Jamaica is Calling: Come, Relax and Rejuvenate, Part 1

BY: SIMONE JENNIFER SMITH 

“There’s a natural mystic blowing through the air if you listen carefully now you will hear.” Bob Marley

From the moment you step off the plane and take in that first breath of Jamaican air, you realize that there is something different about this place. You can almost smell the sea even regardless of being surrounded by plane exhaust fumes, and passenger body odor. That first breath is addictive, and your mind begins to wander. You begin to ask yourself questions as you walk towards the terminal; what are you going to see? How is your resort going to be? How blue is the water going to be?

If you are traveling normally, you will have to pick up your luggage and go through Jamaican customs before you are able to get the answers to your questions. If you happen to be a journalist – which I am – the process is not as stressful. The Jamaican Tourist Board ensured that we were escorted through customs with minimal harassment. It is important that you have your paperwork in order; this will make life a lot easier.

Upon clearing customs, you step back outside, and you are greeted with the business of the airport: taxi’s, family members greeting their arriving family, tour buses and drivers, all there welcoming you with a friendly smiles. If you are not a native of Jamaica, you have to listen keenly in order to pick up on the dialect. Jamaican’s speak a dialect of English called Patois, which is a mix of British English and Creole. Patois comes from French origin and means “rough speech.” Unfortunately, it does carry a negative connotation but happens to be one of the most imitated dialects in the world. Also called African English, the language of Jamaican people began to develop in the 1600’s during the slave trade. Slaves were deliberately divided into groups to prevent revolts, so naturally, the slaves had to find another way to communicate with each other. The slaves learned pidgin, derived from the African language Ashanti from West Africa in order to communicate with each other. They passed the language down to their children and over time, patois became the main used dialect in Jamaica.

Like their language, Jamaica has a painful, but rich history that can be easily discovered driving through the suburban towns and rural mountainside parishes. In the next few editions, my goal is to take the readers through a journey of discovery. I want that at the end of reading each article, readers are able to smell, taste, see, hear and feel the heartbeat of Jamaica. Even if you have been there before, I want to create a sense of longing to return in order to experience it again with a new set of eyes. I want to erase any fears that people may have, especially travelers who have never been to Jamaica.

Let me give you a preview of what you are going to experience:

• Kingston the heartbeat of Jamaica
• Popular restaurants, parks, hotels, culinary trails, and historical sites found in Kingston Jamaica
• North Coast Highway, the newly built highway that takes you from Kingston to Ocho Rios in 45 minutes
• An adventure park, popular eateries, clubs and street parties in Ocho Rios
• Beautiful resorts, beaches, and roadside shops that can be found on the drive to Montego Bay.
• Readers will be introduced to fine rum tasting and the importance of making a great cup of coffee.
• Some of the hotels that will be highlighted include: The Courtleigh Hotel and Suites (Kingston), The Jamaica Pegasus (Kingston), Moon Palace Jamaica Grande (Ocho Rios), and Jewel Grande (Montego Bay)

Are you ready to take a virtual trip to one of the most beautiful islands in the world? Open your imagination, mentally strap on your seatbelt, and follow me on my mystical journey through Jamaica, your home away from home.

“Grant true wisdom from above,

Justice, truth be ours forever,

Jamaica, land we love.

(Excerpt from Jamaica National Anthem)