Summer 2015 Travels Part I: Jamaica, No Problem!
During the last week of May, I took an all-inclusive holiday to Runaway Bay, Jamaica with my paren'ts. It was my first visit to the Caribbean and first all-inclusive vacation. I can now see why people opt for this type of vacation! Everything is cooked and arranged for you, all you have to do is show up and enjoy the good food, drinks, and beautiful beaches. Jamaica is a very culturally vibrant place, very proud of their cuisine (spicy Jerk chicken and patties) and their music: Reggae and Bob Marley.
During my stay, I ventured away from my lazy resort routine twice. Once, to visit Ocho Rios, a town in the parish of Saint Ann to visit the local shops and crafts. This was quite a unique experience, as the artisans selling their work were quite enthusiastic about making sure that you don't go home empty-handed! I bought some local hand-woven baskets, wooden sculptures and drinking cups made of bamboo. Something sparkly also caught my eye; a blue Jamaican gemstone known as the Caribbean Topaz – the stone of true love and success. Of course, I also could not go home without getting some of the famous Appleton Estate Rum!
The second time I left the comforts of the resort was to visit the birthplace of Bob Marley, Nine Mile, Saint Ann, Jamaica. Fans flock there to visit the King of Reggae's final resting place. Here you get to walk through the home he lived in as a child and see the neighbourhood and home that influenced him to write some of his most famous songs. Perhaps the most memorable part was when our Rastafarian guide stopped in his tracks and suddenly joined a Reggae band to sing "One Love" for us!
It was also quite educational on the Bob Marley tour to see how the local people live in the mountaneous, curving countryside villages. Here, I saw homes that were half-finished, as the local people tend to finish them only when they have enough money saved up to do so. According to our tour guide, this could take up to 15 years. In the meantime, they make do with whatever parts of the home are finished and live there as a large extended family.
All in all, Jamaica was a very beautiful island nation, with lush green scenery and beautiful, clear waters, and a colourful culture to match.
I highly recommend seeing it for yourself. And if you do go, please venture off your resort and take advantage of the tours offered to see what the real Jamaica looks like!
One Love. One Heart.
2 thoughts on “Summer 2015 Travels Part I: Jamaica, No Problem!”
It’s nice to see a blog on my homeland Jamaica. This was is pretty well written. However, I would love to see more tourists coming out of the all inclusive hotels and experiencing all Jamaica has to offer. If you are ever visiting Ocho Rios you can visit http://www.ocho-rios-jamaica.com . They have a comprehensive list of activities in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
Hello Karen. Thank you for the comment. I am in total agreement that to see the real Jamaica, you do need to venture off your resort, or not even stay at a resort at all. I am really glad that I at least did the excursions that I did.