Picture this…. White sand, reggae, rum, a Caribbean breeze,
and sunshine… laying on a hammock underneath a palm tree surrounded by tropical
flowers and fruit trees…the sound of the waves crashing nearby…the laid back rhythms
of Bob Marley…a breeze blowing just enough to carry the amazing aroma of jerk
chicken cooking on the nearby outdoor grill…
I love Jamaica and am always ready to return. The laid back
vibe of the island is contagious. There is absolutely no reason to be in a
hurry. (There might even be a law against being in a hurry – unless you are a
taxi/bus driver.) After a few days in Jamaica something happens –it changes
you. Your pre-Jamaica life becomes a blur. You’ve slowed down and relaxed. You
wear less clothes, forget your insecurities, show off a great tan, smile more
than ever, walk slower and catch yourself saying “yeah mon”. You are officially
in Island Mode – and life will never be the same.
Here’s some of my random thoughts/notes about Jamaica.....
-
The airport is chaos. Getting through
customs/immigration is never easy. Always use Club Mobay – you will thank me later!!
-
You will be repeatedly asked if you “need
anything”. It’s Jamaica – I think the definition of “anything” is quite
obvious.
-
You have to try Jerk Chicken from a roadside
outdoor grill. One of the locals told me that it was introduced to the island
by escaped slaves that settled there in the 1600’s. After you have authentic
jerk chicken – you will not settle for anything less.
-
The food is amazing! It is local, fresh, light
and healthy. Your body will be happy with you.
-
The taxi/bus drivers are insane. The drive the
winding roads with no rules, Bob Marley blaring on the radio, windows down and
they will run over anyone that is in their way. (Our bus driver ran completely
over a man on a bike and everyone acted as if this was an everyday occurrence.)
-
The locals at restaurants and bars will get you
to dance with them. Don’t fight it – just do it.
-
Always assume your drink contains rum. Make sure
to try the Purple Rain, Dirty Banana and the Bob Marley shot.
-
Take time to talk to everyone you come across.
They love to talk to strangers and have some amazing stories to tell. (It’s a
bonus that the accents are so captivating!)
-
Have dinner on the beach! You will not regret
that experience.
-
I’m not a coffee or beer drinker, but I’ve been
told that you have to try the Blue Mountain Coffee and Red Stripe Beer. (This was for picture purposes only...I did not drink the beer!)
-
In Montego Bay the people that do not have
running water or plumbing go to the public beach across from The Carlyle each
morning at 7:00am to take baths. On the weekdays the school bus picks them up
at that beach.
-
Everyone can sing!!!
There is still so much I have to do and see in Jamaica. I’m
looking forward to returning to some places and going back to visit some of the
amazing people I’ve met. Despite the many things they lack in Jamaica – there
is so much we can learn from them – just slow down, don’t take life too
seriously, let go of stress…live simple, sing, dance… and just be happy.
