كبيرة شمس يشكّل إشارات قرب الإشارات يدلّ إلى النهر. شكّلت الإشارات كان مثل يثبت شمس وأنا كان راوغت ب ماذا هم قرأوا. يشفي هو يقول غروب جبل إنسحاب ومركز شفائيّة. يحدث هو فقط هكذا أنّ صديقة كان ذهب من خلال سرطان خبرة وأنا كان هممت أن يرى ماذا هم قدّموا في هذا مكان. شفيت أنا تبعت وسخ طريق فوق نحو الجبل جانب وبعد مزرعة صغيرة وبعض كوك خشبيّة حيث هو يأتي إلى السياج في غروب. أنا تكلّمت مع شهم في البوابة ودعاني هو داخل أن يلتقي المديرة. أنا كان [غريتد] بسيدة جميلة شابّة الذي أبدىني داخل إلى المكتب رئيسيّة على ال [غرووند لفل]. الخاصية [قويت ا فو] فدادين ويصعد إرتفاع فوق التل جانب مع بنايات يحدّ على ثلاثة مستويات مختلفة. في ال [غرووند لفل] غرف تأجيريّة, منتجع مياه استشفائيّة, [غزبو] كبيرة والمكتب رئيسيّة. في المستوى متوسّطة الشاليهات مع المنظرات مروّعة من الواد وفي الأعلى المطعم وإقامة رئيسيّة.

I had the kids with me in the van after our swim in the river and I did not want to stay long but I was sucked in by the beauty of it all and ended up spending about 20 minutes meeting the owner Beatrice and talking to her some about what she did. I was very impressed with her knowledge and ideas on healing and the power each of us has to heal from within. I decided to suggest to my friend that he stay there for some part of his trip or at least visit and he did. In the end he abandoned the place he was at and stayed the rest of his trip with Beatrice in the hills. He seems to have really enjoyed himself and I certainly hope he did at least.

Beatrice has been in the same location for over 17 years but has just come to open her place up as a full resort and healing center in recent years. She has a wall full of degrees and certifications in fields such as Reiki, Theta DNA and Aromatherapy and she specializes in Massage Therapy for physical ailments. She has had success in helping stroke victims recover from facial paralysis which I found impressive. I always saw that as a permanent condition but the nerve and muscle damage can be repaired or retrained. You can read more about the services offered on the Resort overview page with information on healing vacations in Jamaica and the Spa information has all the details on making this the best Jamaica wellness vacation you ever took.

After my friend had such a great time there and since I was so impressed I went back and spent even more time with Beatrice as she gave me the grand tour of her place. On my first visit I did not take the trip up to the top of her property to see the restaurant and one of the most beautiful views in all of Jamaica. On my second trip I was missing my camera as I sat there in awe of the beautiful setting. Sitting up on the edge looking out over Petersfield and the sugar cane fields of Sugar Valley is so peaceful and the backdrop of mountains with rain clouds above them is simply breath taking. The chalets at the second level are available for rent and offer a great view of the valley below from the balcony on each room.

There is an incredible attention to detail at Sunset Heal and you can feel the time and effort spent on making the place so nice. Everything is fresh crisp and new looking and the grounds are meticulously well kept. When we walked up to the first chalet and stopped to look around both Beatrice and I were out of breath and sweating from the blazing sun and brisk walk up the steep steps and she opened up the door to the fridge in the room and there were cold wash clothes inside for cooling off. I thought that was cool and the timing was perfect. There seem to be lots of little things like that at Sunset Heal which make it such a special place. I have not stayed there overnight as of yet but we plan to do so upon our return in January. We’re heading home for the Holidays and we fly out pretty soon so we’re saving it as a romantic getaway for the parents when we first arrive next year.

I’ll confess to not knowing much about exactly what Beatrice does but I can tell you she knows what she is doing. She is an intelligent and articulate woman who speaks with confidence and I’m impressed with her ideas on healing and alternative medicine. I was most intrigued by what I learned about Theta Healing but you can get Reiki and Massage treatments as well. Theta Healing may hold some promise for my autistic son and we’re exploring ways she can help us with his condition. Sunset Heal is a tranquil relaxing place away from the noise of the cities where you can appreciate the natural beauty of the Jamaica mountains. Take a walk or ride a bike in the hills or swim in the healing mineral waters of the Roaring River or just kick back and listen to the birds and wind blow by under the giant bamboo as you unwind in privacy and enjoy what appears to me like the most peaceful place on earth. It seems like the kind of place famous people go to to get away from the world and I’m happy I found it.

Jamaica and Sunset Heal are positioning themselves as leaders in wellness and alternative healing in the Caribbean and a viable choice over some more “conventional medicines” in America. If you’re looking for a wellness or healing vacation consider visiting Sunset Heal in Shrewsbury Jamaica where the land and water have healing powers and blue skies are complemented by the thick green landscape.

See more pics we took at Sunset heal here or visit their Jamaica healing vacation website for more details.

This article should have been written at least two months back when I stayed at Leighton House but I neglected to write it and it just dawned on me what a great deal the place was and I should really mention it to our readers who might be traveling to Kingston like me in the next few days.

I have to go back to Kingston to clear up some paperwork for my business registration, apparently I neglected to sign a document on the Overseas Company Registration and now I have to drive back to sign it. It’s a 4 hour drive from Negril to Kingston and I have made it there in 3.5 hours with early morning traffic to my advantage but driving there and back in one day is out of the question for me at this point. It’s simply better for me to stay a night and have two days to handle my business. It takes twice as long to do anything in Jamaica anyway right?

