How to Find Travel Bargains

Current Bargain for August, September and October.   Jamaica is the bargain hunters dream this fall.  Many of the hotels and resorts ( not Super Clubs though) have discounted their rates by 50- 70 % in an increased effort to draw in tourists.  Mainly this is to Ocho Rios and Montego Bay.   Negril has noticed an increase in tourism. The affluent have discovered the Eco-Tourism aspect offered by Negril and are flocking there.  The road to Negril from Montego Bay is finally finished .  Now that construction is complete we expect tourism to jump dramatically to Negril.   We suggest contacting the Jamaican hotels and resorts via internet and asking what their bargain internet rates are.   Then, bargain it down even more.   This is your chance to stay at a five star resort for a low, low rate.

Many of the other Island Resorts and the Cruise lines  are reporting an increase in bookings for the Christmas and post Christmas season.  Many are snatching up the low rates that are being offered pre-season.  With increased interest in travel, rooms at the finer resorts and cruises being booked up, the prices are bound to start creeping up.  We have reports of some travelers booking cruises in the lower levels of the ship months in advance in anticipation that they will be bumped to a higher level, and its working!

For those looking for something very different you may want to look at Turks and Caicos.  It is a relativly quiet island at this time however the cruiselines are going to start incorporating this island into their cruise schedule.  When this happens the amount of tourists on the island is going to go up dramatically.  Visit there now and you will be able to astound your friends in years to come with your stories of "I remember T&C before it was trendy"

 To follow the touristy trail or blaze your own adventure:  While on the cruise-ship they will offer many pre-planned outings which you can book onboard.   These can be bus-trips to local waterfalls, ruins, shopping excursions or beaches.   They are generally offered at a reasonable rate.   Many first time travelers take advantage of these packages, they are easy, and generally you just have to show up at a designated spot, on the designated day and your off.  But this is about bargains.  Many people will get off the ships and rent a car or jeep for the day, get a map of the area, and explore.  If you are uncomfortable with the driving habits on some islands, you may want to hire a taxi.  Find a licensed taxi driver with his permit which is current and up to date.  Ask him first what it would cost for a full or half day tour. He will ask what you wish to see.  The majority of the taxi drivers know their island extremely well.  They know which spots are interesting and safe for tourists.  Make sure to tell him what time you need to be back to the ship, make sure it is a long time before the ship actually leaves.   The term "Island time" is for a reason.  Islanders don't live their lives by watching a clock.   Some of the most interesting passengers at dinner that night will have tales of their adventures of "striking out on their own" and experiencing a new culture.    

Please remember that if you hire a taxi driver for the day and stop for lunch he may be hungry also.  Most cab drivers stop in at their home during the day for lunch.  If you hired him for the day he may be skipping lunch.  Please insist he eat with you and do pick up his check.  99% of the time they order the lowest price item, or what you are eating out of politeness.   The local eateries though are low priced.  In Jamaica during one trip we stopped at a local Jerk Pit, the two of us, and the driver at full lunches with cold drinks for under $10.00.  It took a bit of coaxing to get him to join us, however the stories we heard in the taxi the rest of the trip were genuine and priceless. 

If you are traveling to St Thomas and need a tour guide for the day you may wish to contact Winston .  Its amazing how much he resemble Eddie Murphy, both in the sparkling laugh and smile!  His insights on the island are delightful and he prides himself on dependability.  His number is 340-771-4948  TP-488.  You may need to book him at least two weeks in advance for a full day tour, but your efforts will be rewarded!     

A fine website to check out if your traveling to Jamaica is http://www.geocities.com/peattaylor/index.html    Peat comes highly recommended by travelers to Jamaica.  Write ahead of time to reserve your day.  He is very much in demand.  A fine example of the entrepreneur spirit alive and well in Jamaica.

