Where do I begin with this amazing trip? Probably the best trip I ever had, but then again, I always say that for every trip!
Seriously though, I thought my Christmas 2011 trip to Jamaica was bomb, or maybe Rome, Paris, not even Morocco, Bianca?
Bacchanal
Jamaica 2013 season was on some CRAZY type of drugs! It was so good
that I finally fell in love with Soca (and trust me, I did everything in
my power not to in order to stay purely a gaza girl).
Yes, Jamaica gets that credit. I didn't even touch Trinidad yet! I still have chills when reminiscing. Bur.
Before flight
Ochi
Weekend coincided with my birthday weekend this year, so the plan was
to go EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA hard, of course (I typically am at the "extra
hard" level, had to boost it up a little).
I flew from NYC to Kingston on Thursday and met my girls Posh and Terara from Boston, as well as my cousin Deney from Miami.
Immediately
upon arrival to our small hotel, we got ready to go to Usain Bolt's
Tracks & Records restaurant for the first time. The environment,
the food, the vibes, buck!
It
was already late, so we decided to go home, get dressed and hit up one
of Jamaica's most posh clubs, Fiction Lounge. We met up with Posh there
and had a dope time. Vibes did BUCK lol.
After
leaving the club about four in the morning, we got pan chicken in front of Quad Nightclub (the BEST
spot to get some -- now I know that). Deney went straight to Ocho Rios
to work for her company before Ochi Weekend started for her, and the
rest of us 3 got a few hours rest before driving to Ocho Rios that same
Friday. We lounged by the pool and enjoyed an authentic Jamaican
breakfast, ackee and saltfish -- my fav! My other two friends from NYC
joined us on the ride. We checked into Sandals and it was about that
time for the weekend to be initiated.
We enjoyed Sandals all-inclusive luxury before retiring to our rooms to prepare for the night.
We hit up Ville (Margaritaville) and Shades...
We
didn't reach home until about 7-8am upon which we did NOT go to sleep.
Beenie Man said "let's go the the BEACH!" And so we proceeded.
Ochi
Weekend is an annual weekend event, like many others in Jamaica. The
same two events happen every year, Beach Jouvert (drinks-inclusive) on
Saturday and Daydreams (all-inclusive) on Sunday. They both are day
events that usually start between 12pm-4pm and end around 10pm
(Jamaicans party all day and all night my friends).
They
ALWAYS bring a big Soca artist and several other Soca and Reggae
artists. This year was Shurwayne Winchester, Father Nappy, and more that
I can't recall right now (since I was supposed to write this post 3
months ago -- bare with me people -- rushing)!
We
purchased VIP tickets for Beach Jourvert which we discovered well worth
it (only buying VIP tickets from now on for this party).
As
we reached the entrance of the beach we felt and saw the vibes! The
beach that Beach Jouvert is held on every year is James Bond Beach, a
hugeeeee beach in St. Mary (where the original movie was shot -- go
figure). The organizers of Beach Jouvert have tour buses arranged for
all party goers to be picked up at the beach entrance and brought to the
actual beach. No one is allowed to park near the beach since the amount
of people with cars that attend the event is unmanageable. There are
hundreds of cars parked alongside the main road and thousands of people
in their old-tshirts, shorts, no shirts, bikinis, etc. ready to get
painted up. Yes, Beach Jouvert is a throw-paint-at-everyone event, never
go with clothes you want to wear again!
As
soon as we got off the bus and saw the venue, we headed straight to VIP
to retain our free party gear (cowboy hats, t-shirts, etc.) We ate a
little to prepare for party time! As
usual, we're always late to all events so we missed most of the paint,
but a few strangers didn't have a problem throwing some paint they saved
on us. No one is allowed to not have paint on them! You better run if
someone sees you without any paint on your body! We had a BLASSSSST and
Shurwayne and the other artists killed it on stage. VIP also gets you
access directly in front of the stage and backstage, the VIP tickets are
really worth it. We met up with my other cousins and friends, Shalisa,
Rachel, Tego, Rosheda (and I ran into a lot of friends along the way)
and had the time of our lives. I love Soca!
BUN ROAD, DUN ROAD WI SEH!
ROAAAAAAAAAD!
Sunday
came, we went to the pool, the jacuzzi, the beach, everything before we
ate breakfast lol.
We
then rolled to Daydreams with my uncle and headed straight to VIP. We met up
with more cousins and friends that came down from Kingston for
Daydreams.
Ran into everybody and didn't stop dancing,
wait, we COULDN'T stop dancing. The music was too good.
Ate a little...
Daydreams!
Now it was time for CodeRed's annual anniversary at Margaritaville!
We
went back to Sandals to get a quickie (nap) before hanging and heading
back out with my uncle.
We stopped at a few parties before reaching
Ville.
RDX, Popcaan, I-Octane, all a dem shell dung di place.
I look
forward to this event. Very chill, yet vibesy.
I-Octane
RDX
Popcaan
Personal pools...
One more dip...
Monday
blues! It was time for my friends to go back home! Ochi Weekend was
over, but the following weekend was carnival and I was NOT going home.