So I’ll be calling in on my friends Shane at Leighton House in Kingston. The home is situated at the base of the mountains in Havendale and nice middle class Jamaican neighborhood with pretty homes and steel bars all over. You can tell a better neighborhood in Jamaica by the amount of security in place and this area is pretty nice. The house is beautiful and located deep in the hills on West Greathouse Circle nearby Hidden Valley in Kingston. Leighton House has hostel style bed space available for just $20 per evening or a private room is available for $35 per night. The private bed is my favorite choice because the room has its own balcony with a great view of all of Kingston at night and the sun rises over the hills behind us for a great light show every morning. All I have to do is remember the darn camera next time so I can get some better pics of the area.

Here are some photos of the rooms for rent at Leighton House Youth Hostel in Kingston. If you would like to take a trip to Kingston from Negril or reserve a room please Contact Us for more details.

Picture of the shared room at Leighton House Kingston Jamaica Youth Hostel

Shared bathroom and tub at Leighton House Hostel in Kingston

View of Kingston from Leighton House

I bought The Rough Guide to Jamaica 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) for our planned move to Jamaica because it was the most up to date book on Jamaica travel that they had and I had a bad experience on my first trip by carrying an outdated travel guide. On my first trip here many of the locations in the guide had closed or changed hands and things were not what they were supposed to have been. I was very disappointed and made the decision my next guide on Jamaica vacations was going to be the best one available. I think I made a great choice with The Rough Guide to Jamaica 4 by Rough Guide Travel Guides. It’s been an incredibly valuable tool in my adventures and I think it will do much to help you with yours.

The Rough Guide to Jamaica 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) is perfect for just about any traveler to Jamaica, it’s a bit larger than some travel guides at 7.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches and slightly heavy for backpackers at 15 ounces shipping weight but if you have the room for an all around perfect travel guide than you must grab this one. It’s breaks the island up into easy to digest sections based on major tourist areas like Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios but it also includes very detailed information on all the places in between. Find directions to out of the way places like Treasure Beach and Port Antonio as well as Jamaican tourist favorites like YsFalls and Fern Gully and see the Real Jamaica in comfort with this trustworthy trafel guide.

I have had the book in country since June and it has carried me all over the island with accurate maps and landmarks that have been a blessing while driving around Jamaica for the first time in many cases. When I bought the van in Kingston it was 5PM in the evening when I decided to drive home to Negril and this guide helped me navigate the dark streets of Jamaica on my trip home. The book is laid out well and it’s very easy to jump through sections because of the tabbed layout and color coordinated features. Finding things like maps of downtown Kingston or how to drive to Mayfield Falls was simple with this guide and a little back up from my Garmin GPS. I’ve been busy mapping down tracks and waypoints that I need to upload and soon.

I found great places to stay like Leighton House in Kingston and super places to eat like Chelsea Jerk Center also in Kingston. I used the book to find places like Royal Palm Preserve, Mayfields Falls and Roaring Rivers and I have lots more places still to go. If you’re interested in traveling with us on our adventures then Contact Us for more details.

Rough Guide Details

* Paperback: 528 pages
* Publisher: Rough Guides; 4 edition (January 15, 2007)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1843536919
* ISBN-13: 978-1843536918
* Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches

Royal Palm Reserve is one of those special places where one can appreciate the beauty and tranquility of nature and the wonders of Jamaica. The Reserve bills itself as one of Jamaica’s best eco attractions with over 300 acres of lush tropical jungle and Jamaican wildlife including over 300 species of animals such as birds, butterflies and reptiles and 114 documented species of plants and flowers. The Reserve was established in the mid 1980’s as part of a plan to protect the Great Morass Royal Palms which had undergone extensive harvesting and were nearly devastated by clearcutting.

The land was originally managed by the Petrolem Corporation of Jamaica but after a long series of hassles they released it to the Negril Environmental Protection Trust (NEPT) in 2001. The NEPT manages the Reserve with a goal to protecting the area and natural resources of the area under the following objectives from their website:

1. To protect and conserve the Negril Great Morass and its wetland flora and fauna, particularly the endemic Morass (Swamp) Royal Palm.

2. To raise the level of awareness, knowledge and understanding about the Negril Great Morass (and other wetland ecosystems) though an Interpretive Programme

3. To provide opportunities to citizens of neighboring communities, particularly Sheffield, for income generation through direct employment, concessions, training and the facilitation of sustainable livelihood projects in the community.

4. To increase scientific knowledge of the Negril Great Morass and related ecosystems in order to guide planning and management of the Negril Environmental Protection Area through the establishment of a Research Centre at the Reserve and the promotion of research at the Reserve.

5. To increase the financial independence and self-sustainability of NEPT and the Royal Palm Reserve by promoting the Reserve as an income-generating eco-tourism attraction.

The Royal Palm Reserve is without a doubt the best bird watching spot in all of Negril and one of the best choices for birdwatching in Jamaica. You can view dozens of exotic bird species from Negril Jamaica on the Nature Walk with over a half mile of boardwalk which leads you on a beautiful walk to a 30 foot tower in the middle of the Morass which offers the best views of all of Negril. The lovely sounds of birds singing and chirping can be heard all day long at Royal Palm Reserve and the birdwatching is great year round according to some local fans of the Reserve. The Reserve is home to the endangered and rare West Indian Whistling Ducks which you can see floating around in the stocked fish pond. They are scared of people so keep quiet while observing or they will fly off.

