MY JOURNEY: JAMAICA
JANUARY, 2018
As I hide under a soft cotton blanket from the vicious mosquitoes that attacked me the night before, it’s my first physical reminder I made it to Jamaica. Waking up to the soft hum of the country wind, roosters crowing at the crack of dawn, and the unbelievable fresh smell in the air. It restores me with so much comfort. I have made it to Trelawny, laying in my boyfriend’s childhood bed in his mother's beautiful home. Several months earlier, I was in the wrath of my own thoughts constantly. Comparing and contrasting everything, overthinking how to even wake up the next morning, and compartmentalizing where I would go after a failed career move. After one creative conversation with my homegirl Sam, I knew I needed change and some type of self-rejuvenation. I needed to remove myself from the energy of New York that gets toxic when you lose yourself in your self pity, your ideal thoughts of success, and the imbalance of realizing life isn't about seeking perfection -- It is about seeking EXPERIENCE.
I started working on a project that would take me to Jamaica for thirty days at the beginning of 2018 mostly solo with limited funds, but limitless excitement. I made a business plan, reached out to people in hopes of collaboration, and researched the island's every adventure. Every morning NY buzzed around me, holidays breezing by - and I, worked vigorously on my plan to travel the coast of Jamaica from Negril to Portland. Each day, I made mood boards, daydreaming and planning what I thought was every detail of my adventure to come. Can you even plan the unknown though?
The answer is no. Back in Jamaica, I forgot mosquito repellant. Rookie move, but I was here, and the forty-plus bites along the trip were survival marks. My first two days in Trelawny were blissful, yet equivocal. They helped me get acquainted, and make my well-needed critiques of my temporary home, before engulfing on my four week excursion: first up was Negril. This would be my second time to cliff-filled edge of this luscious island - my first, two years ago with two of my close girlfriends. This time though. I was SOLO. I checked into my cottage with my "burner" phone barely working, and no wifi for my laptop or iPhone, yet somehow these are the most beautiful elements to get me all together.
NEGRIL
SOLO
As my first morning begaN, I WOKE TO A NEW ENVIRONMENT. ALL OF THE GARDEN'S BEAUTIFUL AND UNEXPECTED WONDERS GREETED ME AS I OPENED MY WINDOW BLINDS. THERE I WAS SECLUDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A MINI JUNGLE OF SORTS WITH DOGS BARKING IN UNISON, REGGAE MUSIC FILLING MY EARS, AND THE FRESH BREEZE CREATING A MELODY OF SORTS WITH THE TREES. I FINALLY FELT PRESENT AND AWARE OF MY SURROUNDINGs. THOUGH A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE UNKNOWN, I WAS READY FOR EXPERIENCE. i went ACROSS THE ROAD to Rick’s CafE, AND JUMPED! JUMPED from their infamous cliffs into the beautiful ocean erasing all sense OF fear. My first sensation of renewal splashing on my skin, salt WATER fillING my pores, AND THE OCEAN TAKING MY BREATH. jAMAICA FELT SO SENSATIONALLY.
TAKIN' IT EASY!
MY SEVEN DAYS IN NEGRIL BLEW BY. I woke up every morning listening to the birds hum, feeling the breeze, and cooking on my small stove with ingredients from the local market. I grounded myself living within my means and reflected on my past decisions, and my future intentions. I selfie timed a lot of photos, and connected with local airbnbs creating content to ADVERTISE for their future guests. i WENT FROM BEING A TOURIST TO A LITTLE WOMaN KNOWING HER WAY AROUND TOWN. FROM THE MARKET TO THE BEACH, and FROM THE BEACH TO DINNER, I CREATEd A SCHEDULE PLANNED just ENOUGH TO FEEL GROUNDED, YET Loose enough FOR SPONTANEITY. MY LATE NIGHTS IN MY TINY CABIN INCLUDED READING AND FILLING MY JOURNAL WITH SHORT ENTRIES. AS MY LAST DAY EMERGED, I FELT READY FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURE, BUT BITTERSWEET leaving THE QUIANT LIFESTYLE I ADaPTED to so quickly.
Book. Rum Punch. Cliff-side view. (Curry Chicken not pictured)
My cozy cabin at the beautiful airbnb, Banana Gardens.