How to find really unique Jewelry Collectibles: 

If you travel away from the cities of Mexico you will pass thru villages where ways of living have not changed for generations.    Mexicans are strong lovers of tradition.  A woman may wear the exact style of ear-rings her grandmother wore.   These would be crafted by the village silversmith in the traditional designs the smith has used season after season.  These are the villages where jewelry styles are the same as they were four hundred years ago.    Each village has its own style.  You can tell which village a person comes from by the style of their jewelry.   Many travelers have amassed wonderful collections of jewelry from different villages thru-out South America.   This is where the journey to find the pieces is the real treasure.  Memories to last a lifetime.

How to find the best prices on Jewelry and save time:  

Would you like to receive the star treatment when you go shopping?   Remember when most celebrities go shopping they don't merely walk the streets and window shop.  They contact the store ahead of time, explain what they would like to see, arrange a day to visit the store and the merchant has these waiting for them to view.   They usually do their viewing in the back salons, away from the bustling crowds, with a cold soft drink waiting, (always decline alcohol until after your purchase) where they can view, compare, try on and bargain their best price.    YOU can do this also.   We have provided contact information on the CGI Jewelers page of preferred Jewelers.  Tell them you would like to view such and such articles on a certain date.   Mention that you found them on the CGI site.   (They will try to out do each other in showing you nice articles at good prices.   This competition gives you the edge.)    Its a wonderful feeling to walk into a busy  store, mention your name and who you were in contact with, and they smile widely and whisk you off to look at wonderful treasures!   The bottom line is: they view you as a serious shopper, by mentioning the CGI website they understand you are knowledgeable,  and by making an appointment they can focus on YOUR needs.

One tip;  the merchants in the Caribbean hold  to tradition.  It is strongly felt that the first customer sets the tone for the day.  If they buy something, business will be good.  If they leave with nothing, business will suffer.  Historically the first customer of the day, if they are bargainers, WILL get the best deal of the day.   Find out when the store opens, and BE THERE!   Just think of it, if a necklace that you really love is priced at $12,000 on Tuesday at noon, and you show up the next day at opening time and bargain the price down to $8,500, wouldn't that be worth waking up early?    It might cover the cost of your trip.

How to Successfully Haggle in the Caribbean

For those people setting off on a trip where they may be bargaining for the first time in their lives, I offer the following tips. They are based on my experiences, and others may not agree.

Here are three common but false beliefs about bargaining:

1. We don't bargain prices in developed countries.

It's quite common to ask a shop owner if he doesn't have something "a little cheaper". Consumer Reports magazine in the U.S. publishes an annual report on how to bargain for new and used cars. Any store that posts a sign saying "We will beat any competitor's price" is saying, in effect, "My friend, I make a good price for you." Even when prices are absolutely inflexible, we often look for a relative or friend "in the business" who can get us a special deal.

2. There is a "true" price for any item that is somehow being hidden from us when we bargain.

We know, in developed countries, that different stores charge different amounts for the same item and that the same store may change the price of an item during seasonal sales or when the store is in need of ready cash. The only difference in bargaining situations is that people usually don't bother with the fiction of a "Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price". (Incidentally, Microsoft dropped its list prices here in the U.S. last year, allowing vendors to set whatever price they wish.) Prices are decided by supply and demand, how much the merchant thinks you will ultimately pay and how much he thinks you want the item, the merchant's situation at the time including his mood, his need for cash, how many sales he's made that day, whether you arrived with an "agent" who needs to get a commission, whether you have a personal connection with him, and (this is often very important) how much he likes you. These factors can vary from buyer to buyer and from day to day.

3. There is some kind of formula you can use to bargain with.

Such a formula usually sounds like this: "you should offer 30% of the asking price and settle for 50%." It's immediately obvious what the flaw is: having figured out the formula that people use the merchants will simply double their prices again so that they end up with twice what they would have accepted. In reality, some merchants may ask ten or twenty times what they would accept while others ask only ten percent more.

