Much like surfing in Jamaica, BMX (bicycle motocross) is a sport that is slowly becoming a hit among the young people of Jamaica. Far from the white sand beaches of Jamaica, BMX began in the 1970s when young cyclists in the United States appropriated motocross tracks for their own use for wild stunts and races. The sport continued to rise in popularity in the states […]
Jamaica’s Newest Drink Trend Has Nothing to Do with Rum
It’s impossible to visit Jamaica without seeing copious bottles of Red Stripe, glasses of rum punch and flasks of rum. Yet wine, not typically the drink of choice, is now becoming more and more popular throughout Jamaica. Just a few years ago, it was nearly impossible to find wine at local restaurants and bars. A few hotels on the island offered a (very) modest wine […]
The Most Authentic Souvenir Shop in Jamaica
We’ve already introduced our readers to Ras Malekot, a devout Rasta, poet, writer, craft maker and recording artist. He took us deep into the Blue Mountains to visit his home and talk about the Rastafari movement. Here, he gives us a tour of his variety shop at the foot of the mountains in Kingston, just down the road from our Strawberry Hill hotel. Mount Debre […]
Why Bob Marley’s Music Will Never Die
The name is legendary: Bob Marley and the Wailers. Decades have passed since the group recorded their final album, Uprising, which was released in 1980. The following year, reggae fans around the world mourned the untimely death of Marley, who passed away from cancer. Marley, along with Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh and later members of the group (like Aston “Family Man” Barrett on bass), forever […]
Inside a Jamaican Artist’s Home
There are some places that feel like home from the moment you enter. That’s what happened when we walked into the Mt. Plenty home of Laura Facey, a Jamaican-born artist and sculptor whose career has spanned 40 years. Her art is controversial, thought-provoking and honest. And her home is a reflection of that: It’s filled with some of her most famous pieces, along with watercolor […]
Why Jamaican Cuisine is Poised to Take Over the World
Chef Gariel Ferguson is known on the island as the man who can seriously throw down when it comes to ribs—smoked, braised, grilled, BBQ. Ferguson began working in the kitchen at fourteen, and by the time he was twenty-five, he opened his own restaurant. Ferguson’s career includes three successful restaurants, including Norma’s at the Marina with the late Norma Shirley. Deeply respected in kitchens around […]