On the road to Montego Bay and many tears

Today was day when we started our LONG trip back. We only had Villa Caribbean Dawn booked til today 28/07/12 as there is another family coming into the Villa today. So I set the alarm on my ipod for 08:30 for a 10:30 departure. However I was waking every hour to check the time to make sure I didn't sleep in. So I get up at 08:00 and helped Nan make a cooked breakfast of toast, poached eggs and bacon. So there is WAY too much luggage to to make one trip so Aunty Donna takes Nan and her one bag and Uncle Michael and Carline and their three bags down to the bus depot/Jerk Hut. Then she comes back and collects us and our luggage. One bag each. We go inside and say good-bye to Suzanne and Nellie. Nellie was a bit teary when we left. She is such a lovely person and I will miss her.

I took one look back at the table where all the good stuff happened.......The Blog!!!!!!
So once we say good-bye we're about to set off when we realised that the presents we left for Nellie have some how made there way back into the car so Dad jumps out and runs them back to Nellie. So we are now on our way to the bus depot to join Nan, Uncle Michael and Carline. We get there at 10:45, not bad timing. We sit around the table and talk get a few drinks and closer to 11:30 Uncle Michael gets some lunch of yes you guessed it. Jerk Pork and Jerk Chicken. Not only am I chickened out I am now officially Jerked out. So we have our lunch and as 12:00 is nearing people start to realise that this is good-bye for a while. So a bus pulled up for a pit stop, so Aunty Donna said as soon as it leaves so will we. There is no point prolonging something that is painful.
So we get up and say good-bye which is painful as we won't see each other for a long time. So we drive off in the other direction towards Montego Bay. We can't book in til 14:00 so we don't wanna get there too early so we make a few pit stops along the way. There was a sign that just says scenic View so we pull in there too find this little plaque and yes a little part of history. I take a photo and jump straight back into the car or I swear I would have burst into flames. So while Nan, Aunty Donna and Dad go down a path that isn't quite finished they jump back in and get back on the way and crack out the biscuits. We go further along the road and see a sign that says Cinnamon Hill. You guessed it we took the turn and came to a fork so we turned right and went on for a bit. But when we started to hit hill billy territory we decided to turn around and head back. So we head left and no luck there. So we chuck another u-turn and head back down to the highway.

We get to Montego Bay and follow the directions to the hotel. We get there and there are three so we eliminate them. One is too rundown, one is empty so must the the last one with no name or sign out the front. We head inside and it is the right one. We go through the check in process at the same time we are interrupted by not one but two Americans who are checking out. I can't stand that shit!!! So we finally get checked in and the lovely gentlemen who took out bags up the stairs two at a time. Those bags are not light but I guess if you do it for a while you get use to it. Dad and I are in room 101 and Nan and Aunty Donna are in room 103.

The room isn't bad. So we get settled in the rooms for a while then we go and check out the pool and restaurant. We then jump in the car to explore a little where Dad tells us he wants to check out a fort near by. I am thinking another bloody fort. You've already seen one. However we go down and and it's not there. So we head into town where we get a couple of things that we had forgotten. I was thinking that the hustling wouldn't be bad. I was SO wrong. We try to ignore them but they just follow you and that is the store owners. So we finish and we head back. awe hang around in the rooms for about 30 mins where we skype with Mum and we are able to have a good talk with her without the connection dropping out.

Dad's

Mine

After we have a chat we go next door and go down to dinner around 19:30. At the hotel today there is a wedding and the bride was actually coming out of her room going to the church as we pulled up. So we were able to congratulate her. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a photo, but it was a pretty amazing reception. Definitely her daddy paying. She has seven bridesmaids and all colours if the rainbow and extremely bright. We go into the restaurant and order. Nan didn't have an entree but Dad, Aunty Donna and I all had a citrus rainbow salad. Talk about yummy. After that we waited about a while before we got the mains (the wedding was finished). They finally came out. They were delicious BUT cold. By this time we are too tired to complain. Dad had Shrimp Pasta, Aunty Donna had Garlic Shrimp and I had Curry Shrimp.