Bargaining Dos:

1) Do research the value of the item you are buying:   At your local stores, online, & catalogues.

2) Do take your time: In tourist mills, or when bargaining for small day-to-day purchases, you can sometimes do a deal in a minute or so: "Ten!" "Three!" "Seven!" "Five!" "Four!" "OK!" But for any significant item the seller is unlikely to reach a rock- bottom price without a protracted bargaining session and probably several visits to the shop. Certainly the best option is if you have several days during which you can casually pass by the shop, allowing the vendor the opportunity to drop his price a little bit each time. If you do make multiple visits, when you leave each time don't stomp out in anger or disgust but leave things on a friendly footing.

3) Do get the seller to make several offers before you counter: In almost every case the seller's initial offer will just be a fishing expedition. You should not reply to it in any way, just keep asking, politely, if they can offer a lower price. After you make your first offer, there is no obligation to "trade" figures; there is no reason why the seller shouldn't come down two or three times before you make your next offer.

4) Do deal with people you are comfortable with: Since you will be spending a lot of time with the person you are bargaining with, and possibly giving them a lot of money, it's a waste of your time to deal with people you don't like.

5) Do speak a little of the seller's language: In any transaction in a foreign country, the effort you make to use a little of the local language will be returned many fold. Oddly, it is often true that the worse you speak the language, the better you will be received (because you are making more of an effort).

6) Do maintain a friendly demeanor: For me, the value of the item is enhanced by a fun and educational buying experience. Your relationship with the seller may affect the final price you'll pay.

7) Do make sure both the buyer and seller understand the price: When you agree on the price, make sure that everyone understands what the price is by writing it out or typing it on a calculator, before any money is shown.

8) Practice bargaining at home with your family.   Sit at the dinner table and make a game of it, see who can get the best deal for the chicken.   Once you have done it a few times, you'll do fine.   Or visit a few garage and tag sales on the weekends.

Bargaining Don'ts:

1) Don't be rude: Under no circumstances should you be rude, or question the validity of any price the seller names no matter how absurd it seems to you. Your attitude should be apologetic and a little self-effacing: "I'm sorry, but I can't pay that much." If you feel the seller is really trying to rip you off, just apologize for taking his time and leave: there is no need to bargain further with him, rather you should seek the item elsewhere.

2) Don't show too much or too little interest: You don't want the seller to feel that the item in question is one you cannot live without. However, most people go too far to the opposite extreme, acting as if they don't really want the object. In this case, the seller has no incentive to actually try to close the sale. A better attitude to project is that you like the object in question, and would certainly buy it if only this minor matter of the price could be settled.

3) Don't use logic to argue merits of the item or try to justify your offer: This is a losing game for you. The seller spends all day, everyday, playing and he's bound to have an argument to counter any justification you can give. Certainly you owe no explanation as to how you have arrived at the price you wish to pay. After all, the seller is very unlikely to give you (correct) information about how he has arrived at his selling price

4) Don't start too low: On the surface, it makes sense that if you start very, very low you have more "room" to bargain down the seller's very, very high starting price. But this tactic serves more to signal your lack of knowledge of the actual value of the item. Most successful negotiations I have been involved in have seen me start close to the price I am determined to pay, and make occasional small concessions while the seller comes down in leaps and bounds.

5) Don't be confrontational: A bargaining session is a cooperative endeavor in which both the buyer and seller are working together to a common end: agreeing to a price that will satisfy both parties. It is not a competition in which you are trying to "beat down" the opposition and "triumph" over them.

6) Don't be embarrassed: The worst that is likely to happen to you if you make a ridiculously low offer is that the seller will smile sadly and say no. Usually, no matter how low your offer is, it will be the start of a friendly bargaining session.

7) Don't be too frugal: In some countries where your living expenses may be only $10 or less per day, items that are great bargains seem less so in comparison. It's a mistake to pass up purchases that you will treasure long after you return home in the name of false economy.

