World’s biggest reggae fan? If you’ve never heard the term “sound system,” then we are sorry to break it to you, but you really don’t know Jamaican music at all. Not at its core. A sound system is, first of all, an object: a massive set of speakers stacked in the corner at just about every party in Jamaica. A good system will have the […]
Jamaica Makes History: Newest UNESCO World Heritage Site
Images courtesy of Adrian Boot When UNESCO announced its newest additions last week, it honored the Blue and John Crow Mountains, adding Jamaica to its coveted World Heritage List for the first time in history. Home to a high proportion of endemic plant species, the Blue and John Crow Mountains is a hotspot for biodiversity. The heavily forested mountainous region provided refuge for the indigenous […]
Six Secrets To A Happier Life
Happiness is contagious, and we are a happy bunch here at Island Outpost. Not just because we spend our afternoons soaking in the warmth of the sun. And not only because every sunset is equally as beautiful as the last. (Though that doesn’t hurt.) We’re happy because our staff is happy. Today, our staff members are sharing how they maintain and even spread their happiness…every […]
Saving Jamaica’s Coral Reefs
When you think about Jamaica, the first things that come to mind are probably the beaches and beautiful sunsets. But beneath the clear waters and colorful skyline lies one of the island’s biggest issues—our coral reefs. THE SCARY FACT: The coral reefs in the Caribbean may disappear in 20 years. Coral reefs are the building blocks of marine life—they play a vital role preservation […]
The Sport That Just Might Change Jamaica
Bicycle motocross, better known as BMX, was all but nonexistent in Jamaica—until now. Jonathan Gosse, Executive Director of the Oracabessa Foundation, is bringing the sport to Jamaican youths, and he hopes it will change their lives. For the Oracabessa Foundation, the BMX bike is a clean vehicle, both literally and metaphorically. In addition to being green, Gosse and his colleagues hope BMX will empower the […]
President Obama Came to Jamaica! Here’s What Happened.
Image source via WhiteHouse.gov Last week U.S. President Barack Obama visited our beautiful island of Jamaica. And while the President’s trip was relatively short (22 hours to be exact), the people of Jamaica made sure he felt the love the entire time. When President Obama arrived in the capital Wednesday night, it was the first time a sitting U.S. President has visited the island in […]
How James Bond Got His Start in Jamaica
Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond series, fell in love with Jamaica instantly. (Really, how could you not?) He was sent to the island by the British Naval Intelligence (how very Bond of him). Fleming vowed to return to the island, and when the war ended he made good on his word—purchasing property and naming it GoldenEye. This land now exists as The Fleming […]
The Queen Of Jamaican Dancehall Signs
Driving around Jamaica you’ll begin to notice cardboard signs along the roads advertising upcoming concerts. They are colorful, often hand-painted and include quips like “yardie” or “foreigner link up.” These signs have personality: They aren’t just telling you about the latest party, or “bashment,” as Jamaicans like to say. They are expressing the rich cultural heritage of the Jamaican people. For decades, these dancehall signs […]