Other Areas

[Jaosousa]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ruNJcWtykc pretty (not my video).

[Jaosousa]

Not my video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzncNtIqEQ8, Driving to Jeremie, Haiti (July 2010) Part 2 [HD]. Looks like fun.

[SpecialOne8]

I'll be heading to RCCL's private island known as "Labadee" in a few months, and am curious about what talent might be available, since I recently learned it is easily-accessible to the local residents due to the economic situation in the country. My thinking is that where one can buy native-products, he can buy other things of beauty.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Cunning Linguist]

Looking forward to your full report and photos. Enjoy your time away.

Thank you!

Haiti might have many kinds of connotations for people, mostly negative I am afraid, but I have really grown to love it. I have Badbear to thank for that. Were it not for him, I never would have even gone to Haiti. Now, I prefer Haiti over the Dominican Republic any time. The atmosphere and girls in the DR, and least in my humble opinion, have been rather jaded. The girls in Haiti, for the most part, are refreshingly upfront, no weird hangups, and grateful for your interest in them.

I could only go for a few days this time around but at least I went. In my previous report, I mentioned that the Creole Castle was a bit rundown but that was due to a host of reasons beyond Badbear's control. The good news is that the Badbear is going to build his only place right on a sheltered cove. It will have a restaurant and will have rooms with all the amenities Westerners like: minifridge, internet access, etc.

I am including pictures of Alexandra who claims to love me more than her kid (something which I take with a large pinch of salt, nay, a whole saltmine's worth of salt).

One of the best things about the stay was the rapport with other guests. They were fantastic and nice to be around.

In pictures 211,212 you can see the future site for Badbear's project. I included pictures of the roosters as they were soon part of our yummy dinner. Fresh food is the order of the day there!

I am now in Thailand as I write this and will write a report on the Bangkok Reports thread shortly,

[BadBear2000]

Gentlemen, if you like traveling on streets of shit, being ripped off by fuel providers, screwed by hotels, cheated by taxi drivers, no working ATM machines, only 2 hotels that accept credit cards, restaurants that don't take credit cards, you will love Cap Haitien.

To sum Cap Haitien up if you ever heard about the traveling salesman that kept seeing the sign advertising Grandma's *****house just 10 miles and so on down until he reached it and decided to go inside. There sat Grandma at the counter. The salesman asked her how much and she said $100 but our women are very beautiful. He paid his money and she instructed him to walk through the door. When he did, he realized that he was standing outside. He turned around and there was a sign saying you have just been screwed by grandma and come again. That was the feeling I got going to the hotels in Cap Haitien. The nice hotels are full with NGOs, so called help groups, and UN workers paying ridiculous prices.

My son, Little Bear, and I were on a job in Quanaminthe which could be the trolling capital of the world if it had a place to sleep. I did not see any hotels. I will check on it this Tuesday when I return to finish the job. We got stuck and had to stay the night in Cap Haitien. We checked on the large hotels and they were full. We had not planned on staying the night and did not bring much cash with us. After all, you would think a city the size of Cap would have ATM machines or hotels and restaurants that accept credit cards. Wrong again. We finally got a taxi driver that said he knew a hotel that would only cost $100 and he is sure we could work out something. The only ATM machine was locked up and would be opened in the morning at 8AM. We went to the hotel with the guy to the hotel where she told us the price was $130. We explained the shortage of money and we would have to wait until in the morning to pay her and she said that would be no problem. She would send her boy with us the next morning to the ATM machine. I asked to see the room. It was clean but get this. There were 2 twin sized beds that just had enough room to wal between them. A TV with no channels. It did have AC. Here is the tripper. The bathroom was a community type bathroom in the hall. The light did not work. We were very tired and went to grab our things. Little Bear said to me, "Dad are we really going to pay that kind of money for that shit hole". I said if they have hot water just maybe it can wash away the pain. We asked the lady if it did and she said of course. I had to open the door to a room across from the bath room to take a shower. After 15 minutes, Little Bear asked me if there was hot water and of course there wasn't. We grabbed our things and went to the car.
I guess we sneaked out. At that time I was glad she did not take credit cards because we would have been screwed.