Aunty Donna's

After dinner we went up to our rooms and decided to call it a night and get some sleep as tomorrow is going to be busy. When we got back to the room I started the blog and Dad sat on the bed and started to snore the roof down. So now I am gonna get some shut eye. Nighty, night. Happy reading.

Burnt outside, inside and everywhere in between

I surprisingly slept well last night. I did wake when I moved in bed but went straight back to sleep. That might have something to do with the panadol ultra I took. The worst part of my sunburn has been my shoulders. So I groggily woke uo and looked at my shoulders and I was shot awake and the words NO,NO,NO,NO came out of my lips. Yes ladies and gentlemen you have guessed it right. Blisters.

So I walked out into the living room where as per usual everyone was awake and the response I got was "Your up early" from Aunty Donna. It was 08:30. I broke the bad news to them that I was blistering. However thank god everything is starting to die down. The colour isn't so red and my back is not as sore but my shoulders are still killing me. Don't think I will be spending too much time in the sun for quite a while.

So today we decided that we would go to the spice markets and run a few errands before going to the beach. So we were out of the Villa by 10:30 heading into town where we thought the spice markets were held, from what we saw on the sign. How ever we were very wrong. It is a party that is held is held at the Jerk Centre on the last Friday of each month. So we go round and ask a few people where they are held and when they are on. So they are held once a month as we thought but this month they have been cancelled due to the Jamaican 50th jubilee celebrations. So we were a little disappointed, but new Mum would be crushed even more. While we were waiting I spotted this banana tree and it had a flower. Who would have thought a banana tree has a flower. I have to say it does look like something from The Day of the Triffids. Quite freaky.

So with that done we went to the local Cambio so Aunty Donna could change a bucket load of US money to local Jamaican currency. After that we went to the Scotiabank so Dad could get some money out of the wall. When we were done with that we went to a supermarket so we could get Mum her precious spices and some local coffee which hopefully we will be allowed to bake back into Australia. After that we drove about 15-20 mins out of town to Beaches Resort where Joe and Greg and their families where staying so Uncle Michael and Carline could get the sim cards they lent to him back and to say good-bye for now and hopefully not for good.

Yes you may notice that Dad and I aren't in the picture. Dad is taking the photo and since getting sunburned I have turned into a vampire. As soon as the sun touches my skin I scream and run for the shade, so there was no hope in Hades of me getting out of the car which was in the shade and the air con was in. However I did wind the window down and say my good-byes.

So once that was over and done with we headed back to the Villa without getting stuck in traffic. Although over the 2 weeks we have been here Aunty Donna has learnt how to drive like a local. Using the horn, pushing into traffic and having the Jamaican foot all while being a careful and sensible driver. On the way home I took a couple of photo's of a couple of buildings I got totally wrong by appearance. The treasure Hunt which I thought was a restaurant is actually similar to a casino, a gambling house. We didn't go in we were told by a passing local who then asked is we wanted some ganja when we said no he then asked if we wanted some coke. It wasn't the drink he was selling. The Joint I thought was exactly that. A place to get high is actually a restaurant. Who would have known.

So we get back to the Villa Aunty Donna, Uncle Michael and Carline put on their swimmers to go to the beach swimming of course. Carline has not been in the water since we have been here and she did today. Well I did tell her that I would drag her in if she didn't go in any time we were here. Nan and I went down to the water but we sat in the shade on the chairs talking. Carline wasn't in the water for long but at lease she got in. Hehehe. So Carline, Nan and I had a lovely chat while Aunty Donna and Uncle Michael went into the water and then layed down to fry. Back and forth, back and forth they went.

Aunty Donna and Nan hadn't tried Jerk Chicken. The Jerk Hut on the beach was open today so Uncle Michael ordered a serve of Jerk Chicken along with virgin Pina Coladas for lunch. After lunch Aunty Donna and Uncle Michael repeated the process one more time and then we all packed up and went to the souvenir store on the beach and bought some more stuff. This time I actually bought some stuff for myself. So after more spending we went to the car and I walked as fast as I could on sand as I didn't have the towel around me. We got back to the Villa and the showers started. Then we did the normal thing of sitting around the large round table reading, on the computers and doing puzzles all the while talking. We remembered that there was wedding cake still in the fridge so we tucked into that as well as a packet of chips.

