Jamaica Tours, Guides and Vacations

Boothbay Harbor is home to Browns Wharf Inn which is a family owned oceanfront hotel, restaurant and marina listed on TripAdvisor.com as the #1 Rated Boothbay Harbor Maine Oceanfront Hotel. They offer 70 oceanview rooms with balconies that provide `excellent views of the sunsets and luxurious property. All rooms offer air conditioning, refrigerators, coffee maker, free WiFi and Flatscreen HDTV and you may not want to leave it’ so nice.

This historic and scenic location sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and has been serving delicious seafood for over 50 years as the premier Booth Harbor Restaurant. Enjoy fine dining and world class service with fresh local catch of the day or a leisure stroll along the wharf and relax in the comfortable ocean breeze. Take a tour of Boothbay Harbor via the old footbridge and a walk through time as you take a walking tour or available trolley service through the historic township.

Browns Wharf Inn is a great American vacation experience rich in culture and atmosphere. Check out there website at BrownsWharfInn.com for more details.

Here is a wonderful set of photos taken from the Negril Cliffs which features one of my favorite Jamaican fisherman out in the early morning as the sun rises on yet another beautiful Jamaica day. I watched this guy fish the local waters off and on for over a year before I settled to take his photo without his permission. I probably could have found him and asked him for it but it was nice to chat with him as he went on about his day completely oblivious to me while I sat and watched him from the seaside cliffs of a Negril resort in amazement at his strength and determination. Some of these Jamaica fisherman seem as old as the sea itself but do not be fooled, these guys are hard as stone and stronger than any two average men you know. They have been fishing these waters for over 50 years in many cases and pulled enough traps to feed a family for longer than I have been alive.

I was almost always amused and sometimes disgusted with how different our lives are and how as I sit there with my digital camera from the deck of my resort accommodations I can peer out into the distance and witness a real man working for a living from a hand carved dugout while I blog about my daily adventures and smoked a few spliffs over a cup of Blue Mountain Coffee in the comfort of my private room overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

It’s a sick and twisted world we live in and the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence but I would gladly trade my experiences and knowledge for his.

See more pics in the Bob Marley Museum photo gallery!!

Bob Marley is a legend all across the world but in Jamaica is his revered as a saint by many. His home in Kingston is an important part of the Bob Marley experience in Jamaica and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area.

The museum is home to the largest collection of Marley memorabilia and a great place to visit for an introduction into the history of reggae music. You will pass through rooms in the home where Bob cooked his food, wrote his songs and even see the very bed he slept in and the house slippers he wore while there.

The room carries a lot of history with loads of gold and platinum records hanging in rooms on the guided tours and even more newspaper articles from around the world highlighting his shows in places like Japan and Africa. It was nice to visit the first time just as much as it was the 5th and now 10th time I have gone. I particularly enjoy reading the newspaper articles for various opinions on Bob from people all over the world.

You will see the room where Bob was shot and even the original bullet holes still in the wall. There is a wonderful little spice garden and of course a huge shop full of Bob Marley things for sale. The tour ends with a somber music video highlighting his career and music. It’s nice to see Bob in the rare home movies and pictures throughout the museum. He seemed at peace for much of his life and the home reflects that.

You cannot take photos inside the Bob Marley Museum but the memories stay with you. If you make it to Kingston and appreciate the mans music you have to take a tour of the Bob Marley Museum as part of your Jamaica Vacation.

The second night of Reggae Sumfest 2009 was actually a bit of a let down for me. This was International Night Number One and the line up was heavy on pop and sparkle which is not really my style of music. The night started early with some great new performers like Ras Penco and Hezron which were followed by strong performances from Lutan Fyah and Coco Tea but the rest of the night was weak and full of pop and r&b artists that did not interest me much.

I took lots of breaks and sat out much of the mid section of this evening . I skipped performances by Jazmine Sullivan and Keri Hilson and the only reason I watched NeYo was to see how he reacted to Jamaicans using his music as they have. He paid tribute to Vybz Kartel and Spice by letting the crowd sing their song to his beat. It was a weak attempt to make a connection with the crowd but it seemed to work Many fans went along with it but there were quite a few hisses and comments about his lawsuit over the use of his music. Seems he has a few people out there that like the Vybz Kartel version of his riddim.

NeYo on stage at Reggae Sumfest 2009

I waited it out for the finale with Morgan Heritage and Queen Ifrica but I faded out before the sun came up and Jah Cure went on stage. I was actually sitting on my ass when he went live and I jumped in the bus home while he was performing. I was simply out of gas and unable to stand up any longer after two full days on my feet.

Morgan Heritage put on a strong group performance and then went into solo pieces for Gramps, Peter and the youngest brother and it was a treat to see the many different musical styles they have grown into. Gramps and Peter have more reggae and r&b influences but the younger generation shows more rap and hip hop.

Morgan Heritage Live at Sumfest 2009

Queen Ifrica has impressed me with her powerful stage presence and her ability to sing gracefully but with power. She did a rendition of Michael Jackson Man in the Mirror and she did it with style. The crowd appreciated her performance and everyone sang along as part of the Sumfest Michale Jackson Tribute.