Cultures vary from island to Island.  Hand gestures are different also.  In the US, making a circle with the thumb and index finger means "OK". To the French (and others), it can be taken as an insult. It means "worthless". A raised thumb gesture (one thumb up) will work better and avoid misunderstandings.    One fellow visiting   St Marten haggled and haggled with a local artist to get to the price they both felt comfortable with.  When the bargaining was finished the gleeful tourist then gave the OK sign to the surprised young artist.  The artist took it as an insult to his craft, grabbed his painting and walked briskly away.  Basically the artist thought the tourist had proclaimed his art "worthless."

So go forth, bargain, and have a great time.

Booking your Trip, how to get the best Deal

The successful bargain hunter begins his strategy months in advance.  Visit your local travel agent, pick up the brochures and ask their advice.   They are professionals and deal with this business every day.  Be honest with them on what you wish to spend, where you'd like to go etc.  They can guide you in your initial first steps.  If you are a travel newbie you may wish to book your entire trip thru them, right down to the tours, hotel, rental cars and flight.  For that convenience you will pay what the going rate is.   They will provide you with a wonderful vacation experience and their expertise and guidance does deserve to be compensated.  If you are a bit more adventurous, and cost is a concern, or if you like to stretch those dollars to the max read on for a few tips. 

Research:    This is the key to your quest.   I find the best resource to be the Internet.  Find your favorite search engine, type in a few keywords and start your journey.   First determine which time of year you want to travel.  This is key.  Many areas have peak travel season times, and the off peak seasons offer great discounts however there is a reason tourists don't go there in those times. 

In the Caribbean the main concern is Hurricane Season.  It generally runs from the end of May till November.   The good news about Hurricanes is that the weather service is really good about spotting them, predicting paths and issuing warnings.  If they note one before your trip that will affect your travel plans you can cancel or go somewhere else.   If you are on an island and a Hurricane is eminent most islands put a priority on getting the tourists away safely.  DO NOT STAY ON AN ISLAND WHICH IS ABOUT TO BE STRUCK BY A HURRICANE.  It is not an adventure, it is terrifying, dangerous and the locals will be busy taking care of themselves and their families.  After the hurricane there may be no power, roads will be blocked, no drinking water, no air conditioning, poor medical care, and may be weeks before you will be able to leave.

The trade winds usually keep the heat and humidity at a bearable level.  In the summertime the Islands are usually more comfortable then the Midwest United States.  Summer is the rainy season, however the bonus to that is this is when the tropical flowers bloom at their best!   You will probably be able to book a cruise or reserve a room at one of the all-inclusive resorts for a fraction of the Peak Season rates.  

Resorts and Hotels for Less:   The off season is a perfect time to get a wonderful bargain.  The hotels rates drop dramatically.  When you call to book your room don't be shy to ask for a better deal.   At this time of year you hold the bargaining chip.   They need to fill the empty rooms, you need a room and there are many hotels available.   Get the lowest price they have, get a confirmation number and a name and write it down.   Then a very good technique is ask if any of their luxury suites are available and if you can upgrade.  Many of the hotels luxury suites in the summer remain empty.  If you are nice and personable on the phone they may upgrade you to the penthouse for the price of the regular room.  If this happens please remember to tip the maid well.  You will be remembered by the staff and when you call next year in peak season they may get you the penthouse for the same price you paid in low season.

Jamaica offers a unique program for travelers yearning to get our and about and soak up local culture.  It is managed by the Jamaica Tourist Board and is called "Insiders Jamaica."  It combines a stay of five nights or longer at an intimate inn or hotel, with the freedom to experience Jamaica's diverse attractions.  More than 40 of Jamaica's finest small properties have joined, ranging from Mountain Hideaways and gracious old estates to family run beachside inns and tropical villas.   Each has its own distinctive character, but all dedicated to offering guests a high degree of personal service and helpful tips on exploring the "real Jamaica."   Details can be found at 
www.caribbeanmagic.com

Ambience, location and price are just a few of the advantages these smaller properties extend to their guests.  Choose the spot that is right for you.  Visitors have several other opportunities to discover the countries cultural and ecological diversity.   Vacation packages offering alternatives to traditional vacations have been put in place to accommodate these trends.