The Reserve keeps a pond stocked with Tilapia, or Red Jamaican Snapper as they are called in the local super markets, and they have a catch and release fishing program in effect right now. During peak months or when the pond is overstocked they allow some catch and keep fishing based on the amount of water in the pond and fish available. Fishing in a stocked pond is kinda unfair to the fish but loads of fun for the kids and family. We caught a few fish and let them go but my camera was left behind on that trip so no pictures of us fishing at the Royal Palm Reserve. Fishing equipment is available upon request but bring a loaf of bread for bait and to feed the Whistling Ducks with.

The Reserve has an alligator that lives within the confines of a caged pond. We have only ever caught a glimpse of him and he seems very shy. Could also be that it was hot as the sun and he was hiding in the waters of the swampy pond but we only ever saw him once in three trips. I figured he was trained to answer someone who feeds him so I banged on a pipe used to water him and as soon as I did he popped his head above the murky waters. I think we scared him as we maneuvered for a better picture and he split never to pop up again. Worth a look for sure but you may not get to see him every trip. The Royal Palm Reserve website advertises horseback riding but I never saw any signs of that on our trips, they may bring the horses in from someplace out of sight because the property requires advance booking for this special feature.

The best thing to do at Royal Palm Reserve is plan a picnic. The staff are well prepared to cook and feed groups up to 20 people with advance bookings or you can bring your own food and enjoy a nice day with friends or family and some good food and conversation. The natural beauty and awesome views will inspire some lively conversation on the wonders around you and maybe even make a difference in your day or your life.

The Royal Palm Reserve charges $10US per adult and $5 per child for access to the park all day long. You can spend some time walking the nature trails, fishing the stocked ponds or watching the wildlife and time pass by and enjoy a beautiful day of nature while supporting a beautiful public space. The museum on site offers a great educational opportunity and our kids had fun in the interactive attraction. Learn about the biodiversity and local fauna and wildlife in the colorful and entertaining activities room at the museum and teach the next generation to appreciate the natural world as much as they do the electronic one most of us live in.

If you are in the Negril area and don’t visit the Royal Palm Reserve you’ll miss out on some of the best views in Jamaica and upset me for not appreciating the natural beauty of the Negril Great Morass and the Royal Palms.

You can find 55 more pictures of Royal Palm Reserve at the Jamaica Photo Gallery

Finding vacation beach rentals or just simply a room in Negril is easy enough but finding a cool spot to chill by the beach at an affordable rate year round is a trick unless of course you know Joseph at Westport Cottages right on Norman Manley Blvd. If you know about his international hostel and affordable beach accommodations just across the street from Negril Beach then you know where to go for one of the best values in an inexpensive room in Negril.

Budget travelers from around the world call Westport home during their stay in Jamaica and many have returned annually for many years. Some are simple backpackers looking for a cheap room near the beach for the night but many others are long term guests visiting Jamaica and the Negril area for a month or more. Still others are simply budget conscious vacationers looking for quick easy access the the world famous 7 Mile Negril Beach with it’s pristine white sand , crystal blue seas and year round sunshine.

No matter where they are from I have met some of the most interesting people while staying at Westport Cottages and it seems something about the place attracts an eclectic if not fun crowd of guests to get to know. The place is quiet and clean with daily room preps from none other than “Sista” the head of housekeeping and grounds care. She’s a kind honest woman who makes sure you sleep on clean sheets and a well kept room.

The rooms are rather basic and just what you need if you plan on spending most of your time actually visiting Negril and the beach. If you looking for a plush air conditioned place with tv and lots of other stuff then look elsewhere. If you are looking for an inexpensive beach rental nearby Negril Beach with a laid back and super cool atmosphere then call Joseph at Westport Cottages or use the Contact Us page for more details on where to stay in Negril Beach.

Rooms for rent in Negril Beach at Westport Cottages

Shared kitchen area at Westport Cottages

We decided we wanted a vehicle and began looking for one over a month ago now. A new car was out of the question and the used car market here is pretty poor but I found that you can get a car here for as low as $1000 US and I figured what better way for us to get around than our own vehicle. As we started looking it became more apparent that what we really wanted was a van so we could go on our own tours and so we decided to spend the money and find a van for sale in Jamaica. Well there are loads of vans and buses for sale using the Gleaner Classifieds but as you can see the average price is above $500,000 Jamaican dollars or about $8000 US which was quite a bit more than we had to spend.

I found that you could find used cars for sale in Jamaica at lower prices but they go fast. There are used car dealerships in Jamaica in major cities such as Kingston, Montego Bay and even Mandeville but the market is more for newer cars in the 2003 and newer model years. I wanted to spend less than $200,000 or about $3000 US on a vehicle and I felt we should be able to buy a decent running vehicle at that price. You can forget finding anything like that at a dealership in Jamaica. It simply does not exist and most won’t even have a car on the lot under $350,000JA. I was however lucky to find a 1996 Nissan Vanette for sale in the Gleaner one morning at $220,000 and I jumped in a bus and ran to Kingston to buy it. It took me two weeks to do so but I finally bought a van for less than $200,000 and got it insured and registered in my name. Dealing with the motor vehicle transfer was much fun also. I had to have insurance on the car in my own name before I could register it. I was lucky that i bought the car from a nice Jamaica family and they had already taken care of much of the paperwork necessary. You will have to have the Title signed by someone form the Tax Collectorate, a Certificate of Fitness which seems to be like a vehicle inspection and Insurance which set me back $28,000JA. I bought a new set of tires for it just because I feel safer on them but we’re on the road finally.

