Back to the Island in the Sun

Well folks, what stories i have to tell you this time!

None too surprisingly, most of the interesting things that happen to me seem to have happened in Jamaica, and today was no exception.

After a rather late night. I got a phonecall from my crazy Polish buddy from down the hall reminding me that we were going to climb another set of falls today at 10 30.

With herculean effort I managed to get up and assume some form af awakedness and we left the ship, taking care to show our crew passed of laminex. The reason I mention this will become clear later. Basically the laminex is a swipe card that stops nefarious people from coming on board ship (terrorists / the French etc).

Duns River falls does pretty much what it says on the tin - a huge set of falls that you can climb up and down to your hearts content. So,we stumbled down to the entrance and got changed ready to go climbing / swimming / drowning, leaving our bags in wooden lockers that were crawling with termites!

It was about this time that I lost my laminex.

I think the magnitude of the situation didn't really hit me because i was still laughing and joking with Domnik (the polish dude) about the teeny $500 dollars I was going to have to pay, the written warning (get 3 and you're gone) and the 2 months of not being allowed on shore leave that I was going to incur.

Still, We had a fantastic day in the falls. The water on Jamaica is all amazingly sweet to taste and, despite the plethora of diseases that probably live in it, it was fantastic (and it was warm too!)

There is nothing like a play in the waterfalls to wake sober you up, so after a that, we went to a private beach to kick back in the shade. Beer, Rum and other drinks that I couldn't even begin to describe were brought to us in abundance. This beach seemed to be where the beautiful of Jamaica were employed, as all of the waiters and waitresses were models. One even told me excitedly that he was moving to Watford to begin his modelling career in the uk. I didn't have the heart to tell him the truth.

So, a tad merry and resigned to the fact that I was going to be keel hauled when I got back to the boat, we got back in the taxi. Back at the ship I humbly shuffled up to the security guard and told him how my laminex had 'disappeared'.

The stern little Indian chap, took off his glasses, faced me full square and said "This laminex sir?" Some kind passenger had found it and handed it in!!! I owe that guard the biggest drink in the world! Talk about luck!!!

Well, having had easily another best day ever, I went back to the ship to find out what I was doing in the evening. I was learning High Key shooting (like they do in Venture) so I spent a very happy hour getting people to pose in all manner of funny positions. I also found out in a meeting last night that a 2 different passengers had left some very favourable comment cards about how I had helped them! Brilliant!

Thats all folks. Tune in soon!

Ciao

---

---