TRELAWNY
PEACE OF MIND
After a week in Negril, I drove along the countryside back to Trelawny. Taking in the beautiful landscape, and seeing the cities buzzing away. Woman selling fresh fruit and vibrant vegetables, men scaling ocean caught fish, and children playing cricket. shortly after, I made it back to the community of Duncans, Trelawny. This time for a little over a week to really acquaint myself. in duncans, the community was very close knit, and family oriented. I spent my time reading while goats passed down the road, hanging out at Auntie Cassie’s beauty salon, and watching my boyfriend’s nephew, Cashawn, zip up and down the hills of the neighborhood. There I took long walks and viewed the various tropical plants that weaved through the community. I learned how to make dumplings, drank fresh coconut plucked from the backyard, and built a bond with the community.
COMMERCE & COMMUNITY
While in trelawny, i left the quaint neighborhood of duncans, and went to the historic city of Falmouth with kim, my boyfriend's cousin. There, we went to a market called Bend-down, where I really took in the commerce of the community. From sneakers to clarks, to hand made clothes and fast fashion, bend-down had everything. so many busy people buzzing around making a way to a means. the market included vendors selling fresh produce: yellow yams, ackee, calalloo, and jamaican apples to name a few. i was Accompanied by Shadaine’s family due to my true american accent, i bought beautiful green,yellow, and black vintage garments and small trickets for my home back in brooklyn. we spent the remaining evening in a beauty salon conversing about various cultures of black people around the globe, and i, learning and understanding patois more.
SIENNA
Before leaving to portland, I marveled at the idea of having a photo shoot with a beautiful, young model, Sienna. Another member of Shadaine’s family. The morning of my last day, I woke up early, walked up the dirt road to wake Sienna to undo her hair with Aunt Cassie, and choose several looks that i could capture her timeless beauty in. Though Quite shy in the beginning, we journeyed through the neighborhood picking places for our back drop, and choosing family members' homes as our changing places. Sienne beamed with pride, shy from the community’s noisey eye but all the more excited to learn and pose. We created photos both her 13-year old self and i prideful of.
WEATHER REPORT
Traveling to Portland was beautiful. I let the air kiss my skin as we drove along the coast to my next parish. While in Jamaica, it rained 60% percent of the time, but today the weather was perfect. Playing every Reggae tune imagined, from Chronixx to THE TENNORS. We drove through the parishes of Saint Ann and saint Mary to Port Antonio, Portland: my next adventure. While en-route, I enjoyed the humid, breeze pushing along the winding roads. In Port Antonio, I planned to stay for the remaining two weeks, with my two girlfriends tagging along for the last.
PORTLAND
BEAUTIFUL SOLITUDE
As I got settled in my air-conditioned bungalow at the beautiful location of Great Huts, I started the countdown until my girlfriends, Sam and Sade, touched down for their birthday trip. After my first two days turning down men’s advances for either themselves or overpriced Jerk Salmon, I was off-kiltered. Portland was showing me it’s colors, and the ones I painted in my mind were not matching. That moment I knew I would have to change my perspective. I decided, I would explore every aspect the resort had to offer, and take my adventures with the girls when they landed. On Great Huts, I took in their private beach, as my own, asking for the beautiful brown bartender for just ice to make my own Wray & Nephew’s conjunctions. as the time breezed, I lounged all day by the beach feeling God there every instant. As the soft mist of sea water brushed against my sun-kissed face, I felt proud. I felt loved. I felt centered by myself. I was my own amusement, and guidance. I gave my self-intuition the confidence it greatly needed back, and I listened more.
BIKINIS AND RED STRIPES
The day finally arrived, and my two beautiful friends made it to portland. Them ready for adventure, and i for their much needed company. as they striped off their new york winter layers exiting the taxi, I greeted them with exhilaration, and finessed themselves, and overpacked bags into my one person quaint room. shortly after, we journeyed through the jungle showing them around the grand resort like I owned the place. From King Sol0mon’s room to the breathe-taking cliff views. the ladies landed in paradise, with me as the gate-keeper. We made our way back to the room, changed into our bathing suits, and drifted down to the beach.