After a while Aunty Donna got up to start to get dinner ready. We bought a bottle of Jerk marinade that we hadn't used. So Aunty Donna did her own spin on it. We had 1.5 kgs of chicken so naturally Aunty Donna used half the bottle as you would normally. As well as the marinade Aunty Donna put flour, mayo and milk in it. This was the finished product. It was SO HOT!!! We actually found it too hot to eat. I ate all the chicken and the vegetables except the rice. Oh it burned. So being burnt on the outside is the sunburn. Being burnt on the inside is the dinner because it was so bloody hot. Yummy but hot. And everywhere in between well I'll let you use your imagination.

Well that is all today now I have to go have a shower and pack as we leave the Villa tomorrow and go to Montego Bay to stay at a Hotel which is close to the airport. So nighty, night I have stuff to do and have to try to get some sleep as well. So I will be talking to you from a new location tomorrow night. Happy reading.

Craft Markets

After the early start and the full day yesterday I had a lovely sleep in getting up at 09:30. We had decided to go to the craft markets at Ocho Rios today as we haven't been. So after taking our time this morning getting ready we head out to the markets. First stop is the bank so Dad and I can get some money out. Then we park in the parking lot of Silver Seas Hotel and walk back as it is extremely busy. We reach the markets and for a Wednesday it is quite busy. We start at one stall and work our way back.

We have been looking for saris for a while and finally find some decent ones that are full of colour. So between three of us we get seven saris. Along with an arrange of other things. We pretty much get all we need at the one stall much to the annoyance from the other stall owners. I had been looking for a bag that said Jamaica since we got here. I finally found some, however she was asking for too much as I tried my hand at haggling for the first time which was not successful. She wouldn't lower her price so we just left and found the same bags just around the corner cheaper. Bargain.

As we had already got what we needed we left the markets with lots of people trying their hardest to make a sale. Before we left Nelly said that she would like ti cook us dinner. We were rather taken aback as we had not asked her to, but we were extremely happy non the less. So we asked what she needed and we would get it while we were in town. So after the markets we went to Soew's Supacenta where we got what Nelly needed plus more. Just as we are about to head to the checkouts I see the thing I had given up hope of seeing. Chocolate. You can't buy chocolate like we can here as it just melts. So I was naturally over the moon about it.

We were going to walk with the shopping to the car. As we walked out it started to spit and lightly shower. We decided to brave it and press on. As we got to the other side of the road it started to bucket down. Nan had brought the trusty umbrella with her so Aunty Donna and Carline went to the car under the protection of the umbrella while Nan, Dad and I waited under the protection of the building awning. So while waiting we had people try to to sell us anything and everything. I have to say I got sick and tired of saying NO!. After about 30 mins we see the car. Bundle up the bags and walk over. It took us a little while to get out of the rat race that is traffic and get back to Villa Caribbean Dawn where we give Nelly the food and put everything away.

Nan and Aunty Donna make cheese, onion and tomato sandwiches for lunch. We consume them and there for get rid of out hunger. After waisting time fir a while Aunty Donna, Nan and I decide to go down to the beach. Aunty Donna is desperate to get some colour before we leave. As I forgot to put on sunscreen yesterday and today I have had my fair share of colour.

We spend a some time in the water so we get out and decide to get a cocktail. We have PinasColada today. We drink that one and go get another because they are just too good. As we are waiting for a second one, a Mammee Bay Estate Police officer asked if we were driving. Just from habit I say no and he walks off when I realise that Aunty Donna is driving. So we go back to the chairs and drink our lovely refreshing drink. We go back into the water for a little bit. When we get back out we wait til we are dried a little then headed back to the car and drive back to the Villa.

Where I go and have a shower and Aunty Donna shows Carline the joys of Google Earth. I start to do the blog and listen to music while at the same time we try to convince Uncle Michael and Carline to come to Australia. We don't need to convince Carline, but we are unsure how successful we were with Uncle Michael. We start to talk about whale watching when Aunty Donna remembers that she still has the video of the whale watching cruise we went when Aunty Donna and Nan came to visit us in Maryborough. Remember that Mum.

