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Jamaican Cuisine: An introduction to Tours

While Jamaica is known for its white sandy beaches, cool blue ocean, and fabulous sea-side resorts, the country is also known for its spicy and flavorsome cuisine. Some of the most popular dishes include jerk chicken and pork, as well as pepper-pot soup and ackee, which is Jamaica’s national food. If you’re interested in all that Jamaica has to offer as far as spices, food, and drink go, there are numerous tours you can take while on your vacation.

One of the most popular food tours among tourists is the Walkerswood Jerk Country Tour held in Ocho Rios. Lasting an entire hour, participants can see the Walkserwood site and walk through the various spice gardens. A stop at the “jerk pit” allows for sampling of as many as 21 of the delicacies that the company produces. There is also a gift shop filled with Walkerswood jerk sauces, as well as cookbooks. The company is one of the leading producers of jerk sauces and other products and its company site spans over seven acres.

Jamaica’s is the leading producer of rum—that’s no secret. If you’re interested in learning more about the many drinks that the country has to offer, then give the rum tour at Appleton Estate a try. The estate is one of Jamaica’s most popular distilleries and offers tours multiple time each day. The tour will run you $80, but when it’s over, you get to take a bottle of the estate’s famous rum home with you. In addition, you’ll learn about the distillery, the estate history, and about the entire process of making and bottling the rum.

These are just two of the most popular food and drink tours in Jamaica. If food is your thing, then you’ll be in luck. There are other tours and no shortage of restaurants for you to try out. A quick Internet search will offer up a list if you want to plan ahead a bit.

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In Negril, the Answer is Always Yes!

A clear day in Negril, Jamaica, 2008, facing west.
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If you’re about to propose to the love of your life, make sure she says yes! Fora perfectlyromantic atmosphere, ask the most important question of your life in Negril, Jamaica. Internationally recognized as the most romantic part of this lush, tropical paradise, how could she possibly say no? If you’re still nervous, follow these tips to make sure your proposal is completely irresistible.

Choose a Secluded Getaway for Two!

Because Negril is the most secluded area of Jamaica in addition to being the most romantic, this shouldn’t be a problem! Rent a private villa with its own white sand beach for this getaway. Although this sounds expensive, you can actually rent a luxury home on this island complete with a full staff for about the same price as a hotel room in other countries. As she soaks up the sun and enjoys a cool tropical drink delivered by the discreet staff, she’ll bask in the luxury and elegance of Negril. Nothingputs a woman ina romantic mood more than being completely pampered, fully rested, and not having to worry about any menial tasks!

Set the Scene!

On the night you plan on asking for her hand in marriage, create the perfect setting by letting the staff in on your plans! The friendly people of Negril will be more than willing to help make this the most romantic night of your life! Take her hand and lead her down the moonlit beach to gaze at the stars reflecting over the gentle ocean waters. As you return, she’ll be pleasantly surprised by the twinkling candles surrounding the patio. Sit down toa romantic dinner complete with a glass or two of her favorite wine. As you get down on one knee and present her withone of thebreathtaking platinum Tacori engagement rings, how could she possibly say no?

With Negril and Tacori engagement rings on your side, “yes!” will definitely be the answer!

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Jamaican Sites: The Coyaba River Gardens & Ysassis Point

Voyager of the Seas in Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Image via Wikipedia

When planning your vacation to Jamaica, don’t forget to visit Ocho Rios, which is very close to many of the island’s most popular tourists spots and natural island highlights. One of the most popular destinations within Ocho Rios is the Coyaba River Gardens where you can learn about the country’s plant life and other agricultural histories.

While the beach and resorts on the island are considered paradise by many tourists, the Coyaba Gardens offer the same feeling. With numerous walkways, various colorful flowers and plants, and plentiful waterfalls, the gardens are becoming a favorite place for those who don’t enjoy the beach that much. Because most people prefer the beach, the Coyaba Gardens are far less crowded and offer activities such as rock climbing at the waterfalls.

In the vicinity of the gardens is a small museum. Inside, you can learn about Jamaica’s colorful history, as well as the Taino Indians who were the very first inhabitants of the island. The Taino were written about by Spanish Explorers and were still living on the island when slavery was abolished.

Close to the museum is Ysassis Point, which offers perhaps the best view of the rest of Ocho Rios in the country. From this location, you can see everything from the natural hills all the way down to the waterfront where many ships dock every day. On a clear day, Ysassis Point offers one of the best photo opportunities you’ll find in Jamaica.

