.JPG)
I recently went to Jamaica for the first time and I LOVE THAT PLACE. I went to Negril with a couple girlfriends of mine for 5 days (not nearly enough time). One of my friends is Jamaican, which was good because she speaks the patois, and also knows how much stuff should cost so we don't feel like we're getting ripped off too much. But anyway, here are a couple of my thoughts and experiences.
What is up with Jamaican men? Please tell me so that I can know. My friends and I got hit on CONSTANTLY. Wherever we went, at least 2 out of the 3 of us would get hit on. I can also say that each of us has stopped traffic in Jamaica. My friend got hit on by the policeman that stopped her for speeding. And they're persistant, too. I told one guy that I'm married and he said "What happens in Jamaica stays in Jamaica". One of my friends showed a guy her wedding ring and he said "I have rings too". We went to Mayfield Falls one day (which is amazing, by the way) and this dude stopped his tour to yell across to my friend that he wished he could lay across her butt, and use it as a pillow. Maybe the first day it was flattering, but it got old really quickly. If you want to feel wanted, though, go to Jamaica.
Man, I got so many compliments on my hair, it was ridiculous. People were calling me Ras or Rasta all over the place, lol. Seriously. No one really thought I was a Rasta (at least I don't think so), but that's what I was called half the time by the locals. Probably because I am locking my hair the Rasta way. One day on the beach, there were a couple Rastas painting and selling their paintings. The guy complimented me on my hair. I was flattered, of course. It's almost like validation, getting complimented by Rastas, I can't explain exactly why. Then I asked him how he locked his hair, and for advice and they both started talking. Saying that the ocean water is good for your hair. Also, just to wash it a lot and let it air dry (no towel). I swear, they sounded just like RasTai, they said the same things he says. However, there was one Rasta that I met that asked me "are you a Rasta or is that just a hairstyle?" I didn't exactly know how to answer that. Of course I'm not a Rasta, but my hair is coming to mean more to me than just a hairstyle. He also asked me if I knew about King Selassie, and I guess what I said wasn't what he wanted to hear, so I got some lecture about not knowing my culture. But anyway ...
So many of the Rastas that I met were really nice. Also they were trying to tell / teach me about their religion and culture. I'm not sure why, maybe I look receptive to it (which I am). One Rasta I met at Mayfield Falls was telling me about his diet and natural living. While I was in Jamaica, I ate some ital food (more on ital food) which was delicious (I haven't eaten meat for 2 months and don't plan to eat any anytime soon).
What is up with Jamaican men? Please tell me so that I can know. My friends and I got hit on CONSTANTLY. Wherever we went, at least 2 out of the 3 of us would get hit on. I can also say that each of us has stopped traffic in Jamaica. My friend got hit on by the policeman that stopped her for speeding. And they're persistant, too. I told one guy that I'm married and he said "What happens in Jamaica stays in Jamaica". One of my friends showed a guy her wedding ring and he said "I have rings too". We went to Mayfield Falls one day (which is amazing, by the way) and this dude stopped his tour to yell across to my friend that he wished he could lay across her butt, and use it as a pillow. Maybe the first day it was flattering, but it got old really quickly. If you want to feel wanted, though, go to Jamaica.
Man, I got so many compliments on my hair, it was ridiculous. People were calling me Ras or Rasta all over the place, lol. Seriously. No one really thought I was a Rasta (at least I don't think so), but that's what I was called half the time by the locals. Probably because I am locking my hair the Rasta way. One day on the beach, there were a couple Rastas painting and selling their paintings. The guy complimented me on my hair. I was flattered, of course. It's almost like validation, getting complimented by Rastas, I can't explain exactly why. Then I asked him how he locked his hair, and for advice and they both started talking. Saying that the ocean water is good for your hair. Also, just to wash it a lot and let it air dry (no towel). I swear, they sounded just like RasTai, they said the same things he says. However, there was one Rasta that I met that asked me "are you a Rasta or is that just a hairstyle?" I didn't exactly know how to answer that. Of course I'm not a Rasta, but my hair is coming to mean more to me than just a hairstyle. He also asked me if I knew about King Selassie, and I guess what I said wasn't what he wanted to hear, so I got some lecture about not knowing my culture. But anyway ...