I’ve had the van for about two weeks now and I have put over 2500 KM on it thus far in trips to Kingston, Sav La Mar and all over the South Coast and Westmoreland Parish. Buying a car in Jamaica is pretty easy actually and a great way to see the country. Learning how to drive a right hand drive stick shift van on the left hand side of the road was a whole different story and I was involved in a minor accident on my first drive home from Kingston. Some guy clipped the side of the van pulled the rear tail light off but I already had it fixed and I even went to court over my traffic ticket but pled guilty when the cop who pulled us was sitting next to the juge all buddy buddy like. I knew there was no reason to even argue the case and I accepted a fine of $4000JA for “Careless Driving” as I was blamed for being on the wrong side of the road on a road with no sides. Thats the way things go in Jamaica and I knew there was no sense in fighting it. I left the courthouse and drive to Roaring Rivers with the kids and had a blast. I love our van and so do the kids, maybe one day you’ll come for a ride with us here in Jamaica.

Traveling around Negril is actually fairly easy if you don’t mind hopping into a taxi cab. The number of taxi cabs and drivers baffles when you think about it sometimes. I would say over 80% off the traffic in Negril is Route Taxis and Private Cabs racing back and forth across the beach and cliffs searching for someone to give a ride too. If you chose to walk anywhere be prepared for every car that passes to honk their horn at you as they attempt to pick you up. Just ignoring them works fine on most occasions unless the driver stops alongside and chats it up. Your chose how to proceed but the easiest way to get off is tell them you have no money. Does not work well when you leave the bank, grocery store or a restaurant. I’ve told them I only ride in cars that I can drive and they leave with a puzzled look or laugh it up with you.

Route Taxis follow set routes around Jamaica and rates are normally $50JA for a short leg of any route. A trip from the roundabout to say Ricks should not be more than $100JA but $50JA would be a fair rate for a local to pay. You’ll find lots of cab drivers want to charge considerably more for trips around sunset but don’t be fooled into it. Route taxis can’t charge more than the standard rate for any route unless you hire the car as a private charter which is completely different. All route taxis are prominently marked with red license plates and white letters and should be considered safe as long as the proper driver is driving. Private taxi cabs usually offer a competitive rate for slightly nicer cars that bypass other pickups and carry you direct to your destination for a higher price. Always make sure to set the price and destination before you set off on your trip. Once you’re in the car and moving is not the best place to negotiate pricing for a ride. Make sure the driver is clear on where you want to go and confirm they know where it is. Don’t be surprised for a cab driver to tell you he knows the route to a destination when he has no idea where it is. He plans on finding out as he goes along and you may find yourself lost searching for your destination with a driver who has never been to the place you seek. Private cab drivers are most often entrepreneurs of all sorts and into many other side businesses. One recent ride in a private car with a guy had us witness him sell a dozen bootleg DVD movies from a rather healthy collection of what he called “di best movies in Jamaica mon”. I was tempted to grab a copy of the latest Harry Potter for $100JA but chose not to for some reason. He was offering a 6 for $500JA on that friday that was popular it seemed. He sold three sets from the beach to the room or about 10 minutes. He also had $400JA worth of Digicell phone cards for $300JA which was also very tempting but

Walking in Negril is a great way to get around but caution is advised. The roads all over Jamaica are pretty fast paced and narrow and walking on a road with no shoulders and traffic flying by you and your young ones may not be the way to go for everyone. Jamaican drivers are normally very skilled and taxi cabs, mini vans and even tour buses run around town like Formula One Racers but you’ll need to be careful on roads such as West End Road in the Negril Cliffs which twist and turns leaving a few blind corners where cars come pretty close to you when passing another car and you at once. The rain gulleys and unfinished shoulders make walking a hazard without the endless parade of vehicles on a busy day and getting around some areas is best done off hours or by car.

For those with the heart and legs for it riding a bicycle around Negril is just perfect. I brought a used dual suspension Pro Flex mountain bike, which I purchased for $200US in Ocala Florida, on the plane with us and was it worth the effort. I ride everywhere now and can shoot from the Lighthouse near the top end of the cliffs to the beginning of Negril Beach in just a couple short minutes. 24 speeds, big fat shocks and a semi cushy seat makes for some sweet riding anywhere in Negril and I’ve been off road and breaking new ground with the bike this trip. Sadly my camera is not keeping up and the SD card I brought has failed me so not so many pics as I would like right now but soon come. I’m on my way to Kingston for a shopping trip and the SD card is top of my list. Riding a bike is great but keep aware of the cars and impatient drivers on roads in Negril at least. it seems cyclists are frowned upon. I’ve used the bike to run trips to the beach and grocery. I also use it for exploring the many side streets and for getting to know the area a little better. I suggest to anyone that can bring a bicycle to Negril Jamaica and enjoy some great riding conditions and a super way to enjoy the city from a different view. Bringing a bicycle on AirJamaica was very easy for me and I even overloaded the box with a total of 72 lbs weight for one overweight charge of $75US. I brought the bike, my tent, my dive gear, a full size fishing pole and tackle box in one cardboard box and was glad I did.

