Today was another relaxing day. Aunty Donna wanted to spend most of the day at the beach. So everyone was awake before me as oer usual. I finally dragged myself out of bed and emerged to join everyone else. Dad made pancake batter last night, so this morning he slaved over a hot stove top cooking pancakes. Mmmm pancakes. We all had our fill and there was still one and half left. Dad asked if Nelly would like them. So she came into the Villa sat down at the table and enjoyed Dad's pancakes with butter and maple syrup.
After breakfast Aunty Donna, Uncle Michael, Carline and myself went into Ocho Rios to buy their bus tickets back to Kingston for Saturday. I only went because their might have been a spending opportunity (which there wasn't). All since we have been here we have been trying to get a photo of the Ocho Rios sign and finally this morning I did and then my battery went flat. Starting to wonder if my camera battery is a little bit crap.
So after going to the bank an then to the bus depot we got back to the Villa and the sun was still shining so we raced inside and all got in our swimmers. Before we left I lathered sunscreen in my arms, chest and face while Dad lathered sunscreen on my back and on the back of my arms. All of us except Carline went to the beach. We drove down to the beach piled out and went over to the usual sun chairs dump our stuff. We looked at the clock and it was 11:30. Dad took the first watch over the bag while he finished his smoke. He waited til Nan had finished getting her feet wet then came into the water.
I spent most of the time in the water, but got out twice. The first time I was out i had a towel draped over my head and shoulders to keep them out of the sun. The second time I got out was t have a cocktail, but still had the towel over my face and shoulders. Mind you when Aunty Donna and I went to the bar to get the drinks the life guard who couldn't guard shit apart from his drink started to chat to me and asked me to take him back to Australia. Once I again I had to repeat NO! After the cocktail we went back into the water for a while. i started to feel my face stinging so I got out of the water and sat under the shade with Nan. All of this time Aunty Donna and Uncle Michael have been laying on the chairs trying to get some colour. Mind you with NO sunscreen. They did get a little burnt and will have a little colour tomorrow. I told the others that I was stinging. So as soon as I got back to the Villa I jumped in and had a cold shower to stop what little sunburn I had. Well I certainly got a shock when I looked in the mirror.
I went out to the living room with a towel wrapped around me and when everyone saw me their mouths fell wide open. Aunty Donna couldn't believe that this happened in just two hours with heaps of sunscreen on. Carline jumped up and said she was going to find a Aloe Vera plant. She found one and came back for a knife. She disappeared for a few minutes while I went and got changed. She then came out with a bowl and aloe vera skins and asked me to come to her bathroom I followed her through. I took off my shirt and pulled my arms back through my bra straps so I was still wearing them. I stood in the bath/shower while she rubbed in all the aloe vera juicy gooyness flesh over my face, chest, arms and back. So I stood in the bath/shower for 30 mins while I let all this goo absorb into my skin. While I pull all the chunks off my arms, chest and in my bra. After what seems like forever Carline, Aunty Donna and Nan come in to see how I'm going. Everything is fine but I'm itchy as all hell. So Aunty Donna goes and gets a tomato out of the fridge. Aunty Donna and Carline start to cut the tomato into round chunks and rub it into my skin.
I have to say that it is the first time I have ever had tomato rubbed into my skin. So after waiting another couple of minutes I go and have another cold shower to rinse it off it all. The combination has worked. It isn't as toned down the redness. However it is still VERY, VERY HOT!!!! So I have held off rubbing in moisturiser til this evening as I don't want to blister.
So after my shower I come out and have the tuna sandwich that Nan has made for me. Aunty Donna and Carline go into their rooms for a nana nap. Uncle Michael is asleep on the couch, Dad is on the laptop and Nan is reading. So I sit on the couch and watch episode after episode after episode of The Mentalist.
So everyone wakes up and we decide to go out to dinner to the restaurant at the beach. So I'm getting changed and I really didn't want to wear a bra to dinner, however I didn't think that would be wise. So I struggled to put on my bra and might I say I almost gave up because of the pain. So I finally got dressed and at 19:30 we headed out to dinner. We got to the restaurant Bamboo Blu and no-one is there we are the only diners which is great. The only annoying thing was the lighting was very poor but we managed. The night was lovely. We were sitting close to the water. There was a light breeze, no humidity and the beautiful sound of the music and the waves. Perfect.
