Jamaica 2.3: YS Falls

Again, I don't feel the need to be redundant. So before you read any further, click here and read my sister's blog post first. She is much more prompt than I am at keeping up with posts, and after reading her post I learned things I didn't know about YS Falls, and that was after I had been there.

In my very first blog post last summer, I mentioned that I hoped to write about many of my favorite things. If you read the post, you will see that waterfalls were the second item in the list. There is something about a waterfall that intrigues me, amazes me, calms me, and practically hypnotizes me. I have visited the incomparable Yguazú Falls in Brazil many times, and I have hiked to several smaller falls in the mountains of North Carolina and Georgia. But I must admit that Jamaica has some of the loveliest waterfalls I have ever seen. The first time I traveled to Jamaica, Todd, Nathan, and I climbed Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios. Carla took some great pictures, and the caption to my favorite picture in that post was the best adjective I could conjure—Otherworldly. The waterfalls were so breathtakingly beautiful I felt as if I were on another planet or in Heaven.

YS Falls were less dramatic than Dunn's River Falls, yet still stunning in their unique way. I appreciate Todd and Carla taking me to different locations around the island with each trip. Getting to be with my family in such lovely places is truly a blessing.

Driving to YS Falls on the right, I mean left . . . whatever.

My sweet boy in the back seat.

Be sure not to break rule #5.

On the tractor tram to the falls.

Could a tree be any more gorgeous?

My boy.

The foot of the falls.

A shot using the macro feature of my camera.

I think Heaven will be like this.

Pink ginger.

My boy and me.

Check out the different stages of the palm fruit.

I thought I was taking a picture of Todd, but the camera focused on the lizard and snail. Looks like Disney put them there to frame the shot. If you can't see them well, click on the picture and it will enlarge.

Now you see the hummingbird . . .

. . . now you don't.

The Hoods deep in discussion.

All together.

Getting harnessed up for the zipline.

Tightening the screws.

Carla took this video of me on the zipline. I love hearing Nathan shout, "UNCLE HOWIE!"

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a chicken and do not relish extreme sports. I would never bungee jump. I had seen the zipline on several reality shows, and for some reason I always thought that it was something I could handle and even enjoy without being terrified. I'm glad I did it. It was fun, but too fast to focus much on the view. It would probably be worth it to pay the extra charge for unlimited trips so that you could get used to it and enjoy both the ride and the view.

The final segment of the zipline.

Great subject and composition.

A hummingbird on a heliconia flower.

I wanted to take this vine home with me.

The road back from the falls.

Mama and Carla always say Nathan walks and stands like me. Okay I believe them.

Ackee, Jamaica's national fruit.

Jamaica 2.2: Culturama

Before you read any further, stop and read my sister's blog post about Culturama.

She explains much better than I could exactly what it is. These are just a few pictures I wanted to add to Carla's post.

DeeDee telling Nathan not to be nervous.

Bubby wondering if he is going to be nervous or not.

A cute candid.

Not sure what he's looking at.

Still nervous, but adorable.

The Braveheart Scots' decapitation scene cracked me up.

Bubby with best buds Darren and Jaleel.

Checking out the program video.

Jamaica 2.1: Nathan's Pre-Birthday Party

This was my second trip to Jamaica, and I know I will write at least two posts, hence the title "Jamaica 2.1." This trip happened as unexpectedly as the first. I actually had no plans to go until I found a good ticket price online. Another influential factor was the fact that Mama and Daddy were already there, and I knew how much Mama wanted us all to be together again. Like last time, Carla, Todd, and I were able to surprise our parents and Nathan again.

Thursday evening we celebrated Nathan's birthday because we won't be there on July 18 when he turns seven. Todd grilled pork chops, per Nathan's request, and Mama and Carla rounded out his menu with garlic mashed potatoes, DeeDee's salad, and brownies. Todd also roasted garlic and grilled bacon-wrapped jalapeño and cream cheese poppers.

Todd grilling on the balcony.

DeeDee and Carla in the kitchen.
Note: DeeDee matches the curtains, and Carla matches the frig.

Making a wish.

Blowing out the candle.

Nathan was very patient during the meal and brownie sundaes. Finally, he asked about his presents. We started teasing him that there were no presents because it wasn't his real birthday yet. He didn't believe us for a second. In fact, he announced, "I'm gonna go look." He started opening cabinet doors in the kitchen, and it didn't take him long to find the hidden cache. Of all the presents, the Nintendo Wii was his favorite. DeeDee, Granddaddy, Todd, Carla, and I all pitched in on that gift, but it was worth it.

Something Mama would never have let me do.

Okay.

Granddaddy, Bubby & DeeDee

"Excited" would be an understatement.

Do you think he liked his Wii?

Do you think Uncle Howie liked his sugar?

DeeDee and Bubby Wii bowling.

To read my sister's account of Nathan's birthday party, click here.

Part 2 - Dunn's River Falls, Jamaica

My very first blog post on Nathan's Uncle was June 18. In that post I told how Nathan was my favorite subject, but that I hoped to write about many of my favorite things. I included a brainstormed list of many of those things. The first two topics in my list of favorites were mountains and waterfalls. Later, on June 29, I wrote about my trip out West and how Jackson Hole, Wyoming, was the most beautiful place on Earth.

Well, on Friday, November 1, those two posts collided in Ocho Rios (or "Ochy" as the locals call it), Jamaica. Todd, Carla, Nathan, and I visited what may well be the second most beautiful spot on Earth. Dunn's River Falls is the number one tourist destination in Jamaica, as well it should be. Cruise ships haul in visitors by the thousands to climb the falls from bottom to top. Fortunately, we hit it on a day when no cruise ships were in port.

The following photo-sequence tells the story of the amazing day we spent together:

They made me ride in the back seat with Nathan all the way from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios. Not only that . . . they forced me to ride with him in the back seat all the way back, including Todd's navigation through the interminable traffic and gridlocks in MoBay. I know . . . sometimes people treat you that way, and you just have to put up with it.

The lush tropical foliage speaks for itself.

Parking is at the top of the falls, and we couldn't resist stopping for some pictures before hiking to the bottom.

My sweet sister, Carla . . . the best brother-in-law ever, Todd . . . and of course the center of my world, Nathan . . . meet the Hoods, missionary associates to Jamaica!

"Am I going to climb this waterfall or not?"

Snapped on our way down. I thought this sign had a vintage Hollywood look.

A bit of history.

Where the falls meet the beach.

Dunn's River flows into the Caribbean Sea.

We begin the ascent alone.

At this point we decide to let an escorted tour group go ahead so we could follow in their steps. This illustrates how large groups navigate the falls by holding hands in single file.

We've only just begun.

I think this image through the jungle foliage has great 3-D composition. Cool shot, Carla!

Another interesting shot. I love the jungle vines in this one. The escorts for the tour group lagged behind to assist us, even though we had not hired them. We tipped them when we reached the top.

He-Man and the Olympic Gold Medalist.

Otherworldly.

Near the top. Almost Heaven.

Carla, thanks for being our official trek photographer. You got some amazing shots, Sister!

Footnote: I still remember the night several years ago when Todd told me they were going to be missionaries to Jamaica. I didn't receive the news well. They would be taking my one and only nephew away from me. Over time, I came to accept the inevitable, and being a missionary's kid myself I knew that Nathan would get to experience many things that the average American kid would never be able to do, and I could never deny him those benefits. Watching Nathan climb Dunn's River Falls and swim near the coral reef at Doctor's Cave confirmed that knowledge for me.