Regardless of your plans while in Jamaica, make a stop at one of the above places for an experience a little different from that of the beaches.

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Getting Around Jamaica

When many people plan a vacation to Jamaica, they usually end up staying in one spot—usually at some fabulous resort on the beach. In doing so, you could be missing so much of the Jamaican culture, as well as other sites on the island. The country is full of adventures, and getting around can be one in itself. If you’ve decided to move around during your vacation, there are some things you should know about traveling and transportation in Jamaica.

When in Jamaica, you have numerous options for getting around. Most tourists take a tour bus or taxi, but if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can use a rental car, a moped or scooter, and a bicycle. If you don’t have far to go, you can even walk if you want to.

If you choose the tour bus, be aware that they follow designated routes throughout the country and that much of the time, they’re very crowded. Jamaican taxis operate much like anywhere else in the world. Because they don’t use meters, they can be very expensive to use. What you end up paying to get around in these ways will vary, depending on how far you’ll be traveling, as well as which method you’ve chosen to get there.

There are numerous agencies for car rentals, the most popular being Avis, Budget, and Island. Like anywhere else you’d rent a car, you’ll need a valid driver’s license and a credit card. In Jamaica, you drive on the left side of the road, rather than the right, and many of the roads are narrow and very winding.

Drivers in Jamaica like using the horn on their vehicles. They do it to express anger, to let someone know they’re being let in, to indicate right of way, and sometime, they honk the horn for no reason. Keep this in mind when being honked at—it may not be for a negative reason.

Regardless of how you choose to travel around Jamaica, be sure to carry a camera or video camera. You’re guaranteed to see something interesting wherever you go.

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Entertainment in Jamaica

Even for those that have not been to the resplendent island of Jamaica before, the soothing reggae music of the late legend, Bob Marley is enough to convince any doubting soul that when it comes to entertainment, this beautiful Caribbean island is the best. Without any doubt, the world-renowned music of reggae is one thing that you will enjoy in its pure and undiluted form, right from the source, from the roots.

Apart from the heart-warming music of reggae, there are other forms of music on the island that you will find to be equally enchanting. These include ska, dancehall, rocksteady and soca music. Players of these types of music will render the most melodious of tunes to your hearing and you will never feel like leaving the island. Such is the power of music in Jamaica. It is interesting to know that dancehall music is also known as ragga and is not the same as reggae. Calypso is also a titillating form of music that you can enjoying while cruising around the island.

However, if you are not a fan of music or you simply want to be entertained with something else apart from music, there is diversity on the island. You can decide to pay a visit to one of the numerous theaters around and watch a play that will transport you to another realm entirely. The time-honored theaters of Jamaica are some of the best in the Americas in terms of architecture, history and performance.

In addition, for those that love sports and are ardent followers, Jamaica is the right place to be. Although small, the island is one that is bustling with countless sporting activities. Whether it is soccer, rugby, swimming, cricket, athletics, basketball, golf or any other type of sport even chess, you will always find Jamaica an interesting place to be.

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Tourism in Jamaica

Parishes and countys of jamaica alternative nu...
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The fact that the global tourism industry is now worth billions of dollars cannot be put in dispute. In fact, for some nations the economy is solely dependent on tourist dollars. The Caribbean is one hotspot in the global tourism industry and one of the most important players is the tropical island of Jamaica.

Jamaica is a tiny nation situated right in the middle of the Caribbean. Its economy is one that is very much dependent on tourist activities. According to some experts, as much as 50% of the Jamaican economy is based on tourism. This is clearly pointed out when we realize the fact that the island receives over a million tourists every year. Meanwhile, the population of Jamaica itself is just a little under three million.

The government of Jamaica has taken full advantage of the influx of tourists from all corners of the globe and is doing everything necessary to ensure that tourists enjoy their stay and that security is guaranteed at all times. This is quite important especially considering the fact that Jamaica has one of the world’s highest crime rates and that is definitely not good for tourism.

Without undue exaggeration, the island of Jamaica is truly a pearl of tourism and there is little wonder that millions of tourists throng the sunny island every year. What makes Jamaica beautiful and attractive cannot be enumerated. However, it will not be out of place if some of these are mentioned so that the whole issue is made more lucid.

The island of Jamaica is tropical and what this simply means is that there is an ample all-year-round supply of sunshine. Therefore, for those that are lovers of tanning and sunbathing, Jamaica is the place to be. Apart from that, the whispering palms and the exotic beaches are simply too alluring to be ignored. Also, you should not forget the fact that this is the land of reggae!

