Um, Is This Thing On? Hello, Jamaica!
I started this blog with an idea last summer and seemed to completely ditch it. It wasn't intentional, I just got very wrapped up in finishing up recording for my band Aurorae's debut EP, now titled Eos. Being a time consuming process getting everything setup and ready, scheduling time for my brother and I to record our tracks, practicing said tracks to be ready, I just didn't have much time.
Between then and now, I've gotten the recording finished, I have mixed said recording, and it has now gone off to mastering. I managed to squeeze in a couple of trips. First was to Jamaica, which was absolutely incredible. The second was for my wedding anniversary, we headed back to Paris for a week.
Jamaica was beautiful. This was not a place that was on my top anything list. My wife and I went due to her making President's Club at her company, and we attended with the other winners. We stayed at the Sandals resort in Ocho Rios.
The resort itself was all inclusive, which I like and prefer. If you're going to do it, DO IT! There were two sides to the resort, you had the sea side and then there was the hill side. We were assigned to a villa on the hill side. At first, this seemed like an issue as we were away from the main part of the group which was down sea side. Once we got settled into our villa, we realized that we had four neighbors and a semi private pool, something that didn't exist in the more hotel like sea side area.
There were several excursions for us to choose day to day. We did the Jamaican bobsled and zip line tour. I had never been zip lining in my life, so this was going to be interesting with my fear of heights.
To start, we took a ski-styled lift to the top of this mountain. The views were breathtaking, which was nice as I got over my fear pretty darn quick.
Once we got to the top, there's an area that has a gift shop, a place to get something to drink, adult beverages available, and the queues for the bobsled ride and the zip lines.
We started with the bob sled. Now, this thing was scary looking enough without adding my wife the daredevil on top. The cars are tethered, if you're riding tandem. The car in the front controls the speed through a simple level that adds or decreases resistance on the rail. They tell you it's safer if you just push forward and keep the thing at full speed the entire way. My wife in front, I in back, performing the spectacles, testicles, watch, wallet gesture, strapped on our seat belts and began to make our decent.
Between then and now, I've gotten the recording finished, I have mixed said recording, and it has now gone off to mastering. I managed to squeeze in a couple of trips. First was to Jamaica, which was absolutely incredible. The second was for my wedding anniversary, we headed back to Paris for a week.
Jamaica was beautiful. This was not a place that was on my top anything list. My wife and I went due to her making President's Club at her company, and we attended with the other winners. We stayed at the Sandals resort in Ocho Rios.
The resort itself was all inclusive, which I like and prefer. If you're going to do it, DO IT! There were two sides to the resort, you had the sea side and then there was the hill side. We were assigned to a villa on the hill side. At first, this seemed like an issue as we were away from the main part of the group which was down sea side. Once we got settled into our villa, we realized that we had four neighbors and a semi private pool, something that didn't exist in the more hotel like sea side area.
There were several excursions for us to choose day to day. We did the Jamaican bobsled and zip line tour. I had never been zip lining in my life, so this was going to be interesting with my fear of heights.
To start, we took a ski-styled lift to the top of this mountain. The views were breathtaking, which was nice as I got over my fear pretty darn quick.
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| View from the Sky Explorer ski lift in Ocho Rios. |
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| Dancers and drum circle at the top area of the Sky Explorer. |
We started with the bob sled. Now, this thing was scary looking enough without adding my wife the daredevil on top. The cars are tethered, if you're riding tandem. The car in the front controls the speed through a simple level that adds or decreases resistance on the rail. They tell you it's safer if you just push forward and keep the thing at full speed the entire way. My wife in front, I in back, performing the spectacles, testicles, watch, wallet gesture, strapped on our seat belts and began to make our decent.
Once told to go, my wife threw the handles forward and we were off. Having no control of my own, and knowing my wife, she took great devilish pleasure in this I am sure. I am also sure that I made noises that no man should ever make, but they were unleashed. As we twisted and turned through the canopy of the jungle, there were several moments where my ass was not to touch the seat. Thankfully, the seat belt did hold.
As we neared the bottom, we were told to watch out for the red flags, as that would be our indicator to finally pull back on the handles and come to a stop. I am unsure if my wife purposely ignored this detail or was just hell bent on my destruction. Either way, she did pull back after I screamed "RED FLAGS! PULL BACK!" or at least that is what was going on in my head. Whether the words came out or not, still unsure.
After coming to a stop, er slow, we clicked into the rail taking us back up to the top. All in all, it was actually a fun experience and I'd do it again, just not sure with the wife in the lead car though.
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| Sunset from the dock at the sea side part of the resort. |
The subsequent days we climbed Dunns River Falls, went snorkeling and partied on a catamaran, rode ATVs, drank plenty of Bob Marleys and got plenty of sun, rest and relaxation. I would love to go back and stay another go of this resort. The food was excellent, the drinks were delicious and plentiful, and the people are overall just great to be around.
As I stated, plenty of time has lapsed, and plenty of things have happened since I started the blog. I'll catch you all up on more shows and our second trip to Paris in the coming posts.
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