The Quakers in Jamaica
Until I spotted this pretty little church in Portland, one of Jamaica's eastern parishes, I had no idea there were Quakers still on the island. The Quakers, also referred to as the Society of Friends, were among the earliest settlers in Jamaica having come to the island after the English conquest in 1655. They believe that God is in everyman, therefore there's no need for priests to speak on their behalf. That was revolutionary thinking at the time and many were…
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Happy Valentine’s Day!
Despite its crass commercialism, it's hard to ignore the message of love that Valentine's Day evokes. There are several stories about the origin of the day of lovers -- and they all come back to Valentine. One is of a third century priest who defied the Emperor Claudius and performed secret weddings on young lovers. Claudius believed that single men made better soldiers than those who had wives and children and forbid them to marry. When the emperor discovered what Valentine…
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Finding Romance in Jamaica
Romance isn't something I think about when I travel as most of the times, I'm traveling solo. When I travel with my partner, it's an entirely different trip as every activity we engage in, whether we're looking at art, admiring the architecture of an old building or sharing a meal, is infused with the passion we have for each other, and romantic feelings bloom. That's not to say that when I travel solo I don't notice places that evoke romantic…
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The Story Behind the Lucea Clock Tower
If an order was delivered to you in error, would you keep it? [caption id="attachment_10809" align="aligncenter" width="455"] Lucea Clock Tower, Hanover Jamaica[/caption] That was the question the residents of Hanover had to answer when they received this clock instead of the one they ordered. The mistake wasn't theirs of course. It seems that the captain of the ship that was taking the clock they received, a gift from Germany to the people of the island of St. Lucia, got confused…
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What visas do I need when travelling?
Most travelers and backpackers are familiar with the feeling: The journey has been planned long in advance but as the date of departure approaches, many new questions arise. What should I pack and what items do I really need? Luxury hotel or no-frills hostel? Did I plan my travel route and budget correctly? They are common questions that pop up during the planning process. Another equally important aspect to be considered is the travel documents and visa requirements for the…
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Jamaica: Keeping Alive the (Almost) Lost Art of Making Peppermint Candy
It was faint at first then as I trained my ear, a rhythmic slap-slap-slap sound filled the spaces within the noise of the festival. Was someone chopping wood? Curious, I moved quickly towards the direction of the sound. That's when I spotted her. Standing in front of a board that was hung about arms' length above her head, she was wrapping a brown, sticky mixture around a nail that protruded some 6 inches from the board. Each time she folded…
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Jamaica Responds to the VW Superbowl Ad with a Video of Their Own
Between fits of laughter during lunch on Thursday, my friend tried to explain the new ad that VW plans to air during Sunday's Superbowl Halftime show. From his description, I wasn't sure how the ad, of a white man who returns from his vacation with a Jamaican accent and a laid-back-turn-your-frown-upside-down kind of attitude, was supposed to sell Volkswagen cars - but I was curious to see it for myself. I had been on the road for three days without television,…
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A Visit to the Hanover Museum #Jamaica
Places that hold memories of the past lose some of their emotional sting over time and free us to fill in the spaces with our imagines of how things were. On a visit to the Hanover Museum in Lucea, Jamaica, I saw for the first time the inside of a colonial jail and I could almost feel the pain that stained the walls. The Hanover Museum Jamaica is located in what was formerly the Hanover Workhouse, a two-story structure that…
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The Best of Travel 2012
I spent most of 2012 traveling around Jamaica and did a two-part review a few weeks ago but it's great pull out the photos again and reminisce. Thanks to Michael at Strux Travel, for helping me see my year in a whole new light. Here then is my Best of Travel 2012. Best Domestic Travel Destination 2012 [caption id="attachment_10776" align="aligncenter" width="493"] Blue Mountain[/caption] Hiking isn't the first activity I'd pick to do on vacation but Jamaica's Blue Mountains have always fascinated…
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Accompong Maroons Celebrate 275 Years of Independence from Britain
Those of you who read my posts last year about Jamaica marking 50 years of independence from Britain might be a little confused by the title of this post. If Jamaica celebrated only 50 years of independence in 2012, how can the Jamaican Maroons be celebrating 275 years? And who are these Maroons? Please read on and I'll explain. [caption id="attachment_10765" align="aligncenter" width="506"] The Abeng[/caption] Who are the Maroons? The Maroons are Africans who escaped into the interior of the…
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