When I first began to travel, around the age of 21, one of the first places I visited was the amazing island of Jamaica. At that time I was convinced that it was my favorite place to visit. Almost 20 years later and after visiting numerous beautiful countries, I was interested in seeing if my love for Jamaica remains.
After 10 years I conclude that
I LOVE JAMAICA and it is STILL my favorite.
There is no other place, outside of my own country, that I feel so "at home". The very essence of the country is FREEDOM. If you know anything about me you know that FREEDOM is one of my most highly valued attributes, verbs, state of being, gifts etc. The Jamaican people are indubitably free and are PROUD and HUMBLE at the same damn time. These are my kinds of people.
Highlights of this trip included reconnecting and supporting one of my longest friends on her 40th birthday, which is really what inspired the trip. Summer and I were college roomies at Southern University over 20 years ago. She decided to plan a trip with 14 of her closest friends and we had a ball.
Jerk Chicken and Patties, Rice and Peas and Salt fish, Cabbage and Plantains to die for and worth every pound.
9 mile (Bob Marley's home and now museum) left me in awe. His greatness, love and hope resonates all through Zion.
I also got to meet an amazing woman by the name of Natasha who is the owner of Natasha's ONE LOVE Message Spa in Negril. You know I love supporting black and female owned businesses right? Well this woman is a gift from God. I wanted to get massages while in Jamaica but I didn't want to do the "resort" thing. I wanted to patronize the people and not the establishment. So I found this woman on Trip Advisor, emailed her before I got off the plane and she got right back to me. She came and picked me up everyday with her trusty companion Damian, on time and even opened her place for me early. I could feel her praying for me as she worked out my kinks!! She was a gift!!
As fate may have it, one of the 11 cousins that I met a few weeks earlier in Dominican Republic happened to be in Jamaica and we were able to connect for a few days and did we have a blast! Nzuri-Soul (look her up on IG @ms.nzurisoul) and I seem to be kindred spirits. We got to get our groove on at a local spot, The Jungle, hung out on 7 mile beach, where we both over came interesting phobias while snorkeling, and enjoyed drinks at Rick's Cafe while suffering through REALLY bad live Reggae. I plan on visiting her in the Bay Area in a few months. It's always amazing to me how traveling continues to expand my tribe.
Freedom, Friendship, Connection!!! ONE LOVE!!
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