Ras Malekot is a local personality in Kingston: He’s a devout Rasta, poet, writer, craft maker and recording artist. At the foot of the Blue Mountains, he owns a tiny shop where he sells old records, knitted hats, souvenirs and root tonics (a wellness drink made herbs and roots, blended with honey or molasses). Outpostings is a big fan of the Rasta movement, and so […]
This Restaurant Epitomizes Jamaican Health Food
You are what you eat. It’s a well-worn trope, but in Jamaica it takes on serious, almost religious meaning. Actually, it does have religious meaning here: For Rastafaris, following a strict dietary law (known as ital) is a major key to living a long and healthy life. That’s why Ibo Spice, a ital restaurant in downtown Kingston, has become the go-to spot since opening in […]
10 Things Everyone Should Know About Rastas
If all you know about Rastas is that they smoke joints and grow dreadlocks, we are here to set the record straight. Sure Rastas do have dreads and they do smoke marijuana, but it’s so much deeper than that. Here are 10 facts you might not know about the movement that developed in Jamaica in the 1930s, and has since spread its message across the […]
The Friendliest Place in Jamaica is Also the Tastiest
We’ve already dispelled the myth that Jamaicans are unfriendly, but if you’d like to see for yourself, head to Coronation Market in downtown Kingston. Known as “the stomach of Jamaica,” this massive farmers’ market in an iron-covered warehouse is filled with hundreds of vendors from all around the island. it runs from Thursday mornings to Sunday evenings all year round. The scene at the market […]
Why Jamaica is the World’s Next Surfing Hotspot
Huntington Beach, California. Bondi Beach, Sydney. Hanalei Bay, Kauai. If you’re a surfer, you know these beaches well. But did you know there are killer waves right here in Kingston? Jamaica’s beaches along the north and south coast have perfect surfing conditions for eight months out of the year, largely due to wind swells from the northeast. Just along the southeastern coast at Eight Miles […]
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 […]
Jamaica’s Best-Kept Restaurant Secret, and the Love Story Behind It
As Christopher and Lisa Binns walk from their hilltop home to greet guests, two eager puppies barrel down the path, wagging their tails. It’s a friendly welcome to their restaurant (and home), Stush in the Bush. The vegetarian restaurant on Zionites Farm has created a major buzz since it opened in April 2014. The food is crazy-delicious, for one thing, with grilled pizzas, just-picked salads […]
Transforming Kingston Through Art
Homes and buildings all over Kingston are brightly painted and adorned with pictures of Jamaican icons and smiling children. These murals, often political messages of unity and peace, have turned Kingston into one big, beautiful art project. Outpostings took to the streets to capture the powerful art on the homes, stores, walls and benches of Kingston. Jamnesia, a surfing community, is covered with paintings of […]
Most Kick-Ass Dreads in Jamaica
Walking down the streets of Kingston, you notice a young boy with dreadlocks flowing past his waist. Across the street, a woman sells fruit; the sunset creates a halo around the dreadlocks that she wears in a sweeping high bun. Young, old, male and female: Dreadlocks are worn by many in Jamaica. While the hairstyle has been around for ages, and dates as far back […]
A Rasta’s Guide to Living Well
Q: “Are you a rich man?” A: “When you say rich, what do you mean?” Q: “Do you have a lot of possessions? Do you have a lot of money in the bank?” A: “Possessions make you rich? I don’t have that kind of richness. My richness is life, forever.” This quote is from the now-famous “60 Minutes” interview with Bob Marley, and the quote […]