We got lovely glasses of cold water and some candles to look at the menu. So everyone who has a phone pulled it out and used it as a source of light. We ordered the first round of drink. Nan and Carline sticked to water, Uncle Michael had as light beer, Dad had a virgin Pina Colada and Aunty Donna and I had Sex on the Beach.
So the waitress comes back over and we order our dinner. Nan, Uncle Michael, Carline and I had chicken wings in a sweet and sour barbecue sauce. Dad and Aunty Donna have crab wontons with a dipping sauce.
We get our starters and we are blown away by how delicious they are. So we are swapping pieces of our starters to try them all. Noe main meal. Uncle Michael and Carline had Jerk Chicken, Nan had Fi Wi which is fish and chips. Aunty Donna, Dad and I have .................. These are before and after shots of our main meal. That's right Mum Fresh Grilled Lobster. Are you jealous yet?? So when our mains come we order another round if drinks. Nan sticks with water, Carline and Dad have Virgin Pina Colada, Uncle Michael has another light beer and Aunty Donna and I have real Pina Coladas.
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| Jerk Chicken |
After we finish our mains and are stuffed beyond belief we pay and head back to the Villa where I get changed into my pj's so there is less pain. Then I sit down to start the blog. Nan is reading, Uncle Michael is doing something on the computer then goes to reading. Aunty Donna and Carline discuss music and listen to some songs and Dad starts to watch TV then falls asleep as per usual.
So now that I have updated you with everything I'm gonna go to bed and try to get some sleep. Night night all. Happy reading. Talk to you from another journey tomorrow.
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| Fi Wi - Fish and Chips |
So we decided to leave early this morning as we are told that is takes a while to get up the mountains. Aunty Donna wanted to leave between 07:00 - 08:00. Aunty Donna came knocking on my door at 06:00 as I had asked her to come and wake me as I don't have an alarm. However as it is in my nature I went back to sleep. I woke up all blurry eyed and got up and looked at my watch. I read 07:30. I jolt awake throw my clothes on and go out into the kitchen where I see Aunty Donna and start to apologise for sleeping in. She then tells me it's only 06:30 where I laugh and get something for breakfast.
We grab the water bottle out of the freezer and chuck them into the bag and leave. We all pile into the car and just before we get off we look at the clock. 07:38. No bad almost leave exactly between 07:00 and 08:00. We set off driving down and realising that we only have a little fuel. So as the attendant is topping up the car Aunty Donna and I go into the shop and get some tick-tacks and some gum. Essential travelling food. Uncle Michael and Carline tell us that the was through Fern Gully is beautiful but unfortunately it is closed so we go the other way which is not so comfortable. The road is about as wide as a single lane but it was a two way road and is full of pot-holes. So it was very bumpy.
After we wound our way up and down the mountains we finally reached flat ground of Spanish Town. After a while we reach Trench Town within Kingston. This is where Gloria lives. We are greeted by the barking of Carline's dog Kenya a Shit zu X Terrier. Surprisingly big dog. Kenya doesn't like visitors so much, so Carline up Kenya behind the gate for our safety, then we entered the house. Gloria's house is beautiful. Love the outside the colour. Gloria has great taste. We went first to drop off a few things of Uncle Michael and Carline's and so they could pick a few things up. Also at the house was the VERY energetic Davnick who is two. He decided that he liked Dad's hat and so he took it from Dad. He decided to climb up on the couch and on me because he liked my sunnies and tried to take them from me. However I am rather protective of my sunnies so he was a little disappointed.
After a short chat we piled back into the car and head round to Liberty Hall. Liberty Hall still practises the teaching and the beliefs of Marcus Garvey. Marcus Garvey was a man who was born in the wrong era. He was one of the first people to fight for black people's rights. He formed the UNIA - United Negro Improvement Association. Where Liberty Hall is situated is the same sight where the UNIA headquarters was. The headquarters was only one of thousands around the world, including Australia. Not only did he fight for black people's rights, he also tried to get people to know where they come from and to try to put an end to skin bleaching which is still a huge problem today. There is a museum dedicated to Marcus Garvey. What we did learn is that people like Martin Luther King and Bob Marley used Marcus Garvey works and words.
Not only does Liberty Hall have a museum dedicated to Marcus Garvey they also help unprivileged children and adults basic skills. Each time they come they pay J$20 which is equivalent to 21c Australian. They learn how to read, write, maths, computer skills plus more. This is such an amazing organisation. I strong recommend you look up Marcus Garvey and look up the Liberty Hall. www.instituteofjamaica.org.jm. So after having a private tour of the museum and the building itself by Carline's friend Andrew who works there.