Taking a bike back is easy enough but leaving one to some needy kid in the area would be an even better way to get to know people. I’ve been letting some of the local kids use the bike and I’m making friends with it. I don’t suggest you do so with anything you really care about because it can very easily be stolen from them or even by them. Understand a $200US bike is worth a lot to a hungry family and even the most honest kids can be tempted into things they would not normally do. It’s a calculated risk I take as I try to open relationships with some of the people around me and not for everyone. Some people can start to expect things from those that give often and it can be difficult to say no when you need to.

Now getting around Jamaica is another scene and I think maybe we’re going to look at buying a car in Jamaica as a tourist. I think for us to see all we want to see it will help for us to have our own car and with the prices of things it looks promising we’ll buy a car in Kingston soon. If so then we’ll be doing much more traveling and I’ll have lots more to show you about Jamaica and Negril.

This is our view from the front porch on the first morning in Jamaica. We’ve been in Negril for just over ten days now and it’s time I got some new photos and stuff up. These would be some of our first pictures here in Negril. It’s summer time of course and although the sun is hot the city life is pretty quiet. Not many tourists in town for the heat of summer so things are extra slow right now. Often times we find ourselves the only patrons of an establishment and some times they open up just for us. There is a good and a bad to that in that we are met by friendly faces but times are tough and everyone wants to make something from us.

We’ve gotten used to it quickly and a firm “No Thank You” covers almost everything. We got beat over a few meals because we didn’t think to ask about the price before we ordered some places. They’ll hit you hard at the end if they can and don’t be embarrassed to negotiate any check handed you. Times are tough all over and my money is best kept in my pocket. Jamaicans actually appreciate a good barter but have no love for a cheap person. If you can’t settle a deal they will probably curse you for wasting their time as if it were more valuable then yours.

Negril Beach in the summer is a beautiful thing and the sun shines down on us all day long here. The beach and water are our favorite spots so far and it’s been a lot of relaxing and chilling in the sun for us since our arrival. We’re slowly moving out and about and I have loads of more stuff to post about but a big part of our stay was the water fun for the kids. Our room at Heartbeat in Negril has an awesome view and the easy access to the beach and seas makes snorkel trips and frolicking in the water an easy activity for us all.

Our room does not have direct beach access and we are not on the famous Negril Beach. We’re currently at the base of the Cliffs of Negril and about a 2 minute cab ride at $150JA for the four of us. We do have a beach we can use that suits us just fine and it’s been a lot of fun for the kids to spend hours playing with some of the local boys on the beach. It’s behind a restaurant that seems more a late night bar but the day time crew at “On The Rocks” has been great. The beach here at Heartbeat is great but we much prefer the Negril Beach for a nicer cleaner beach with more activity and things to see. This beach is not maintained and some odd things are washed up on shore.

A Picture Perfect Day at Heartbeat in Negril Jamaica

One of the best things about Jamaica is all the natural beauty around us. On our 3rd morning in I got up a it earlier than usual and was able to catch a great Sunrise from the rocks outside our room. I was able to get a decent shot of the sun rising over the Negril Beach with the Mountains in the background that was just an awe inspiring thing to witness live. No camera can do the colors any justice and my amateur photography is not up to the task yet. I’m still learning the new camera and whats best to use in conditions like this but man it was worth waking up early thats for sure. It turned out to be a picture perfect day. I caught the sunrise, a trip to the beach for some fun in the sun with the kids, some beautiful snorkeling along the coast of Negril after a fabulous lunch of local cuisine and ended the day with a perfect Sunset from the vantage point of our room and the porch out front.

After the sunrise and a likkle brekfast we ran down to Negril Beach so the family could finally see the famous beach. It was pretty hot and we had things to do like hit the Hi Lo so we we’re not there very long. After the trip to Hi Lo we decided to have lunch at Jennys Restaurant just up the road from us as no one wanted to cook or wait for something to be cooked. We took the Brown Stew Chicken because it was ready and we wanted to try it. It’s become a favorite meal especially for the low price of $200JA per plate. A full meal consists of healthy portion of chicken served with rice and peas, cabbage and vegetables. My review of Jennys comes soon.

Later in the day the kids hit the beach and dad did a little snorkeling off up the coast and around the rocks near the hotel. The water s great and the kids are taking to the sun and sea better than expected. They both have a few extra bite marks from the bugs but we’re controlling it. The beach is close by and easy for them to swim and me to explore while still watching them. This is nearly the same spot as the sunrise pictures but looking back towards the beach.

The sea life around Negril is awesome and the short dive I took on our third day was great. The biodiversity near shore is still strong although I was disappointed in the number of game fish to be found. There are tons of tropical fish of all flavors and the pictures above are a small sample of the underwater photos I have been able to take. I’ve see a lot of things on snorkel trips around the cliffs here in Negril and I’m looking forward to taking the camera on some bigger dive trips as we go further off coast and into some deeper waters on a glass bottom boat soon. Their seem to be loads of juvenile tropical fish in the area with lots of small butterfly and other damsels. I was surprised to see a few Rock Beauty Angels and a Juvenile Queen Angel but my shots on those are shoddy. I need a weight belt for better motion control and shot consistency.

