Jeremy & Mary

Trip Report Hedo III

Mary and Jeremy

First off

I would like to tell everyone that we had a great time chatting before we left to Jamaica and I strongly suggest that everyone do that. We made lots of friends and it helps to kill the time before your trip. I don’t know what we would have done that last week if it were not for MSN Messenger.

Customs, Plane Ride, and Ride to Resort

I won’t spend lots of time here because this was the boring part of the trip. The plane ride was fine and flying Air Jamaica was perfect. We stood in line about 30 minutes at customs and about 10 minutes to get our bags checked. The ride to the resort was crazy and as nuts as everyone says. We did stop at 7:30 AM to get some red stripe. I thought it might be too early for beer, but you almost need one to get you to the resort. It took about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get there.

Check-In, Rooms

We got there at 8:00 AM and got our room in ten minutes. That was nice because we needed a shower. We got up to the room and the room was nice. The mirror above the bed was like those crazy mirrors you see in the carnivals but it was still fun. The air conditioner worked well and when it didn’t they came up and fixed it. We couldn’t find a shade for the bathroom window, so we took our first shower with no shade and open for anyone who wanted to watch. Later that day we found the shade for the window. The big jet tubs are great and we used ours about 4 times during our 6-night stay.

We got a room in the 400 building and we thought it was nice. Not too loud at all, but we were so tired when it came time to go to bed that a train would not have woken us up.

Food

All the food was good. Buffet, Italian, Japanese, and Jerk. They were all good. We ate at the Japanese and Italian restaurants twice during our stay; once would have been fine with us though because the buttet had a very wide variety of foods especially since the Japanese restaurant had only one item on the menu. Being from New Mexico, the Jerk Burger would have been perfect with some green chile, but when I asked they just looked at me funny. The buffet was great; it was nice to just walk to the buffet as you were, eat, and go back to the fun and games. The first half of the week we were there I didn’t wear a shirt to breakfast and lunch, but the last 3 days they made me go back to the room and get a shirt, so guys make sure you carry one with you. We carried a backpack with us everywhere that had sunscreen, clothes (if needed), towels, hats, keys, and cameras.

The picture on the left was in the Scotch Bonnet view; the picture on the right is the outside of the scotch bonnet.

Activities, Drinks, Pools, Nude/Prude Sides

We tried to participate in as many activities as possible. Mary did the Miss Nude Hedo III contest, Trapeze, and a few others. I (Jeremy) got to a “golden” shower during the Miss Nude Hedo Contest. We played volleyball, beach games, toga night, PJ night, and a few more. We went to the Disco about 3 times for dancing and fun. We got to see girls do strip dances with the pole and other crazy outfits in the Disco. Had to do the slide a couple of times both nude and clothed. Nude is much faster than clothed. If you lay down with your hands above your head and pick up your feet just a little so that they are out of the water you will really fly.

This picture was taken in Munahana on Toga Night.

Drinks were good, especially the red stripe. I don’t like keg beer much, but I have to say the red stripe was good. I only got a buzz of the red stripe. The mixed drinks are good they just are that strong. I know if you ask them to make it that way they will. We took mugs from Wal Mart and everyone was asking where we got them. A major plus in the trip and worth the room in the suitcase – put clothes in them or small items so that you don’t loose as much space.

We spent most of our time laying out catching sunray time at the nude beach. Who wants tan lines. We were a little scared about going nude, but it was fun and we will do it again. I was afraid of mister happy getting too happy. Guys don’t worry about that unless someone comes over and starts petting him for you. I didn’t have problems with getting a woody on the beach. The prude side had lots more people at it, which made it nice to go to the nude for nap. Be careful though, the sun is very hot and can burn you easily.

We did learn that the quad is clothing optional so we hung out there some because it is so close to our room.

Dunns River and Shopping Trip

We spent one morning in Ochs Rios. It was about a 3-hour shopping trip. Half-hour both ways and 2 hours shopping. We went and tried to bargain with these people but I think we got the shorter end of the stick. Very stressful trying to bargain but it was interesting and we got lots of good things to take home. Make sure you take 5’s and 1’s because they don’t have change. We also went to Dunn’s River, which was probably the most disappointing thing on the entire trip. There were lots and lots of people and the guides expected you to give them a tip. If they would have carried my camera I would have said OK, but I saw them when we started the trip and then didn’t see them again until they wanted money. I think that everyone should go see the falls once. Just expect to be in a human chain walking the entire way up. The guides tell everyone to hold hands as they climb/walk. So the falls never look like the pictures because of all of the people everywhere.

Problems

Actually, the biggest problem with the Dunn’s trip was that Wednesday (the day we were supposed to go) the tour company never picked us up and it took several hours just to figure out what happened – the driver forgot. It took all day (checking with the main office every few hours and checking our voicemail) to get everything straightened out and to possibly reschedule for the next day – which of course wasted lots of our vacation time. If there are problems you’ll just hear – “No problem mon”. It took hours just to get any answers from the Apple Tours office; they booked our tour through a representative that visits the resorts periodically. The main office said that they thought that the representative would reschedule us for the next day but that he’d call to confirm – no phone call. We showed up and waited around just in case. Lucky for him they showed. When we did finally get to talk to him, he made all kinds of stories about what had happened and how weren’t we so glad that we got to go. We’d recommend organizing any little trips with the hotel since at least they are right there and can help right away. The downside is that they’re a few dollars more expensive.

Friends

I wanted to say thanks to all the new friends we met before and while we were at the resort. Chris/Dave, Tera/Antone, Pat/Sarah, Pete, Lisa/Chris, and John/Colette. It was fun partying with you all and we will have to do it again. We both had a great time and would recommend the trip to anyone who wants a little fun. We hope to go back someday.

Please email me for pictures or with questions. jhalterm@wstf.nasa.gov