Jamaika Touren und Tour-Führer

Königliche Palme Reserve ist einer jener speziellen Plätze, in dem man die Schönheit und den Tranquility der Natur und die Wunder von Jamaika schätzen kann. Die Reserve berechnet sich als eine von besten Anziehungen eco Jamaikas mit über 300 Morgen des üppigen tropischen Dschungels und jamaikanischen der Wildnisses, die über 300 Sorten Tiere wie Vögel, Schmetterlinge und Reptilien und 114 dokumentierte Sorten Betriebe und Blumen einschließt. Die Reserve wurde in der Mitte der 80iger Jahre als Teil eines Planes hergestellt, um die großer Morast-königlichen Palmen zu schützen, die das umfangreiche Ernten durchgemacht hatten und wurde fast verwüstet, indem man clearcutting.

Das Land wurde ursprünglich durch Petrolem Corporation von Jamaika aber gehandhabt, nachdem eine lange Reihe Streite sie es zu freigab Negril Umweltschutz-Vertrauen (NEPT) 2001. Das NEPT handhabt die Reserve mit einem Ziel zum Schützen des Bereichs und der Naturresourcen des Bereichs unter den folgenden Zielsetzungen vor ihrer Web site:

1. Den Negril großen Morast schützen und konservieren und seine Sumpfgebietflora und -fauna, besonders die endemische königliche Palme des Morast-(Sumpf).

2. Das Niveau des Bewußtseins, des Wissens und über den Negril großen Morast (und andere Sumpfgebietoekosysteme) ein interpretierendes Programm zwar verstehen anheben

3. Gelegenheiten zu den Bürgern der benachbarten Gemeinschaften, besonders Sheffield, für Einkommenerzeugung durch direkte Beschäftigung zur Verfügung stellen, Zugeständnisse, Training und die Erleichterung von den stützbaren Lebensunterhaltprojekten in der Gemeinschaft.

4. Wissenschaftliches Wissen des Negril großen Morasts und der in Verbindung stehenden Oekosysteme erhöhen, um Planung und Management des Negril Umweltschutz-Bereichs durch die Einrichtung eines Forschungszentrums an der Reserve und die Förderung der Forschung an der Reserve zu führen.

5. Die finanzielle Unabhängigkeit und den Selbst--sustainability von NEPT und die königliche Palme Reserve durch die Förderung der Reserve als Einkommen-erzeugende Ecotourismus Anziehung erhöhen.

The Royal Palm Reserve is without a doubt the best bird watching spot in all of Negril and one of the best choices for birdwatching in Jamaica. You can view dozens of exotic bird species from Negril Jamaica on the Nature Walk with over a half mile of boardwalk which leads you on a beautiful walk to a 30 foot tower in the middle of the Morass which offers the best views of all of Negril. The lovely sounds of birds singing and chirping can be heard all day long at Royal Palm Reserve and the birdwatching is great year round according to some local fans of the Reserve. The Reserve is home to the endangered and rare West Indian Whistling Ducks which you can see floating around in the stocked fish pond. They are scared of people so keep quiet while observing or they will fly off.

The Reserve keeps a pond stocked with Tilapia, or Red Jamaican Snapper as they are called in the local super markets, and they have a catch and release fishing program in effect right now. During peak months or when the pond is overstocked they allow some catch and keep fishing based on the amount of water in the pond and fish available. Fishing in a stocked pond is kinda unfair to the fish but loads of fun for the kids and family. We caught a few fish and let them go but my camera was left behind on that trip so no pictures of us fishing at the Royal Palm Reserve. Fishing equipment is available upon request but bring a loaf of bread for bait and to feed the Whistling Ducks with.

The Reserve has an alligator that lives within the confines of a caged pond. We have only ever caught a glimpse of him and he seems very shy. Could also be that it was hot as the sun and he was hiding in the waters of the swampy pond but we only ever saw him once in three trips. I figured he was trained to answer someone who feeds him so I banged on a pipe used to water him and as soon as I did he popped his head above the murky waters. I think we scared him as we maneuvered for a better picture and he split never to pop up again. Worth a look for sure but you may not get to see him every trip. The Royal Palm Reserve website advertises horseback riding but I never saw any signs of that on our trips, they may bring the horses in from someplace out of sight because the property requires advance booking for this special feature.