Juvenile French Angel off the coast of Negril Jamaica

Juvenile Banded Butterfly Fish

Pair of Banded Coral Shrimp

Large Snail off Negril Jamaica

I took a little nap during the afternoon showers which are very common here in Negril. It was nice to wake up to a cool refreshing breeze whipping through our room as it raced in from the ocean in front of us. The ocean breeze is really nice when we have it. Right now it’s hotter then heck in my room tonight as I type this blog post. It’s 11PM and about 85 C and I’m sweating like a pig in my bed. Theres a decent breeze tonight so I bust open the windows and hope for no mosquitoes. The afternoon showers make for some great cloud formations and leads into a perfect sunset and an end to a perfect day.

It looks like we’re falling in love with Negril Jamaica and I thinks Heartbeat has someting to do wit dat mon. A far I concerned we cyan stay here f’ever.

It really does help to plan ahead. The best advice I could ever offer anyone about traveling is to pay attention to details and plan for the unexpected. On the times I have traveled via airline it has been such a hassle you almost want to bail out before you get to wherever you are going. We had some troubles in getting to and parking at Fort Lauderdale International Airport on our way to Jamaica and the place was very busy on the day we flew out. The lines all over were ridiculous but it seems AirJamaica was especially delayed on this day and there was confusion on more than one flight. The people we’re courteous and friendly but you could sense an air of sarcasm in how they approach things. They are obviously overworked and tired of the routine.

We had to park triple stacked out front to unload our baggage and cars were whizzing by very fast the whole time. It was nerve racking with a two year old who suddenly knows everything and feels like he can do what he wants. He has certainly made our trip more interesting if not difficult at some points. It made for a hectic time to keep an eye on our children in the mayhem of the airport while we dealt with the myriad of lines and checkpoints. Making it through to the parking lot from the airplane took us more time than the actual flight from Florida to Jamaica did. Sounds bad but it’s true we were in immigration and customs for what seemed a lifetime. On all my previous trips I traveled for less than 30 days and was never really questioned about my intent or my ability to support myself. After a day from hell to have that girl ask me if I could prove my ability to support my family for 90 days I was hopping mad. I lost it and she was pretty curse in her remarks that my troubles were not going to be hers. I understand they have a job to do but I wish they could understand us as well.

They really don’t make it easy at all to travel to Jamaica. It all sounds good on the advertisements but once you embark on your trip you realize they place more obstacles in your way to discourage your travels then they do concessions to accommodate us. We were one of the last flights in that day and it seemed half the staff was working on shutting down or not working at all. We carried lots of things for our 90 day adventure and they took time to rummage through every single bit of it. It was aggravating but necessary I guess. It seems redundant to go through checks of our baggage when we land after the inspection we’re given in the States but I realize they are looking for different things on both ends. What would have been nice was more accommodations for us. They were pretty adamant we stand directly in front of them and watch the search while we had two young children ready to leave and running around the lobby like wild bush kids. At times it seemed to me they reveled in our aggravation as if to say good for you for coming here. Maybe it was just me but I did get the feeling we were unwanted and an irritation to them for being there.

Traveling with kids can be a real headache but traveling with my two kids can be worse. Our oldest son AJ is autistic which requires attention and our two year old is having issue with control and he is deep in the middle of a “my” phase. Everything belongs to him and he’ll fight you for it. He was a handful in the airport and keeping control of him almost requires one of those kid leashes now. I hate those things but this trip made me rethink things. For safety sake I can see some need for those on occasion. Sadly we didn’t have one and Robby decided it was time to explore. I covered almost the entire airport that day including stairwells, bathrooms and behind counters. Half the staff at the concession stands knew his name and ended up watching him with me as he ran around the terminal in circles jacked up on Pepsi cola and Doritos chips. I suggest you plan according and bring multiple forms of entertainment for the young ones especially on longer flights. You’ll appreciate a portable DVD player and favorite movie like never before. A mobile game is probably even better but that’s between you and your kids. Whatever you do bring a couple choices to cover the boredom for them and don’t forget backup batteries. I brought a rechargeable battery center with loads of rechargeable batteries for all the gadgets and things we have. It’s been great already and looks to be a great investment. I’ve got some gadget reviews for Jamaica soon come mon.

A list of what to do and and what not to do before you travel to Jamaica would be great but it would only tell you whats good for me and my family in our travels. Traveling requires thinking and pre planning for things beyond your control. Case in point would be with our arrival in Mobay. Our original plans called for us to reach Negril as early as 5 PM with plenty time for a grocery run and dinner that evening but our flight delays brought us in after 9pm. Our plans were shot and we needed to modify, we had a junk food dinner from the likkle shop across the street and breakfast was soda, chips and honey buns at the Texaco Gas station on Sheffield Road early the next morning and well before anyone was open for business. The kids are up and ready to run at 6 am and nothing opens here until 9am so it was that or listen to them die of hunger for 2 hours. We can’t seem to function until after breakfast and better planning could have avoided this confusion. With all the junk we did bring a little more food would have helped quite a bit. Our plans to hit the grocery on the first evening were smashed when our flights were delayed and we hit evening traffic from Mobay. Now I realize food prices are quite a bit higher then we planned and I have had to adjust our budget. I’ll have more to say on shopping in Negril soon come.