 Cruise Bargains Cruises for Less:    Again, the key here is to research well in advance.  The internet offers many sites to comparison shop.  Many sites offer files where you can view the rooms in full 360 degree pics.  You can view the decks, the pools, the dining rooms, and get a feel of the cruise ship.   Decide what type of cruise will match your personality and pocketbook. 

  The larger ships are glamorous, have wonderful shows, fantastic food and amenities like spas, skating rinks, movie theaters and casinos.   Due to their size they may not be able to dock at certain islands or you may need to take a tender ship which they provide.  

The smaller vessels are not quite as glitzy but they make up for that with the personal touch.  The staff will be on a first name basis with you and you'll see your cruise mates on a regular basis.    The smaller ships are able to get into many of the smaller Islands the large ships can't visit. 

Shop for the lowest fares well in advance.  Many cruise lines offer substantial discounts if you book months in advance.   If time and itinerary are not a problem and you are fairly flexible a really  fun and low cost option is the last minute deals.  Like the hotels the cruise ships do not make a profit if their rooms are not filled.  Several sites on the internet offer screaming deals to those able to book a trip a few weeks in advance.   Again you need to be flexible.  It may not be the prime cabin with the balcony.   Generally the cruise lines upgrade the people who book well in advance.  This leaves a few empty cabins which they then offer at screaming deals. 

If you are arranging a trip for a large group contact the cruise line.  Tell them the size of your group and ask for their best deal.  They usually can offer a low price and the added bonus being that the organizer of the group travels for free.  The organizer coordinates the group and all in the group must pay in advance for this option.  But your time and effort to do all of this is valuable, and a free cruise is wonderful compensation for this.  

Health Professionals:    Many elderly and handicapped people still love to travel and find this to be very therapeutic.   Health professionals can offer to travel with these persons and care for them in exchange for a free cruise.   I know of many nurses who do this on a regular basis and have traveled the world.  This is usually a contract arrangement either thru a nursing agency or private contract between the parties.

  Airline Tickets:  Again shop well in advance.  The internet offers many sites with booking online.  The airlines offer there tickets online at lower fares.    One word of warning however with those sites offering extremely low fares.   The flight may be very inconvenient for you time wise.   I have seen flights from Miami to Jamaica with a layover in Kansas city which can take over 14 hours for a travel day.  The fare will be really low however it is exhausting.  And if the flight is overbooked and if no one takes the voluntary bump, the persons holding tickets bought on the ultra-discount service sites may be the one they bump.   A smart tactic if this happens to you is volunteer for the bump.  They usually compensate you with a free flight for another trip or cash.   When they ask for volunteers just ask nicely what the terms are. Then don't be shy.  Tell them you'll take the bump along with their terms but throw on something else, say a meal voucher . You may be surprised.  They would much rather give great terms to a volunteer than to face a not so jovial forced bump customer. 

The Cheapest Flights go to the swift and sleepless online!

At one minute after midnight on Tuesday (12:01 am Wednesday) you can get an unbelievable deal online. Airline fare wars are most often started by the weakest competitor over the weekend. By Monday, many of the majors match the fares. Then the fare war starts with an even lower fare offered by one of them on Monday. By Tuesday, the fare has been matched, and then, at 12:01 Wednesday, any of those fares that have been reserved but not purchased within 24 hours come back into the inventory -- briefly -- and that's when the best deals come available online. 

Trip Insurance:  Do I REALLY need it?

 Yes you do...  It's low cost and you will kick yourself if you don't have it and something happens.   Click here for more information.  At Carigem we recommend CSA, they have proven time and time again to be rated A+.    Click here to get your low cost quote now. 

