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Jamaica has long been a
tourist favorite for people from all over the world as it features
excellent resorts, sandy beaches, exciting cuisine and lush vegetation
and countryside. However, there’s a lot more to this island of about
three million people than just the sea and sand. There’s a lot of
ancient history in Jamaica, especially in cities such as Kingston, its
capital. Jamaica sits
in the popular sun destination of the Caribbean Sea, and it’s about 90
miles south of Cuba. The name Jamaica means the Land of Wood and
Water. There’s some Spanish influence in the country as it was once
known as Santiago in the mid-1600s. Actually Christopher Columbus
discovered it in 1494 and when he landed there it was inhabited with
indigenous people from South America.
There’s a major British influence as well as it was
British colony until gaining independence from the UK in 1962. But
Jamaica is still recognized as part of the British Commonwealth realm
with Queen Elizabeth II recognized as the Head of State.
There are many popular towns and resorts in Jamaica
such as Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Negril, and Montego Bay. Travelers
often flock to these places throughout the year and stay at resorts,
which run from budget priced to luxury five-star places. Jamaica is an
ideal place to visit no matter what your budget is as the restaurants
vary in price as well, just like the hotels. A trip to Jamaica
wouldn’t be complete without tasting some curried goat or jerk
chicken. The country
is divided up into 14 parishes and it’s pretty easy getting around by
car. The two international airports are in Kingston and Montego Bay.
Most of the major towns in Jamaica are situated on the coasts with
Kingston Harbour being one of the largest natural harbours on the
planet. There are quite a few other attractions throughout the island,
such as Dunn’s River Falls, Port Royal, and the Blue Lagoon.
Make sure you dress appropriately in Jamaica as it’s a
pretty hot and humid place. It can also get a bit windy as it lies in
the Atlantic Ocean’s hurricane belt. You shouldn’t have a problem
communicating with the local residents as English is the main
language. However, many people speak a Jamaican patois, so you might
have to listen carefully until you get the hang of it.
Music is quite popular on the island and has been
brought to the forefront ever since Bob Marley introduced reggae to
the world on a large scale. Ska, dub, mento, and rocksteady are also
popular forms of music there. Jamaica is rich in culture and some of
the music can be traced to Africa.
The Rastafarian movement is a popular religious form,
but most of the island’s residents are Christian. Sport is also a big
deal with Jamaicans as they love their cricket and soccer. Some of the
world’s best sprinters also come from Jamaica and boxing, horse racing
and golf are also popular.
Jamaica’s an ideal place to visit if you’re looking for
crystal-clear waters, sandy beaches, and amazing scenery. If you
combine those things with a laid back lifestyle, and an interesting
history and culture, it’s easy to see why Jamaica is so popular with
tourists. | 
Jamaica