Waking up in paradise eased many of our concerns but there were some troubles with that as well. I’m beginning to learn that not everything is as promised in Jamaica. Our room at the Heartbeat Hotel in Negril Jamaica is very nice and a deal at the rates we pay for the service we receive but it’s not exactly what we thought it was. The room is not air conditioned and the beach access is through an adjacent property which happens to be a pretty seedy looking bar that doesn’t get started till after midnight but never closes. The air conditioning is a tough one to handle but we’re living with it. The wireless access in our room has been spotty at best. I replaced the in house router with my own and it was great for the evening but when I woke up the router was dead. No action at all. I was able to reconfigure the existing one and move on but it gets fuzzy every afternoon when the rains come. The rains are sweet and cool off the sometimes brutal afternoon heat. The rain is great and much needed around here but it does lead to one prevailing problem in Jamaica and thats mosquitoes. The mosquito problem is huge. The mosquitoes are huge and the problem is beyond huge. We would be eaten alive if not for the screened windows which we are forced to keep closed each afternoon as the swarms invade from the hillside. The mosquitoes here are hungry and relentless in attack. Hand to hand combat is your best effort in this ever to be won war unless you relish poisoning yourself with DEET and other such chemical gents. The best I’ve found now is to sleep with the windows shut and and we lotion ourselves up because sand fleas still creep in and their bites can be worse than mosquitoes. Sleeping on near the ocean or beaches in Negril can be surreal but nature is a balance of pleasure and pain that you’ll need to learn to live with.

What to wear in Negril is a personal thing. You can actually wear whatever you want if anything at all but keeping it simple seems to work in all of Jamaica. My first trip to Jamaica found me walking around with logos and name brand labels on everything I owned and I noticed it made me marked as someone with money. It also reminded me how obvious those labels were to others and how oblivious I had become to them. I don’t think I purchased items because of the logos but it made me rethink how I look when I travel. I’ve found a pack of plain colored tee shirts works great for me. I prefer a solid earth tone shirt with simple board or cargo shorts and shoes of choice if necessary. I was also warned in the past that fresh new bright white socks are a sign of wealth to some so I run low profile black socks these days just to be safe and sexy

It’s hot in Jamaica and dressing appropriate is not only smart but easy. Dressing in layers with options for the fast changing Jamaican weather helps but in Negril you can wear what you want. I carry a waist bag with small poncho for those flash flood rain storms that pop up most afternoons. A heavy rain can soak you and your gear fast and a poncho comes to the rescue with ease. A good pair of shoes is a no brainer but in Jamaica I prefer a pair of hiking or trail style shoes with full toe protection. While a nice romantic walk in Jamaica sounds great the reality is the beach and access roads can be littered with glass and the potholes and road sholders are more like rough hiking trails with large rocks and debris to grab your toes and hurt you. I know it sounds cool to run around town like you do the beach and barefoot it I do not recommend doing so unless your feet are hardened and ready for a beating. My favorite pair of shoes is a pair of hiking sandals which covers the toes from bumps and bruises but also breathes well and can get wet if need be. They allow me the freedom to cover the variety of terrain and conditions you might encounter on any day in Jamaica without need to carry backup shoes.

The sun here is deadly and you can almost feel the skin cancer growing on you if you run around all day with no protection. It will bake creamy white human flesh like chicken in the oven and leave you looking worse than last nights lobster dinner in just one day. You have to be careful at all times. Even on an overcast day the suns rays are beaming through and it will have a lasting effect on you even when you don’t feel it. The sun takes more out of you than the Red Stripes on the beach and playing it safe is smart. I’m not going to get into what sun protection to wear but I’ll tell you to bring plenty and try different things. The obvious would be good suntan lotion with a decent SPF factor. Others will suggest you bring lightweight long sleeve clothing which may work well for them but not so for me. I can’t handle long sleeves or long pants in the sun. I find them suffocating and can only wear shorts and tee or tank tops. A decent skin lotion is my best choice. Suntan lotion is a luxury to many Jamaicans and the prices in local stores reflect it. Average price at the Key West Pharmacy in Negril was over $700 Jamaica Dollars for a medium size tube of 30 SPF. At 65 Jamaican to 1 US thats $10.95 I paid for a 12 ounce bottle of 45 SPF Baby sun protection. The whole issue over what size liquids containers you can bring on airplanes had me leave a few things we needed. We probably could have brought 3 bottles from home for the same price we paid for one bottle here. We brought some but it would not have lasted our entire trip and just finding the right stuff in Negril was hard enough. The Hi Lo only carries an SPF 15 Tan Accelerator and some other over priced junk with lower SPF. Nowhere have I seen any high performance stuff like the zinc oxide type high SPF creams for water sports and such. I’ll have to try some dive shops or maybe higher end gift shops and hotels for better stuff for the kids at the beach.

A full days sun can be hard on the eyes and good sunglasses are a must. I suggest you consider purchasing more than one pair of sun glasses for those times when one pair can’t be found. No matter how hard we try our room ends up a mess and keeping track of things like sunglasses, room keys and cameras becomes a chore without some proper planning. Keeping things in one place helps but the kids don’t always cooperate and misplaced items makes it necessary to run through a checklist of sorts before we leave to make certain we have everything we need for our trip including an itinerary and cab fare separate from grocery money. I have a multi bag setup which includes my waist pack, my shoulder bag and my backpack which I use based on my adventures for the day. The full backpack is usually to much unless we’re taking the kids to the beach and bringing towels and cameras and stuff. I usually run around with a waistbag that has multiple pockets. This allows me to keep cash separated so I don’t have to show all my money for things like cab rides and jerk stands. It carries a mobile phone, room keys, digital camera, cash, credit cards and I can stuff my shades and a small washcloth in it. It looks touristy but it’s the most convenient and safest to carry. I never leave it anywhere and it’s far more difficult to snatch. Having things right in front is handy and even the wife and kids can reach it should they need to.

