We were up early again this morning in anticipation of our "Canopy tour" excursion in Jamaica. There was an 8am meet time so we were up by 6:45. We were actually up before the ship was even docked! It was cool to see the island as we were coming in. We had some breakfast up at the buffet on the Lido deck, walked around the ship a little to see the island from this angle, then went back to the room to gather our things and headed off the boat. After stopping for the traditional "off the boat" pictures we made our way over to the meeting spot for our Canopy tour. We were put on a bus around 5 after 8 and waited for our group to be complete. By 8:15 we were on the road!
When the bus got going our driver, Garfield, told us that it would be about a 45-50 min. drive to the Cranbrook Flower Forest, where our adventure would begin. Thirty minutes would be highway driving and about 20 min. would be on a two-way, one lane dirt road up the mountain to the Forest. Along the ride Garfield was explaining some Jamacian terms. We learned a "CD"versus a "CJ". CD =careful driver. CJ=crazy Jamaican! Garfield said, "by the end of our time together you tell me what I am". Well we learned quickly that Garfield was one of the CD's because there were PLENTY of CJ's on the road and they were not hard to point out!! Also we saw some cars with a big capital "L" on the car and we found out that they were learning how to drive, equivilant to having a learners permit here in the states. They should have been CD's but were more like CJ's and Garfield got away from them quickly.We also learned that there were "no problems" in Jamaica, only "situations". For instance, if one of those CJ's hit our bus--no problem 'mon. If we got injured and missed the ship--then that's a "situation"!
Garfield then told us about"ya'mon". Ya'mon is a common greating in Jamaica. When everything is going well it's "ire". So when he would ask us periodocally how we all were doing, we'd all respond "Ya'mon, ire"!!
He took us through the next parish, or county, of St.Anns. We saw some of the nicer homes(where the doctors, lawyers and drug dealers live, as Garfield joked), but mostly the homes and areas were poor. The homes were built of cement-blocks to withstand hurricanes. Also there are no laws in Jamiaca where the house has to be finished before you can live in it. We saw a lot of cinderblock houses that were only 1 room with a roof and a bunch of partially built walls. Garfield told us that most houses are never finished. Minus these poor areas, the countryside of Jamaica was actually very pretty-very mountainous and lush. When we turned onto the one-lane two-way road into the countryside we saw lots of kids walking to school and men and women walking to work. This was a very interesting part of the ride as the road was very rough, tight turns and yes oncoming traffic in very tight spots. We still told Garfield he was a CD as he got us to the start of our tour safely.
We got to the Forest and were geared up for our adventure. The canopy tour is a series of "ziplines" or traverses through the forest on a type of pulley system from platform to platform. There are a total of 9 lines, 7 straight , a 45degree angle, and one that went straight down. The longest traverse was about 600feet and most were at least 45 feet above ground! Our guides fitted us all with the proper gear, gave us a brief "how-to"explaination, and we were on our way! It was about a 20 minute walk to the first platform. Along the way we were pretending we were on the 'Amazing Race' (a reality show on TV we really enjoy,a scavenger-hunt around the world and they do tasks- like this zipline-all the time. In all honesty, the show is the main reason we picked this excursion). We get to the first platform- we were positioned about the middle of the group so we got to see a lot of people go before us. The guides don't really give you a chance to be nervous, when its your turn they hook you up to the lines,double and triple check the connections and you're off through the trees!! Stan went first, then Amy--WHOO-HOOOO!!!!!!! This is AWESOME!!! Surprisingly Amy wasn't scared or nervous but Stan was a little nervous. The men and women who ran this were very cautious and safe. What a different view of the Jamaican forest. The first line was horizontal, the next was the 45 angle, then horizontal straight across again, then straight down (think going down a firemans pole!). Then there was a "catch up"point where the group was together again before heading for the last 4 passes. I don't know how to explain 
what it was like flying through the forrest-- well, it was just that. Very exhillarating!! We both agreed that this was one of the best, most fun things that we've ever done. When it was over, it was a 20 minute scenic walk out of the forest back to the bus. Garfield took us to the "gift shop" of the tour. During the tour there was a man taking pictures of everyone as they were ziplining across. At the gift shop they had a deal to buy the pictures they took of you plus some other nature shots of the area and video of the tour. Of course, we got'em. We parted ways with Garfield when he dropped us all back at the ship around 1:15.