So we decide to have the dinner that Nelly made for us. Carline said it was called round-up. We had fried breadfruit, with salted Mackerel in a coconut sauce and rice. I have to say it was very delicious. By the way the whole Mackerel was there cut up into chunks. In case you are wondering I did eat the head which was quite bigger than the fish that we had yesterday and it was juicy and soft. So I have to say that it was a experience that I don't really want to experience again.

So ever since dinner I have been finishing the blog as well as the usual talking and watching TV for a tad. Sorry that there are no photo's of today as my camera went flat yesterday and I forgot to charge it up. I know how careless of me. Well ladies and gents this is where I leave you to get my beauty sleep. Happy reading and look forward to sending you on another journey.

Dunn River Falls and Park

After finally finishing the blogs early this morning at 01:30. So Dad had gone to bed before me so unfortunately I didn't sleep due to Dad's snoring!! Try to imagine a freight train in the bed next to you (Mum how do you put up with it?). So finally getting some sleep I wake up to a noise that isn't the air conditioner. It is pouring rain. So I turned over and went back to sleep. Aunty Donna wasn't so lucky. The guttering coming out to a funnel outside their room and the rain landing on a log so not to damage the lawn too much. So Aunty Donna was up since 06:00.

Last night I had a really itchy knee so I did what any normal person would do and scratched it with my new nails. I woke up with something that startled me. Well I definitely got rid of the itch. Now Mum think long and hard before you ask me to scratch your back.

Nan is normally the first person awake, but today she was the last getting up at 0920. So we are all awake now. Michael and Carline are going to Beaches Hotel and Resort where Joe and Greg are staying with their families to spend the day with them. So they depart by taxi around 10:00. Aunty Donna, Dad, Nan and I sit down to breakfast. All having poached eggs on toast made by Aunty Donna except Nan who just has a bowl of Corn Flakes.

So after fiddle-farting around for a while we decide to go to Dunne River Falls. So we all go to get changed and ready. I lather on the sunscreen and we head out. The entrance to the falls creep up on you from around a bend so we over shoot it and pull over. We jump out to check out the views which are quite amazing. This photo is taken from the side of the road which is considerably far way from the sea. It is zoomed in as far as it will go and you can see how clear the water is.

So we jump back into the car and something happens that we have not seen since being here. No traffic coming either direction on the road so Aunty Donna chucks a u-turn and heads back to Dunn River Falls and Park.

You can see the waterfall two ways. You can walk down beside the waterfall with the stairs or you can take the adrenalin way and climb up the waterfall. I was originally planing to climb up the waterfall, but after reading more about it in the Lonely Planet Jamaican Guide Book I thought it was not the best option as I am not the fittest person. So when we see the waterfall and are amazed by it's natural beauty and I am quite happy that I chose not to climb it.

So we decide to walk down the side of the waterfall via the cement stairs. We start to walk down the stair and every so often there is a platform where you can observe and take photo's. So we get to the half way point, where you go under the road to head down to the beach. We continue to walk down the stairs. I'm thinking that this is lovely. We get down to the bottom of the waterfall and see that the water from the waterfall is mixing in with the sea.

In the next picture you can see people in a single file on the left hand side under the trees. The people who want to climb the falls meet their guide at the top. He walks them down the cement stairs all the way to the beach. That is where they start to climb the waterfall at the very bottom all the way to the very top. When you look at the waterfall from the viewing platforms you may see hand rails, but the stones on which you climb up are uneven and sometimes with a fair bit of water in between them.

So now what ever goes down HAS to come up. All I can say is oh the pain. So we stopped again at the platforms just to get a breather these times. We decided to get a photo us and a lovely Jamaican woman took a photo of the four of us. Here you can see my awesome New York bag that I bought in New York. She asked us where we are from and we reply Australia. The huge smile that come on her face. "Australia, I LOVE Australia" she tells us and we all proceed to shout Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi, Oi, Oi.

On our way up Dad spots this little piece of history.