We shoot off to the other side of Kingston to Port Royal where there is old Port Charles which survived the destructive earthquake of 1692 which destroyed the city. We got a tour and we went into two original buildings. The first had tools and general objects from before the earthquake and after. The next building had only things from the hospitals and from the docks again from before and after the earthquake. The fort was very interesting, HOWEVER there is only so many canons I can take before I get sick of them. Dad however was in heaven. So after touring the fort we went to the Giddy House. If you can't read the sign the Giddy House was built in 1888 by the Royal Engineers as an ammuntion storage facility. In 1907 there was another earthquake and the Giddy house was only partly swallowed five feet. It is still sinking at approximately 15 degrees on the vertical axies. when you step into the building you have a sence of unbalance and feel giddy. Hence the name. Giddy House. We are inside taking a photo of our guide Kimberly outside.
After having our fill of the Giddy House which was actually quite fun we leave to go back to Gloria's where she is making us lunch. Not far from the Charles Fort Dad spots a Naval Cematry. Aunty Donna pulls over so Dad can get out and have a look while we all stay in the car and wait. After Dad finally gets back we start to head back. It takes us a while to get back to Trench Town. When we get there, there is an aroma of fish. We are served a traditional meal of breadfruit, ackee with salt fish and fried salted fish. The fried fish are whole and YES Mum I ate all including the head. The ackee is the thing looking like scrambled eggs. That is quite delicious. So us normal people were full after one helping, but being a wee bit differant Dad had four helpings. Much to the delight of Gloria. After lunch we had some Jamaican apples which are very similar to a Nashi Pear. With lunch we got some homemade ginger beer. Mum Aunty Donna said it's pretty much the same as Pa use to make. When I got the ginger beer I took a great big gulp only to feel the burn all down my throat.
With this morning pretty much dedicated to Dad we decided to dedicate this afternoon to us ladies. Thats right ladies and gentleman finally time to spend money.....shopping. After lunch and chatting and saying good-bye to Gloria. We told Carline that we wanted to go down town. Carline was a little worried as she was going to take us up town. Up town is calmer and not to sound racist but where the white people go and Down town is completly opposite to be bluntly honest filthy and stinky. It was a good experience though. We managed to get some Jamaican shirts and get some other little souviners. Sorry their are no photo's Carline told me it was better i didn't take any. She said people would steal the camera right out if my hands or want money from me because I was taking photo. I didn't want to risk it.
All the while Dad is looking bored and I have to say payback. So after a couple of hours we head back to the carpark. Just before the carpark we walked past some people trying to sell some dresses and let me say that there was a very strong and destinctive smell of wacky-weed. You wouldn't wanna buy the dresses and try to get them through customs.
Once we got out of the rat race of the Kingston city we went to Carline's friends place to get the key for their flat. Then we went to their house to drop off all the wedding things. Around 19:15 we headed off home. I have to say top driving to Aunty Donna who conquored the mountains last night like a pro.
So we arrived back at the Villa last night around 21:20. Once we got all bags inside we proceeded to do something about dinner. I chopped cheese and tomatoes for cheese and crackers while Aunty Donna made her fabulous and famous scones with the limited ingredients. So instead of white chocolate she used malted milk powder. They turned out just as good.
So now that I have had my feast I am going to have a shower and crash in bed. Tomorrow will be a more relaxing day. So nighty, night speak to you tomorrow. Happy reading.
So this morning I had a sleep in and got shocked when I woke up and saw it was 09:30 considering that Aunty Donna wanted to leave at 09:45. After I got dressed and emerged from my room the table was set for breakfast. Then I remembered that we planned to have bacon and eggs for breakfast. So Aunty Donna sets out to cook the bacon lovely and crunchy none of this soft business, while Nan is cooking scrambled eggs. Eggs are cooked and Nan is putting them on the toast while Dad and Aunty Donna make mango smoothies. Dad cuts the mango's up. 1 1/2 normal sized ones and one the size of and R2E2 it's massive. Once that is done Aunty Donna puts in ice, milk and the rest of the ice-cream and blends the hell out of it until it is drinking consistency.
so we get everything to the table and notice that Dad and I are the only ones eating bacon. Aunty Donna doesn't eat pork because she finds it too salty. Carline and Uncle Michael don't eat bacon and Nan had already had her breakfast when she got up so she was just having some fruit. To be honest I think Dad and I were both a little over the moon about having extra crunchy bacon. I don't like mango so everyone one is having fresh mango smoothies and I have some fruit drink.