what it was like flying through the forrest-- well, it was just that. Very exhillarating!! We both agreed that this was one of the best, most fun things that we've ever done. When it was over, it was a 20 minute scenic walk out of the forest back to the bus. Garfield took us to the "gift shop" of the tour. During the tour there was a man taking pictures of everyone as they were ziplining across. At the gift shop they had a deal to buy the pictures they took of you plus some other nature shots of the area and video of the tour. Of course, we got'em. We parted ways with Garfield when he dropped us all back at the ship around 1:15.We didn’t want to hang around in Jamaica too much (it wasn't the type of place you would want to wander around), so once the tour bus got back to the pier we got back on board. We had lunch and even got in a quick nap before getting ready for this evenings lineup. At 4, Oakhurst was playing the sail away on the Lido deck. Oakhurst was on last years cruise but we didn’t see them play a full show. We did see the guys in the band all over the ship all week. They are a Denver-based band that plays what they call “Appalachian Bluegrass Folk-Rock”. There is a banjo player, a mandolin player, a regular acoustic guitarist, a stand-up bass player and a drummer. It was raining a little when they started and we watched for a little bit. Then is started to rain a lot harder and they stopped playing. We hung around out of the rain for a little bit waiting for the band to start again. Once it stopped raining I noticed the guys were carrying their instruments off to the side of the stage and it looked like they were tuning up. So I figured they would be starting again. I headed over to where they were, off the side of the stage and they all started to play. They were just playing and singing. No electric and no microphones. Just 5 guys jamming like they were out on the street and I had a front row “seat”. 
It was awesome. I never really seen anything like this before and I was loving it. It was cool to see these guys play so hard and fast and have a great time just playing. After a couple of songs I turned around and noticed that there were was quite a crowd. One of the equipment guys brought a microphone so the rest of the lido deck could hear. I didn’t know it at the time but I was standing right next to a girl that was a singer for the DeWayn Brothers, Jamie Lee. Apparently they were on the cruise but were added so late they didn’t get a show of their own and only played late nights on the open mic nights. On one of the songs Oakhurst asked if Jamie Lee would sing with them. She never heard the song before but knocked it out. After a little bit I saw Andy from Sixthman checking it out and he looked impressed that Oakhurst were not playing on the stage but an acoustic set. Soon I saw Andy talking to the Carnival bar waiters and then right after they were passing out beers to the crowd. That was pretty cool. This was whole set completely unexpected and totally made the top 5 moments of the cruise.
After Oakhurst played for about an hour we once again went for dinner in the dining room. We ended up sitting at the same table and had the same waiter and he remembered us. After having another really good dinner we ordered the warm chocolate melting cake again because during the BNL show the other night Steve asked if anyone had the dessert and wondered if everyone’s was also undercooked as his was all liquid inside. He said that if we order the dessert again to ask for it overcooked. Well I guess everyone did and Carnival was not too pleased by it but I have to say the dessert was better today.
It was awesome. I never really seen anything like this before and I was loving it. It was cool to see these guys play so hard and fast and have a great time just playing. After a couple of songs I turned around and noticed that there were was quite a crowd. One of the equipment guys brought a microphone so the rest of the lido deck could hear. I didn’t know it at the time but I was standing right next to a girl that was a singer for the DeWayn Brothers, Jamie Lee. Apparently they were on the cruise but were added so late they didn’t get a show of their own and only played late nights on the open mic nights. On one of the songs Oakhurst asked if Jamie Lee would sing with them. She never heard the song before but knocked it out. After a little bit I saw Andy from Sixthman checking it out and he looked impressed that Oakhurst were not playing on the stage but an acoustic set. Soon I saw Andy talking to the Carnival bar waiters and then right after they were passing out beers to the crowd. That was pretty cool. This was whole set completely unexpected and totally made the top 5 moments of the cruise.After Oakhurst played for about an hour we once again went for dinner in the dining room. We ended up sitting at the same table and had the same waiter and he remembered us. After having another really good dinner we ordered the warm chocolate melting cake again because during the BNL show the other night Steve asked if anyone had the dessert and wondered if everyone’s was also undercooked as his was all liquid inside. He said that if we order the dessert again to ask for it overcooked. Well I guess everyone did and Carnival was not too pleased by it but I have to say the dessert was better today.
