nged into an easy going lounging IN make up, hair done, with swimsuit and cover ups. Everything about the resort was posh. Boo's face was lit up as soon as we walked into the outdoor lobby. He loved it. We were whisked in and invited to have a late breakfast while they get all our paperwork ready. After navigating the buffet lines, we were escorted to a linen clothed table on the outdoor deck with a view of the ocean. I can't lie, it was NICE. I relaxed and took in the view. After breakfast, we were escorted to our "upgraded" room. The room itself was nice, but it had no balcony. We went from lounging in two balconies to
not having one at all. At least we were in an end unit. After finally unpacking (at Samsara we lived out of our suitcase) and hanging up all our clothes, putting away our fins, snorkels, and mask, putting out all my make-up, hair products, etc... we decided to take a walking tour around the resort. The best thing about our location was that we were the closest to the water sports and dive shop and just a stones throw from the actual beach, paplas, and lounge chairs. Can't complain. Oh, and we had AC, which we didn't at Samsara. The property is actually pretty big and hugs the coast of the Caribbean Sea on the west side of the island. So you know what that means... SUNSETS!
t market. It was about a mile up the road. When we arrived, we were the ONLY people their, so all the booth keepers made sure we went into their little stalls. Most of the morning was spent shopping stall to stall to see if where we could get the best deal. I was in hustler mode and we ended up buying lots of souvenirs at a great price. My favorite was a wooden carving of the Island of Jamaica with all the Providences on them. I was originally quoted $45, but haggled down to $12. The guy even carved "One Love" on it especially for us. I took his picture while he did it. It was cool. One of the vendors that we bought a handmade photo album made out of palm leaves said that b/c I mentioned to her that I loved the Jamaica colors (red, green, yellow, and black) she was going to give me a free gift. She put an ankle bead bracelet around my right ankle and when I tried to pay for it, she said "no, no, just think of it as a gift from your Jamaican mother." Wow... I was so touched by this. Now I have a Jamaican mom :) 
. The wind wasn't as strong as Antigua's trade winds, but it was enough to get him out for a bit. I sailed with him twice, and he sailed some on his own as I watched from under my papla on the beach :) 
om and he said Orangebay, near Luccea. Well, Davion squeaks "And me?" so I indulged him and asked where he was from. He says. "Me from me mama" and laughs, then says, "and she's from she grandmama." The whole boat laughs. On our first tour, I remember as I stepped up the ladder at the back of the boat, Davion grabs my fins and helps me up, then he looks at me and says, "You have Jamaican eyes." Without skipping a beat, I say, "well that's b/c I am Jamaican." (I have an adopted Jamaican mama after all!) We both laugh. I saw so many different types of fish and coral reefs. I even got to hand feed some Sargent major fishes, that was really cool. On our second tour, we saw two HUGE Stingrays, one had spo
ts, and the other was a giant grey stingray. He floated below us and as soon as he got out of range he took off. I didn't realize how fast they could swim! Davion was brave enough to stick his hands into some reefs and pull out some interesting things. We followed him around and I remember Boo and I were the only ones that saw a spotted flounder like fish slink out from underneath a reef, so cool. Another time, Davion pulled out a blow fish and right before my eyes I watched it puff up. He held onto it so we all could pet it. It has hard little thick spikes all over it's body. When he let it go, it clumsily fluttered around b/c it was too slow to get away. We saw alot of colorful fish, like a yellow trumpet fish, rainbow fish, bright pink fish, Sargent majors, blue fish, and so many more. 
umber coral, beautiful reefs, schools of fish. Even fed bread off the boat to a huge school of Sargent major's. Davion, in his Jamaican accent said, "Dey da greediest fish. Dey follow the boat looking for more food." So funny and so true, the greedy little striped fish followed our boat for more bread! haha! As we drove back, the captain sailed us passed Hedo II. For those of you that don't know what Hedonism II is.... well, it's a resort for really, really free and adventures people who like to be uninhibited. It's an all inclusive, clothing optional, party type place, and boy did I get an eye full of uninhibitedness. I mean I've never seen so many naked people sunny, splashing in the water, and hanging out (literally) on the beach. I was frozen, jaw to the floor, stunned. I usually wave at people on shore if I'm in a boat, but I was so shocked, I couldn't do anything but stare! I'm such a prude... hahaa! I just remember our entire boat being silent, I supposed everyone was curiously shocked. 
other group and the chef cooks your meal right in front of you. No sushi bar like the Sandals in Antigua. I had conch soup, Our chef, Jeron was awesome! He made everything so much fun. We all laughed, sang, and drank so much wine that night. We met a Canadian family that night that we saw everywhere! We also met a couple for Sedona, AZ. They were celebrating selling their company that sold some sort of children's instrument. We kept seeing them alot too.
set views. It was awesome and one of the best dinners I had. I got the steak in a red wine reduction sauce. YUM. Wish we would of eaten more at this place.
he chocolate croissants and just had to start every morning with one. One morning they ran out so I refused to eat there that day. We walked to the other side of the property and had "second" breakfast at Sundowner. (Well, not really second breakfast, cause I didn't eat at the first place.) One night we ate here for dinner for the Sandals returning members dinner. We were given a leather necklace of two little sandals and sat with the Sedona AZ couple to dine on steak and lobster. We also got a nice bottle of Jamaican Appleton Rum. The dinner was OK and the lobster consisted of a bite of lobster tail, otherwise it was the tiniest lobster I ever had.
