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Jammin' in Jamaica

Jamaica for me is vacation Utopia. The island has everything you need to have a bang-up time.

First things first , Jamaica has had filtered water since 1928. That means no green apple splatters while you're on vacation unless you partake of too many 'Jamaican kisses' (recipe: 2oz Tia Maria, 2oz of light rum, and 2 Tablespoons of cream) .

The legal drinking age in Jamaica is 18.

Must do's

Dunn's River Falls

This is the famous waterfall that you see in most ads for Jamaica and for good reason. It is a waterfall that you walk up. With the help of a guide a group of people form a chain holding hands and with each person following in the previous person's footsteps . Don't worry you won't land on your coconut unless you try to be a free thinker and step where you want and not where they tell you. Your guide will hold everyone's camera and take their picture at a good spot so you can show the folks at home how you ascended this landmark.

When you arrive you may be somewhat shocked to learn the admission fee is $300. This is Jamaica dollars! It s only $15USD for adults and $12USD for kids to get in.

There are lockers to put your stuff in so you don't have to carry the kitchen sink up the falls. For those even less brave than I there are stairs that adjacent to the falls so you can walk alongside and not get wet. Even if you are unable to negotiate stairs this area has a beautiful park and breathtaking views from above the falls.

Fresh Water Pool At The Base Of Dunn's River falls

Rick's Cafe

The view of the sunset from Rick's Cafe is unsurpassed. Ok the real reason people come here is to see up close local men and some tourists dive off the cliffs to the water forty feet below. This act seems all the more treacherous because you are looking down at the water unlike most cliff diving spots where you watch from afar. The tourists are most welcome to try their luck at this game of Jamaican roulette. Be warned though, if you are diving off this cliff after a few Negril Stingers (recipe: 2oz rum, 3oz Tia Maria) you are likely to crack your head on the rocks and Jamaica does not have 911 service. For emergency ambulance service dial 110 from any phone. In any case get there before dusk or you'll have to wait in line to get in.

Luminous bay

Also known as Glistening waters this is one of the niftiest places you'll ever see. The water actually glows as something moves through it. You can take a boat tour for $15USD . As the boat travels through the water making waves everything behind it glows. If you put your hand in and move it around the water you stir up will glow. Although most marine animals have bioluminescent capabilities only a few are visible to the human eye without a microscope. As an added bonus with this tour you are served a rum punch (recipe: 1oz white rum,1oz 151 proof rum,2oz pineapple juice,2oz orange juice, grenadine just enough to make it red) before and after the tour.

Martha Brae River Rafting

bamboo raft

This is not white water rafting!. This is a leisurely trip on a bamboo raft down about 3 miles of the Martha Brae river. Two passengers fit on a raft and your raft pilot stands at the bow with a long pole used to direct the raft. All you have to do is enjoy the splendid scenery . Your guide may leap off your raft onto shore and shimmy up a tree, chop down a coconut and serve it to you with two straws-all without breaking a sweat. I provided my own drink on this trip, a Red Stripe beer (recipe:one bottle of red stripe beer).

The Beaches of St Thomas

The Beaches of ST Thomas USVI

St Thomas is located in the US Virgin Islands. It is a picturesque
little island of only 31 square miles with many breathtaking beaches. As
for the first question people usually ask there are no nude beaches in
St Thomas as they are illegal. I have listed my most favorite beaches
and their individual attributes.

Magen’s Bay is the most famous beach on the island of St Thomas. The land
here was donated by the late Arthur Fairchild. It was a condition of the
donation to keep this area public therefore unlike many beaches in St
Thomas there are no hotels built overlooking this beach. It was rated
one of the world’s ten best by national geographic. In my opinion they
are right on the money. The water is calm and crystal clear. There are
small fish that swim along the shoreline but other than that you won't
see much in the way of sea life. Magen's Bay is not that great for
snorkeling. The beach area is equipped with washrooms and showers. There
are lifeguards on duty most days. There kayaks for rent to paddle around
the bay. You can also rent windsurfing and diving equipment. This is the
only beach in St Thomas that charges an entrance fee $3 for adults and
$1 for kids. Don't be scared off by this tiny fee the beach at Magen's
Bay is not to be missed. The view from the beach of the hillside is awesome.

