Ocho Rios Jamaica Mahn

The thing about going to Jamaica is one has to be ready for the sales pitches coming in a familiar tongue- English. Upon landing the first thing you hear in your transport van is banter of island DJs selling and talking a mile a minute in English. In many ways this banter is really reassuring for all to hear we still in the Commonwealth and being a Canadian that is okay. The next thing you notice as you drive along is the state of housing in Jamaica. Everyone is building on their house and all seem to be in a state of almost being done to just being started. However not to hold totally true one sees many houses that are complete and looking good. The trip to the resort is punctuated by the honking of horns as vehicles recognize one another and signal to their family or friends. This gives one the island feeling that this is an okay place. At the resort staff again communicate in English and work efficiently to help out where they can. The fair at our all inclusive featured many Jamaican dishes and these we sampled along with locals who were staying at the hotel also. The feeling is that Jamaica even though poor has a citizenary with wealth and means. The best dish I love was the afternoon seaside restaurant where they served Jerk Chicken. This stuff is addictive. Our days were spent mostly at the resort where local entertainers came by with such as interesting things as turtle racing a rare and money making event for the entrepreneur who dreamt this up. He basically cleaned up paying only for the individual completely unpredictable winner. Other days we spent running the gauntlet to the town of Ocho which is actually quite pleasant except for the first 50 feet outside the resort where one is offered everything under the sun even is your wife is walking with you. Dunn Falls is one of the major attractions as well as a man made nature walk each presenting wonderful pictures. The idea one should keep a lot of small bills is a great idea as the requests for tips is polite but ongoing. The weather is constant and the food is fine. The island offers many diversions and one cannot hope to see all in one trip. The trip to the airport had us leaving at 2ish am and it was really apparent Jamaicans love to stay out late and hand out. A large Rostafarian festival was on as we passed by thousands had come for the music and the message, it said one key performer travels with his own chef and hands out free lifestyle advice.