The only home I was going to was my father's up in the hills!
As I reached home, I paid daddy a visit and took some pics before walking into the house. He'd be proud that I'm living it up.
We are tombing him the summer of 2015.
Hit my uncle's restaurant on the beach...The Roxborough, Ocho Rios..
IGLOO is my favorite party in Jamaica and it happens every Monday of Ochi Weekend.
They also have it in Portmore on Hellshire Beach. Igloo mother effin shell.
Me and my road dawg/cousin, Kimone, had the time of our lives lmao.
I stayed at my house until Tuesday.
Of course I had to hit Scothies, my favorite jerk restaurant in
Jamaica. Later on in the night, my little cousin, Danielle, and I went
to the popular Tuesdays spot for all Ochi-area people, Ocean's Eleven,
for karaoke Tuesdays. My dad's friend owns the place so we had great
treatment and a great time. Wednesday, I spent some time with
more other cousins, walked to the beach from their house and we hit the
jet skiis before it was time to go back to Kingston.
I
met back up with my cousins and friends that also stayed for the
complete 10 days you should stay in Jamaica (if you want to have the
complete Bacchanal experience).
My girl Sade flew in
from Boston to meet me. Wednesday was the I Love Soca annual fete.
I'm not hanging with John anymore. He will drunk you. Yes that makes sense lol. Love him still.
Kingston City from Red Hills
Thursday
we picked up our costumes from Mas Camp. Cruised around, touched a few
of my friends' turfs, ate at KFC, Island Grille (all musts for me) before
going to Fiction.
Friday
I recall SLEEPING. This is the day I sleep lol. We enjoyed the rae rae parties/dances
as always. We went to Bounty Killer's studio with my cousin and enjoyed
the gangsta vibes as usual, yuh know a my ting. It was finally time for
Sunrise Breakfast Party! DON'T EVER MISS
IT. DON'T YOU EVER!
The
Sunrise Breakfast Party is mimicked off of Trinidad's, as everything
else since the organizers of Bacchanal Jamaica are close friends with
those of Trinidad. This party SHOT. We didn't go to Pandemonium (Machel
Montano's and Shaggy's annual event) or Bacchanal Jouvert (where a big
artist also always headlines, this year -- Destra), but all of those
people went straight to the Breakfast Party that begun at 4am. I noticed
with all of the paint some of them had on them. Sade and I got there
about 6am, in the midst of the sweetest vibes the body can feel, lol (I
love hyperbole -- but really though). Of course I spotted Miss Universe
1st Runner Up, Yendi, and other notable Jamaicans that you usually see
out in the nightlife. I ran into a lot of friends from Miami, Boston,
DMV, etc. The venue was perfect, another all-inclusive event with food
and drinks. All Soca lovers were there getting on bad, until Machel
Montano surprisingly touched the stage then everyone got on WORST. This.
Party. Is. A. Must. Go. I will never miss it again, as long a I can
help it.
Machel Montano
Saturday
came (well Saturday already came with the Breakfast Party lol), last
minute errands before carnival on Sunday. My girl lost her iPhone and
surprisingly got it back, CRAZY LOL. I love my country but how often do
you hear a story like that? Anywhere in the world> Period!
Saturday
night we went to Sadda's birthday party at Quad with my boy Benji.
Usain Bolt was also there, on fire, as always, in celebration of his
brother's birthday. CodeRed and Chromatic shut it down before we headed
to a club around the corner, Taboo. More notable people were in
attendance and I enjoyed getting almost kicked out the club for taking
pictures lol, what's new? Sadda couldn't seh him neva have a great
birthday doe. Everyone was acting a fool.
We reached home in time for like a half-hour nap before getting ready for carnival around 10am. It was carnival time!!!
BACCHANAL JAMAICA SHELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! When you purchase a costume, you also
get a baggie of carnival goodies, all-inclusive drinks while on the
road for carnival, lunch, and dinner when we end the parade at Mas Camp.
Bacchanal Jamaica is very organized. I 'm anticipating my Trinidad
Carnival trip but my heart will always lay with Bacchanal Jamaica.
Best Bacchanal Jamaica I've ever participated in! I mean that this time!
Big
up Bacchanal Babes. I've been jumping with them 3/4 years I've been
jumping Bacchanal Jamaica. I personally think their experience is the
best.
This is the only section that's all girls. We get
our own section to eat lunch during the intermission of carnival. We
have our own bathrooms, stand-up mirrors, and other things to help us
adjust our looks before getting back on the road. We also always have
cute goodies. This is the only section you have to apply to get into but
it's well worth it when you get in.
Usain Bolt
We
are giving Trinidad a run for their money soon! It's clear as daylight.
I just hope Bacchanal Jamaica maintains the peace it has been for years
(no violence whatsoever). That makes it special to me because everybody
is just happy, responsibly drunk, peaceful, smiling, all of the above. People from
the UK, Canada, Trinidad, Cayman Islands and America all come to Jamaica
for this special season. The Bacchanal Jamaica season starts January
and ends the week after carnival, with weekly Soca events happening all
season at Jamaica's national Mas Camp.
xxB