Aunty Donna was itching to go the the Runaway Bay and Green Grotto Caves ever since she landed so that is what we set out to do this morning, via the Battle Museum at Rio Nuevo which we missed out last Saturday. It cost us US$3 to get in and our guide was Eldon. The first thing that he showed us was the Pimento tree who's berry is the main ingredient in a popular Jamaican spice mix Jerk. The smell from the leaf alone was quite pungent and lovely. Eldon told us when the berries are ready they are black and the aroma, taste and heat are doubled.
After looking the the trees we went down to the back of the yard where you saw this amazing view and you got to see the bay where some of the battle actually took place. It is amazing to see how the ocean and the sky eventually melt into each other.
So after our look at the setting we go into the museum which is actually small but very well done. http://www.jnht.com/news/2009/07/_rio_nuevo_battle_site_officia_1.php. The next photo the original design and outline of the fort. All this is left today is the bottom left hand corner.
After Eldon tells us all the info we go and buy some books. Aunty Donna buys one where Dad buys two. Go figure. We jump back into the car and drive 20 minutes to where the Villa is located and continue to drive in the other direction towards Montego Bay and the airport. All the time we have been here we have tried to get a photo of an old water mill ruin that is on the side of the road. So this morning while heading to the caves we pulled off and Dad and I got out to get some pictures and it was worth it and the few honks of horns we received.
After a short while we get to the caves. We jump out and walk out to the administration area and was met by Mario who is a lovely man with a good sense of humour. He told us that the admission fee's were.J$1,845 or US$20 each. Uncle Michael and Carline paid for all of us on their card. When talking to Mario he was asking our names and got a bit confused with the two Michael's and so to make it worse Carline said her name was Monica, the same as Nan. The poor fellow had a heart attack. So we went through with all real names.
One we had paid and went to the loo as a percussion, there are no loo's near the caves and the tour is 45 mins to and hour. We were taken over to the entrance by Mario and there we met Avrol who was our guide. We got given our hard hats and a hair net. i had trouble with my first hat as it was a little small. I got it on my head but as I tried to take it off to get it to sit right it came apart and was met by a wall of laughter and then I was given a new helmet.
We then got some group photo's of us. Dad and I couldn't resist on giving bunny ears. I did take lots of photo's inside the caves but as per usual I am not putting them all up.
As soon as we walk into the caves we are hit by a smell and then the bats. They are tiny fruit bat and really quite cute. We are advised that is we look up to close our mouths. Some unfortunate sole in the past has obviously had guana fall into their mouth. We were told that the holes in the cave with muck were not called guana or excrement. They were called holy crap. That comment received a round of uproar from us laricans. The first caves we went into were the Runaway Bay Cave. It got it's name by the leader of the Spanish back in the day Ysassi ran to the caves after the English came and slaughtered all his men. He lived in the cave for two years before he found is escape route and fled the country to Cuba.
Funnily enough everywhere in the caves where these clusters of bats. I couldn't get over how small they were. On the odd occasion we would see a decent sized bat flying around. I tried SO hard to get a picture of a bat in mid flight but unfortunately that never happened so these clusters of bats will have to do.
All around the cave were all these stalactites and stalagmites. For people who don't know get a dictionary. Just joking. Stalactites are a type of limestone that droop from the roof of the cave the secrete a mineralized solution. When that solution hits the floor of the caves it reacts with calcium carbonate and that forms stalagmites which come from the floor and grow up to the stalactite and they will eventually meat and form a coloum. This process take decades.
As we were moving among the cave we came across all these stalagmites with odd shapes. I'll these tour guides have certainly got an imagination or they just have alot of time on their hands. Look at the next two photo's carefully. The first one is a candle with the wick at the top and all the was dripping down and the second one there is the wife on the left hand side holding a baby looking up at her husband on the right. He is looking up and you can see his beard and all is hair falling behind him. Quite cleaver don't you think?
So as we were continuing through the cave we finally come out to see that the all the rocks are actually huge pieces of coral. Obviously there was a earthquake to push the land up and the coral and the caves stayed. Here is Dad acting like nutter (as per usual) exiting the cave. We walk round to the next cave through this rain forest scenery. The next cave is Green Grotto Cave it is called that because of the natural green colour of the rocks and the grotto of water.
