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30FOCUS-JANUARY2012UpupandawayWhatis29degreessunnyandagreatdestinationinthemiddleofwinterInawordJamaicaInormallywritethesearticlesafewdaysafterreturningfromatripinordertoreectoneventspeopleandatmosphere.InthiscasehoweverIdecidedtotakepeninhandactuallytwox1fngersonIPadwhilesittinginacomfortableloungechairlisteningtothewavesgentlycaressthepurewhitesandofsevenmilebeach.IknowitsoundslikeaclichbutthereisnootherwaytodescribeavisittoJamaicax19sfamousNegril.Ithasbeenexactly30yearssincemyx1frstvisittothiswonderfulislandandIfounditmoreenjoyabletodaythanamidthepoliticalturbu-lenceoftheearlyeighties.Ihaveneverbeenfondofall-inclusiveresortsbutinNegrilImaketheexception.Nor-mallyIdonotwanttofeelobligatedtoeatev-erymealinonelocationonlyvisittheattractionsofferedbytheresortordrinkasmallselectionofinexpensivebeveragesbutinthecaseofNegriltheresortsareamazingandtheyreallyknowhowtocatertotourists.Sevenmilebeachisespeciallywonderful.Thesandiswhitethewateranazureblueandthepuffywhitecloudsgentlyoatbyasonesitsandcontemplatesthewhere-aboutsoftherestofcivilization.Frombeachmassagestocatamaranridesallincludedofcoursethereisnoshortageofthingstodoortosimplynotdoanythingandnoonetomakeyoufeelguilty.ThedownsideEverytimeyouglanceatyourwatchitistimetoeat.AndIdonotmeanasnackalthoughtheintenttoeatlittleisthere.Onceyousitintheluxuryofoneofseveralrestaurantsthefoodorinmycasethedessertloudlycallsouttoyou.Iwentforaswimwhichwasactuallymoreofawalkintothewaterforthesandybeacheasilyextends200metersfromshorebeforethewaterreachesyourneck.Ihadforgottenhowbuoyantthesaltwatermakesyouandbeforeyouknowityoux1fndyourselfdriftingintoatrance-likestate.ThenoiseofaboatmotorstartledmeandwhenIlookedupthereweretwomentryingtogetmyat-tention.Isoonrealizedtheyweresellingparasailingadventures.MyinitialreactionwastodeclinebutafteramomentofthoughtIdecideditwouldbefun.NothavingfullymademydecisionIfoundmyselfontheirboatheadingforanothercraftonewithaSunsetsarespectacularonJamaicax19swestcoast.LifemovesveryslowlyintheCaribbean.