So many of the Rastas that I met were really nice. Also they were trying to tell / teach me about their religion and culture. I'm not sure why, maybe I look receptive to it (which I am). One Rasta I met at Mayfield Falls was telling me about his diet and natural living. While I was in Jamaica, I ate some ital food (more on ital food) which was delicious (I haven't eaten meat for 2 months and don't plan to eat any anytime soon).
Okay, I could go on and on about Jamaica (I loved it and I have so many stories I could tell, i.e. this club called The Jungle where a few of the women really had their stuff hanging out for all to see, and some drunk spring breakers letting guys do stuff that I'm sure they would regret in the morning). But I'm sleepy and I think I will let this be.
14 comments:
What is up with Jamaican men? They're used to foreign women coming over there to get busy with them. (Trying to keep it PG). Seriously, there's tons of women who go on vacation to Jamaica to get their groove on. Sex tourism is what it's called. And the men love it because the women either pay them outright or take care of the men by buying them things, giving them money, letting them stay in expensive hotels, helping them travel outside of Jamaica.....
That's why he told you "what happens in Jamaica stays in Jamaica". Because lots of married women go to Jamaica to cheat. I know this because when I went to Jamaica the ads for bars and the nightlife that I saw seemed geared towards white women being with black men....and then when I came home I read an article about sex tourism in a paper.
Ok ... wow. My mind would not have gone to that. Hmmm ... I did see several white women with black men, but my mind still didn't go there.
Mine didn't go there either til I read the article in the paper. I hope I didn't scar you for life.
I got hit on tons the first time I went. The following two years I went again and didn't get hit on cuz the hubby was with me. They are very persistant too. I had a couple of them ask me to bring them back to the states with me. I know they want to get away and if there was a way to help I probably would but not by marriage or anything like that. This year was to be the year I returned and hopefully still get a chance but now it's looking like I have to do it next year. Great pictures!
Ok, so you know what I mean. Wow, I didn't get anyone asking me to bring them to the US, though.
I have to go again to Jamaica, next time with my husband. That place is so beautiful and I enjoyed it so much.
Beautiful pictures. I wanna go, but remind me to leave the men ALONE! Stella why did you have to get your groove back with the Jamaican man? LOL.
@ Carmen
LOL! But anyway, did you notice the hair thingy I was wearing in the 2nd fall picture? I got several comments on it in Jamaica.
Oh yes, you know I did. I've spotted one in a tiny avatar on nappturality. And knew which one it was by name. LOL. I didn't want to toot my own horn. I blew up the picture and was like - I've never tested them in water. LOL. I learned something new. Thank you so much for taking TTs to Jamaica. Next time take me too. LOL.
I last went to Jamaica 9 years ago with my then partner and stayed in Negril. I was shocked at the sex tourism that went on there. It was so obvious what was happening as I`m sure the women that were with the Jamaican men wouldn`t be doing that in their own country and probably wouldn`t even give them a 2nd glance.
I went to Barbados 3 years ago with my children who were 13 and 16The attention they got was disgusting and I had to say to them to stop disrespecting my children like that. I also got chatted up but on one occasion I was so annoyed that I had to ask one of them which part of me looks like I am desperate and want to catch AIDS.
Last year I went to Grand Cayman..Plenty of Jamaican and the odd Bajan man..They were all perfect gentlemen and not once did I get any unwanted attention.
Oh forgot to say Angela..My partner and I got invited to a meal of ital food and it was the best I`ve ever tasted. They did plenty of "reasoning" and they talk alot of sense. It`s a shame that rastas are still given such bad press as the true rastas are really nice people.
Y'all are killing me with the whole sex tourism thing. Is it only whites doing it, or are blacks doing it too?
@ kathryn
Yes, the rastas I met there were beautiful people. I was glad to have met them.
@Aybee...Harder to spot! But a white friend of mine went to JA with her husband who is black and she was very annoyed with the "knowing" looks she was getting!
lol on what happens to jamaica stays in jamaica..or i have rings too...
I wanna Go!!!!
Post a Comment