One day we decided to walk 7mile beach. We probably walked a good 3 mile down and 3 miles back up. We took an entire morning to do this b/c we lolly gagged all the way. As soon as we left the Sandals property and passed the Beaches property, there was nothing for while. Just em
pty white sandy beaches, mangrove trees for shade, and the blue Caribbean sea. We got to a section where the beach turned into a rocky peninsula and we had to walk behind the mangrove trees for about 1/2 a mile. It was different and jungly. Then it opened back up to the beach again at the public beach park. We saw a family swimming and picnicking for the day. Then we got to the busy strip of 7 mile beach in Negril. This was where all the beach hustlers were out in full force and all the boutique hotels are packed next to one another. This was the Negril I loved. hhaha! I loved being in all the action and hustle and bustle. Don't get me wrong, I like the quiet seclusion of Sandals, but sometimes you just want to be in the thick of things. As we walked all the way down to our old favorite, IdleAwhile, I heard the familiar sing-song of the beach vendors. "Cigaaaaaaaaretttttes," "Fresh F
ruittttt, pineapple, papayaaaaaa." awww..... if you've ever been to 7 mile beach you know what I mean. It's like the vendors are part of the whole experience. Their chirping singing voices walking up and down the beach selling their items. Then all the reggae music playing from all the hotel bars, mixed with the sweet coconut smell from all the sun tan lotion on the beach is just perfect. Yeah it was packed and crowded and probably loud, but I loved it. Boo couldn't wait to get back to our resort. I guess he was missing the Lionel Richie. haha! We did stop by and have lunch at the Beaches Sandy Bay resort. Since Sandals and Beaches are owned by the same company, we were able to dine at their restaurants. Beaches is more of a family resort. It had a ton of kids and a nice water park. Sandals is adults only. Entertainment: They had a piano bar that Boo and I had all intentions of going to, but never made it out. A disco, who disco's anymore anyways? So we never checked that out either. A place to check out boar
d games, a giant outdoor chess set, and a shuffle board set. We did pull a senior citizen moment and checked out the shuffle board. I've never played and Boo was showing me how it works. They had two huge macaw parrots a red one named Jazz and a blue (almost bald) one named Pizazz that we spent a few minutes coxing into talking to us. They were not having it and just ignored us. We did play a game of pool in the outdoor tables and I got my butt kicked by Boo. He's such a pool shark :) For the live entertainment, we checked out a show that the staff put on and it was like an avante guard Broadway type show. We attempted to go to the beach party one night, but they had the entire thing lit up like a Christmas tree and played techno music instead of Reggae. I mean how can you NOT play reggae music in Jamaica? We turned around before we even got to the beach. Now one night we had all intentions of checking out the entertainment when we sort of got side tracked. See..... what had happen was.... We walked by the stage when all of the sudden a woman grabs my arm and asks if I wanted to 
participate in "the Newly Wed" game. Now Boo and I aren't newly weds and we told her, but she said that was fine, they just needed one more couple. I said sure and the next thing I new, we were escorted ONTO the brightly lit stage with 8 other couples! We had BECOME part of the entertainment!!! After they introduce us all, they escort all the ladies off stage into a quiet room while they ask our husbands some questions. Well, after 20 minutes, we are all brought back to the stage and as I glance up, I see Boo just shaking his head with that "what-have-you-gotten-us-into" look. As I sit down, the host comes over to my chair and says she asked our husbands certain questions about us and now we have to match up answers and I'm answering first! First question, how did we meet? Easy enough. OK, second question, what's my favorite perfume. Last question, what's my favorite position in bed? WHAT!!! I have to answer this on stage in front of 150 people? What HAVE I gotten us into? haha! Then they cart off the men and ask us 4 questions. Now, I'm already nervous just wondering what intimate question they're going to ask me and I start to instantly sweat. I mean sweat trickling down my back, in my arm pits, springing up on my forehead. I wonder if I'll make it through this debacle. And once again, the host starts with me. What is his favorite car (which I got wrong), his favorite cologne, his favorite position in bed, and if he's a marathoner or a sprinter. TMI, TMI, TMI!!! We didn't win :( That's OK though. After the entertainment, we walk back to the room and shut in the rest of the night for fear of being recognized. HA! Seriously, it was all in good fun, but sometimes, I do get us into some strange and crazy predicaments. Thankfully I have an easy going Boo that goes with the flow. He is much more poised 
and calm in these situations than I am. hahaha! Thanks for letting us make fools out of ourselves Boo! I Love You!
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