The best kept secret here is an area known as Little Magen’s Bay. It is
on the right hand side of Magen’s Bay if you are facing out toward the
sea. If you walk around the beach past the rocky area you will come upon
a nice hidden beach area. The sand is talcum powder soft and the water
is shallow and bathtub like warm. This is the unofficial area that
attracts clothing optional sunbathers although this is strictly
prohibited in St Thomas.

Morningstar beach has gentle rolling surf. This allows for fair
conditions for snorkeling. Volleyball on the beach is popular here and
windsurfing too. The beach bar is available to serve you up the
requisite pina colada of every vacation. There are washrooms inside the
hotel that fronts the beach. The best thing about Morningstar beach is
that jet skis are available for rent here. Beware though there is little
to no shade at this beach. Generally this is not ideal for children due
to the distance of washrooms and lack of shady areas.

Sapphire beach had a darker blue water color hence the name. The sand
here is somewhat coarse and pebbly however the views overlooking the bay
towards St John are spectacular. This beach is good for water sports but
there is nowhere to buy food unless you eat at the hotel so bring your own.

Emerald beach is also known as Lindberg Bay. This beach is never crowded
so if you arrive by ship and there are many ships in port this is the
place to go for sun. The water here is calm but the snorkeling is not
good. Food is available from several restaurants and two hotels that are
on the beach. Restrooms and chairs are available for your use. You can
also rent windsurfing and diving equipment as well as kayaks. Iguanas
frequently sit on the rocks surrounding the hotels. There is also a
playground for children to enjoy very nearby. In my opinion this is the
beach to go to if you are traveling with small children.

Coki beach is located at Coki point. This is the best beach for
snorkeling in St Thomas probably because people visiting Coki beach are
supplied with dog biscuits to feed the fish. There is food and drink for
humans sold from food vans and restrooms on location as well as lockers
for when you are snorkeling. The water gets deeper gradually and is
clear. This beach area is a little more commercially developed than the
rest. You can rent a beach chair for the day. There are women braiding hair
and vendors selling t-shirts and souvenirs and the beach is small so be
prepared to turn them down firmly if you are not interested or you will
be annoyed all day.

St Thomas has many more beaches than these but these are the most asked
about and most frequented by tourists. They are also the ones that
ordinarily have taxis available without prearrangement to and from them.

The Sands And More Of Grand Turk Island

Just north of the Caribbean there is a dreamy place made up of 8 islands and numerous cays. The Turks and Caicos islands are located just south of the Bahamas and about 500 miles south of Miami,FL. The three most visited islands here are Grand Turk, North Caicos and Providenciales or Provo as it is commonly known. The entire island of Grand Turk is only 6 miles long and 1 mile wide. Recently a visitor center and cruise ship dock built by Carnival Cruise Lines have increased tourism exponentially.

The sand on the beach of Grand Turk is so soft that it feels like icing sugar on your feet. It passes between your toes like a feathery massage. It is pure white and glints like snow. Few things look so beautiful and delight the sense of touch as does this sand. While visiting Grand Turk as a port on a sailing of the Carnival Elation my family and I took an excursion on a semi-submersible craft. Our guides were asked how come the sands surrounding Grand Turk were so soft. We were all dismayed to learn that the sand is the waste product of the Parrot fish. The fish feed on algae that grow on the coral reef that encircle the island. Much coral is untouched because of the limited number of tourists that have been allowed to visit Grand Turk. The Parrot fish have teeth that extend down their throats that they use to masticate the coral into a fine mush in order to extract the algae. The part that is remains after digestion is powdery fine coral bits that become the beach sand we enjoy.

Parrot Fish

There is a spectacular area adjacent to Grand Turk Island known as the 7,000 ft drop. In fact the name of this area is the Columbus Passage. It divides the Turks and Caicos Islands from the Bahamas. This is a natural coral reef in the sea that is 0ver 180 miles long. Many varieties of sea creatures make this reef their home. If you visit Grand Turk in the spring you will likely see dolphins or sharks feeding on the smaller forms of marine life that live there. We visited in the heat of the summer and were able to view all sizes of stingrays in their natural habitat from our safe perch inside our semi-sub. We also saw many kinds of coral and gained a new appreciation for preserving these beautiful habitats.

