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.

Sunburn and Bamboo Blu

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.

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.


Fi Wi - Fish and Chips

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.

Firefly, Golden Eye and Breadfruit

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