We continue to drag ourselves up all these stairs and when we finally get to the to I just want to sit down. Knowing that if I sit I will not get up again. So we continue on the this little cafe tent where we get some drinks. Dad has.............Black Coffee quite surprising. NOT! Aunty Donna and Nan have Lemon Squash which is NOT soft drink. It is lemon juice and ice and blend it down. But the sweetness is pineapple syrup and it is so delicious. I decide to have an Iced Mocha. This was so delicious also nothing like the American and nothing like the Australian with crap coffee and loaded with chocolate syrup. This has milk, coffee, cocoa powder and ice blend it all together. It is a lovely balance of coffee and chocolate and isn't watered down by the ice. Oh she used Jamaican coffee. Blue Mountains coffee. Will have to get on DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and see if we can bring it back with us.

So to get out of Dunn's River and into the car park we have to go through the markets. I didn't think it was going to be that bad, but oh boy wasn't I SO WRONG!!! The people with stalls and the people who just brought things to sell even marijuana (YES people here openly ask us if we want to buy dope) latch onto us like leaches. I tried not to stray to far from the others of safety because some of the characters looked really shady. However I thought it would be mean not to shake their hands when they extend theirs. So I shook this ladies hand and she places her other hand on top of mine so I couldn't take my hand away.

At this point two other men are trying to talk to me and sell me stuff at the same time and all three start to argue. She removes her hand and I thought that this is the moment where I can get away. However she didn't change her grip and when I tried to pull away she would pull me back. So I am starting to feel a little nervous and the only way that I can get away from here is to buy something. So I do I pay a ridiculous price for it but I don't care I'm away from her.

I manage to catch up with Dad when this other man comes up to me and he has the longest dreadlocks I have ever seen. They were past his knee's and so thick. So he says that he wants to give me this wooden turtle that he made because he felt bad abut before. I tell him that I don't want it and he says that if I do not take it I would be disrespecting him (The Jamaicans are big on respect). So I take it and he takes it back and says that he needs to finish it. He proceeds to write my name on it. He is starting to act strange and making me feel very uncomfortable. So he gives it back to me and asks for money. I proceed to tell him that he said it was for free and walk away. He comes back and asks for money.

I say again that he said it was for free and that I don't have any money. Before he can say anything else Dad comes to my rescue. This man demands American dollars. Dad tells him that he doesn't have American and only Jamaican dollars. He starts to complain so Dad tells him fine and nudges me forward. As we start to leave he changes his tune. So Dad offers him offers him $1,000.00 Jamaican and he whinges. So he gives him an extra $500 Jamaican. He still whinges. By this point he is pointing to Dad's last note another $1,000.00 Dad tells him no but other Jamaicans have started to gather. So Dad thrusts it towards the man and we are finally allowed to leave. In all Dad gave $2,500.00 which is roughly $27.30 Australian.

That experience was definitely a shock to the system. So we get to the car and head back to the Villa discussing our experiences. When we get home we decide to have lunch and head down to the beach. So Nan and Aunty Donna makes us some sandwiches. I then proceed to get changed into my swimming togs. The day was nice not too hot and not too humid, but as we were near water all day and in a rain forest setting it was horribly humid.

So when I get changed my clothes are literally drenched with sweat all over EWWWWWW!!! I pull on the swimmer over my sticky body and put on my board shorts and more sunscreen. We jump into the car and head to the beach. It is now overcast and no where near as beautiful as yesterday but we still head in and spend 1-2 hours there where Aunty Donna tries desperately to get some colour. I spend about half the day in the sun with two layers of sunscreen and I still get burn. Dam it!!!!!!!

So once we have had enough we jump back into the car and head back to the Villa. Where showers start and yes another load of washing. We decide to have chicken schnitzel for dinner so Nan and Aunty Donna start to prepare dinner when Uncle Michael and Carline get back. So I tell them about the day and particularly the markets where they first laugh their heads off then turn serious and give pointers. Some good, others not so helpful.

So dinner is up and because there is no bread crumbs they have coated the chicken in crushed cornflakes which I have never seen before but it was delicious all the same. My time in the kitchen is coming soon so trying to think I what I can make that I don't need a recipe for. Throw any Australian recipes my way so Carline can experience it.

Well the blog is done for another day. Talk to you all tomorrow from a new and exciting place.

