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| My trip to Kingston in 2008 |
My mother and grandmother were born on the island of Jamaica in the Caribbean and I went there for the first time when I was a teenager. I will be sharing an island story and a few travel tips.
Travel Tips and Where to stay
My mother was born in Jamaica's capital, Kingston. It is a bustling city not known as much for tourism but it is the location of one of the three international airports on the island. For tourists, flying into Sangster International Airport close to Montego Bay is the best option since it is closer to some major attractions. My parents and I stayed in Kingston with my aunt and uncle for the first week of the trip and for the last week of the trip we stayed at an all-inclusive resort in Falmouth. Unfortunately, tourists are targets of crime such as theft, so it is best to stay at a resort and schedule excursions instead of renting a car to explore the country on your own. Another reason I would not recommend driving is many drivers in Jamaica are aggressive for example you will see people driving on the sidewalk. Also, away from the city there are a lot of winding steep roads a tourist would find difficult to navigate. My aunt told me recently that some of the public beaches are not free anymore making an all-inclusive resort a good choice in order to get unlimited beach access.
Island Adventures You Can't Miss
Jamaicans are friendly people and like their island to be celebrated. There is a lot to see on this island other than the beautiful beaches. In St. Ann where my grandmother was born, there is a waterfall called Dunn's River Falls. Tourists get to hike up or down the falls and go swimming in some areas. I thought it was a blast, but I recommend wearing water shoes since the rocks are somewhat sharp—which I learned the hard way. Close by in Falmouth, are what the locals call the “glistening waters” or bioluminescent water. There are plankton in the water that have a glow-in-the-dark effect when the water is agitated. You can book evening boat tours and experience this natural wonder. For a more relaxing, scenic activity, try floating down a river on a bamboo raft as your guide skillfully steers using a bamboo pole.
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| Me swimming with the dolphins |
One of the highlights of my trip was swimming with dolphins in Ocho Rios. It is
a must do activity for an island vacation.
Must-Try Jamaican Foods and Drinks
Eating in Jamaica is more than a meal—it's an experience all its own. I remember eating the savory ackee, paired with a whole freshly caught saltfish staring at me from the plate. Ackee is a fruit since it grows on trees, but it is cooked savory and my mother thinks the taste and color are similar to that of scrambled eggs. Before the ackee is ripe it is poisonous. When it is ripe, the ackee fruit opens to reveal the yellow part which you eat and the black seeds which you don’t eat.
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| My father holding an ackee pod |
Jamaicans eat patties, which almost look like a golden-brown hot pockets but taste 100% better. The meat on the inside is seasoned with a mixture of spices. The Jamaican diet includes a lot of meats like tripe, cow’s tongue, goat and the more familiar jerked or curry chicken. I remember my grandmother telling stories about eating all these various meats. Sorrel is a popular drink in Jamaica made from part of the hibiscus plant. It is mixed with spices like cinnamon and ginger and combined with rum to make a sweet fun purple/red drink.
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