Halloween at Hedo

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

My daahlings, a world-weary traveller, jaded and tired of the same old idea of sun, sea and sand, has found the ultimate alternative experience in the adult-only, all-inclusive resort, Hedonism II, in laid-back Negril.

Those who have discovered the varied attractions of the resort have made it one of the most successful hotels in the history of all-inclusives. It is their ultimate home away from home, with multi-repeat visits and not just once annually, but several times within the year, and then some!

Now, with a name like Hedonism II, the 280-room and junior suite beachfront resort, spread out over 22 lush acres, is simply like no other, often taking its character from calendar events and the whims and fancies of guests, but yet maintaining its core Jamaicaness through its staff.

Now with probably the most devout guest base, Hedonism II has taken on a familial nature for many of the repeat guests, who not only plan their holidays around their honeymoons, vacations or just to get away, but more so based on the resort's events calendar.

One of the calendar events is the annual Hedonism II Halloween Masquerade Ball and Parade. Luvs, y'all have never seen, or partied, until you have experienced this ball and parade.

Fantasy, fable, hollywood

And on October 31, it was all about Negril and Hedonism II, as hedonists and revellers from the world over converged on the famed resort to celebrate Halloween 2010.

Well my dears, it was a case of fantasy, fable, Hollywood and more fantasy.

Dears, guests jetted in from North, South and Central America; Britain, Russia, Dominican Republic, Chile and the Caribbean, and, naturally, joined by guests from Kingston and Montego Bay to celebrate Halloween and pumpkins, how!

Luvs, there is no escaping the fact that there's a strong bond of friendship uniting guests who vacation at the resort. And this year's Halloween celebration took on a very stirring note as last year, multi-repeat guest, Louis del Gaudio, from New Jersey, was at home, on his deathbed, suffering from what was supposedly terminal cancer.

Well, he might have been dying, and was absent in body, but he was not absent in spirit. To make sure Louis did not miss out on the annual Halloween celebrations, his friends made a live computer hook-up and streamed the celebration online to him back home in his hospital bed.

Well, whatever it was, it worked, because this year, Louis del Gaudio was alive and kicking and back with his Hedo family celebrating Halloween, and how!

Dears, guests came, they saw, they dressed to excite and thrill and partied like the rock stars they are.

They dressed like angels, devils, rock stars, bikers, ghouls, goblins, prisoners, slaves and masters, witches, warlocks, mad scientists, astronauts, dominatrixes, cross-dressers, cavemen, drag queens, and personalities such as an ageing Pamela Anderson; Marie Antoinette; Michael Jackson; Marilyn Monroe; Bob Marley; Elvis Presley; Cinderella; Bill Clinton; even Margaret Thatcher!

Amid the cocktails, spills and thrills, costume parade and competition, there was no escaping the celebratory mood and sense of festivity that was the hallmark of the celebrations.

It was celebration everywhere, from the au naturel beach to hurricane disco and the rocking piano bar, it was all about Halloween, and nothing but. As not only were guests dressing for the thrills, they transformed their various rooms/suites, and a number of public areas to reflect the Halloween theme, and dears, it made for a spectacular outing!

Among those out were: SuperClubs Vice-president Gary and Anna Williams; Hedonism II's General Manager Kevin Levee and wife, the ultra gorgeous Cecile Levee; hotel manager Lorna Clarke; food and beverage manager, Jeffrey Johnson; Richard Hall; songstress Ashley Martin; Robert Haughton; Ken Sealy and wife Liz Riley; the gorgeous Jackie Bird; Mr Negril himself, Cosmo Brown; Phillip and Patty Paxton; Errol Anderson; Donna Chuck, radio personality 'Bones'; Rosa Young; Steven Pottinger; Chris Arrington; and the resort's public relations angel, Rusheen Harris; plus several others.