In this picture you can see the green rocks and all the tree roots behind it. These roots are actually longer that the tree itself. The tree roots go all the way down the 37 meters to the grotto. It is unbelievably beautiful nothing like we have ever seen. We thought we were looking at the floor and ceiling of the cave. It turns out that is was a perfect mirror image on the stillest water that as so clear you didn't even know it was there until Avrol told us. Avrol said he wanted to show us something so we turn off all camera and he turns off the the light and shines his torch on a particular part of the ceiling and in the water is shone is the shape of a bat with out stretched wings. Aunty Donna then shout "that's Batman's sign! It's the bat cave!" We all then start to sing nananana, nanana BATMAN!! With laughter following. I tried to get a photo but is was too dark. So when we came down we had to go down 67 steep and windy stairs. To make it worse the stairs were odd shaped. Down I was more worried about falling down the stairs. Coming back up the stairs I was more worried about falling back on whoever was behind me.
So we get back up the stairs and get out of the cave where I catch my breathe don't know about anyone else.
We walk round to the next cave which is the wishing well. We all got coins thanks to Carline as no one else had coins. We got inside and waited for someone to go first. Aunty Donna did but unfortunately she didn't throw it quite right and didn't make it to the water. So she got another coin. We watched Avrol and got the gist and started to hear the drops of coins as we throw them in. We then walk out and into the last cave. The way back to the administration hut. On the way we saw the Map of Jamaica.
Can you see the similarity between the sign and the cave. So just before we exit we go through what is known as the Spanish Exit. It is known that because there is a rock that looks like a mans face and when a torch is shone onto it, the Shadow looks like a mans face with a helmet on side profile.
So we exit the caves to a lovely and welcomed breeze we take off out hard hats and hair nets. Go and wash our hands and buy some drinks as we are all thirsty. We pile back into the car and head to Falmouth and unfortunately this is where i fell asleep so I missed that. Sorry. But from what Aunty Donna has told me it seems to be a big crime area as there are police everywhere and has so much potential. So as we are heading back to the Villa we see a sign that says Stewart Castle. So in the spirit of being a tourist Aunty Donna pulls off the road. After going up and not seeing very many signs and almost chucking a u-turn there it is. A crumbled ruin and quite a sight. Then the stories surfaced between Dad and Aunty Donna of the castles and ruins is the UK and Europe. And there goes my eyes rolling. Live in the present people.
After walking around the old estate and the ruins of Stewart Castle for quite a while we jumped back into the car and headed back. On the way we stopped at a supermarket and got the things that we needed. Milk, bread, butter, cheese etc. On the way back we went through Priory. Remembering that we over shot Seville House the first time we went slow this time. Not seeing any signs Aunty Donna pulled into this drive way which looked like it belonged to a grand house. After almost getting bogged on the biggest pothole on the crappiest road we make it to the house. I have never seen so many anchors in the one place. This place is once again a ruin. I have never seen so many separate building belonging to the same estate. We didn't get to see them all as some people still live there and we didn't want to disturb them. The house even has it's own little bridge and river.
This house actually reminds me of a Sherlock Holmes movie, The Last Vampire. So after spend quite a bit of time going over the estate and looking at all the ruins we climb back into the car and drive back. We get back to the Villa around 19:00 hours. We put the groceries away and Dad cooks dinner tonight of spaghetti. SO happy it wasn't chicken. So it has been yet another full day and an even bigger one tomorrow having to leave early, but you can all read about that tomorrow.
I'm going to have a much needed shower and an early night of 00:45. Nighty, night. Talk tomorrow. Happy reading.
I have to put this up. I finished the blog last night and was walking to go to bed when I spotted our nightly visitor. Every night we have been at Villa Caribbean Dawn we have noticed it in different places. The kitchen, laundry the hallway just to name a few. At home in Maryborough, Queensland Australia http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/ we have a green tree frog that I have called Roger that comes in and hops around the house. Here at the Villa in Jamaica we have a hermit crab.
So we decided that we would get up at 08:00 to leave by 10:00 as we planned to go to Firefly house. For people that don't know Firefly was the house of Noel Coward. So at 10:45 we hit the road (not bad I know right). We know that Firefly is In the same direction of Port Maria which is 33 kms from Ocho Rios. So we get about halfway when Carline tells Aunty Donna to stop driving. We're all thinking she has to be sick. She tells Aunty Donna "Turn around. I have to show you guys something AMAZING!". So Aunty Donna chucks a u-turn and drives back. Carline says "Here, here. It's here". So we pull up to this unmarked gate. The security guard comes out. Carline asks him if we can come in and have a tour.