The purpose of travel insurance is to provide protection for travelers against the unique risks associated with travel, before trip departure and during the trip itself. Many of these risks, such as trip interruption, are not generally covered by any other insurance available to travelers.

Although travelers probably don't want to think about it, the plain fact is that travel involves some unique risks. In fact, travelers would be surprised by some of the things that could happen.

Trip Reports:

Life-changing experience.
By Julie Feola

My husband and I just returned from a vacation in Jamaica and I wanted to tell you what a wonderful experience we had. It is upsetting that the hotels frighten people into thinking they shouldn't leave the resorts because it isn't safe. The world isn't safe, but that doesn't mean you can't trust some people. More often than not, if you give respect than you will get respect. My husband and I witnessed fellow Americans being obnoxious while we were on vacation which was embarrassing to us. If people go to Jamaica and don't appreciate the culture, they are only missing all that this beautiful place has to offer. We became friends with a taxi driver who realized we were interested in seeing the "real" Jamaica outside of the illusion that the resorts create for people. We quickly developed a mutual respect and he took us to see all of his friends, his wife, and we even hung out with a rastafarian on a plantation. It was wonderful to know that he wanted to share all of this with us and we truly appreciated it. In fact, we are planning another trip to Montego Bay in April or May 2002 and we are staying in a village rather than a resort. You have to be careful no matter where you are-it is hard to know when to trust but you have to trust someone. We had a life-changing experience and can't wait to go back, as we know there is so much we haven't seen yet.

I will be spending more time in Jamaica
by Shaun

I got married last June and my husband and I honeymooned in his home town of Port Antonio. We stayed in the beautiful resort Goblin hill. In our villa we had our own personal cook and housekeeper. We went to the market with her and my husband helped he r pick out his favorite foods to prepare meals (like his mother makes) We had wonderful fruits that we cannot get in the stated. We had a beautiful view of the beach and I "tanned" a little just for an even tone. We went snorkeling and rafting. We didn't go to too many tourist shops as they were expensive. My husband took me too the local stores in town and I bought better quality goods.

The first 2 days we "honeymooned" without alerting the family of our arrival. Then once we had seen enough of the resort we ventured off into the country (bush) where his family stayed. We spent afternoons meeting his family and eating, and evenings in the towns at the local bars and dancehalls. We visited a couple sound stages and I really enjoyed the variety of music.

While we were there we got a chance to see the home that his Parents (who live in the US) were building for their retirement. I was surprised to find, as wedding gift form them to us, a separate self contained unit extended off of their home for us. It was not yet finished but when it is we will have a place to stay when we go on vacation .

The only problem I had was when customs would not let me bring home some of the dried spiced. Like cinnamon, sorrel, and nutmeg. that was a good waste of my money. (well my mother in law's money)

It looks as though I will be spending a lot more time there.

NEW BEGINNINGS
by Sienna

Some years back, Jamaica was unknown to me, other than being a 'pretty' name in the atlas, a country in the Caribbean that was on my list of 'someday' places to visit, based solely on that meager criterion. When the opportunity came to make the trip, I found myself not wanting to know a whole lot about the island before hand……following the typical pattern of my travel style…..I would rather explore as I go, instead of having a long itinerary before hand. I have always found it easy to get the rough layout of a place first, then go back for a second, in depth trip if desired.

I did go to the local public library, and found a well thumbed through, five-year-old travel guide on the country. The focus seemed to be on all-inclusive resorts, and I almost immediately began to doubt my destination choice, but flipped through the book long enough to pick up some general geographical information. What appealed to me were the opposing coastlines. I knew I wanted to see Kingston, the educational and cultural center. I knew I wanted to get up into the mountains, and I wanted the wide sand beaches and turquoise waters of the west coast.

