Bacchanal Jamaica 2013!

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