Robert Woolery and his wood carvings

Strolling through the craft area was a cool thing to do. One of the things that stood out most were the carvind from a man named Robert Woolery. Look for the guy using a chainsaw to make his initial cuts, watching as the chips fly everywhere. Be careful where you step, as wood chips are mixed into the fine sand, making for an uncomfortable place to plant a foot.

Roberts location was amidst other stands, and many of his carvings were on the wall. I noticed one piece that I liked alot. It was a carving of a palm tree. As soon as I saw it I snatched it up for my parents.

Days later I went back and asked if he could make another palm tree carving, except this time I wanted to know if he could carve  a drum into it and also the words "Chill Awhile". Since I loved hanging out at the Chill Awhile Cafe, I thought it was only fitting.

When I watched him carve I was suprised to see him take a chunk of wood and turn it into the final piece. He started with a chainsaw, making the first of many crude cuts to get the most basic of shapes carved out. Then he spent hours carving it out as I watched it unfold into the carving he would later start to paint and stain. I still dont know what kind of paint it was that he used, but I do know that the final coat was shoe polish. Yes, shoe polish. 

As the sun set, Robert started a fir. We hung out as he propped the piece up so that it could face the fire and dry out. . Its really a cool piece, a one of a kind, and Im glad I was able to watch that hunk of wood turned into that finished piece that I look forward to putting up back home.

Safari

Today was one a great day. We decided we wanted to go up the Black River so that Jerry Ann could have an opportunity to take pictures of crocodiles. After an hour or so of driving, we went through an old building where we paid for a tour boat. The building was once used as an auction house to auction off slaves. A grim history, but interesting, if nothing more than my having a penchant for old buildings. 

The pontoon boat was fun and you cant see the group of people I have pressed behind me so that I can capture this photo. Outside of this moment Jerry and Gayle had to fight for a position to see things. I think that if we do this again I will have to find a different way to experience this. Once in the Everglades I was on a fan boat and I came dangerously close to an alligator. The pontoon boats offer a way of seeing the wildlife in a way where you are off the water higher, but its operating at the pace of a tour group. This was the only organized tourist trip we did. We liked it enough to consider doing it in future trips.

Here is a local fisherman. I would not be caught dead in a hollowed out canoe, along the bank, where Crocodiles hunt. 

Jerk

BBQ, thats what we have back home. Jerk is the Jamaican equivalent to our BBQ. I wanted to try some roadside Jerk, again because everyone has their own recipe. Some like it juicy, others like it on the drier side. Some like it spicy with sauce on the side, while others slather it with sauce while cooking it. Again, its very much like how we have BBQ back home. Everyone has their favorite way, level of heat, spice rub, etc...

Roadside lunch

Rice & Peas

Roadside Lunch of Stewed Cow Skin

Today Tyrone pulled off the road to a small stand where food was being cooked. I was proud of Gayle today for trying something adventurous and new. What did she eat? She had a plate of rice with brown stewed cow skin. It was pretty good I must admit. Nothing goes to waste, and I never thought id be eating cow skin. It had a consistency like soft onions. It wasn't fatty, I don't even know if I would be able to place it if you didn't tell me what it was. Nothing about it was objectionable, nor did we have to force ourselves to eat it. It was actually pretty good.

Brown Stewed Cow Skin

For a few hundred JA dollars we got a decent sized lunch that was filling and quite good. Gayle actually wanted to have more! Go figure.

Dinner at Canoe

I have GOT to learn to take better pictures with this point-n-shoot camera. My next trip Im bringing another camera. I keep snapping photos while at dinner but most of the photos dont do justice to what we are eating. This picture is the Jerk Shrimp that I always get at Canoe. Everyone has their own version of Jerk Sauce.  I dont know what they do that separates them from the crowd, but damn is it good.

I must admit that I havent been a huge fan of the french fries so far in Negril, ands thats okay, because Im not here to have the best fries, im more interested in the seafood and the various dishes of cultural significance. Fries I can eat anywhere. It is however interesting to notice the differences even with the smalles of things. Ketchup, the brand of prominance is "Grace", and its quite a bit different than what I ve been used to. 

One popular way to prepare fish is Escoviched. Its a vinegary sauce with slices of onion topping off the fish. Its neat to try, but I tried it maybe twice and opted for a different preparation. Its not my thing!

Jamaican staples

What can I say. I waited for quite a while to get here, and the last thing I want to eat is a burger. I know its our second trip, and im sure I will try far more things, but for now I want Jerk. Ive hear good things about the Jerk pork from a vendor who walks the beach. I havent found him yet, but in the mean time Im enjoying the morsels that I picked up down the road.

These fried breadsticks of sort are called "Festival" This is a favorite of Gayles. Its what youd get if you took a bread stick and a hush puppy and they had offspring. They are pretty good I admit. Kids love them.

Rice and peas is a staple. The term refers to Rice with beans. There arent actual peas to be found.

Again I had to go back to Niahs Patties, and this time I had the banana filled patty. Its not overly sweet by any means, which I like.

Jamaica vacation 2010

When I was a boy my parents took my brother and I on a trip. I dont remember where exactly, but I do remember the piolet asking if I wanted to see the cockpit and I said something that amounted to a kids version of "F@@@ THAT!". 

So here we are, boarding the plane for our 2nd trip to Jamaica and again I hear those familiar words, only this time it was being asked of my Gayle. She was hesitant at first but I told her how cool it would be. THIS time atl east one of us was able to sit behind the controls of the very plane we would be flying in. Im jealous :)







There is something cool about being up 30,000 feet. It gives me an opportunity to purge my mind (somewhat) of the stresses of work, and in turn I start to focus on the remaining time of the flight. Out come the headphones, I start up my favorite playlist that I put together for the trip. I sit back and do what I can to block out the turbulence. Hmmmmm maybe watching the first episode of LOST last night wasnt the best of choices to make. In either case I cant wait to just land already. We are headed to Charlotte NC where we have a brief layover before flying into Montego Bay.