On that first trip, I wound up spending twenty-four hours in Montego Bay, until the urge for the open spaces became overwhelming. An unexpected meeting with someone who worked here long ago netted a ride east to Ocho Rios. Dinner in that town, and I felt the pull toward the west coast so strong I was willing to walk there if needed. Luckily, and unbelievably, the next day brought a ride all the way into Negril, and I immediately felt at home. A week later, I found myself sending a telegram back to the States, with the basic message that I would be home when the money ran out. I did wind up going back a week after that telegram, not that the money was gone, but I knew that I wanted to get back in order to start saving for the return trip. There was still so much to see, and in some way, I knew that this country would be calling me back for more exploration.

Since that first trip, I have made many return visits, each time lucky enough to spend longer amounts of time, investigating each of the areas that first caught my attention, as well as other places. Except for a 10 day stay in a small hotel last summer, I have always stayed in guest houses or with families willing to share a spare bed, if not a whole room. I have long been fascinated in the economic discrepancies of the island, in the people of the countryside, in the seemingly never-ending hope and resiliency bolstered by pride, patience, determination and belief in a new and better day, no matter the circumstances, or lack there of.

This past year has been one that blessed me with time enough to spend a bit less than nine months on the island, with a short stay back in the States midway through, to handle some business affairs.

It was on my last sojourn here that I decided that a future trip would mean forgoing the tourist towns completely, and instead, settle in to a local community for the duration. It seemed to me that it would be the best way to begin discovering the answers to the questions and curiosities I had. It was in this way then, that I came to be here in Little London, a small "suburban" community halfway between Negril and Sav-La-Mar, the capital of the Westmoreland parish.

People who come to Jamaica and drop their travel-agent fed fears of talking and mixing with locals rapidly learn that Jamaicans can be some of the most gracious and sharing people, and sometimes, those with the perceived "least" to share, are the most giving. Close and long enduring friendships are not uncommon, even when it appears that the only thing in common between the parties is the fact that all involved are people of the Earth, with hopes and dreams, the desire to not just be heard but be listened to as well, and to be respected for whom we are, and not just for what we do or do not have.

And it was two trips back that I met the individuals that would ultimately become the host family for this particular long-term stay. It was through them that I have worked out a trade, whereby I live rent-free in a little house in exchange for organizing and running the newly revived family shop, and sharing 50 % of profits generated. As with any business, it is starting slowly, but has so much potential, I can see the possibility of expansion in so many different areas. Naturally, you need money to generate money, and that is where I fit right in with the Jamaicans in the countryside - that one commodity (cash) is what we are all lacking, but it gives me a fairer understanding of some of the issues I have been interested in exploring.

Now, for a few details to give you a visual description (knowing full well of course, that you will probably declare me certifiable for enjoying what I have here, but it's just one more case of differences being what makes the world go round.) My house is considered to be pretty much hurricane proof, as it is made of "unfinished" (unpainted) concrete, rather than wood. I really do love the wooden houses best, 'boardhouses' as they're called, but this one will do. As far as houses go, it is pretty much close to perfect - one room, about 12 by 15, screenless louvered windows, a side door, a front door, and a zinc (tin) roof, my favorite for being under when it rains - the water beating down on the tin provides music that ranges from a gentle drumming to an impossible-to-talk-over roar, depending on the intensity of the storm. I have discovered that possessions can definitely be kept to a minimum, and what isn't necessary in that one room, just isn't needed at all. It is outfitted with the basics - a bed, a shelf of boards, bricks and stone to hold odds and ends, a small fan and a radio. Perhaps the only luxury that I am missing is a mirror. I do have one, but it is smaller than the palm of my hand, and doesn't do much to give the overall idea of how I've managed, IF I've managed, to put myself together each day. Most days, I don't mind, other days, I find that using the reflection caught in a car's window will do. And then again, there were those days when I stopped in at the beauty shop next door to use the phone, I caught a full length view in Christine's mirror, and wondered who it was that stared back at me with such startled eyes. My favorite room is my shower - beautifully rustic. It is outside the house, an add on to a cement structure that will be the 'real' bathroom someday. A few boards nailed to the trunk of a tall stately thatch palm, some overlapping, rusted pieces of zinc, two bricks to stand on so that the mud stays off t! he clean feet, a curtain made from a feed sack………. When I first got here, I was given a hose to snake over the zinc wall, connected to a water system in the yard that pumped in plenty of clean, cold water. The hose was shared by any number of other people, at various times during the day and night, and lately, I find that I am content to deal with more traditional Jamaican bath preparations…….set my plastic laundry tub on the bricks, trek in 5 or 6 juice pitchers full of water, (the bucket that would haul more never seems to be where it's supposed to be when I want it - but "no problem" as the popular saying goes….) then, stand in the tub, soap down, and rinse with the final pitcher. It is most beautiful at night, the roof overhead simply the interlocked fronds of the thatch palms, and the black velvet sky, glittering with the most vividly colored stars I have ever seen, in numbers more numerous than I ever imagined. The cold water jolts life back into the skin and I seem to spend long moments just staring skyward.

