For my 18th birthday I was presented a fantastic surprise from my wonderful boyfriend, inside my card was a picture of a beach and two tickets to Jamaica leaving four days later!!!
We flew from Manchester to Montego Bay in Jamaica which took around 9 1/2 hours. The first thing you notice is the heat, it is like stepping into an oven, the second is how laid back everyone is. Mo' Bay as it is called by the locals is the capital of Jamaican tourism. From there we drove for 2 1/2 hours to Negril where we were to stay.
During the drive, we realised what a poor country Jamaica was, we were shocked to go through the "parish's"
and see shacks which were peoples homes, and beggars in the street. The Jamaica you see on the television is a far cry from the real Jamaica.
NEGRIL Negril is on the North-West coast of Jamaica and has seven miles of white sand beaches which are absolutley beautiful. There are a few large all inclusive resorts, including Hedonism II, which is an adult nudist colony! We stayed in a small local hotel run by a local lady, which was perfect for us as we wanted to see some of the REAL Jamaica.
SITES TO SEE We visited the amazing Dunns River Falls, which is a unique waterfall of many tiers of rocks. It is 600 feet, and you can climb all the way. Dont worry it is not very steep and if you go with a tour, you are provided with a tour guide. All the group hold hands and you are led up the waterfall together. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. Just remember to tip your guide! We also visited Ricks Cafe, which is on the Western most tip of Jamaica, in Negril. Here you can see the most beautiful sunsets in the world! There is a cliff face which people jump off, though it is not advised as some people have died!!!
PEOPLE Negril is apparantly one of the more laid back towns of Jamaica which means it is perfect to relax. The locals are so friendly, we were brought fresh fruit to our hotel every morning from a street vendor who we bought lunch off a couple of days. The men are very forward though, and I was approached many times for some "good Jamaican lovin'"!
FOOD AND DRINK The local food is excellent and you must try it. Jerk chicken, beef and pork are barbecued in front of you and cost just a few dollars. Fresh fruit and vegetables are everywhere, and seafood was straight from the sea onto your plate! I would recommend to buy from local reastaurants, as the hotels are very expencive. Beware of local "rum punch" as although it tastes fantasic, it is quite lethal and gets you VERY drunk! The local beer of Jamaica is Red Stripe and is cheaper than the others as it is produced on the island.
DRUGS AND SAFETY Drugs are rife in Jamaica and you will be offered them, but if you say politely but firmly "no, thank you" they will not push you. As there are many Rastafarians, Marajuana is smoked in public by many, although it is not thrust in your face. We were advised not to travel at night on foot to avoid any danger of mugging, the taxis are very reasonable though. As with any holiday destination, be careful of your possesions, keep your purse hidden and camera safe.
BEACHES The beaches in Negril were amazing, they were very clean and well looked after. The sea was warm and clear, and it was a pleasure to swim in. There were many vendors on the beach selling everything from massages to jewelery to fruit and drinks.
In conclusion, I found Jamaica a fantastic country to visit, it was very different to what I expected but definately one I will never forget! I would recommend it to a friend, but you have to keep an open mind. It is very different to how one would imagine it. Unless you stay in a resort you will see the country as what it is, very poor. But this does have its up side, you see the real country, not just the inside of a resort where you could be anywhere! All of them look the same, so you may as well may less and go to Spain. I had a great time in Jamaica and feel that we experienced the real culture of the country.
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