The best thing to do at Royal Palm Reserve is plan a picnic. The staff are well prepared to cook and feed groups up to 20 people with advance bookings or you can bring your own food and enjoy a nice day with friends or family and some good food and conversation. The natural beauty and awesome views will inspire some lively conversation on the wonders around you and maybe even make a difference in your day or your life.

The Royal Palm Reserve charges $10US per adult and $5 per child for access to the park all day long. You can spend some time walking the nature trails, fishing the stocked ponds or watching the wildlife and time pass by and enjoy a beautiful day of nature while supporting a beautiful public space. The museum on site offers a great educational opportunity and our kids had fun in the interactive attraction. Learn about the biodiversity and local fauna and wildlife in the colorful and entertaining activities room at the museum and teach the next generation to appreciate the natural world as much as they do the electronic one most of us live in.

If you are in the Negril area and don’t visit the Royal Palm Reserve you’ll miss out on some of the best views in Jamaica and upset me for not appreciating the natural beauty of the Negril Great Morass and the Royal Palms.

You can find 55 more pictures of Royal Palm Reserve at the Jamaica Photo Gallery

I had people ask me about my bug bites in Jamaica and what they could do to prevent the nasty infections I got. I’ll say that this summer was the worse I have ever seen bugs and mosquitoes in Negril and they really did eat us up horribly. My youngest son Robby has some scarring on his legs much like some of the older street hustlers around here and its sad really. I’m hoping he’s young enough he grows out of them but i fear he’ll have some long term marking. We all got bitten by mosquitoes but he got it the worse I think.

I’m beginning to believe I had a MRSA infection that made my bug bites worse because I began to notice that they took weeks to heal when it should have been much less. Kinda scary I may have had a deadly infection and thought it was fricking bug bites but the article below just about seals it for me. I treated my own wounds by lancing and draining, I thought they were spider bites but found no spiders, we had multiple infections in the family and it was not just me with infected bug bites.

I wiped some ants off my foot one day and watched the ant bite my finger before it exploded into a huge mess of infection basically before my eyes. It swelled up double my regular finger size in an hour. I lanced and drained it but I had to go back to Negril Medical Center to have them scrub it and disinfect me. I ran a course of antibiotics which I hate to do but it cleared me right up.

I have over twenty hours worth of tattoo work on my body, at one time or another I have pierced both ears, my eyebrow and my nipple and all of that combined was not as painful as the bite on my finger. I honestly was scared I would lose my finger for the necrotizing effect the infection had and the pain was unbearable. It grew from the inside out with intense pressure I was forced to swallow two Percocets a night for a week to sleep through the pain and once again I hate the chemicals or any prescribed medications. I was given the pills by an American friend who brought them with, you can’t find that in a drug store. Add pain meds and maybe even a good antibiotic to your list of things to bring if you plan to travel here in the summer.

ABC News: When MRSA Gets Personal

When Mr. Wilson (name changed to protect confidentiality) arrived at the emergency department at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Fla., one night in October, he had a common complaint.

“I think I’ve gotten bitten by a spider,” he said. On his thigh, several large raised skin lesions were visible.

“These aren’t spider bites,” his physician, Dr. Yvonne Dunn, remarked. “You have a skin infection called community-acquired MRSA. Your boils will need to be opened and drained, but with proper care, you should be OK.”

The patient listened intently. “Just my luck,” he said.

What Is MRSA?

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common germs we encounter each day. It is a normal (and usually harmless) germ on our skin and in our nose.

Infections may occur when the organisms get into the body through breaks in the skin (such as cuts, scrapes, open wounds, surgical incisions or catheters in a person’s vein) and multiply rapidly. MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA is a more resistant form of the germ that has become a serious cause of human infections in the hospital, and recently, in the community.

