OBJECTIVE

My vacation was upon me.  I was tossing around ideas in my head of places I wanted to go.  I knew I needed to be near the ocean and sunshine.  As I wrote in my previous blog post,  Unapologetic I had just completed a 4 week detox.  My mind and body was clear from distraction and ready to go further into my journey of mindfulness.  I started researching different wellness resorts in the Caribbean with a uniqueness I was looking for.  The crowded tourist attractions or a standard hotel setting was not what envisioned.  I wanted to be in nature with a bungalow type feel.

ARRIVAL

Tucked away in Negril, Jamaica I found a beautiful boutique resort.  Sunset at the Palms was everything I wanted for the ideal vacation.  An adult only, all incusive, offering a sensory experience.  This hidden gem is located about an hour and a half from Montego Bay (MBJ) international airport.  Sunset at the Palms offered Club Mobay VIP arrival service with your stay. Upon landing in Jamaica a representative was there to greet and take me through an expedited customs line.  The representative also took me to the private Mobay lounge to have a drink and food.  I really appreciated having this service upon arrival because I didn’t have to wait in line.

As we drove through several towns on the way to Negril,  I observed the locals are not rich with materialistic things.  However, there was a sense of happiness and pride.  There were women tucked away in small hut type structures weaving baskets, children leaving schools in their fit uniforms, and no sense of urgency that we feel in America.

CHECK IN

Finally we arrived at my new home away from home. The property was absolutely breathtaking.  The Balinese style architecture of the entrance gave a warm inviting feeling.  The staff were overly accommodating and friendly.  One reason I chose this property was because of the treehouse guestrooms.  How cool would it be to actually stay in a treehouse and get the experience of being in nature.

Sunset At The Palms

ACCOMMODATIONS

I was introduced to Andre who escorted me to my room and assisted me with my luggage.  He made sure I had what I needed and inspected my room before I came in.  Once inside I was able to get a feel for my treehouse.  I could hear birds, see so many tropical plants, baby goats, and palm trees.  It was perfect!

MINDFULNESS

The first night I was a little nervous that I would not be able to sleep.  The sounds of wild life seem to come alive at night.  I never turned my tv on the entire time I was there.  I didn’t have a desire to hear anything outside of environmental harmony.  As the nights went on, I noticed right before sunrise the sounds of the insects started to fade and the birds were ready to take the stage.  It was almost like they were in sync with their roles.

It reminded me of how we operate in our daily lives.  Are we in sync with the universe?  Are our senses open to hear, smell, touch, and see? Taking the time to shut out the world and be off the grid for a moment has become very important to me. I actually crave those moments and plan to have more of them.  This is why I felt it was important for me to take this trip alone.   Over the past couple of years I have grown into an entirely new person.  It is amazing how  we go through disappointing situations in life, but it turns out to be a beginning of something way more fulfilling.

Having the power to tap into your spiritual side and float on a high frequency is a superpower most don’t know about.  You see the world in a different light.  It is not how it is downloaded to you. In the mornings I would go out on my balcony to breathe the air and drink my tea before heading to breakfast.  It was my choice what I wanted to do each day.  I thorougly enjoyed my daily naps during the day. It was apart of my rejuvenation.

THE BEACH

The resort is located right across from the beach. Seeing the beautiful turquoise salt water, and feeling the breeze on my skin was therapeutic.  It allowed those senses to come alive.  I could spend all day on the beach.  It makes me happy and peaceful.  The sun felt amazing.  I was entertained occasionally by the locals that love to sing Bob Marley favorites.  I even saw someone get married.  The resort also had a private beach grill to cook up some of your favorites.  I definitely could not pass on the jerk chicken.

THE FOOD

Sunset at the Palms is an all inclusive resort offering a variety of Caribbean cuisines.  As I said earlier, I loved that this property wasn’t crowded.  They offered open air dining for all guest with a variety Jamaican specialties.  I don’t get to eat Jamaican food often, but my favorite was the sauteed Mackerel I had for breakfast.

I spent four amazing nights in Negril. Having alone time in my own thoughts and enjoying my own company was so important to me for this trip .  I had a chance to read and write. My laptop was purposely left at home because I wanted to disconnect from electronics.  However,  the front desk gave me plain white paper to write my thoughts down the old school way. I do have a journal, but unfortunately I forgot it at home.  Andre was able get me what I needed. I was very thankful for his hospitality. I recommend trying a solo trip.  Take the time to unplug from everything and pour into yourself.  We all need this from time to time.  I would love to hear about your solo trips in the comments so I can start planning my next one and don’t forget to join my email list to stay updated.