Jamala
Senior Member
- Location
- Butterfly from Herts/UK
It is true when one travels a lot, pieces of oneself are scattered around the world. Many years ago my newlywed husband and I together with a couple of friends went island hopping by boat around the Caribbean. When we reached Jamaica, we made a long stop, even thought of buying a shack there.
However, common sense prevailed …there was a lot more we could do with the money to set us up when we returned home…but a huge piece of ourselves was left on the island.
Now visiting the Rock again after so many years with three of my life long and dearest friends, brought back glorious memories and again, a piece of my soul was left behind. Changes there are but not so numerous that they spoilt the charm and intoxicating atmosphere of this tropical paradise.
Having been to Jamaica before, my friends were relying on me to make the really big decisions, like what to have for dinner and what to wear at the beach
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After checking in and diving into the complimentary basket of tropical fruits and snacks…it was time for our first dip in the beautiful turquoise waters of Ocho Rios Bay beach (also known as Turtle Beach)… then…back to the hotel to get glammed up for a truly magnificent dinner!
Since I was the sole advisor on the food committee, I decided to treat the girls to a Bob Marley cocktail and some traditional Caribbean dishes…
The cocktail had us giggling like schoolgirls in no time at all… it was apparent mischief may soon follow…did we just see the ghost of Bob Marley throwing back his head of dreadlocks and laughing … I think we convinced some of the dinner guests the place was haunted! Ah well…we could either Blame it on Rio or the Silver Rum in the colourful glass of firewater we were sipping so gingerly!
Dinner … a feast consisting of Jerk Chicken, Rice and Peas, Jerk Shrimp, Callaloo and Bammy. For dessert, Sweet Potato Pudding and Toto. Ice cold coconut water tamed the fierce onslaught of the ubiquitous scotch bonnet pepper used to flavour the island’s cuisine.
Much later… and having shamelessly overeaten… time to sit back and relax with a pot of Blue Mountain coffee and Tia Maria liqueur. By the way, did you know Tia Maria was invented in Jamaica using Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans and Jamaican chocolate.
Needless to say very little shut eye was had that night…we hadn’t all been together like this for almost three years and there were a lot of stories to tell and reminiscing about youthful escapades. Finally…Mr Sandman got his way and we were under his spell.
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The itinerary continued with a trip to the Blue Mountains, making frequent stops along the way to take in the gorgeous mangrove forests; marvel and have a dip in the luminous lagoon, a truly magical experince (see video in next post).
Our expert photographer created wonderful memories with her camera and another talented chum made a video. Of course that left me free to do audio recordings of birdsong…one of my favourite hobbies.
Remember this scene from Dr No (James Bond movie) when Honey Ryder emerges from the sea and encounters James Bond?
Well, the scene was shot at Laughing Waters, Ocho Rios…we stopped there had a swim, and clambered up the Dunn’s River falls you can see in the background of this youtube video. Fortunately, it was not too crowded the day we visited and much fun was had enacting the scene…sad to say none of us looked like Ursula Andress lol
In the movie, one of Dr No’s secret hideouts was at the Dunn River Falls.
Ian Fleming so loved Jamaica, he bought a property at Oracabessa Bay and named the estate Goldeneye.
It was here that he created all fourteen of the Bond novels.
https://www.theflemingvilla.com
“Would these books have been born if I had not been living in the gorgeous vacuum of a Jamaican holiday? I doubt it.”
IAN FLEMING
…..IAN FLEMING
Exhausted but thoroughly happy after five days on the North Coast, swimming, boating, horse riding through the rainforest, we then headed for the South Eastern Coast to visit the capital, Kingston. In Kingston we caught up with a friend who has business interests in the Caribbean and was visiting Jamaica at the time we were there.
She arranged for us to use the company’s mini-van and even provided a driver. What luck… in this way we covered a lot of ground. First stop Port Royal…Port Royal is located at the mouth of Kingston harbour. It was founded by the Spanish in 1494. Between 1655 and 1680, during the war with Spain, the city of Port Royal, became a famous buccaneer hideout. It was once known as the “ richest and wickedest city in the word.”
No doubt the Port flourished with contraband from the many pirates who visited its shores, but, disaster struck on June 7, 1692 when the town was consumed by an earthquake and most of it sank into the sea.
Port Royal is a diver’s paradise (on our first visit to Jamaica, my husband and our friend did a dive there).
However, on this trip, the girls and I preferred to stay on dry land and visit the remnants of the Port that survived and learn about the interesting history of Fort Charles.
Fort Charles was the first fort built in the city of Port Royal between 1650-60. The fort was built by the English, after capturing the island, to defend their new acquisition (Jamaica) from the Spanish.
Today, the setup of the lined cannons on the outside wall of the fort is still the same.
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After being regaled with stories of swashbuckling pirates at Port Royal and military history of Fort Charles, we headed for a wonderful afternoon at the National Gallery of Jamaica… learnt a lot about the culture of the Taino people (Arawak Indians).
The Taino Indians were the first Jamaicans who settled in Jamaica around 600 AD. They were stone-age peoples who had migrated to Jamaica from the northern coast of South America. After living continuously in Jamaica for almost 900 years, the Tainos were wiped out within 50 years of the Spanish conquest in 1494.
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Well, if you’re a Bob Marley fan, no Jamaican holiday is complete without a visit to his former home, now a museum.
https://things-to-do-in-jamaica.com/bobmarleymuseuminkingstonjamaica/
Scroll down to see King Charles and Queen Camilla having a go on the bongos!
Such a treat walking amongst his memorabilia; seeing his recording studio and some of the instruments he played. His bedroom was a surprise, devoid of any decoration, only his star-shaped guitar by his beside.
Apparently that was exactly how he had it when he was alive. Something I did not know, a failed assassination attempt was made on his life in that room.
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Of course when in Kingston a visit to one of its most famous landmarks …Devon House, is a must!
Devon House is a truly gorgeous mansion in Kingston, that dates back to 1881. This property was once the home of George Steibel.
Steibel was the child of a migrant German Jew and his black Jamaican housekeeper who braved the indignities aimed at mixed race people in the Caribbean in those days. With help from his father he made his fortune in Venezuela in the goldmines, returned home and became Jamaica’s first black millionaire.
https://www.devonhouseja.com/
The house and its grounds are now enjoyed by locals and tourists and includes restaurants, curio-shops, and even an ice cream shop. The food is a gourmet’s delight but even more so, is the ice cream they serve there…so good in fact, National Geographic named Jamaica's Devon House No.4 in the Top Places to Eat Ice Cream in the world and it is known as “I-Scream”.
Of course we had to have more than one serving to verify this is so and yes, we emphatically agree with National Geographic that it certainly deserves a place of honour!
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The final day in the capital was spent with our new friend…she hosted a Jerk BBQ at her place and invited almost half of Kingston …again, the food was to die for, the company exhilarating, the sound of Reggae music filled the air; stories about the island abounded (enough for me to write a book).
My three besties had the time of their lives. Eventually got back to our hotel, crawled into bed for a couple of hours, packed and just made it to the airport for our trip home.
Alas… all good things have to come to an end. It was super delightful spending these days with three people I went to high school with, explored life with during our teenage years…shared our lives into adulthood and whose children and husbands are lifelong friends of my husband and my family…forever friends.
Now time to reminisce with my soulmate and hubby about our visit there when we were young and starry eyed…I might add, although a little bit older now… still starry eyedand eager for more adventure!!