Queen Ifrica Live at Sumfest 2009

Queen Ifrica tributes Michale Jackson Man in the Mirror at Sumfest 2009

Reggae Sumfest 2009 Friday International Night 1

If you travel to Jamaica, there’s bound to be someone just waiting for you to get home. Someone wondering if you remembered them at all while you were on holiday. Since we haven’t yet figured out a way to bottle our sunshine, here are some other ideas for the perfect gift from Jamaica.

Naturally you have to think about the recipient – what’s good for your 5 year old niece may not be quite the thing for Uncle Joe with the one good eye!

I’m writing primarily for the budget-minded. I am presently unable to think like someone who has money, but hopefully that will change one day soon! Happily, some of the nicest things from Jamaica aren’t at all expensive. So while these ideas are value oriented, they should be pleasing to just about anyone who receives them.

Liquor

Rum – Jamaica is rum country. You can chose from a variety of ages, blends and colours. Our most popular producer is J. Wray and Nephew. Appleton Estate VX is a deliciously smooth, well aged, red rum. I’ve not come across the casual drinker who doesn’t enjoy this one. Another red rum, very enjoyable, but a little less smooth than VX, is Appleton Special. More serious drinkers, or those who want to make rum punch, will enjoy the stronger J. Wray and Nephew Overproof Rum. In Jamaica we call this simply “white rum”.

Rum Cream or Liqueur – The ladies may prefer these milder, sweeter drinks. Sangster’s Rum Creams (in different flavours) are particularly good.

It’s best to buy your alcohol at one of the duty free shops at the airport. It’s practically the same price as at local supermarkets, but more conveniently packaged.

CDs

Jamaica makes so much good music it’s mindblowing. However, not all of the lyrics can be easily understood if you don’t speak Jamaican patois. You might want to choose carefully if you want to understand what’s being said. Recent CDs by Beres Hammond, Tarrus Riley, Etana, Queen Ifrica, Morgan Heritage are a great place to start.

By no means should you discount the dancehall artistes, even if you can’t understand all the words. Most of the music is infectious whether you get the words or not! Sometimes the words are blatantly sexual, or somewhat violent, so ask before making your purchase.

For music collectors, classic CDs by Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Beres Hammond, John Holt, Bob Marley are really good choices. You could also ask for recordings of traditional Jamaican folk songs.

Coffee

Visit local supermarkets for Jamaican coffee. Larger supermarkets will have a wider range. Choose from whole or ground beans. Coffee labelled “Blue Mountain” is usually the best quality, having been grown at the highest altitudes. The “High Mountain Coffee” brand, although not Blue Mountain, is a very good brand. Coffee is also available at duty free stores in the airport.

Books

If you travel to Jamaica, a visit to a good bookstore can solve many of your gift problems. Jamaican cookbooks for those who like to experiment in the kitchen. Books of Jamaican poetry for those with a poetic soul. Jamaican novels for those who like a good story. Jamaican stories and colouring books for the children. Books on Jamaican culture and lifestyle for those who want to know our island better. When buying books, remember to consider the weight of your suitcase – books can be quite heavy.

Accessories

Accessories like bracelets, earrings, necklaces and anklets have the great advantage of being small and easy to carry. Remember not to buy jewellery made from turtle shell or black coral – these are protected species, and it is illegal to have items made from them. Trendy bags come in all shapes, colours and sizes, made from different materials. Rasta belts and tams are perfect for those who want to look ‘rootsy’.

Clothes

As much as the Tshirt idea might seem overdone, there are actually a lot of attractive shirts on the market. Jamaican colours (black, green and gold) or Rasta colours (red, green and gold) are easily available. Bob Marley is still a great seller, and there are a lot of great shirts which show the many sides of Bob.

Also popular are Jamaican-coloured shorts, flip flops, caps and beach wraps. Or you may like to try some of the more subtle clothing now available in earth tones.

For the kids

In addition to books and clothes, there are traditional cloth dolls, playing cards, small percussion instruments like drums and shakers which make good gifts for children. Some very funky pencils with a dreadlocked head at one end are cute and inexpensive.

Food

Many people enjoy the adventure of tasting food from different cultures. For these people, the supermarket is the perfect place to find something they’ll enjoy. Here are a few ideas:

* Jamaican Guava Jelly – made from the guava fruit. Delicious on bread or crackers.
* Tamarind Balls – for those who like tangy sweets. Made from the flesh of the tamarind fruit rolled with sugar. Jamaican children (and many adults too) adore this.
* Banana Chips – the perfect salty snack, made from green bananas! Just as tasty as potato chips, but more nutritious.
* Jerk Seasoning/Sauce – those who like to cook can try making their own jerk chicken.
* Spicy Sauces – there’s a whole range of these, but our Pickapeppa Sauce is outstanding. Mango chutney is really good too.

Jamaican Artwork

Lookout for authentic Jamaican prints and paintings. These come in a range of prices, depending on the popularity of the artist, and the size and quality of the work. Wood carvings and ceramics are available, but again, you need to think about the weight as well as the packaging for your trip.

I hope these gifts ideas will be useful if you do indeed make the great decision to travel to Jamaica. In the event that you do make the trip, be sure to enjoy our wonderful Jamaican culture while you’re here.

Allison Morris’ website about St. Elizabeth, Jamaica is also a storehouse of information about Jamaican culture. Visit this entertaining and information-packed site at http://www.real-jamaica-vacations.com.