Jamaicans sure know how to advertise.

Fruits, Fruits and More Fruits

Our fruit vendors are the best. They sure know how to jazz up a fruit stand.

That's Why Rasta Don't Eat Pork - Swine Flu

Cartoon of the day from the Jamaican Gleaner (news paper)

It is well known in Jamaica and many other islands where Rastafarian reside that they do not eat pork for all types of mystical reasons. The Swine Flu breakout is a sure evidence that will strengthen their Rastafarian culture…

Jamaica Video Dating

Interesting Fact

Did you know that Port Royal in Jamaica was once labeled "the wickedest city on earth"?

Dr. The Hon. Louise Bennett Coverley

Dutty Tough - Louise Bennett

Sun a shine but tings no bright;
Doah pot a bwile, bickle no nuff;
River flood but water scarce, yawl
Rain a fall but dutty tough.

Tings so bad dat nowadays when
Yuh ask smaddy how dem do
Dem fraid yuh tek it tell dem back,
So dem no answer yuh.

No care omuch we dah work fa
Hard-time still een we shut;
We dah fight, Hard-time a beat we,
Dem might raise we wages, but

One poun gawn awn pon we pay, an
We no feel no merriment
For ten poun gawn pon we food
An ten pound pon we rent!

Saltfish gawn up, mackerel gawn up.
Pork en beef gawn up,
An when rice and butter ready
Dem just go pon holiday!

Claht, boot, pin an needle gawn up'
Ice, bread, taxes, water-rate
Kersene ile, gasolene, gawn up;
An de poun devaluate.

De price of bread gawn up so high
Dat we haffi agree
Fi cut we yeye pon bred an all
Tun dumplin refugee

An all dem marga smaddy weh
Dah gwan like fat is sin
All dem-deh weh dah fas wid me
Ah lef dem to dumpling!

Sun a shine an pot a bwile, but
Things no bright, bickle no nuff
Rain a fall, river dah flood, but,
Water scarce and dutty tough.

Scotchies, St. Ann (Delicious Jerk Food)

Jerk is a style of cooking native to Jamaica in which meats are dry-rubbed or marinated with a very hot spice mixture called Jamaican Jerk Spice. Jerk seasoning is traditionally applied to pork and goat. Modern recipes also apply Jerk spice mixes to chicken, fish, beef, sausage, and tofu. Jerk seasoning principally relies upon two items: allspice (called "pimento" in Jamaica) and Scotch Bonnet Peppers (among the hottest peppers on the Scoville scale). Other ingredients includes cloves, cinammon, scallions, nutmeg, thyme, garlic. Jerk chicken, pork, or fish is said to be at its best when barbecued over aromatic wood charcoal or briquettes. The wood ("pimento wood"), berries, and leaves of the allspice plant among the coals contribute to jerk's distinctive flavor.

O.K., all this talk about “Scotchies” I had to check it out for myself along with some friends and boy was it worth the check out. Scotchies is a well-established traditional jerk centre set back off the main road between Ocho Rios and St. Ann’s Bay (south side, i.e. on your left when going away from Ochi). The location was a little hidden but once we drove into the parking lot the smell of Jerk seasoning immediately hit us and the sight of the thatch roofs and picnic tables under zinc roofed sheds put us in a relaxing and cozy atmosphere to partake of a good meal.

We first headed up to the ordering area and lined up with locals and tourists to order our authentic Jamaican "Jerk". We ordered, paid the cashier and were given a receipt. At the next counter we handed in the receipt and we watched as our order was filled. I was amazed at how they cooked the meat; it was my first time seeing this method of cooking. On top of an open fire pit they have large metal sheets. On the metal sheets they have big slabs of pork, and those are covered by another large metal sheet. It's slow cooked this way for the most amazing, deep and spicy jerk flavor!

All items were neatly wrapped in foil for safe transport or to take to eat at the wooden tables grouped in open-sided shelters in the beautiful garden.Besides the fantastic Jerk cooked up at Scotchies, here are some of its other claims to fame. Its totally outdoor dining under grass thatch roofs. The prices are ridiculously reasonable and there’s plenty on the menu…everything from Jerk pork, chicken, sausage, steamed fish, roasted breadfruit, festival, and full bar service. The food is served in aluminum foil and everyone eats with their fingers, but the jerk chicken, pork, and fish are the best you’ll find anywhere. Wash it all down with a drink from the bar. So people, its thumbs up for Scotchies. Scotchies has my vote.

Mystic Mountain

We went as a group to Mystic Mountain on Sunday, Jan 17. It was stunning! It is in my favorite city, Ocho Rios. It's next to Dunn's River Falls and across from Dolphin Cove. After you park and pay to get in the sky lift takes you to the park. The view is spectacular! It is very serene. You can see the road coming up from the town of Ocho Rios and the ocean all the way across to the hotels. Upon reaching the park you can do the Jamaica Bobsled Ride, Swim in the Pool, do the Zip Line etc. We did the Bobsled Ride first. It was great! At first scary but after getting the hang of it, it was full speed ahead. You go at your own pace up to 25 mph. Of course i probably went 2 mph at first but then i felt, hmm this is not so bad after all and then it was full speed ahead, except for the corners of course. After the Bobsled Ride we did the Zip Line. Now that was something we alsmost died for. (literally) To me it was a great experience. Beautiful but scary. We were zipping along almost like Tarzan on the vines. At one point we had to free fall down a rope. That took a lot of internal talk after walking back and forth for a few minutes. A major drop just holding on to a rope. Most of the time i screamed and kept my eyes closed. The entire tour is approx 25-30 mins. At the END of the tour i thought, this was something I could get used to. The view was spectacular and it was a firing adrenaline rush. Mystic Mountain gets a thumbs up from me!

New Method of Transporting Gas Cylinders

Outfit gone wrong!