We went to a dump that cost 2500 gourdes which is about $60. We were afraid to touch the walls. We slept in our clothes. l counted my money and I layed it on a night stand. The next morning when we got up, 1500 gourdes was missing so the only thing we could think of was someone came in because we were sleeping so hard and took it.

My car runs on Propane and gasoline. We stopped to get propane which normally sells for 108 gourdes a gallon but in Cap it is 150 gourdes. 39.5 gourdes to the dollar.

We have decided if we get stuck this Tuesday, we will sleep in the car. It would be safer, cleaner, and less expensive.

[Jadedguy]

Looking forward to your full report and photos. Enjoy your time away.

I am finally back in my beloved Haiti. Badbear met me at the airport though it was hard to recognize him without his trademark hat and his astonishing weight loss!

As those of you who follow the Haiti thread, or is it section, Badbear's Haiti House cum Creole Mansion became Creole Castle. This will be history once again as Bad Bear will move operations back to Pétionville.

The route from the Airport was uneventful save for the amazing pothole and earthquake-induced rifts and cracks in the road.

The Creole Castle is/was unfinished. They never seemed to find the time, or money, to actually painting it. The rooms are huge but my room, albeit with a generous balcony, has no closet or wardrobe for my clothes. The water in the bathroom sink does not come out and there is no shower curtain ... or any hot water. Nevertheless, given the hot temperatures, the water coming out is lukewarm and so hot water is really hardly a necessity.

The girls that I met at the Castle were quite enticing. I fancied one but she was already spoken for by a nice fellow guest. There are three other guests besides myself, much more than a year ago and so I think that Badbear is doing better.

There was one girl that I took a liking to. At first I thought she liked another guest more but in the end, my Kreyòl skills kicked in, and my scant knowledge about soccer combined with my knowledge with Brazil and Portuguese really paid off. She loves the Brazilian team and even knows the entire roster by heart, including the names and jersey numbers!!!! She now wants my baby ... hmmmm. Is it my devilish good looks, disarming charm or the appearance of having endless buckets of money? I would like to think it is the former but I suspect it just might be the latter!!! Like Thai girls in Thailand, this Haitian girl hates local men with a passion. Don't they all? In Thailand they always said: "Thai man bad, very bad. Me like Farang man much much". A likely story.

As I write this, I can hear kids in the yard surrounding the Castle, not human kids but baby goat kids. They're all over here. I will provide pictures when I get back to the first world. In the meantime, I am just resting and enjoying the little holiday I am having.

In any case, Haiti should prove a huge contrast to China where I am going next month.

[Cunning Linguist]

I am finally back in my beloved Haiti. Badbear met me at the airport though it was hard to recognize him without his trademark hat and his astonishing weight loss!

As those of you who follow the Haiti thread, or is it section, Badbear's Haiti House cum Creole Mansion became Creole Castle. This will be history once again as Bad Bear will move operations back to Pétionville.

The route from the Airport was uneventful save for the amazing pothole and earthquake-induced rifts and cracks in the road.

The Creole Castle is/was unfinished. They never seemed to find the time, or money, to actually painting it. The rooms are huge but my room, albeit with a generous balcony, has no closet or wardrobe for my clothes. The water in the bathroom sink does not come out and there is no shower curtain ... or any hot water. Nevertheless, given the hot temperatures, the water coming out is lukewarm and so hot water is really hardly a necessity.

The girls that I met at the Castle were quite enticing. I fancied one but she was already spoken for by a nice fellow guest. There are three other guests besides myself, much more than a year ago and so I think that Badbear is doing better.

There was one girl that I took a liking to. At first I thought she liked another guest more but in the end, my Kreyòl skills kicked in, and my scant knowledge about soccer combined with my knowledge with Brazil and Portuguese really paid off. She loves the Brazilian team and even knows the entire roster by heart, including the names and jersey numbers!!!! She now wants my baby ... hmmmm. Is it my devilish good looks, disarming charm or the appearance of having endless buckets of money? I would like to think it is the former but I suspect it just might be the latter!!! Like Thai girls in Thailand, this Haitian girl hates local men with a passion. Don't they all? In Thailand they always said: "Thai man bad, very bad. Me like Farang man much much". A likely story.

