The amazing omelet lady at Samsara's breakfast buffet
This is Margaret again, blogging from Samsara Resort while enjoying our Negril vacation on the cliffs. We started off the day perfectly with a breakfast of saltfish and vegetables plus another fantastic made-to-order omelet with callaloo and cheese but the one Jamaican food I had yet to taste was breadfruit. I had tried to order it at Ciao Jamaica, where we ate last night, but they were out. Today I was on a mission to eat some roast breadfruit.
Dinner at Ciao Jamaica, by the way, was EXQUISITE. The moment the waitress put our napkins in our laps for us, I knew we were in for a treat. After drinks and a coconut shrimp appetizer we were served the best meal I’ve had in decades. Both the girls got shrimp scampi, while my husband feasted on a whole, grilled Caribbean lobster. I indulged myself with the West Indies Seafood Linguini. Mmmm….the blend of curry, pimiento and other spices with shrimp and lobster was divine. Seasoned perfectly for maximum flavor, the spices made my lips tingle and my taste buds sizzle.
Back to today…After breakfast we were picked up by Bernard, Bus Driver Extraordinaire. He took us to Chukka Adventures in Sandy Bay (stopping at various resorts along the way to pick up other people) where we went on the Horseback Ride ‘N Swim adventure. I have been dreaming about riding a horse along the ocean — and in the ocean — for a long time, but this trip far exceeded my imagination. Somehow my dreams had not allowed for the sweet scent of flowers in the many trees blooming along the way, or the sound of the horses breathing as we churned through the water. I’ve ridden bareback before, but never on a horse that was trotting along a sandbar in the ocean. My horse was named Black Girl and she was marvelous. A retired thoroughbred racehorse, she was calm and responsive to my legs and hands. The Chukka guides that rode with us were equally wonderful, pointing out interesting sights such as avocados hanging way up high in a tree, and an old windmill from the 1600′s, top blown away in some long-ago hurricane. We passed farmland and a polo field, whereupon our energetic guide explained that he had played polo for two years. He then cantered his horse up the trail a little ways, swinging an imaginary polo stick while the girls giggled appreciatively.
Our 'orseback guide Raldo (sp?) from Chukka, explaining something to us about the hill we were about to climb.
Bernard with the two beautiful breadfruit!
Along the way to Chukka I had told the driver about my yearning for breadfruit, and when we boarded the bus to come back to Samsara, he surprised me with two fresh breadfruit! I would have hugged him if I could have, but had to settle for profuse thanks and as big a tip as I could manage. There are some truly great people in this country, and contrary to our adventures on 7-Mile beach yesterday, they don’t all have their hands out. Bernard wanted us to experience the fruits of his country, so he did what he could to make it possible.
Back at Samsara, I trotted over to Ciao Jamaica where I was fortunate enough to find Donna, the head chef. I gave her my breadfruit and asked her to cook them for me. She did so gladly, and even prepared a platter of ackee, cooked with onions, peppers and who knows what else. It was heavenly! The breadfruit, roasted and fried, was amazing. We should definitely start eating this instead of French fries! The plain roasted breadfruit, not fried, was a lot like potatoes, and when salted a little bit, rapidly became addictive. Who needs potato chips and other nonsense? Give me a breadfruit any day! Tomorrow Donna is going to prepare our lunch for us, with my other breadfruit and the Jamaican national dish of ackee and saltfish. I can hardly wait!
Tonight looks to be clear for a famous Negril sunset, and I have a date with my Olympus camera to try and capture it. Earlier today I spent some time in a little cove on the south part of the resort, photographing crabs and trying to capture the beauty of the water. Eventually the crabs said enough already, and I hightailed it out of there before they started charging me!
Mr. Blue Crab, posing so nicely for a portrait!
The cove where Mr. Blue Crab makes his home.
One of Samsara's guests, watching the sunset
Negril sunset, a stunning end to a perfect day!