My visit to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Lesotho starting me blogging, but Jamaica was my inspiration to get in to travel. Though I was born in Jamaica, I don’t know it as well as I think I should.
When I got laid off from my job in November 2003, I was excited. For several months prior, two friends and I had been planning our next professional moves. Mine was to start a tour company that would showcase Jamaica the way I see it, not the sand, sun, reggae and rum tour that many people associate it with.
At less than 4,500 square miles, Jamaica is slightly smaller than the Connecticut yet it is as diverse as many countries twice its size. Part of the island’s beauty is its lushness. Jamaica is a garden full of a variety of flowers, including orchids – about 200 species, nearly half of them endemic to the island, several hundred types of ferns and trees which bathes this little piece of rock in a riot of color year round.
It was not surprising then that my first post was about flowers, the kinds of flowers that my mother, grandmother and countless Jamaicans grow, the flowers that make my heart smile. Since then, I’ve blogged about flowers several times.
Our fruits…
Me no drink cawfee tea, mango time. Care how nice it may be, mango time. Mango Time, Jamaican folk song
We’re passionate about fruits but especially mangoes, which is celebrated by its own folk song. Yes, when it’s mango time in Jamaica we eat it at every meal. Almost.
Our food…
Jamaica has more than 300 species of birds, more than two dozen of which are endemic to the island. The doctor bird, a swallowtail hummingbird is our national bird.
Domestic animals are also quite common. You’ll notice goats, cows, as well as donkeys, especially in the rural areas.
From large great houses, opulent castles such as Trident to small board houses, we have them all. Take a look.
Our churches….
Our landscape
Our beaches…
Twenty or 30 years from now, I’m going to be on a beach in Jamaica. – Idris Elba
Our people
3rd Blogiversary Giveaway
In celebration of our 3rd Blogiversary, we’re giving away three prizes – two (2) copies of the Lonely Planet travel guide to Jamaica, and a copy of The Real Taste of Jamaica by Enid Donaldson to three lucky winners. Enter by December 22nd by leaving a comment, tweeting about the giveaway #3Years3Prizes or liking us on Facebook. It’s that easy. The giveaway is open only to addresses in the United States and Canada. Good luck!
Linking up this week with Travel Photo Thursday, which Nancie at Budget Travelers Sandbox organizes. Be sure to head over and check out more photos from locations around the world.
Happy Blogiversary! The time has flown, hasn’t it? I’m so glad that we’ve gotten to know each other through our blogs. Your post illustrates so many reasons to love Jamaica! Gorgeous flower photos!
Beautiful photos, Marcia! Emma and I just returned from our first trip to Jamaica. Just 2 nights at Beaches Negril which was lovely but the highlight of our trip was visiting a school in Negril for their Christmas party. We met so many wonderful, friendly people – I will definitely return to see more of your beautiful country!
What an amazing collection of pictures, Marcia! They all tell such a story of great food, great company and yummy food! And I would love to try some of that jerk lobster. You have the most electric, contagious smile btw
Hi Marcie, congratulations on your 3rd blogiversary! This post is such an incredible showcase of Jamaica’s beauty and diversity. I can see why you’re so proud and passionate about your root. Thanks for showing us the real Jamaica, the one beyond the tourist path. I hope to visit someday and meet its wonderful people and eat those yummy fruits and food and see the landscape and, of course, the beautiful beaches.
This is amazing. Jamaica do have a lot to offer. I always dream of visiting this beautiful land, dance reggae songs, visit Montego bay and learn Jamaica culture far from my African one. See the Island where my ancestors were damped by the so called whites.
Hope you make it one day soon, Jeff!
Thanks, Marisol. I’d love to be able to show you Jamaica one of these days.
Thanks, Mike, so nice of you to say!
I’m glad you like the photos. We’ll have to work on the jerk lobster.
Thanks, Lisa! Glad you liked your visit to Negril.
Hope I get to show you around on your next visit.
Thanks, Cathy. Me too – you’re among the people I count as part of my online family.
What a collection of photos! Congratulations to you for 3 years, what an accomplishment!
Wow! What an impressive collection of photos – and congratulations on 3 years, what an accomplishment!
Happy Anniversary Marcia! Your photos are wonderful, and a great inspiration for us all to visit Jamaica. There’s obviously so much to see, to experience and especially, to taste! I do love getting off the beaten track when exploring a country!
What a super celebratory post. I don’t know if we will ever make it to Jamaica, but I will certainly know a lot about it through your posts.
Hello Marica, It’s really an amazing story and I really inspired by u to writing something about African Country and I will launch a blog recently about African traveling place and beauty. Thanks for share this.
Your blog has gone a long way towards helping me see past the stereotypes of Jamaica to all its nuances. I can tell that Jamaica must have a similar climate to Penang as many of the flowers and fruits you show are grown here, too. I remember that Dunn’s Falls donkey from a previous post as he’s so very memorable. That Trident house is HUGE! Happy Blogiversary!
Happy Blogiversary! But most of all, thank you for sharing your island with us. It’s NOT as good as actually being there, but your posts do make a nice mini vacation for those spending our time in very non-tropical areas. Best wishes for the next three years!
I can never tire of photos of food, flowers and happy faces… Kudos lady!
Eliz
Thanks, Elizabeth!
Just to let you know that I received my Jamaican cookbook the other day and the recipes look fabulous. I’m enjoying looking at the mouth-watering photos! Thanks, Marcia!
Great, Cathy! I’m happy to hear you’ve received it so quickly. Go Amazon!!
Hope you get a chance to try some of the recipes. Enjoy!