Technorati Tags: jamaica, mrsa, bug bites, mosquitoes, mosquito bites

We had the chance to take a trip to Mayfield Falls with a group of local children and some guest from Heartbeat Resort courtesy of one of the guests named John. It was his last full day in Jamaica after 4 beautiful weeks and he wanted to give something back to some of the neighborhood children that had brought him so much joy in his last days here.

With a little planning we decided that it would be 5 adults and 5 children piling into our van for the 1 1/2 hour drive to Mayfield Falls via Sav La Mar. We booked a tour guide and lunch package with the Original Mayfield Falls and headed off for the park early that morning. We were given directions to Mayfield Falls by the office staff when we purchased our tour package but we missed a turn and ended up taking an alternative route which ended up being a pretty bad road. There are some potholes on most of the roads in Jamaica but on this trip much of the road was gone and I certainly advise you to take this trip with an experienced guide of some sort because getting stuck or lost out there would be no fun. Eventually our bad road meets up with the road we missed or the good road but then both f them get horrible, the entry road to Mayfield Falls is in horrible condition and extreme caution is advised. I could not understand how they could let the road deteriorate to such poor conditions for one of the nicer natural attractions in the Negril area but things became a bit more clear once we arrived on scene.

There are now two attractions on the Mayfield River. The Original Mayfield Falls is where we chose to go based on local advice that the falls and river are much nicer here. The newer attraction is named Riverwalk at Mayfield Falls and they have strategically placed themselves on the roadway before Mayfield and overwhelmed the place with signage to make it seem they are they one and only attraction and the one everyone has come to see. You can see this is having an effect on the Original Mayfield Falls and is certainly costing them a lot in lost business and revenue. I have not decided whether we’ll stop by the other one next time or not. I think it’s kinda wrong whats being done and its apparent to me anyway that they are stealing their business by being somewhat deceptive in using the name Mayfield Falls instead of Mayfield Riverwalk or something and the signs are misleading.I think the staff and management needs to clear things up by creating some nice new signage of their own letting everyone know there are two places to see. I understand that Riverwalk is a newer and nicer facility but somewhat overpriced when compared to the Original. I cannot of course confirm this yet so I guess I should then huh? Settled then, I’ll go to Riverwalk next and compare them for you. Hows that?

Anyway the Original Mayfield Falls has some very beautiful scenery and we ended up having an incredible day hiking up the river to the main falls. I have to say here that without the wonderful services of Gary the Wonder Guide who with three kids hanging from his arms and neck was still able to skip up the river like a stone over the water it would not have been so nice a trip. If you go you simply must have a guide to help you navigate your way to the top or you’ll simply never make. The trip up is about an hour hike over some pretty tough terrain but well worth the effort. It’s an awesome nature walk through towering forests up the river with tons of great spots to swim in the cool mineral waters. You can drink the water direct from the river and it’s like drinking bottled water before they bottle it. It’s very refreshing and cold. The kids were good in the water but a few of us adults took a minute getting used to it. It’s definitely invigorating and according to many locals the mineral waters have healing powers and can aid in all sorts of ailments.

The goal of our hike was to reach the largest waterfalls at the top of the trail where we were able to slide behind the waterfall for a cool pic with Mathis, one of the local youths we took for the trip. It was a great accomplishment for us as a family to make it up there together and we all had a great time hiking the river. Both my kids and the local kids had fun and a new experience and there have been almost daily requests to return ever since we got back. We’ll certainly be taking more trips to Mayfield and for sure we’ll got to Riverwalk at Mayfield next so we can compare.

Our tour package included lunch at the on site restaurant and we were served a delicious meal of Jerk Chicken, Rice and Peas and Veggies along with a cool glass of fresh squeezed mango juice which was perfect. You certainly have the option of bringing your own lunch if you prefer but it’s not worth it. For the price paid the local food was awesome and not having to worry about was even better. We enjoyed our time at the river and left the work up to the very capable and friendly staff for the day. If you’re interested in more information on tours to Mayfield Falls please contact us for more details.

