|
<<
<
1
2
3
4
5
6
>
>>
Introduction to Jamaica
 The
island of Jamaica is the third largest in the Caribbean. It is
ideally located, capturing trade winds that assist in
maintaining a near constant temperature between 77 and 82
degrees and which bless the mountainous island’s northeast coast
with abundant rain. Jamaica supports a wide diversity of plant
and animal life. More than half the island is higher than 800
feet above sea level. The economy depends heavily on the tourism
business, and some of the Caribbean’s finest resorts and elegant
boutique hotels are found on the beaches of Jamaica.
But Jamaica offers your clients
more than lovely beaches and crystal clear water. As wonderful
as those things are, they are in plentiful supply in the
Caribbean. Jamaica is more … much more. Jamaica is deep emerald
green rainforests, waterfalls and mountain streams. Jamaica is
an array of birds - colorful parrots, macaws, and hummingbirds
with tails that curl three times their body length. Jamaica is
reggae and intricate wood carving. Jamaica’s culture does not
lurk around its edges. You do not have to go looking for it in
museums. Jamaica’s culture permeates the island. It drifts
through every breeze and wafts through every moment on the
island, whether in the smell of roadside food preparation or in
the rhythm and sound of the music present everywhere. Jamaica
dances and invites you to dance with it. The Jamaican culture
has endured slavery, oppression and bad times. Its culture, like
its people, not only survives, not only endures, but thrives.
The island is not without its
scars. There is poverty
 and
the street and beach merchants can be aggressive in plying their
trade. However, the population as a whole possesses a warmth and
a humor that is characteristically Jamaican and visitors miss a
real opportunity for adventure if they fail to engage the people
beyond the boundaries of the hotels and resorts.
History and Culture
The English wrested Jamaica away from
the Spanish in the mid-1600s and used the island as a base
throughout the Caribbean. They permitted pirates to hold sway
over some areas of the island like Port Royal to continue to
threaten Spanish interests in the rest of the Caribbean.
Sugarcane and banana plantations, worked by slaves, became the
economic base of early Jamaica. But in the mountainous interior,
free and runaway slaves, known as Maroons, lived and routinely
attacked the British. Two great slave rebellions finally ended
the ignoble institution of slavery.
Thus, the cultural heritage of the island has its origins in the
slave trade. As the slaves learned the language of their
colonial masters, they melded and mixed it with their own.
African dialect and English flowed between Spanish and French to
find expression in “patois” – spoken with the distinctly
Jamaican accent mimicked by so many but found only here.
The general consensus is that Jamaica has more churches per
square mile than any other place in the world. Every
denomination finds a home here, as well as Jews, Hindus, Muslims
and Rastafarians. The latter group, the Rastafarians, first
appeared in the 1930s, and worships the Ethiopian emperor Haile
Selassie. The dreadlocks worn by the group is indicative of
their belief that humans should not cut or comb their hair. It
is well known, and overly emphasized, that Rastafarians use
marijuana as a sacrament, but the focus of the religion is on
inward spiritual development.
The arts, woodcarving, music, and dance of Jamaica are uniquely
distinctive and immediately recognizable. Reggae has found an
audience worldwide, its beat a fusion of African and Caribbean
rhythms. Its most famous artist, Bob Marley, achieved
international fame and remains an influence many years after his
death. Jamaican religions have greatly colored the folk music,
and the lyrics express the deep spirituality of the people.
Jamaican cuisine is likewise unique
and richly flavored with the fusions of tastes both familiar and
strange. Jerk marinade, created from island spices, is added to
fish, pork, chicken and beef. Seafood, breads and native fruits
are island specialties: ackee and salt fish with roast
breadfruit, rice and peas, escoveitched fish, and bammy,
a pancake shaped, deep-fried cassava bread.
Seeing Jamaica
 Surrounded
by crystal blue and green waters with high mountain peaks and a
lush jungle, visitors find much to do and see - layer on top the
country’s thick culture of food and music, and the temptation to
shoot off in any direction in search of the authentic Jamaica is
strong. Vacationers have the option of commanding their own
transportation for day-trips to see the countryside up close and
personal.
Driving in Jamaica can be
challenging, especially in rural areas. The roads are narrow and
winding, often pitted with potholes half the size of the tire of
any 4X4. Washouts and rockslides are not uncommon, and at night,
the roads are pitch black in the countryside. Close encounters
with pigs, cows and chickens are common. But the drive is
worthwhile, especially through the Blue Mountains. The tropical
rain forests of African tulips and the mango and breadfruit
trees are amazing to behold.
If your clients decide to
self-drive the island, they should rent a vehicle that is
dependable in all circumstances, such as a good SUV 4x4. A U.S.
or Canadian driver’s license is valid in Jamaica, but the driver
must be at least 21 years old to drive and 25 to rent a vehicle.
Driving is on the left-hand side of the road in the British
fashion. The speed limit is 30 MPH in towns and 50 MPH on
highways. Drivers should proceed with caution and drive slowly
until they get the rhythm of traffic flow.
For the most part, traffic in rural
areas is light, but local drivers are fearless, so most visitors
find it best to cede the right of way to others to be on the
safe side. Cars frequently stop for pedestrians, animals or to
hold a conversation, so drivers should travel slowly and be
prepared for frequent interruptions and stops. Horn-honking is
not unusual and is typically either a greeting or a warning of
an upcoming traffic problem.
 Rental
car offices are common, and rentals can typically be arranged in
advance. The local companies may be less expensive, but larger
franchise operations will offer roadside assistance and other
services to assist visitors, as well as more locations
throughout the island for greater flexibility in returning the
vehicle. You can anticipate a relatively large security deposit
if you do not take out insurance. For driving directions, obtain
a copy of the Jamaica Tourist Board’s “Discover Jamaica”
map. Finally, remember that many of the petrol stations in rural
areas will accept only cash – no credit cards, so be prepared.
Of course, automobiles are not your
only option. Renting a bicycle or motorbike provides a fun, easy
way to explore. Jamaica requires the use of a helmet on motor
bikes, and given some road conditions and the ever-present
hazard of free-roaming livestock, this is a good idea in any
event. Many vendors rent both bicycles and motorbikes at
excellent rates.
In addition to driving, most
resorts and hotels will arrange for guided drives around the
island for your clients. It is a great way to get off of the
beaten path, see the real Jamaica, and to slowly acclimate to a
side of the island not found behind the gates.
Hotels and Resorts
A visit to Jamaica stays
with a traveler. Unlike other islands, the experience of Jamaica
is somehow deeper and more transfixing. A longing develops deep
inside that is curable only by way of a return visit. |