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The Culture of Jamaica

Culture has been described as the way of life of a people and in real sense; it is the culture that determines a people and what they really are. Of all the nations in the Caribbean, the cultural legacies of Jamaica are among the richest. The culture of this island is so rich that countless legends and folklores are woven around it.

The culture of the Jamaican people can be traced back to the times of the indigenous settlers. They were called the Arawaks or the Tainos. These were the first set of people to inhabit the island and they had their own set of cultural beliefs. These include a well-developed tongue, traditional religion, agricultural practices, communal leadership and other crucial aspects of culture. Unfortunately, the indigenous settlers were to be later exterminated by the European colonists who ruled over the nation.

As at the 21st century, the rich culture of Jamaica can be viewed from various perspectives. This is quite important so as to clarify the issue of culture in such a society. One aspect is religion. Just like neighboring countries like Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Venezuela and Mexico, the nation of Jamaica is one that is full of religious people. The predominant religion in the country is Christianity although there are various sects.

There are also other religions such as Baha’i, Hinduism and Islam although their percentages are quite small. A unique religion that must be mention is Rastafarianism. Named after Ras Tafari Makonen, better known as Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, the movement believes that the Ethiopian emperor was of divine origin and was the physical manifestation of God on earth. There is also the African traditional religion whose adherents cut across all the faiths. Whatever the case, religion is a major driving force in Jamaican culture. Other main aspects are music, dance and sports.

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The Delightful Foods of Jamaica

Curry goat with rice a peas (in this case kidn...
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The dream and wish of every tourist and fun-seeker is to experience heaven right here on earth. Even though that may sound too ambitious, the fact that it is very possible. In fact, there are places of unbelievable awe and wonder that the least they can be called are paradises on earth. One of such places is Jamaica. Yes, the resplendently beautiful Caribbean island of Jamaica.

Without any iota of doubt, this island is one of the most majestic islands that one can come across on the planet. From its incredibly clear waters to the blinding white beaches, Jamaica is really heaven on earth. However, apart from the obvious natural beauty of Jamaica, there is an aspect that must be stressed.

This is the irresistible and diverse cuisine of Jamaica. If you feel that you really want to exercise your taste buds, then the place to be is this paradise island. The foods in Jamaica are as varied as the people. This diversity should not come as a surprise especially considering the fact that over the years, the island has been under the influence of various peoples.

As a result, you should not be surprised when you see Spanish, English or even Italian dishes on the islands. There are also indigenous African meals prepared exactly as it is done on the continent of Africa. There are also various Chinese and American restaurants that are ready to spoil you silly. All you need to do is to choose from the menu, although that may be a difficult thing to do considering the staggering array of foods that you can choose from.

Some of the delightful meals that you will enjoy on the island include curried mutton, steamed fish and coco bread. In case you are wondering what to wash down the meal with, there is the cucumber juice for you!

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Jamaicans and their Rich Culture

According to sociologists, the culture of a people can be defined as their total way of life. Apart from the fact that the whole world sees Jamaica as a tropical paradise. It records over one million tourists on the average every single year. This is more impressive in the face of the fact that Jamaicans themselves number just under three million.

The cultural values of the Jamaicans are some of the richest and most diverse in the world. These cultural habits cut across various spheres of life. These include music, religion, education, sports, history and a lot of other aspects. Even the meals of Jamaica are quite distinct and invitingly exotic.

One aspect of the Jamaican culture that the people are respected for all over the world is that of the music. The music of Jamaica is one that is quite rich and melodious. Several brands of music exist and these include the well-known reggae that has been popularized by the late legend Bob Marley. Other forms of music include ragga (dancehall), ska, calypso and dub music.

Apart from the various musical styles, other aspects of the Jamaican culture include the religious aspects. Jamaica is a nation that is made up of mainly Christians although it is important to know that there are various sects and branches of Christianity. These include Catholicism and Pentecostal. Another unique religion derived from this land is that of Rastafarianism.

Adherents of Rastafarianism are known as Rastafarians. Rastafarians also believe that the late emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I was the personification of God and his physical manifestation on earth. Rastafarians are also known to derive “inspiration” from the use of marijuana. This is a practice that is not in tandem with what a lot of Jamaicans believe in. This is just a bit of the rich cultural paradise called Jamaica.

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