More pics from Mayfield Falls in the Jamaica photo gallery

This is our view from the front porch on the first morning in Jamaica. We’ve been in Negril for just over ten days now and it’s time I got some new photos and stuff up. These would be some of our first pictures here in Negril. It’s summer time of course and although the sun is hot the city life is pretty quiet. Not many tourists in town for the heat of summer so things are extra slow right now. Often times we find ourselves the only patrons of an establishment and some times they open up just for us. There is a good and a bad to that in that we are met by friendly faces but times are tough and everyone wants to make something from us.

We’ve gotten used to it quickly and a firm “No Thank You” covers almost everything. We got beat over a few meals because we didn’t think to ask about the price before we ordered some places. They’ll hit you hard at the end if they can and don’t be embarrassed to negotiate any check handed you. Times are tough all over and my money is best kept in my pocket. Jamaicans actually appreciate a good barter but have no love for a cheap person. If you can’t settle a deal they will probably curse you for wasting their time as if it were more valuable then yours.

Negril Beach in the summer is a beautiful thing and the sun shines down on us all day long here. The beach and water are our favorite spots so far and it’s been a lot of relaxing and chilling in the sun for us since our arrival. We’re slowly moving out and about and I have loads of more stuff to post about but a big part of our stay was the water fun for the kids. Our room at Heartbeat in Negril has an awesome view and the easy access to the beach and seas makes snorkel trips and frolicking in the water an easy activity for us all.

Our room does not have direct beach access and we are not on the famous Negril Beach. We’re currently at the base of the Cliffs of Negril and about a 2 minute cab ride at $150JA for the four of us. We do have a beach we can use that suits us just fine and it’s been a lot of fun for the kids to spend hours playing with some of the local boys on the beach. It’s behind a restaurant that seems more a late night bar but the day time crew at “On The Rocks” has been great. The beach here at Heartbeat is great but we much prefer the Negril Beach for a nicer cleaner beach with more activity and things to see. This beach is not maintained and some odd things are washed up on shore.

A Picture Perfect Day at Heartbeat in Negril Jamaica

One of the best things about Jamaica is all the natural beauty around us. On our 3rd morning in I got up a it earlier than usual and was able to catch a great Sunrise from the rocks outside our room. I was able to get a decent shot of the sun rising over the Negril Beach with the Mountains in the background that was just an awe inspiring thing to witness live. No camera can do the colors any justice and my amateur photography is not up to the task yet. I’m still learning the new camera and whats best to use in conditions like this but man it was worth waking up early thats for sure. It turned out to be a picture perfect day. I caught the sunrise, a trip to the beach for some fun in the sun with the kids, some beautiful snorkeling along the coast of Negril after a fabulous lunch of local cuisine and ended the day with a perfect Sunset from the vantage point of our room and the porch out front.

After the sunrise and a likkle brekfast we ran down to Negril Beach so the family could finally see the famous beach. It was pretty hot and we had things to do like hit the Hi Lo so we we’re not there very long. After the trip to Hi Lo we decided to have lunch at Jennys Restaurant just up the road from us as no one wanted to cook or wait for something to be cooked. We took the Brown Stew Chicken because it was ready and we wanted to try it. It’s become a favorite meal especially for the low price of $200JA per plate. A full meal consists of healthy portion of chicken served with rice and peas, cabbage and vegetables. My review of Jennys comes soon.

Later in the day the kids hit the beach and dad did a little snorkeling off up the coast and around the rocks near the hotel. The water s great and the kids are taking to the sun and sea better than expected. They both have a few extra bite marks from the bugs but we’re controlling it. The beach is close by and easy for them to swim and me to explore while still watching them. This is nearly the same spot as the sunrise pictures but looking back towards the beach.