Then we went back to the room to change into out pajamas. Tonight was a theme night and Sixthman encouraged everyone to come out in their PJ's for the night. How often do get to go outside of your room in your pj's (and best of all listen to great music) and its socially acceptable?!! This was a very cool and very comfortable, I might add, way to spend the evening.
Tonight we were planning a light night of shows. We planned on seeing Kurt Swinghammer followed by Thinbuckle in the Adriatic Lounge starting at 8. Then maybe see the Vanity Project on the Lido after Thinbuckle. Well it started as planned. We went to the Adriatic Lounge before 8 to see Kurt Swinghammer. He is a very talented singer/guitarist and he played with a lot of other acts on the cruise but this time it was his set. He played a few songs solo and then Ed, Jim and Tyler from BNL played with him. It turned out to be a really good set. After Kurt Swinghammer, we stayed in the same seats for Thinbuckle. I really like Kevin and Thinbuckle. They played a really good set with a bunch of guest appearances including one from Ed. After Thinbuckle, the Vanity Projects were scheduled to start at 11 out on the Lido deck however while Thinbuckle was finishing up their set we noticed the Vanity Projects and a big group of people waiting outside the Adriatic Lounge. It turns out, it was too windy out on the Lido deck for the band to play there so they were going to play next door in the Black & Red Seas Lounge. Since there was a show that just started in the Black & Red Seas Lounge and Thinbuckle was almost finished, they decided to move the Vanity Projects again, this time to the Adriatic Lounge, where we were already sitting. As luck would have it we were going to have a good seat to the Vanity Project. We glad we didn’t move as the Vanity Projects were great once again and just like last year at the 2nd Vanity Project show Steve was losing his voice.
The show started around 11:30 and didn’t end until around 1am. Also like last year we stuck around after the show to get our picture with Steve. The only downside was that Harland Williams was supposed to perform in the Adriatic Lounge at midnight and it was moved to the Red & Black Seas Lounge and there was nowhere near enough seats for that show. We weren’t going to it so we didn’t mind but apparently some people were very upset.
Tonight we were planning a light night of shows. We planned on seeing Kurt Swinghammer followed by Thinbuckle in the Adriatic Lounge starting at 8. Then maybe see the Vanity Project on the Lido after Thinbuckle. Well it started as planned. We went to the Adriatic Lounge before 8 to see Kurt Swinghammer. He is a very talented singer/guitarist and he played with a lot of other acts on the cruise but this time it was his set. He played a few songs solo and then Ed, Jim and Tyler from BNL played with him. It turned out to be a really good set. After Kurt Swinghammer, we stayed in the same seats for Thinbuckle. I really like Kevin and Thinbuckle. They played a really good set with a bunch of guest appearances including one from Ed. After Thinbuckle, the Vanity Projects were scheduled to start at 11 out on the Lido deck however while Thinbuckle was finishing up their set we noticed the Vanity Projects and a big group of people waiting outside the Adriatic Lounge. It turns out, it was too windy out on the Lido deck for the band to play there so they were going to play next door in the Black & Red Seas Lounge. Since there was a show that just started in the Black & Red Seas Lounge and Thinbuckle was almost finished, they decided to move the Vanity Projects again, this time to the Adriatic Lounge, where we were already sitting. As luck would have it we were going to have a good seat to the Vanity Project. We glad we didn’t move as the Vanity Projects were great once again and just like last year at the 2nd Vanity Project show Steve was losing his voice.
The show started around 11:30 and didn’t end until around 1am. Also like last year we stuck around after the show to get our picture with Steve. The only downside was that Harland Williams was supposed to perform in the Adriatic Lounge at midnight and it was moved to the Red & Black Seas Lounge and there was nowhere near enough seats for that show. We weren’t going to it so we didn’t mind but apparently some people were very upset. Afterwards, we took a jaunt up to the Lido for a quick snack(gotta love 24 hour pizza), stayed for a song or two from Acid Wish and were in for the night around 2am. Man, these days keep getting longer and later, but we LOVE IT!!
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