A day in paradise

A friend of Carline's ended up stay here at the villa with her little boy. So we woke up this morning with confusion with her partner trying to pick her up but as he is not on the list of the people staying at the villa he is not allowed onto the estate. So after a phone call or two he is allowed in to pick them up and leave straight away. So now that they have gone everyone is awake.

I try to jump on and catch up with the blog but as the connect is quite bad during the day that didn't happen. After a while Michael and Carline rock up after leaving the hotel. So Gloria, Terry, Michael and Carline have scrambled eggs for breakfast. We soon realise that after having alot of visitors to the villa over the last two days we have no more food. So we have a liquid breakfast of coffee, tea and juice until we can go out and buy more food.

After eating their breakfast Uncle Michael and Carline started to open their presents and they were very lucky. Now I don't know gave what presents so you'll have to ask Michael and Carline. Along with getting these gifts they also go some good ol' cold hard cash.

This morning Gloria and Terry were due to take the bus back to Kingston which is about 2-3 hours from Mammee Bay or Ocho Rios. However the original rental car was returned to us this morning and the other was being returned to Kingston so the driver said she would take them back to Kingston which was lovely so they could make the trip in comfort.

Uncle Michael asks us would we pick up Carline's friend who has flown Barcelona, Spain to be at her wedding who is also travelling to Kingston to visit her family. So at 12 Aunty Donna and Carline go down to Mystic Mountain Lodge and pick up Tracey. So when they return we have a bit of chat. Dad goes off to have a shower and when he comes out Aunty Donna, Dad and I jump in the car and head off to town.

We first go to the Scotibank so Aunty Donna can change some of her US money into local Jamaican dollars and then we head into Seow's Supercenter to get food. When we get in there we start to discuss what we need. This young man comes up and starts chatting with us. We can't seem to shake him so we just let him follow us.

He helps us find what we need and to navigate the store and the people. So with a trolley loaded full of goodies we head to the checkout where this young gentleman places a beer with our shopping we let him after he has helped us. So everything is put through and we have paid this gentleman along with the shopping attendant helps us with the bags to the car. We load all the bags into the car and then a hand comes across our face.This friendly young gentleman is now demanding something in return other than his beer so we give him some cash and Aunty Donna tips the shopping attendant. That ladies and gentleman is what you call a hustle.

Now street people seeing that we give them money flock to us so we get into the car and drive away. We finally arrive home and bring the bags inside. We unload them and put away the groceries. Then we realise that our stomach's are sing the tune of hunger. Realising we missed dinner Dad and Aunty Donna proceed to make everyone sandwiches. Everyone is having corned beef, cheese and tomato sandwiches except me, so I have a banana sandwich. Once we have eaten our lunch we begin to discuss the events of the last couple of days which in turn ends up becoming several different conversations.

In the end someone mentions beach so we all stop for a moment and agree to go to the beach except Dad who stays at the villa. The rest of us get into our swimmers and slap on some sunscreen or I do anyway. Jump in the car and set out for the estate's private beach. We get to the gate and the gate attendant informs us that we need a blue pass. We tell him that we are staying at the Villa Caribbean Dawn and that we were unaware that we need a pass. He lets us in, but tells us we need the pass in future.

So we drive down onto the beach and are awe struck by the beauty of it and how clear the water is. After spending roughly an hour in the water we decide to get out and slowly head to the car along the way pick up some Almond Fruit that fell from the tree. For people that don't know the famous nut that we all know is a seed of a fruit.

So we get home and start to have showers to get rid of the sticks saltiness off of us. We then all sit down at the one table and do different things. Nan is reading her book, Dad and Aunty Donna are doing puzzles and sudoku, Uncle Michael and Carline are discussing things on the iPAD and I yes you guessed it tried to get the blog finished and up to date. All that during loads of washing. Uncle Michael, Dad and I sit at the table for a good couple of hours while the others go and watch TV and Nan goes off to tend to the washing. After some time Uncle Michael and Dad decide we should have some dinner but no-one is overly hungry so we just have some fruit. Dad cuts half the watermelon, a mango, heaps of crackers and in the end Almond Fruit.

