I wasn’t expecting to be able to blog so soon upon my arrival, but I’m here now in Kingston after two days of… absolutely craziness. The apartment Masia and I are staying at has internet (because God knows she needs it) so I’ve got a little mobile office to work out of every now and then.

Now… you’re probably wondering HOW THE HECK IS IT OVER HEREEEE?!?! Baaaaaaaaahahah. To answer that question, I must begin with the four hours I first arrived…

So after getting held up at immigration (**NOTE, when traveling, always have your destination address!), customs were finally able to reach Masia and half hour later I was finally reunited with her, JAMROCK styles! We drove about an hour and a bit to Negril with a change of plans — Kingston road trip tomorrow, beach and Squechie’s birthday TONIGHT.

[Negril… aka paradise]

We got into the humble little resort Masia was staying at, slapped on our bikinis and went for a late afternoon swim. I can’t even begin to tell you how incredible the water and the sand is, despite this “hurrican season” weather. (Canada definitely brought the sunshine because it’s been beautiful thus far. *knocks on wood*)

[Rick’s, where the locals were cliff jumping]

[Meet Ninja, aka the Jamaican Jesus. He saved me, Lol.]

[I love smoking pictures. Money shot.]

Grubbin’ was in order, and to pick us up on two motercycles (I have never done this in my life), was Ninja and a guy dressed in pink and crazy pink sunglasses named 69. Haaaaaaaaaa. Amazing! We rode to Rick’s where there were cliffs that the locals would jump off of in front of all the tourists staying at the resort. One thing I picked up on right away here in Jamaica, is that everyone has a freakin’ nickname. Nobody here is called what they’re real name is! (That’s probably why you see so many “Toronto people” with “fake names” on facebook. LOL.)

[Meet 69, and his bike that I got to ride]

After the cliffs we rolled through to some next spot, looked like a backyard jam with a resto in the back. I was instantly introduced to my first real jerk chicken, along with steamed fish… and the notorious JB. Aka, Jamaica’s Best Rum. I swear, one moment I was taking a few sips, feeling nice and breezy, the next moment I was tapping Masia on the shoulder saying, “May… I don’t think I feel so good.” Next thing I know, I blacked out, fell over on my chair, and all I remember is someone hitting my face telling, “Hey! Hey, you’re okay! Wake up.” I queasily woke up to Ninja’s voice and after a, “Get me to the bathroom!” Ninja scooped me up and ran like the wind towards the nearest bathroom. Unfortunately… that did nothing for me puking everywhere at this jam. DEAR LAWD.

[My first real jerk chicken!]

[The power of JB, Jamaica’s Best Rum.]

[the last photo I took before I blacked out]

Getting me back to the resort to chill was much needed for my crazy little body. By the time I plopped down on the bed still spinning, I asked Ninja, “What time is it?” “8 o’clock.” …. Haaaaaaaaahahaha. Followed after that was a sincere smile by new friend Ninja and a, “Welcome to JAMROCK.”

I woke up two hours later, Masia had returned from the party and said they were rolling through to some next spot. Without second guessing it, I put on clothes and was like, “I’m in.”n Troopa!

I swear, I need a bike. If I thought I was Night Rida with Sinthuja… how much more hardcore can I be with a motorcycle biking through the roads of Negril?! TOO LEGIT. We got to another outdoor jam, called On the Rocks. Right by the water and illuminated by the stars (which you can see as clear as day), I couldn’t have asked for a better place to cool out to music and dance.

The night ended after that for me. Sleep was much needed. I have my glory scars from blacking out and falling over. The smell of JB has been embedded in my memory forever… and I have already inherited my Jamaican nickname. It’s “WATA” as in Water… because that’s all I can drink here in Jamaica. Haahahah Amazing!

Yesterday was a 4 hour drive with Fiahman and Squechie, from Negril to Kingston. I’ve reunited with the other T.O. peeps from Manifesto already and Masia  had a wicked rehearsal with the band she’s working with her along with Jah9, Michee Mi, and some other very talented women. Show goes down tonight. I didn’t even get to talk about the Rastas I’ve met since being here. Some really heavy spiritual stuff that’s got my mind spinnin! I’ll talk about that more in another post… I’ve gotta get ta steppin’, so here are the pics I’ve taken thus far for you to get a grasp of what’s been goin on…

[drive thru- bami and fish!]

[Masia and Squechie ordering us some grub for our road trip.]

As they say here,”Bless!”