I’m fully embracing technology and we have a decent setup of gadgets and gear with us. We brought the JVC digital camera which shoots nice DVD quality video but takes crap pictures. I use it for video shoots of the kids and I’ve done some nice sunsets with it but it has limitations and it’s bulkier to carry. For this trip I wanted a new digital camera that shot good size photos and I also wanted something waterproof so I could go on a snorkel trip or two. I ended up choosing a Sea Life SL320 because one was available in Fort Lauderdale on the day of our flight. My order for a Vivitar Vivicam 6300w fell through and it was to be delayed beyond our departure flight. The SL320 cost more but its a much better dive camera. Rated at 130 feet this thing goes well beyond my limits and has been a real blast thus far. I’m preparing a gadget review on my Sea Life Sl320 soon come. I needed a new laptop and went with a refurbished Gateway from TigerDirect that simply rocks. It’s a very nice computer and I could not be happier with it. It comes with all the ports and connections I need including firewire and USB 2.0 and the Centrino Duo lets me create movies from my video camera while the kids watch a DVD movie through the attached 22 inch monitor using an extended desktop. We forgot the remote to the Xbox so the kids can’t use the multifunction 22″ monitor for anything but games for now. Soon come the remote from grandmother in the States. I have the laptop setup to power the monitor with a DVD movie and the Xbox is attached so the kids have something to do besides swim at the beach and run around the property. Both Robby and AJ have taken to having their picture taken much better than before but Robby has become a real camera hog. He loves to have his picture taken and now he wants to take pictures. He’s been running around with the SL320 and popping some odd shots of cats and trees. It’s neat and it would be awesome if he took to photography at a young age because of it.

Ok, this post has grown to huge proportions and I can write all day. I’m ending it here with comments open for questions or suggestions. Does anyone need to know anything else about moving to Negril Jamaica?

We’re pushing things right up until the very end with the passports. Everyone but Elise has their passports and we’re becoming concerned there will be delays with hers that force us to travel without it. She meets the necessary requirements to travel with a copy of the passport application and a drivers license but I’m worried what hassles we’ll have returning with those documents afterwards. They claim we can return with no trouble but what concerns me is her being denied a passport for some reason and them questioning her eligibility to return at all. She was born in America but as I have mentioned here before here birth certificate was filed for late and has been stamped “Delayed” and this has become a serious issue in establishing her birth here.

I’ve found others that may face the same travel arrangements as us but not anyone who has actually made the trip yet. I also don’t know of anyone else having the same problems with the delayed birth records. Is anyone else going to be traveling abroad or to the Caribbean and Jamaica on the new passport regulations with a passport application receipt and photo id instead of a passport?

I’ve been searching more and more for ideas and I definitely think I’ll find better deals on nice places. I considered various all inclusive places for a portion of this trip just to let the family relax in a nice place but reading some of the opinions on the web about this has changed my mind. It’s obvious to me that many of these resorts are pretty expensive for services we don’t need or want and mot of them are out of touch with the real Jamaica that we hope to see. This guy got married and had a good time, this guy went to a convention and this guy below enjoyed himself but many others did not.

Seemant Kulleen - Post details: For Love or Money

When we were looking into resorts and all-inclusives in the Caribbean last summer, we discovered a nice place in Ocho Rios, Jamaica that offered very decent rates. So basically, for the amount that we would’ve paid for a basic room in the Bahamas got us a fairly high-end room in Jamaica. So we decided to opt with Jamaica because we’d get more luxury for the buck. Boy were we in for a surprise. We thought we were getting a private type affair, with less people per pool, and a great view and location on the premises. Being an all-inclusive, food and tips were included. Drinks were also included. So at any bar, any restaurant at any time of day, you can get your favourite drink.

We have had reservations at HeartbeatJamaica for some time now and I was starting to think we would not find a good deal online but today we scored a great rate on some popular rooms in the Negril Cliffs. If all goes as planned we’ll be staying at The LTU for much of August and possibly September also. I know I had plans to travel all over the island and we may well still but securing accommodations seemed the best thing and if I happen to find a better deal or change my mind then I can do so then. For now I wanted to know we have accommodations for our entire trip and it looks like LTU Villas is for us. Summer travel is apparently very slow this year and the rates we’re finding from some places is super affordable. I’ll let you deal with them direct but I can say that I got a room for less then the cost of my mortgage payment and if it were available year round I would just move right in.

You might think thats a good thing but it might not be. When times are tough in Jamaica people g3et tougher and tourists like us will need to remain alert and on their toes. Discussions on some top Jamaica forums such as Jamaicans.com or the Negril message boards at Negril.com show that some vendors and even established businesses on the beach are taking advantage of those travelers that are making it by charging higher than usual prices or even overcharging and in some cases outright lying to customers to gouge them for an extra buck or two. It’s a shame that people are put in a position to do such things and in the end cost themselves some future business and a little self respect.

I’ve dealt with Jamaicans after some hard times before and my first trip was a nightmare because of it. I visited just a few short months after 911 and things were bad. We had a 100 guys try to rip us off every step of the way and it was pretty bad. I ended up loving the trip but was saddened at how the people were forced to treat me. I remember from that trip that things in Negril always seemed different and I’m hoping that it will be the same for us again. I know I’ll get ripped once or twice but I think this time around I’m ready for them.