As I write this, I can hear kids in the yard surrounding the Castle, not human kids but baby goat kids. They're all over here. I will provide pictures when I get back to the first world. In the meantime, I am just resting and enjoying the little holiday I am having.

In any case, Haiti should prove a huge contrast to China where I am going next month.

[Member #4351]

There goes the donation money for the poor Haitians. Par for the course.

[Charles Pooter]

The Mont Joli is a good choice its at least $100 a night
this is pre-earthquake it could be more.

There is Roi Christophe which is right in the ville, that is a cheaper option.

Auberge au Picolet is great too there are located right on the Blvd facing the ocean they also have a great restaurant they are somewhat expensive too.

Have a good time, Sorry you will not be able to sample the local goodies

I went with my Haitian girlfriend from the DR to buy schoolbooks for Haitian children in Puerto Plata. Mission accomplished, and we visited her family a couple of times, but there was never any intention of mongering or sightseeing.

I did not want to venture out at night without a local guide and without knowing the area but I was tired before I even travelled so a couple of early nights suited me fine.

Virtually the whole of Tuesday travelling there and the whole of Thursday travelling back so only one whole day there and that was occupied by the above-mentioned activities.

Hotels are all full with aid workers, Minustah, UN, and overseas specialists. Mont Joli was US$150 for cheapest double room but full anyway. Roi Christophe was US125 and also full. Tried to find Auberge au Picolet but that would have been $150 or upwards. Ended up at Beau Rivage on the boulevard (malecon). $110 for very modest double room. Large balcony overlooking the harbour but not secure at night and nice bathroom but no hot water. Noisy aircon blew a gale but it was so humid we had to use it. OK restaurant but much nicer restaurant next door at DR type prices.

Getting there from Santiago is easy on Caribe Tours. Comfortable buses with toilets and edible light meal. $25 one way plus $25 for all your documentation to be done at Caribe Tours in Santiago so you don't have to deal with the scammers and incompetents at the frontier. Same system and prices coming back. Pay in dollars. Bus left at 11.00am and arrived 4.00pm (5.00pm DR time so six hours on the bus including an hour at the border). Similar coming back.

[BadBear2000]

Charles, my friend has not been to Cap since the earthquake but he recommended these hotels
The Mont Joli is a good choice its at least $100 a night
this is pre earthquake it could be more

there is Roi Christophe which is right in the ville
that is a cheaper option

Auberge au Picolet is great too there are located right on the Blvd facing the ocean they also have a great restaurant they are somewhat expensive too

Mont Joli would be my top pick Auberge au Picolet is walking distance to some other restaurants and dance clubs


I hope these will help you out. Have a good time, Sorry you will not be able to sample the local goodies

Thanks BB. This is all I have to go on:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g1...ti-Hotels.html

I know that Haitian hotels have always been double the price of (for example) Dominican hotels for similar (or inferior) quality so I can live with that. What I don't know is whether the influx of NGO and charity workers has further inflated prices and made hotel vacancies scarce. Hopefully not so much in the North.

Auberge au Picolet looks good, but does anyone know where Caranage Blvd is? Hopefully not too far from the city centre?

[Charles Pooter]

I have a friend that has been there many times. I will get info from him as to what is the best hotels in Cap and then I will post it.

Thanks BB. This is all I have to go on:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g1...ti-Hotels.html

I know that Haitian hotels have always been double the price of (for example) Dominican hotels for similar (or inferior) quality so I can live with that. What I don't know is whether the influx of NGO and charity workers has further inflated prices and made hotel vacancies scarce. Hopefully not so much in the North.

Auberge au Picolet looks good, but does anyone know where Caranage Blvd is? Hopefully not too far from the city centre?

[BadBear2000]

I have a friend that has been there many times. I will get info from him as to what is the best hotels in Cap and then I will post it.

I shall be staying two nights in Cap Haitien next week (Tuesday and Wednesday, 13th & 14th July) probably with my regular girlfriend (she is haitian, but from the DR). Not a mongering trip this time.

