Jamaica, I feel you
Let’s get together and feel all right.
Hello Friends! It’s 2012, my younger sister, Love, has just graduated from high school and I feel the need to do something grand. She is 18 now and therefore, society considers her to be an “adult”. It’s time for party-cation. Let’s be honest, no one wants to do something boring for a birthday/graduation celebration when you’re a newly crowned "adult". There was only one place that came to mind when I thought of the fun that she and I have together, and the things we hold dear...Fun, great music and exceptional food: Jamaica. What better destination than the birthplace of reggae music, jerk chicken, Bob Marley and Usain Bolt?
Warm, rainy day
Packing for this trip was easier than most. We went in late May and so the weather was lovely. It was hot, but not unbearable and it rained a couple times. This was the type of rain that dreams are made of. It cooled you down, but at the same time, it was warm and playful. No umbrella necessary, just look up and dance with a smile on your face. It was the type of humidity that is great for your skin and enriches our black girl hair :-)
We were looking to have fun, but also relax and that meant, all-inclusive. I booked the Riu Palace Tropical Bay in Negril, Jamaica. The resort is about a 40 minute drive from the airport in Montego Bay, but we were able to catch the resort shuttle and hang out with our charismatic driver. The moment you arrive in Jamaica, there is a different vibe. You're already more relaxed and can't wait to experience everything this beautiful country has to offer.
View from the lobby to the sea
Getting ready to take our Bob Marley shots
Booking an all-inclusive vacation proved to be a great decision since we no longer had to worry about food or drinks while at the resort. We got very familiar with the Bob Marley shot and Love's favorite, the coco rosa. The buffets were fantastic and plentiful with the option of reserving a table at any of the three resort restaurants for plated dinners. The food was fantastic, from quintessential jerk chicken to the stewed oxtails and curry goat, our taste buds were constantly singing Jamaica's praises. We found that it was the closest thing we had found to Nigerian food outside of West Africa. The resort also made it very easy to book excursions to the jungle for zip-lining, swimming with dolphins or playing in Dunn's River Falls among other activities. Dolphins are my favorite animals so you know I had to head over to Dolphin Cove and check that one of my bucket list. My sister's favorite activities were zip-lining and taking the trek to Rick's Cafe to watch the cliff divers and take in an amazing sunset.
Zip line through the jungle
We wanted to do something fun and spend time with locals around our age for our last night on the island. After a few conversations with the staff at the resort, they convinced us to go to a club called The Jungle to get our dance on and solidify Jamaica as the best trip ever! We grabbed a taxi and instantly became friends with our driver. She was fantastic and told us all about the club before we arrived and even came back to pick us up after our night was done. It was a fantastic experience! The club was spacious with two floors that each had a bar and dance floor. The music was traditional Jamaican dancehall and the locals didn't disappoint in showing us whats up. You quickly learn that Jamaican music isn't just about Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff. It was great to learn some new dance moves in an environment filled with good vibes.
Although the resort was great and we had nightly entertainment, we really wanted to take opportunities to get out and explore. Going to the market was a fantastic way to meet locals who were nothing short of hospitable. We seemed to connect with people on another level, speaking about the trials and tribulations that they go through, but also recognizing that most harbor an internal happiness that is hard to find day to day in the U.S.
What I love the most about Jamaica is the people, first and foremost, the food, the music and those awe-inspiring sunsets come in a tight second. I can't wait to return to this beautiful country and have a more personal experience and really travel around, enjoying the spices and laughter as we go. Stayed tuned for more posts on my past trips and new updates as I go on more!
To see more pictures from our adventure, jump over to the gallery!
