JAMAICA, "LAND OF WOOD AND WATER"
BY CLAY LARROY
BY CLAY LARROY
It
doesn't matter if you take a trip across the state line or the border, being
far from home can be exciting and also a bit stressful. When considering
traveling, it is important to think of the best mode of travel. Traveling by car can offer
many more sights and opportunities for side trips. Traveling by train can offer
a chance to relax and get some work done if they wanted. Planes can cover
ground fast but don't allow much movement and one cannot get off the plane in
flight. Each mode of travel has its own advantages and disadvantages to be
considered. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!
Things to see
and do in Jamaica
Blue Mountains
Follow
one of many hiking and climbing trails up the Blue Mountains to heights above
2,100m (7,000ft). Shrouded by mists that give the peaks their bluish tinge, the
Blue Mountains are home to more than 200 bird species and 800 species of
plants.
Bob Marley Museum, Kingston
As the
heart of 'true' Jamaica, Kingston beats the island's rhythm. That rhythm is
reggae, and as such, a visit to 56 Hope Road is a must for most, and a
pilgrimage for many. This is the city's most visited address. Formerly the home
and studio of the legendary Bob Marley, the modest wooden house now serves as
both museum and shrine.
Carnival time
Be sure
to take to the streets to witness Jamaica's riotous fun-filled carnival.
Parading musicians, skimpily dressed dancers and floats typify this world
famous street party. Expect outlandish behaviour to the sound of soca, steel
bands and beating drums.
Columbus Park
Pop into
the 24-hour open-air museum and see relics of Jamaican history at Columbus
Park, a commemorative park to mark the 1494 landing of Christopher Columbus in
Discovery Bay.
Dolphin-spotting
Surrounded
by tropical rainforest, Dolphin Cove in Ocho Rios is the largest dolphin
natural lagoon home to numerous bottle nose dolphins. The chance to interact
and swim with these magical creatures is sure to make for an unforgettable
experience.
Explore the Rio Grande
Hop
aboard a bamboo raft to explore the Rio Grande for a thrilling trip through
banana and sugar cane plantations. Set sail from the peaks of the Blue
Mountains at Berrydale before winding down to Margaret's Bay along one of
Jamaica's largest rivers.
Explore the mountains
Ride a
bicycle downhill through an elfin forest of stunted soapwood and redwood trees,
home to hundreds of species of bird and blossoming plants. Speed through the
world-famous Blue Mountain coffee plantations or meander at a leisurely pace
along hedgerow-flanked lanes.
Kingston
Kingston's
reputation may include crime crowds and shanty-towns, but for a real insight
into Jamaica's island life nowhere else will do. Stay smart and you'll enjoy a
fascinating and authentic experience encompassing grand historical sights, a
beautiful harbor-front, frenetic markets and pulsating street-life.
Limestone caves
Check out
a huge labyrinth of limestone caves on Jamaica's north coast, a stunning
natural phenomena. Characterized by stalactites, stalagmites, overhead crags,
tunnels light holes, and in its depths a subterranean lake, the Green Grotto
was once used as shelter by the Arawak Indians (Tainos).
Lover's Leap
Head out
to Lover's Leap, a sheer 518m (1,700ft) cliff overhanging the sea east of
Treasure Beach. It was here that two slave lovers leaped to their deaths rather
than to be separated. Those with vertigo should stand well away from the edge -
the view is terrifying.
Milk River Spa
Take a
rejuvenating dip in the curative waters of the aged Milk River with a visit to
the unique government owned spa located here, and enjoy a naturally radioactive
mineral bath. Discovered in 1794, these spring-fed therapeutic waters reach
temperatures of 33°C (86°F).
Montego Bay
Chill-out
or party hard Jamaican-style in Montego Bay, the island's most buzzing city.
Whether lounging all day on laid-back Doctor's Cave Beach or cruising through
the gaudy delights of Gloucester, this is the spot where Jamaica lays its 'big
sell' on the world's tourists. Many never make it any further.
Port Royal
Don't
miss a chance to visit the Port Royal in Kingston, a fine museum on top of the
peninsula bordering Kingston Harbour. It honours Jamaica's ancient capital
city, submerged under the sea after an earthquake in 1692.
Shaw Park Botanical Gardens
For truly
vibrant blooms check out the exhibits at Shaw Park Botanical Gardens, a
10-hectare (25-acre) collection of exotic Caribbean flora in Ocho Rios.
Situated high on a hilltop overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the gardens has a
waterfall as a centrepiece.
Spanish Town
Stroll
around the ancient streets of Spanish Town, Jamaica's former capital, on a
historical walking tour. It was once a magnificent and impressive metropolis
and some fine stately red-brick homes and grand monuments remain, including a resplendent
plaza.
Treasure Bay
Comprising
three golden sandy bays on the south of the island, where palm fronds sway,
azure waters lap, and local fisherman cruise their colourful boats to fish
amongst the cays on the horizon. This is the Jamaican paradise you saw in the
brochure before you came.
Underwater gardens
Dive in
some of the best underwater gardens Montego Bay Marine Park, located along the
west and north coasts where sunken wrecks, black coral and rope sponge host a
multitude of multicolored tropical fish. Montego Bay's waters are protected,
and here you're likely spot nurse sharks, eagle rays, upside down jellyfish,
tobacco fish and snapper in shallow spurs and grove reefs amidst an assortment
of caverns.
Walking paths
Explore
the hundreds of paths connecting villages and settlements around the mountains,
including several non-tourist utilitarian paths around Newcastle on the
Kingston to Buff Bay Road where trails lead to Catherine's Peak and Mount
Horeb.
REFERENCE
SITES
Twenty or 30 years from now, I'm going to be on a beach in Jamaica.
Idris Elba
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