So he tells us he will call reception and ask if we are allowed in. So he spends a few minutes there and we are all thinking that we aren't. However he comes back out and opens the gate. So we drive in. It is called GoldenEye Hotel and Resort http://www.goldeneye.com. It is a very exclusive resort where quite a few A-List celebrities come to holiday. That is why there is no signage for privacy. Carline originally wanted to have the wedding reception held here, but unfortunately the person she was contacting left so it was a no go. We get into the resort and park where we are met by Candice who will be giving us our tour. This place is like an eco resort. Everything is natural.
We follow Candice who leads us down these stairs and we are taken back by the secret natural beauty that faces us. This place it hidden to the world, but I gather that is the whole point. Candice takes us down and across the suspension bridge to the main part of the resort. They have boats that you can use on the water. However, you can also swim and snorkel. In the next photo you can see probably hundreds of White Bait in the water. For people who don't know White Bait is a tiny fish.
We get on the beach with such amazing views. The stone island in the middle you can walk over to it. Candice told us that it is waist height. So on me that would be bust height. On the island is chairs where you can lay in the sun and really be away from everyone.
Candice then starts to take us around the beach cabins. It is so cute that they all have their own little fences that are made out of old tree trunks. We go into cabin number 14 and OMFG. It has a small kitchen but the rooms make up for it. Huge beds both upstairs and downstairs and four claw bath tubs. It is designed for parents to sleep in the top room and lock themselves away from their children.
All around the park all all different species of flower and plants. They are quite beautiful. i would really like to know what they are. Glenda Pitman if you read my blog and if you know what they are I would really love to know. If Glenda doesn't read my blog (Why Not?!) Mum you may have to act as a carrier Pigeon.
So once we have walked around the cottage Candice takes us out and she takes us to the Bizot Bar. When proper guests come to stay they are given a compliment welcome drink which is a cocktail called a Golden Eye. Funny that. So we get round to the bar and we are given a complimentary welcome gift. The one and the same Golden Eye which was made with the owners locally produced dark rum. Aunty Donna, Uncle Michael and I had the cocktails. Carline had a glass of iced water and Dad and Nan shared a glass of local fruit juice. As Aunty Donna was driving she didn't finish her drink as it was quite strong, so I had to pick up the slack.
After our refreshments we went round to the most famous Villa. IanFlemming's villa. Ok so now you people might be getting the name now. For people who don't know Ian Flemming was the man who wrote the James Bond novel's which then came to be major film's which we all know about. OMG I can't put all of them up sorry.
This villa includes 3 buildings, a pool, private gardens, a pond and an out door bathroom and your own staff. One of the buildings is a cinema and bar. Now that's my type of room. Here is a picture of one of Ian Flemming's manuscripts and shorts.
It was quite amazing to see the actual desk where he wrote most of the books. There is the photo of the amazingly beautiful and private outside bath. It was very tempting to just stand under the stream of water or how Jamaicans spell it wata. But somehow I don't think Candice would have liked that very much. The only thing I would be worried about would be the spiders. To less adventurous people there are indoor bathrooms as well, but what is the fun in that.
All the Villa, huts and all parts of the resorts are linked by water. The resorts supplies kiak type boats so you can paddle to where you want to go. But with wata like this why would you want to paddle. Once we finally left the Amazing Ian Flemming Villa we went over to the spa. Once again we were not disappointed. They have all these little separate huts or treatment rooms as they cal them. You can get single ones or double ones for couples or inseparable friends aka Donna Mclennan and I. So we met Newton who was the mersuse there. He was chucked on the spot but was lovely to us. We got two glasses or freshcoconut wata that we shared between the six of us. Carline tried her hardest to get a free massage from Newton, but too much disappointment she didn't get it. Here is a photo or Newton and myself. On our way to the spas we got lost as Candice had only been there for four days. So when we got lost we actually went onto the owners private part of the island and was met by a surprise of a huge centipede that was made of metal. When I saw it I think I jumped 100 feet and shouted "Is that real?". Everyone was laughing their heart out and said "NO!" apart from one person who said "Yes". Don't know who though.
