I've never been to Jamaica!!
I've never been ANYWHERE!!
Well, that isn't true. I've been around the US, mainly for cheerleading contests when I was little, but this... this is Jamaica!! Tropical paradise! Land of Bob Marley, rum and stuff I'm not allowed to smoke!
"Yo, Jamaica, mon!!" (And that concludes all I know about speaking Jamacianese...)
Our plane winged it's way down over the blue Caribbean waters and into Jamaica.
We got off the plane and were hit with a heavenly high heat that just felt amazing. The sun on my skin was much better that the same sun that I got in Michigan. I guess that it just feels better down here.
Daddy and I walked over to the customs agent who stamped our passports and then we went inside the airport's small terminal. I expected us to go to the rental car place, but instead, Daddy waved down a man who had a sign that read "Mr and Miss Strekal".
He was a very tall, very black man, in a dark suit and hat. We approached him and Daddy showed his passport. A large, white toothed smile erupted on his face as he looked first at Daddy, and then at me. "Welcome to Jamaica!" he exclaimed. "We are so glad you could join us!"
He took my bags and led us to a car. Well, a limo, really, with a huge back area that could hold several people. But, we were all alone. I grabbed a bottle of water and sat back to enjoy our drive.
Our driver introduced himself as Delroy, of the 'Oasis Resort & Spa'. If we needed any transportation around the island, he would be happy to provide it. Delroy warned us that traveling Jamaica alone could be a dangerous proposition, especially with someone as lovely as myself. That DEFINITELY made me blush.
He pointed out some beautiful areas and some popular resorts. Jamaica has a thriving tourist industry, according to Delroy. Millions of people come here every year to enjoy their crystal blue waters, white sand beaches, and very lax laws. I didn't know what he meant by that, but I guess he meant pot.
Pulling up to the resort... well, it was kinda scary. The place was surrounded by ivy-covered walls that must have been 10 feet high, with barbed wire around the top. Men with guns stood guard out front and there were barriers and a guard booth. Beyond that was a concrete barrier that would be lowered into the ground once we were cleared.
Delroy said rolled down his window and said hello to the guard in the booth. The guard stepped out and came to our door, opened it, and looked into the car, noting Dad and me. He looked at his data pad. He looked at us again. He looked down again, then looked me over... and smiled.
"Welcome, Mr. and Miss Streakal!" he stated. "Standard security procedure. Please, do not be alarmed. Go on ahead and have a wonderful stay!" Again, a large smile from the guard.
Daddy said thank you as the security man closed the limo door and we zoomed off towards the main house for check-in.
The grounds of the winding drive should have set the expectation, but as we rode up to the main house, I was staggered by it's beauty! A large, Victorian-style plantation house, decked to the nines. A wide veranda porch. Huge bushes and trees full of flowers. An intricate wind chime sending tinkles of metal music into the air. Out in front, dark black men stood waiting for arriving guests and their luggage... but they were only wearing loin cloths! I was a little surprised, and noticed Daddy looking at me. I blushed and acted like I hadn't noticed, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't trying to peek.
Delroy opened the limo door for me and I stepped out with Daddy close behind. He motioned to the front portico and told us to go on in; our bags would be taken to our room.
The woman behind the front desk was gorgeous and welcomed us with a large smile. She was Vietnamese, I believe, with pert breasts and her hair up in a towering braided ponytail that seemed to defy gravity. She wore a semi-see-through blue and green marbled top and her protruding long nipples were semi-visible under the sheer fabric.
"Welcome to the 'Oasis Resort & Spa', Mr. and Miss Strekal. I'm Janine, one of your hostesses. I hope your flight was a pleasant one?"
I nodded and clutched Mr. Jinxies a bit closer to me. Daddy agreed that it was a good flight, but we were ready to get in a little rest before beginning our vacation.
"Excellent. We have you set up in Bungalow 3812. It's in a lovely area of the property. Your bags are already on their way there. We just need you to sign in with us here." She slid an iPad over to Daddy, who signed with the provided stylo.
Janine continued, "There is one other matter that must be discussed with all of our guests: our Privacy Policy. To begin, we do require that you hand over your personal phones. You will be issued with temporary ones for the duration of your stay, encrypted to our exclusive social media platform. Any resort amenities you need are listed in the phone's menu."
Our hostess turned to me. "Your father has had the other social media apps blocked at his request."
I looked at Daddy and he patted my head. "I felt you could do without using Facebook and InstaGram for a while down here. It will do you good to get away from social media for a while."
"Hmmm, well, okay...," I said. Not like I had much of a choice. I felt like a kid again. Live without social media for 10 days? Yikes! But, he's probably right, and if time flies when you're having fun, maybe a break from social media would be good for me.
"The phones we are issuing you do have cameras, of course. You are free to take and share as many photos as you wish here. All pictures by default are our property, though you will always have access to them for your own personal use and enjoyment exclusively through our website. They are encrypted so that they cannot be saved or shared, as a matter of precaution. Naturally, we can't have pictures getting out onto social media that some of our guests would not want to be seen. That said, by staying here, you do give your permission for anyone else to photograph you, either as the main focus of the photo or even in the background. But, again, the outside world will never see these photos; only the guests who are staying here for the specific duration of your stay. Also, you do also grant permission for us to use any of your photos in our advertising. Is this acceptable to both of you? I will need a verbal "Yes", as well as your signatures here." She slid us the iPad once more, this time with a Photographic & Social Media Release Form.
Daddy piped up with a "Yes", and I followed suit. We both signed the form as well.
Janine smiled, "Very good. Should you need anything, just feel free to tap the FRONT DESK app button at any time on your resort cell phones." She handed over two smartphones. We placed our thumbs on the "HOME" button, it registered our fingerprints and they became ours for our stay.
Next, our hostess slid over some rubber bracelets. "Here are your wrist bands, which will also act as your key card and of course can be used for all activities and payments on the grounds. It can be paired to the WRISTBAND app on the phone, so if you meet anyone and want them to know where you are staying, you can scan their wristband and it will populate your location and theirs on the MAPS app."
"Sounds like you've thought of everything," Daddy said.
"We do our best for our guests, Mr. Strekal," Janine cheerfully replied.
I pulled on the rubber bracelet- it had a small metal circle that touched the skin of my wrist on the underside of the wristband. It was a red rubber bracelet with "OASIS" in white.
Janine pointed out the ACTIVITIES app, which displayed an interactive list of every day's activities, highlighting some of the most exciting and even showing some video of some events.
With a smile, Janine dismissed us, "You're all checked in! Hector will give you a ride over to your bungalow." With that she rang a bell. "Enjoy your stay, Mr. and Miss Strekal..."
Hector appeared, introduced himself and led us to a golf cart. He was a short man, with a wide mustache and, like everyone else here, apparently, a huge smile.
