Jamaica

Do you know the song "One Love?"

Jamaica is known as the birthplace of reggae music. And Bob Marley is a famous Jamaican singer who popularized the song “One Love."

Located in the Caribbean island, Jamaica is rich in beaches, mountains, and rainforest.

We took advantage of my son Joshua's spring break and escaped winter in New York. The initial plan was to go to Hawaii, but we ended up here in Jamaica. Our luck to get seats from Seattle didn’t fully cooperate, so we went back to the east coast and flew to Jamaica. Hence, our spontaneous trip. 


Our first night was spent on the mountainside. We stayed at Sunshine lodge overlooking the Flamingo beach. The place was a bit of a walk and hike, and you need a car to go to the beach. The view was fabulous anyway. So if you want to have some quiet days, I would recommend this place.

We had our first meal at a local restaurant.  In Jamaica, they eat lots of rice with beans and fish. One favorite food I always get when I see it in a restaurant is the Jamaican patty. It’s like empanada but a little spicy.

On our second day, we stayed where the action is and the most popular place, Montego Bay.


Montego Bay, located on the “hip strip,” is a cruise ship port with many beaches and golf courses. We started our day with breakfast at the hotel. Then we headed to the quiet side of the bay to enjoy a morning walk and feel the breeze. Jamaicans are friendly; Josh was approached by a guy, and they talked for a while.

The sun was up, and it’s time for us to lounge at the beach. We went to Doctor’s Cave, which is the best beach in Montego Bay. History says that during the early 1920s, it was published that the water here could cure. It became famous overnight; rich and famous people came to test the water. Eventually, the tourist trade began.


The heat was on. When in Jamaica, you have to drink the “Bob Marley” drink. It’s a 3-layered liquor colorful drink. I love it! Well, Josh had his own drink catered to his age. 

Sunset is gorgeous in Montego Bay. I have great photos, which are actually some of my favorite sunset photos in my collection. Silhouettes of different types are picture-perfect. Sunsets are always photographic. 


Our experiences from breathing the morning fresh air and walking on the bay, enjoying the afternoon sun and the beautiful beach, and witnessing the spectacular sunset are the highlights of our Jamaican trip. It was indeed a wonderful getaway.

There are more places to see in Jamaica, like the “Rose Hall Great House.” According to a legend, Annie Palmer’s house, aka White Witch, where she ruled here with cruelty and had black magic that caused her husband’s death. A little creepy, but it’s part of their tourist attraction.

If you’re an outdoor person, there are tons of outdoor activities to try, like scuba diving, snorkeling, water rafting, and ziplining. Jamaica has one of the longest ziplining in the Caribbean. 

I would like to do it when I go back to this beautiful island to explore Jamaica on horseback riding. It’s a famous tourist activity where you will pass by castles and sugar factories that are 100 years old. The most exciting part of this tour is that horses dip and walk on water with you riding! That would be a fun experience.

Another unique thing to see is the luminous lagoon at night. Plankton, an organism that lives in large bodies of water, are luminous. And when they are disturbed, they give off neon lights.

If you are into music, especially reggae, it’s nice to visit Bob Marley's museum in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica.

I agree that Jamaica is naturally beautiful. There are many hidden and tourist places you can explore.

My trip to Jamaica with Joshua is a “one love” trip. I love spending time with my kids, and this particular trip with him made it special.