Negril Notes

Yoga Center Trip April 2004 - Part 2

January 28, 2005

My first full day in Negril

In some ways this was my favorite day. I did practically nothing, so this section will be short.

I was up at dawn and walked across Norman Manley Boulevard also known as Beach Road through Shields Cottages and out to the beach.

Negril at sunrise is beautiful. On this end of the beach you can see big ships on the horizon and small to medium sized fishing boats dotting the foreground. The air is cool and light, much less humid than in the later warmer hours. I walked up beach for what seemed like an hour, but when I crossed back out to the road I was just up past Selina’s. I walked back in the early morning cool, feeling good and soaking in the positive vibes of post dawn Negril.

I spent the rest of the morning meditating, reading, and writing in my journal. It was decompression day. Only in retrospect did I realize how kinetic I’d been the day before, bouncing from place to place and making mental lists to fill my every waking hour.

I guess that’s how Jamaicans can tell you just got here. You’ve chilled out, but only in American terms, not by Jamaican standards. By the time you’re here four or five days the new arrivals look stressed and harried to you too.

I napped through sunset, chipped in with the security guys for a delicious Brown Stew with rice and peas, and generally kept to myself that night. I read, wrote, drank a few Red Stripes and smoked. I knew I was headed for Selina’s in the morning so I was asleep by 10.

Filed under: Negril, Writing