So after getting my picture taken with Newton we left and were back on our way to the lobby. Candice was going to get us a card with her e-mail and the website address so we could chuck her the link. I would love to stay at GoldenEye but I would have to sell my arms, legs, liver and kidney at the black market. It may be expensive but it is worth it people. start saving. When we were in the villa's I saw the best beach towels. They had towel material in the centre and then other type of fabric around the edges. I told myself that I would pay up to US$80. However much to my disappointment they were actually US$120 so I had to pass them up.
So we were told to get to Firefly House to go through Port Maria. So we did that and Aunty Donna got an increasingly odd feeling that we were going the wrong way. So when we found a local we pulled over and Dad asked in the way to Jamaican men would speak. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the mans face but we were told by Carline that is was another MasterCard moment........Priceless.
She said it was funny for him because Dad is white and he is speaking black. So I'm pretty sure that it made the mans day. After he got over the shock he told us that we had overshot it and that it is just outside of Port Maria in the direction that we just came from. So Dad and Carline got back into the car and headed back. Here is the picture of the roads that we all picture Jamaican roads to look like in the cities and towns. So we are heading back the way that we came and we finally see the Firefly sign. Aunty Donna is kicking herself because she saw the sign the first time and thought is said Firefly, but as we got closer she couldn't quite make it out.
So we head up and just told to follow the road up. So that what we do. We are driving for about 10 minutes and think that we have gone too far. So we park and a police car passes. Aunty Donna beeps the horn. The police officer stops and reverses. We asks for directions and he tells us it's not far. So we decide to follow him thinking he might lead us there. After another few minutes we hit a little community and he stops and is talking to a local man when he tells us just up the road. Carline advises us that Jamaican up the road isn't the same as ours. In Australia when we say just up the road we mean just that a couple of blocks or so. In Jamaica up the road could be a couple of kms or hours.
So we persist. Finally we reach it after about another 10 minutes. The road is SO bad. huge potholes everywhere and chunks missing out of the road. Of course the Firefly house has to be at the VERY to of the mountain at 1,200 ft above sea level. Firefly is the house of Noel Coward who was a British play write among many things. Firefly was his second house and it has not been changed since the Queen Mothers visit in 1963.
Noel had many famous visitors to his house and their pictures are now framed. Noel lived in Jamaica for 30 years before dying of a heart attack at the age of 73 in 1972. His body is buried on the estate. His will dictated that everything would go to his friend. However his friend found it too hard with all the memories so he left it in the hands of the Jamaican government, who intern made it a museum. It is very interesting. Unfortunately we were rushed through as there was actually a wedding taking place. It was lovely of them to take us through and not turn us away. It is quite understandable with views like this that the early seamen thought they would sail off the ends of the world.
So we thought that before we go we better got a photo of Noel Coward and Dad in similar poses. We all knew the cigarette would come in handy some day and it did. Here is also a photo of a original map of Jamaica drawn in the 1700's. How that for preservation.
Unfortunately this is where my camera died and Dad didn't bring his. I know right how could you possibly forget your camera. So there are no photo's for the best bit ever.
We leave Firefly and head back. We pull off the road to James Bond Beach. We thought why not go and have a look. We pull up and it gated. We have to pay to get in to see a beach where a Bond woman did the famous sultry walk out of the water. So we decide that we don't wanna pay so we don't go in. But we stop at the best bit. A make shift shop where two Jamaican man Michael and Kevin are there. We originally stopped because they had crabs and we wanted to get come to cook for dinner. They were still alive strung up. Carline said it wouldn't be wise as they would have been like that all day out if water and wouldn't be nice by the time we came to cook them.
They were selling something we haven't tried yet. Breadfruit. Kevin was eating lunch consisting of roasted breadfruit, avocado and roast chicken. Carline tells them we haven't tried it before so Kevin goes out back and comes back with a plate consisting of roasted breadfruit, avocado and roast chicken for us. So we tuck in as we are starving by this point with all the local children looking at us with amazement.
Breadfruit is hard to describe. You can't est it raw it MUST be cooked. It is quite soft/mushy and slightly powdery. By itself it is very bland and off putting BUT with the avocado and chicken together is AMAZING. Once Kevin saw we like it so much he gave us the rest of his lunch. The Michael who only has one hand starts to cut the tops off the green coconuts puts a straw in them and hands them to us. Uncle Michael actually asked for them. So now we weredrinking coconut water straight out of the coconut. Doesn't get any fresher than this. When we have finished Michael takes them back and starts t cut them again. We are then eating the coconut flesh straight out if the coconut shell with raw sugar. the coconut looks like nothing we are use to.
