Negril is the part of Jamaica that I have come to love the most. it's not so tourisy and the people are friendlier and the water is bluer (if that's a word). In many ways, Negril is considered the country part of Jamaica. So, I'll start this blog off with my most country experience, a visit to Zimbali Farms that included a hike up a mountain to visit a Rasta who lives up there in a tree house and cooks fresh food from his garden. I didn't realize how treacherous this hike would be but I was in it for the long haul (and to eat that freshly cooked meal, too)! My friends, who came along for the adventure, began calling me names and rolling their eyes at me after about 40 minutes into this hot, uphill climb with no end in sight. Hmph, I was mad at my own self after about an hour and the guide kept saying, "we're almost there".
I love a good adventure, but was beginning to doubt my ability to choose wisely after all the drama to get to the top. We were led by dogs, met goats and donkeys on the way to this "paradise". Along the way we picked up coconuts for the Rasta to use once we got to the top. We stopped to fill empty bottles with fresh water from a stream. I should have turned around then, but I was committed and still a little excited. Take a look at some of the pics to get a glimpse of what we endured and ate.
The boat ride from the beach to the other side was a thrill. We were greeted with the biggest crab I’ve ever seen, and I’m from Florida (check the pics)! After choosing our own crab, we were given a walking tour of the small beach area, took some great pics and then watched our crab being shelled and cooked over an open fire in butter and garlic (yum). I tell ya, there is nothing better than a “you pick it, we prepare it” type of seafood dish. It was the absolute best!
We ended the night back on the beach at a local dive and sang karaoke like rock stars and danced like nobody’s business. The drinks were made just right and the moon shined brighter that night. The jerk chicken was, of course, the best I've ever had. We stopped side the road to get it hot off the grill.
I will forever remember the sound, smells, and scenery of Negril. It is one of Jamaica’s hidden gems. Even if you don’t stay there when you visit Jamaica, it is worth a day trip just to experience the slower pace, the positive vibes and the friendly people. Oh, and don’t forget to stop by Fire Man’s Lobster Pit to get your fresh lobster grilled right in front of you. And if you’re feeling adventurous, take the hike from Zimbali Resort to visit Rastaman up in his tree house, at least for the view.
And the trip ended with this....
Comments