I'm sure by now, it has been noticed that my house lacks one room everyone considers important but me - the kitchen. I did notice with surprise these last couple of days though, that I am looking forward to my own cooking area, which may be installed, in the next month or so. The typical country kitchen is also outdoors, most often a board lean-to attached to the main building, and is equipped with a cutting table and a propane two burner stove top, and a tall bucket for water, which is used for cooking, and washing dishes. Someone here in 'the yard' always cooks the day's meal, and the portions I am given feeds two, so I am hardly starving. That, plus any snacks or drinks I want for the day are free from the shop so this is probably the first time I will return home with some extra padding, (unless my willpower gets stronger - you know I have to sample every new sweet or salted snack food I decide to carry and have developed an even stronger liking for salted banana chips! and Guinness, if that's possible.)

As for the shop, it too is probably different from what you imagine……At the moment; it consists of two rooms. The first part is about 10 by 20, wooden in structure, with a refrigerator, a counter top, some small shelves, and a little glass display case under the counter top. A Jamaican style "slot machine" and a portable wooden table for domino games completes that portion. The second portion is what seems to me to be a "huge" room, although it is probably only 15 by 25 feet. Two bamboo walls, (the other is the adjoining shop wall, the fourth side is open and faces the yard) a zinc roof, a badly ruptured, eroded red concrete floor, another wooden table……….and that's that. The room was originally built as a "Go-Go" club ("exotic dancing" in polite terms), and there has been a lot of public interest in a renewal of the same operation. However, this is not the way the family here has decided to run it, and the planning/brainstorming stage is still in progress. At the mom! ent, morning business is quiet, with a few people stopping in for snacks or cigarettes before they head off to work. The second wave includes school children who drop by after classes for a cold drink, or a sweet treat of some sort. Then, finally, it becomes a neighborhood 'hang out' from late afternoon/early evening, sometimes with people here long into the wee hours of morning….three times in the past month, due to rather intense poker and domino games, the last customers didn't go home until eight or nine the next morning.

I have been asked by family, friends and Jamaicans alike why I chose to live like this this, to spend my time like this, as it is not the 'typical' vacation activity, it is not luxurious, and at times, it is not even easy. I suppose part of the reason is because I feel I have moved beyond the "vacation mode", even though there is still a lot of the country I have yet to see, but plan to, one of these days. The other reason is because I have always been curious about the country - how it can have so much to offer but seem to fall behind rather than forge ahead, how the people survive at the grassroots level, how a positive outlook in the face of hardship is maintained, how doing with less can bring more peace, or if nothing else, place focus on what is really important.

Life is a classroom, full of opportunity for learning, and I am willing, at this stage in my life, to gamble, to take a risk, to enroll in this new course.

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