With the Almond fruit you eat the flesh including the smooth skin and then break the shell to get to the delicious almond. I wanted this nut so bad I went out to the courtyard picked up a hand sized rock and went all out on it. It didn't take me long to break through the shell well I should say squash the shell and that includes the nut. BUGGA!!!!

So since dinner I have been sitting on my posterior doing these blogs and cursing under my breath when the pictures take too long to load. So now it is the wee hours of the morning and I have finally finished I am going to bed. I hope you enjoy and see you tomorrow for another tale of a far away land.

Another day of travel

Today was the day that Dad and I went to Jamaica. So we got up bright and early at 0530 (after getting to sleep around 0200. Yes the blog is to blame) got ready and madly checking that we have everything. We had downstairs and jump into the taxi that we pre-ordered. Oh fun fact: that famous yellow cabs of New York can only be caught on the streets you can not ring and book them. How odd. Going to Newark International Airport.

Getting inside and trying to find the United Airline booking station which are actually kiosks. We get told even though it has been booked with United Airlines we are actually flying with US Airways. So we walk all the way to the other end of the foyer of the airport and get told to use the kiosk. Thank god we looked dumb founded so I staff member booked us in. Although we had paid for the tickets we actually had to PAY US$25 each to book our luggage in.

What a rip off I believe but we need to get on the plane so you pay without any fuss. So we go through security and wait at the gate. Board the plane to Charlotte where Dad slept all the way and I only dozed and read. We had about and hour until our connection flight to Jamaica so we decided to have some breakfast (this is around 1100) which consisted of black coffee and a raisin and cinnamon bagel for Dad and a white chocolate mocha and a cinnamon twist for myself. Finally tried Starbucks.

The flight to Jamaica wasn't to bad a bit choppy in some parts but a whole is was ok. I read my book and my kindle Wedded to War which is set in New York (for this part) at place I have been too. BEEN THERE!!!!!! Which is set in the era of the American Civil War. When we are told that we are descending I open the window shade and the view is breathe taking. As we are about to and we are coming over the bluest of seas and reef .

So we deboard. As Dad and I weren't actually sitting next to each other I was at the front and Dad down the back. So I filled out my immigration card. Once Dad finally steps off the plane (apparently Jamaica is a popular holiday destination. Who would have known) and we walk down to immigration. I thought the lines at the attractions in New York were bad. I know have a new crown of long lines. Took us 45 mins to 1 hour to get through and then we exchange our US currency for local currency.

We finally collect our bags and go to the declare goods side of customs good for us that no one was there. Yay. Don't worry people everything was approved to enter. We then go outside and wait for the rental car to come. unfortunately the name of the wonderful woman escapes our mind. Then we set off to the Villa Caribbean Dawn www.caribbean-dawn.co.uk which is roughly 1 1/2 - 2 hours from the airport. The scenery is beautiful but I was unable to take photo's as I was the designated petrol station spotter and direction reader.

We got to the Villa and is it rather spacious with rather big rooms. Sorry there are no photo's but will have heaps over the posts to come. We are greeted by Susan who is the liaison between the guests and the owners who live in the UK and Nelly who is the housekeeper who is here everyday starting at 9 - when ever she finishes. Susan gives us a tour of the house and the grounds and they hang around til 1800 when the on site security man rocks up who is on duty from 1800-0600.

Which is about the time that the Bride and groom rock up. Uncle Michael Parmenter and Carline Campbell (until Wednesday). So meeting and greeting and catching up began. After a while Dad, Uncle Michael and Carline went out to get some dinner which was Jerk Chicken OMG it is SO good. Now everyone is just relaxing and sorting everything out.

Sorry about no photo's today but hey I'm only human. Will talk to you all tomorrow Where the rest of the gang shall be arriving Aunty Donna and Nan. Photo's will be up again tomorrow.

Oh P.S. while Dad was ringing to see if Uncle Michael and Carline go to the Villa before us and then to ring Susan to let her know we were on our way. This happened on the side of the road and a local police officer came up to the window. So Dad and I are thinking that we have broken some road rules, but just turns out that we look like the the touristy type and just checking that everything was ok. How nice.

Talk tomorrow.