The sea life around Negril is awesome and the short dive I took on our third day was great. The biodiversity near shore is still strong although I was disappointed in the number of game fish to be found. There are tons of tropical fish of all flavors and the pictures above are a small sample of the underwater photos I have been able to take. I’ve see a lot of things on snorkel trips around the cliffs here in Negril and I’m looking forward to taking the camera on some bigger dive trips as we go further off coast and into some deeper waters on a glass bottom boat soon. Their seem to be loads of juvenile tropical fish in the area with lots of small butterfly and other damsels. I was surprised to see a few Rock Beauty Angels and a Juvenile Queen Angel but my shots on those are shoddy. I need a weight belt for better motion control and shot consistency.

Juvenile French Angel off the coast of Negril Jamaica

Juvenile Banded Butterfly Fish

Pair of Banded Coral Shrimp

Large Snail off Negril Jamaica

I took a little nap during the afternoon showers which are very common here in Negril. It was nice to wake up to a cool refreshing breeze whipping through our room as it raced in from the ocean in front of us. The ocean breeze is really nice when we have it. Right now it’s hotter then heck in my room tonight as I type this blog post. It’s 11PM and about 85 C and I’m sweating like a pig in my bed. Theres a decent breeze tonight so I bust open the windows and hope for no mosquitoes. The afternoon showers make for some great cloud formations and leads into a perfect sunset and an end to a perfect day.

It looks like we’re falling in love with Negril Jamaica and I thinks Heartbeat has someting to do wit dat mon. A far I concerned we cyan stay here f’ever.

I have been thinking about our first few days or weeks in Jamaica and some of the things I want to do when we arrive on the island. I would like to spend some time checking out local attractions and I am planning a few day trips for our first week in JA. Finding things to do in Jamaica is easy enough but I want to make certain we catch some of the big attractions early on. I found Iexplore.com offers a great write up on Jamaican attractions and their listings for things to do in Jamaica has been helpful in my planning.

Mayfields Falls in Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica West Indies

The first month or more of our trip will be in the Negril area and I want to visit as many of the natural attractions as we can. I have not made it to many of the falls besides Dunns River and I have never been on a river raft ride either so I think a stop at MayFields Falls is a definite. We may even consider spending the night and making a two day trip of this one. Mayfields Falls has been suggested to me as a great outing by one prospective guide I am communicating with in Jamaica. I think we may have need to hire someone to pick us up at the airport and deliver us to our first place to stay. I also think I may want this person to give us a couple days tour of the area in order to let the family see all the things around us. We may also take a trip over to YS Falls which is said to be a bit nicer but kinda far from Negril.

Natural Pool at YS Falls in Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica W.I.

Of course we’ll be spending lots of time at the beach in Negril but we’ll have to be careful about that. It’s been a few years since we’ve lived by the ocean and I think we’ll need to get used to the sun again before we can handle a full day at the beach. The sun here in Florida can be brutal but it does not compare to the summers in Jamaica on the beach. You can feel it cooking you in JA and the kids won’t be able to handle that for long at all. We’ll need to plan some daytime activities and try to plan our beach playtime during the later afternoon hours when things aren’t as bad. If you’re planning a trip to Jamaica and need some ideas for things to do outside your resort check out this page.

Jamaica Overview | Jamaica Tour Guide | iExplore.com

Jamaica was inhabited by Arawak Indians prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1494. Although Columbus was in the habit of declaring that each new island he chanced upon was more beautiful than the last, he seems to have maintained a lifelong enthusiasm for the beauty of Jamaica.

A few years later, it was formally colonized by the Spanish whose rule lasted until 1655. They were displaced by the British who turned Jamaica into the most important of the British Caribbean slaving colonies. Within 100 years, virtually the whole island had been divided up into large plantations owned by absentee landlords and worked by forced labor imported from West Africa.

Welcome to Jamaica MAX. This blog will offer news and reviews on our Jamaican adventures. The Moya family is moving to Jamaica this summer for a 6 month adventure. We plan to cover as much of the wonderful island of Jamaica as we can during our first extended trip with the goal of returning next year on a permanent visa. We’re going to catalog the adventure here for all to see. Lets see how it goes.

Alfred