So what is there to do here if you only in for a day on a cruise ship? For those of you who prefer a party there is a gigantic restaurant called Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. It is the biggest one in the Caribbean. It boasts a swim up bar and enormous pool area that can all be accessed by the whole family until the evening hours when it becomes off limits to children as the bar scene heats up. You can use a beach chair and the beach free as well. Many excursions are offered through the cruise lines and privately too.

For adventerous types you can learn to scuba dive and test out your new skills. For those already certified to scuba you are in for the treat of your life in the views you will take it. If you are like me and prefer to minimize your interaction with sea life but still want to see it up close and personal you can take a trip on a semi submersible that goes about 12 feet under the surface of the water. This excursion is often packaged along with a snorkeling trip. Blue water fishing is also popular pastime. Your line is rigged with bait to reel in Tuna, Blue Marlin, Mahi Mahi or Sharks. What could be more exciting than that?

So take a trip and enjoy all that Turks and Caicos has to offer and do it soon before the masses discover it and it becomes overcrowded like many other Caribbean locations that were once pristine. Just remember to take only pictures and leave only memories.

How To Avoid Sea Sickness On A Cruise

How To Avoid Sea Sickness On A Cruise

The pleasure of cruising along on open water with the sea breeze blowing at tropical temperatures is one that every person should be able to experience without the unpleasant side effect of nausea. I suffer from motion sickness from a variety of different sources. Even movement on a television screen makes me sick. Or when someone who is sitting nearby nervously shakes their leg. Elevator rides make me nauseous and horse back riding too.

I have been sick to my stomach on a small fishing vessel that I paid a fortune to charter so when my brother suggested a cruise years ago I thought to myself that I may have more fun jumping off the Eiffel tower. At least it would end. I have since traveled on many cruises without the troublesome problem of sea sickness. I want to share what I have learned so that you too can enjoying cruising as much I do.

The easiest and most economical way to stop sea sickness is to walk. This is what is meant by getting your sea legs. When you walk around a moving ship the fluid in your inner ear learns the motion of the ship in a controlled way. When you feel sea sickness coming on walk,walk,walk. The worst thing you can do is take to your bed. Lying down will make your nausea worse. Once your body becomes accustomed to the motion you will no longer feel ill and will be able to sit and lie down when you want to.

Another drug free way to curb your motion sickness is by wearing a Sea Bands bracelet or similar anti-nausea bracelet. The bracelet has a small bead on the inside that puts pressure on the inside of your wrist at the meridian located three fingers width above the crease on your wrist. This is a pressure point that will reduce nausea. Children and pregnant women can use Sea Bands as there are no side effects to this method. They are available at most drug stores. Buy these before you leave home and put it on before boarding the ship to be safe.

The use of ginger can help to reduce the nausea part of sea sickness but not the dizziness. Other herbal remedies have been tried but not scientifically proven to work. Staying above deck and getting fresh air will go a long way to normalizing your inner ear.

Cabin location can also be a factor in how much motion you feel while trying to sleep. Select a cabin that is in the middle of the ship both horizontally and vertically. If you pick a middle deck you will feel less motion from the sea and if you are close to the center of that deck you will feel less vibration from the engines and under workings of the ship.

Sail on a ship that has stabilizers. All of the newest mega liners have stabilizers that help minimize the rolling of the ship back and forth. Consider sailing on a ship that uses the Azipod propulsion system. All of the Carnival Cruise Lines ships have them. This system pushes rather than pulls the ship through the water which reduces motion and creates much less vibration. It also has the added benefit of allowing sharper turns for the ship without causing a lean.

Medications such as Dramamine or Gravol decrease nausea. You don't have to buy these at home as they are available on the ship at the pursers desk where they are usually given out free of charge. Unfortunately these drugs can make some people drowsy which does not make for an exciting cruise experience.

Ear patches work wonders to get rid of sea sickness. The trans dermal scopolamine patch is about the size of a dime and is worn behind the ear. It's effects last about 72 hours. This patch must be applied 8 hours before boarding the ship or you'll be playing catch up later. The trans dermal patch does have side effects ranging from drowsiness to dry mouth.

Even the astronauts from NASA have problems with motion sickness so you are not alone now are you weak and frail. Go on and book your cruise with peace of mind because now you'll be like me and everyone else who is openly addicted to cruising.

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