(Working On A Title) Wednesday – Jamaica, Jake’s Treasure Beach
Oh dear lord where do I begin? I do believe I have found heaven and it is an island in the Caribbean called…
Jamaica.
Jamaica is a land where I have never before felt such a strong bond among it’s people. The true honest feeling of family, community and love that exists on the colorful and wonderful Isle is just unbelievable. Whether we were just relaxing at the resort poolside/oceanside (which was the same thing as the pool was about 30 feet from, and fed by, the ocean), being taken around the Isle by our driver (DO NOT attempt to drive there your first visit), or interacting with the locals, there was an honesty in their interactions and especially their thanks that I haven’t felt anywhere else that I’ve traveled.
As with most of our vacations my lovely wife had the hand in planning this one and decided to choose a resort off the beaten path and not yet dominated by the ugly tourists who seem to only enjoy themselves if they have the same amenities wherever they go as they do at home. Tip, if you’re going to travel DO IT LIKE THE LOCALS. They know the best spots for anything you could want and then some.
The resort she picked is called Jake’s Treasure Beach and boy did she pick a winner. Jake’s is about a 2 hr drive from Montego Bay (MoBay as the locals call it) along one of the most winding and scariest roads I’ve been on. But goddamn if it wasn’t worth it. Essentially once you exit the city area you are immediately dropped into the countryside where you can take in most of what Jamaica has to offer, the stunning views, the amazing as well as run down houses (most of which seem, and are, incomplete), goats, cows, dogs, and people all walking along the roads. The roadside offerings of produce, the small market squares where most major businesses were located, and other resorts and rental properties. All on the way to a little piece of paradise.
Upon arrival we were instantly in heaven. Regardless of your seat you had an amzing view of beach and ocean. With accommodations for a single person to groups of 8-10 we (she) selected a little room that was right on the ocean.
With 2 restaurants on the property there were enough food options that you don’t need to leave. But if you ask the locals, they will tell you that you must, and I am too. You must visit the amazing, in the middle of the ocean Pelican Bar,
or the beach side Little Ochie, where daily fisherman bring in their catch, sell it to the restaurant and you then select what you want and how you want it prepared.
Other areas we traveled to were YS Falls, the Appleton Estate (Rum tour) and a bit of the Black River. All AMAZING and highly recommended.
As we talked to more and more visitors it was astonishing how many people have been here more than once. A few had visited a few times, one couple we spoke to were on their 8th trip, and one woman was marking her FORTIETH year of visiting. I understand why.
If I do reach retirement at an early enough age, or somehow become independently wealthy, i’m packing my shit and kissing The States goodbye. I know there’s a nice little piece of land where I can grow some fruits and veggies, raise some goats, maybe a cow, and drink rum from sun up to sun down as I wonder why the rest of the world hasn’t gotten “it” yet. If you EVER have the opportunity to visit this colorful and wonderful land, do it. If you can stay at Jake’s even better. Either way you will leave the island with a much better understanding of Respect.
One Love.
To find out more about visiting Jamaica you can do that here and you can read more about Jake’s Treasure Beach here.