It is slimy and slopping with a little hardness to it. At first it taste's nothing like coconut but as you keep eating you get the flavour. Then Uncle Michael asks if we can try a mango. It once again isn't a mango we are use to. It is like a huge apricot but with hard grey skin similar to rockmelon. It had four seed similar to apricot seeds and tastes like apricot but it is part of the mango family. We have never seen or heard of this fruit before and Michael and Kevin have never seen or heard of apricots before. So Uncle Michael gets six mango's, avocados which are slightly different to ours and passion fruit.
After Uncle Michael pays and we are leaving Dad gives them extra money for sharing their lunch with us and just for being so nice. I think I can speak for everyone when I say this. Best lunch ever.
So as we are coming home we stop by a military museum which is unfortunately closed.there is a pre independence shindig happening there. The woman who was talking to us or main Dad has actually heard of the Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum. That took Dad by surprise. So we said we would be back and left for them to party. They originally thought we were British because they of Dad's accent. How they came to that conclusion I don't know. So Carline grabs me and tells me to say something. So I say what any normal Aussie would "G'day mate. How ya goin'?" Their faces light up with huge smiles.
So we pile back into the car and head back to the villa. Where we all just crash after such a big day and in the end Nan and Aunty Donna get dinner ready. You guessed it chicken and rice. I'll tell you what though these ladies know how to cook. Yum yum.
Nighty, night talk tomorrow. Happy reading.
P.S. I know that some of the spelling or punctuation might be wrong but when I was doing th spell check it went all dumb and if I tried to change it, it went over abd erased the other words. Dum
After breakfast Aunty Donna, Uncle Michael, Carline and myself went into Ocho Rios to buy their bus tickets back to Kingston for Saturday. I only went because their might have been a spending opportunity (which there wasn't). All since we have been here we have been trying to get a photo of the Ocho Rios sign and finally this morning I did and then my battery went flat. Starting to wonder if my camera battery is a little bit crap. 
I spent most of the time in the water, but got out twice. The first time I was out i had a towel draped over my head and shoulders to keep them out of the sun. The second time I got out was t have a cocktail, but still had the towel over my face and shoulders. Mind you when Aunty Donna and I went to the bar to get the drinks the life guard who couldn't guard shit apart from his drink started to chat to me and asked me to take him back to Australia. Once I again I had to repeat NO! After the cocktail we went back into the water for a while. i started to feel my face stinging so I got out of the water and sat under the shade with Nan. All of this time Aunty Donna and Uncle Michael have been laying on the chairs trying to get some colour. Mind you with NO sunscreen. They did get a little burnt and will have a little colour tomorrow. I told the others that I was stinging. So as soon as I got back to the Villa I jumped in and had a cold shower to stop what little sunburn I had. Well I certainly got a shock when I looked in the mirror. 
So everyone wakes up and we decide to go out to dinner to the restaurant at the beach. So I'm getting changed and I really didn't want to wear a bra to dinner, however I didn't think that would be wise. So I struggled to put on my bra and might I say I almost gave up because of the pain. So I finally got dressed and at 19:30 we headed out to dinner. We got to the restaurant Bamboo Blu and no-one is there we are the only diners which is great. The only annoying thing was the lighting was very poor but we managed. The night was lovely. We were sitting close to the water. There was a light breeze, no humidity and the beautiful sound of the music and the waves. Perfect. 
We got lovely glasses of cold water and some candles to look at the menu. So everyone who has a phone pulled it out and used it as a source of light. We ordered the first round of drink. Nan and Carline sticked to water, Uncle Michael had as light beer, Dad had a virgin Pina Colada and Aunty Donna and I had Sex on the Beach.
So the waitress comes back over and we order our dinner. Nan, Uncle Michael, Carline and I had chicken wings in a sweet and sour barbecue sauce. Dad and Aunty Donna have crab wontons with a dipping sauce.
We get our starters and we are blown away by how delicious they are. So we are swapping pieces of our starters to try them all. Noe main meal. Uncle Michael and Carline had Jerk Chicken, Nan had Fi Wi which is fish and chips. Aunty Donna, Dad and I have .................. These are before and after shots of our main meal. That's right Mum Fresh Grilled Lobster. Are you jealous yet?? So when our mains come we order another round if drinks. Nan sticks with water, Carline and Dad have Virgin Pina Colada, Uncle Michael has another light beer and Aunty Donna and I have real Pina Coladas. 
