Blogs from Kingston, Jamaica, Central America Caribbean

When Bob Marley moved onto Hope Road in Kingston back in the 70s, it was a big deal. This was the rich, fancy neighborhood, the place for the politicians and business owners, inheritors of plantation-power and colonial power. They didn't like this little Rasta boy from the ghettos moving in. And it wasn't just him, he brought all his people along with him. From the stories I've read and photos I've seen of Bob Marley's house in the 70s, it was a gathering place for Rasta people and many others, including the working-class Jamaicans who weren't normally welcomed in that neighborhood. Musicians went there to rehearse and record. Poor folks went there to get a little assistance from Bob. Gangsters went there to work out peace treaties. The hip & cool set from abroad went there ... read more

This is Jamaica man. The home of Bob Marley and a bunch of super cool rasta cats, and it's long been my dream to visit the legendary island in the Caribbean. Part of the appeal for a boy from Oz is the sheer enormity of getting over here from Australia, it's difficult to find a location as exotic or far flung. If an Australian wants to visit the beach, well basically just jump in your car and the majority of the population will be by the sea in a jiffy. Alright then, but if a location more tropical is on the cards South East Asia is also on our doorstep. A visit to Bali, Thailand, and other resort meccas are a short flight from home. So what was it that propelled me to fly for almost ... read more

Slept for over 11 hours last night! AMAZING! Even though it was so hot I left the fan on all night (and feel bad for the electricity bill since I know its very expensive here). This morning Karen made me authentic Jamaican coffee which was amazing and soon after breakfast (which thank goodness was 'normal' cereal) I was picked up by Brianna (12 yrs old, and one of my young swimmers), her mom Dianna, and brother Brandon (13yrs). They took me for lunch to a restaurant called Tracks and Records and is Usain Bolt's restaurant, and after to the Bob Marley Museum. The museum was extremely interesting and the two kids had never been so were excited to go. Unfortunately I could not convince the woman at the ticket booth that I was now a resident ... read more

Jan 30, 2012. I booked a flight from Trinidad to Toronto and my ticket had a stopover in Jamaica. I didn't look carefully but my stopover was actually a layover, which one must avoid at all cost. When I checked in at Piarco airport, the agent said she couldn't find my ticket from Jamaica to Toronto, only the one from Trinidad to Jamaica so I have to get my other boarding pass in Kingston but she said my bags will go to Toronto. I thought, that doesn't sound right, and sure enough, my bags came off the carousel in Kingston. The flight to Jamaica stopped at Barbados briefly which means an extra take off and landing for me. I said that after this trip, I never want to fly again because by then, I had developed ... read more

I completed the Katimavik program on August 18th and returned home that day. I spent the rest of summer visiting family and friends whom I haven’t seen for 6 months and missed very much. I wanted to get involved in the travel industry so I wanted to find work in a hotel. I worked at a Future Inns Moncton as a housekeeper. The work was not bad, but I really started to get bored of it, and Moncton. So almost every night when I got home I looked for work anywhere but here. I looked everywhere from in Canada to overseas. I came across an ad in a place called Mount Edge, Jamaica. It was located in the Blue Mountains, about 30 minutes away from the capital; Kingston. Ever since I was young I had this ... read more