Can anyone recommend a gringo-standard hotel there? My overriding priority is security for myself and stuff. After that comes hygiene (shower and toilets function, reasonably clean). Other criteria, food, internet, comfort, amenities, etc, are not critical.

Thanks.

[Charles Pooter]

I shall be staying two nights in Cap Haitien next week (Tuesday and Wednesday, 13th & 14th July) probably with my regular girlfriend (she is haitian, but from the DR). Not a mongering trip this time.

Can anyone recommend a gringo-standard hotel there? My overriding priority is security for myself and stuff. After that comes hygiene (shower and toilets function, reasonably clean). Other criteria, food, internet, comfort, amenities, etc, are not critical.

Thanks.

[Frannie]

... to say something about the sexual side of the trip.

I was picked up in the morning at the airport by my hosts, and after completing a few errands, such as going to a food warehouse for supplies, and to the local version of Home Depot for some plumbing fixtures, we picked up a couple of young ladies (or bimbos, as I prefer to call them) who were known to me from a previous trip, and had been enjoyed both individually and in tandem. They are well-known to connoisseurs of the Haiti scene and have been shown in photographs here in a variety of outfits, including birthday suits, so no need to duplicate.

They are both very charming and affectionate, though I would not exactly call them intellectual giants. Bimbos is a better description. M. is the life and soul of the party, and G. is just stunningly beautiful.

I spent the first night with them and after breakfast was all set to send them on their bimbo way, and in fact paid them off. But just as they had packed their kit, taken showers, and were saying their goodbyes, we happened to fall into some heavy three way action which delayed their departure.

Then one of them asked if we were going to the beach, and since they had brought their swimwear and towels along without having a chance to use them, and I could see the disappointment in their little faces, I relented and said that they might as well stay another night.

As this was my second trip to Haiti, by now I had got the basics of conversation in Haitian Creole somewhat mastered and communication was not too much of a problem, oops, make that: "Kominikasyon se pa yon pwoblèm."

So around sunset we headed down the precipitous descent of a goat path to the rocky beach and frolicked in the waves. At least they did, and I took some photos. They were so happy to be at the beach that it made it worthwhile to keep them for another night just to see their faces.

After swimming they had a stone skipping contest, and both of them had terrific throwing arms, and really got into the game.

Back up the cliff again, both of them as nimble as goats in their flip flop sandals, of course, with M. leading the way and G. pushing me up from behind and making sure that I didn't fall.

And so another night of ho-hum three way sex until we fell asleep in a tangle.

Next day after breakfast they shipped out with their purses stuffed. I probably overpaid them, though the total payroll for the two days and nights probably wouldn't have got me a handjob in the US. Not from my wife, anyway. But good girl-on-girl sex isn't that easy to find, and always provides a welcome interlude.

On the third day, we went out trolling in the evening in the port city of Saint-Marc. I wasn't really in the mongering mood, but we did talk to a couple of girls and Bad Bear took their numbers.

On the fourth and fifth nights I was romancing another lady I had met whose charms had grown on me, so didn't monger any more on the streets.

Like anywhere, it helps to know the language. I found the Pimsleur course which was available for a free download was helpful and also used some other materials that I was able to get for free from the Net. Hint, try the Wikipedia Creole article for references. I wasn't very good, but at least could communicate enough to get by, and you have to start somewhere. Next time I will be more confident and fluent.

All in all, definitely worth a visit, though possibly not the ideal location for the inexperienced.

[Frannie]

Sorry to leave you all hanging.

You will need to know the Haitian Creole word for beetroot. It is "betraje" (bay-tra-jay).

Oh, yes, another thing.

Because of the fall of the satellite dish Big Bear has been offline, but as far as could be determined he was undamaged. Fortunately the falling machinery hit his head and missed all vital organs. For days afterwards he was wandering around confused and muttering about pussy, but a careful mental state history revealed that this was normal behavior for him.

However the doctor advised him to stay off well digging for now. Hopefully he will soon be back on line. The satellite dish is now on the ground, which is safer.

He was also getting his computer resurrected as it had died of a viral infection, so he might not be available for e-mail for a couple of days yet.