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Article #50: Jamaica - A Tropical Paradise

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From the brilliant white sand beaches to new attraction featuring the legendary
the diverse island culture, Jamaica is great, Bob Marley. For the adventure
one of our favourite Caribbean tourist traveller, there are also bamboo river
destinations. The crystal clear ocean rafting tours. As well, there is great
waters and the year-round warm climate fishing by fishing charters for marlin,
makes it the ideal travel vacation for tuna and kingfish. One may also go
sun-lovers. There are many diversions to cycling, golfing, horseback riding or
keep visitors happy: fishing, scuba scuba diving here, and there is another
diving, wind surfing, horseback riding, popular local shopping district. A
swimming, snorkelling, golfing just to popular tour from Montego Bay is to
name a few. In the evening there is fine Wyndham Rose Hall Plantation which was
dining at Jamaica's elite restaurants and once a legendary 18th century sugar
resorts-combined with truly unique plantation, and a popular spot for
Jamaican cuisine, and the night life is golfers would be on the Robert von Hagge
certainly hopping! Championship Golf Course.
One of the best things that I have found Of course, the beaches in Montego Bay are
about Jamaica is the warm, friendly not to be missed. But beware - a friend,
people and the rich, diverse Island while visiting Jamaica, sat under a
culture blended from around the world. coconut tree and got conked on the head
In fact, Jamaica's motto is "Out of Many, by a falling coconut, in fact three
One People." Although African and coconuts! I asked her why she didn't
European influences dominate the culture, move away after the first one hit her (of
the British, Spanish, Irish, Indian, course, the coconuts fell in a bunch of
Chinese and German are all represented as three - but I thought it was funny!)
well. The official language of Jamaica (P.S. - She wasn't really hurt!)
is English, but sometimes you wouldn't Negril is located on Jamaica's western
know it as you will most likely hear coast with a seven-mile long fantastic
"Patois" which sounds like a foreign white sand beach. It extends from the
language but is actually a combination of nineteenth-century Negril Lighthouse in
rhythmic English and slang. "Irie mon" is the parish of Westmoreland in the south
a common phrase you may hear, which to Bloody Bay (so named for the days when
really just means "cool" or "everything whalers cleaned their catch there) in
is good." The currency in Jamaica is the Hanover Parish in the north. Negril is
Jamaican Dollar, but US dollars are famous for its "hippie" era where the
widely accepted. hippies set up a colony there and enjoyed
Jamaica is the largest English-speaking the laid-back lifestyle and "ganja".
Island in the Caribbean and it is the From this hippie-era colony, Negril has
third largest island overall, spanning been labelled the "Capital of Casual".
4,400 square miles. The best tourist Although I wasn't interested, Negril does
spots are on the north coast, with offer some clothing optional beaches.
Montego Bay and Ocho Rios being the most Laws control resort development and no
popular, as well as Negril on the west building is allowed to be taller than the
coast. I have toured the whole Island, tallest palm tree. Negril doesn't offer
from Kingston (Jamaica's capital) through the extensive shopping of Ocho Rios, but
the Blue Mountains to Port Antonio, it does have an assortment of unique
around the north coast, on down through shops, including the Negril craft market.
Mandeville, Alligator Pond and Treasure Negril is said to offer some of the best
Beach and back around to Kingston, so I scuba diving in Jamaica. You can also
am well able to tell you a bit about each enjoy deep-sea fishing excursions, a vast
destination you may wish to travel to. amount of water sports, and golf at a new
Ocho Rios is located, as I said, on golf course, Negril Hills. If you choose
Jamaica's north coast and is known as to go parasailing, the sight of the
Jamaica's garden centre. Some of the sparkling azure waters and the dazzling
most popular daytime activities include white sand beach is a truly memorable
biking, diving, deep-sea fishing and experience. Other activities can include
golf. Ocho Rios also has one of the best tennis, squash, glass-bottom boat reef
polo facilities in the Caribbean. trips, sunset catamaran cruises and
Of course, the must-see attraction in spectacular nightly entertainment.
Ocho Rios is the famous Dunn's River Although I stayed at a number of
Falls, where visitors, lead by a different locations in Jamaica, a
sure-footed Jamaican guide, are able to memorable one was at a family-oriented
climb up a series of falls that cascade all-inclusive resort. They offered
from the mountains to the sea. The falls everything one could want, from unlimited
themselves are a spectacular sight and alcoholic beverages for adults to
climbing the falls is an adventure not to baby-sitting services, and even a special
be missed. As a bit of trivia, in the snack bar geared to children with
film "Cocktail" with Tom Cruise, Duns all-you-can-eat pizza, macaroni 'n
River Falls is in a memorable scene. cheese, and hamburgers. I was very
Close by, just off of Main Street in Ocho impressed with how the staff entertained
Rios are two craft parks, the Ocho Rios and watched over our children. In one
Craft Park and the Olde Market Craft instance, our kids were kayaking around a
Shoppes, and The Ocean Village Shopping little bay area. Being adventurous they
Centre is also nearby. Here there are ventured out towards open water. The
hundreds of vendors selling local crafts, staff member followed them in his kayak
and everything from gold watches to wood and gently herded them back. I was very
carvings and the famous Blue Mountain impressed how he handled it. It was a
coffee. Also, you will be able to sample very pleasant stay there.
the traditional jerk pork prepared over On the whole, I love Jamaica, from the
an open grill - a spicy culinary warm friendly people to the crystal clear
experience for the adventurous. There is waters and all-year round warm climate.
also duty-free shopping at the Taj Mahal There is not much that Jamaica doesn't
Shopping Centre. offer for an ideal vacation. The Island
Just west of Ocho Rios in Aracobessa is is unique in its culture and cuisine
another favourite tourist attraction, (have you tried boiled green banana,
James Bond Beach and Ian Fleming's former saltfish and ackee, jerk chicken or fried
home called Goldeneye. breadfruit?) The resorts are experts in
Montego Bay is where most travelers what they offer guests - especially the
arrive in Jamaica, which is home to the all-inclusive ones. The only thing that
North Shore airport and the island's I might caution you about is travelling
busiest cruise ship pier. Montego Bay is alone/unaccompanied outside of the
Jamaica's second largest city and is resorts. It can be dangerous, but if you
Jamaica's original tourist hotspot. stay within your resort or take guided
Montego Bay's attractions include a tours, you shouldn't have any problems.
number of plantation tours, as well as a "No problem, mon!






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