Dry Land Tourist Chronicles: Living IRIE

When you live on an island Summer never really ends....the days just get shorter....

At the end of August, I went on an excursion with my Rotaract Club to Irie River in St. Ann. I was super excited for the trip & I was not disappointed a bit.

A little about the Irie River....

"Irie River, formerly known as Irie Beach, is a true Jamaican Paradise and is widely known as one of our best kept secrets. It is located on a scenic section of the White River, in Ocho Rios, just 15 minutes upstream from the ocean. People come from all around the world to swim in our cool, clear waters and to relax and be amazed by our enchanted gardens.

Irie River has the atmosphere of a plantation-era bathing hole, Caribbean style. The sandy bottomed river flows gently through the park, allowing for safe swimming and visitors can bask in the sun on the grassy banks or relax in the shade provided by the lush tropical rainforest overhead."

OOTD: Benefit Play

My Rotaract Club in association with Royalta Production presented a benefit performance of  the gospel play "Yet Will I Trust",  April 26-27, 2013. I went to the April 27 performance & I enjoyed every minute of it! Aside from Tyler Perry plays, I have never watched much gospel plays so I was a bit apprehensive. I wasn't sure if I would relate but I did. It was a great performance and very relevant.

I got a lovely pair of  high-waisted shorts from my mom & so I decided to wear it to the play. Here's how I styled my shorts:

Shorts: Miss Rudy
Shirt:A gift from my Aunt
Slippers: Downtown ($600)
Bag: A Gift from my Mom


Thanks for Reading!

Dry Land Tourist Chronicles: Hollywell National Park

My latest trek took place on February 23, 2013,  to the Hollywell National Park, found in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park. My Rotaract club hosts an annual camping trip to Hollywell dubbed "Survivor". This was the fourth staging and my second Survivor. I have to get it out there from now that I AM NOT CAMPING MATERIAL......no way shape or form.

We departed from UTECH at 12 mid-day and it was an adventure. The day started with a few of my friends having to pick a car lock after another friend left his key in his car. I never knew I knew so many potential car-jackers ha hhahahaha.....better yet Jacks & Janes of numerous trades....locksmithing at the top of the list.

We arrived at Hollywell at around 2 PM or so and we started of the day with team challenges. We were split into three teams and the first challenge was to make fire. It was a great team building activity because we had limited options to choose from to make this a reality lol. The next challenged involved us running a mile away from camp to The Gap Cafe Bed & Breakfast. We had to take a picture of the team planking there & another at the Hollywell Sign. Points were allocated to the most creative pictures and the first teams to finish the challenge. This challenge proved how UNFIT  I am!

After resting a bit, we were then challenged to a balloon passing race. We first had to use our elbows then our knees. The first team to do so with without the balloon falling were the winners. Unfortunately my team wasn't the fittest or strongest but we were the most disciplined!

After the sunset the real fun began! We were lucky enough to have Ipods, Iphones & Ipads galore! so entertainment was not in short order. We also built a bonfire, played dominoes and Circle of Death (a very memorable drinking games which I will outline in a future post hopefully). We spent the latter part of the night talking and bonding.

This year we didn't opt for a cabin so roughing it was the order of the day! I can't believe I slept outside in a tent! Despite the backache, I had fun sleeping under the stars.

The next day we took a hike to the Waterfall on the property. I was very reluctant to make the trek but it paid off. Overall the experience was wonderful & I am anticipating next year!!!!!!

Here is a little video:

I recommend the Hollywell Experience to anyone! It is an amazing bonding & team-building experience. So try it with your family or friends! You won't regret it!

Thanks for Reading My Blog

Dry Land Tourist Chronicles: Mobay Take Duece

Hello World!

I am a proud Jamaican! I love being an islander and I love that my island is such a big melting pot rich in culture. This love of country has been the boost I needed to get to know it even better. Like any good relationship...you can never know too much about your partner (hahahahaha).

So last weekend I found myself in the Western End of my fair isle. I drove clear across Jamaica to simply spend time with my friend & fellow blogger Shani (sunipink.wordpress.com) & support the Rotaract Club of Hanover's Uniform Party in Lucea, Hanover! This was my first time in Lucea! *happy dance*

I took the bus from Downtown Kingston ($650 ride to my thing yo!) around 4:30 p.m. (I don't know why I  love night travels). I sat beside a Spanish man who spoke no English! Talk about communication challenges! Any how, the journey was quite easy except the Mount Rosser leg!. Lately, I've noticed that the trip up that winding road is becoming a task and a half....Thank Jesus I don't drive. I got to Mobay by 8:15 P.M. and the driver & conductor was so so so so nice! Everybody who knows me, knows I HATE the bus system...with a PASSION! So it was very refreshing to experience such politeness on such a long journey.

Instead of heading to Shani's house, I headed to the Town Centre to meet a dear friend. We had dinner at the restaurant Nyam & Jam near Baywest Shopping centre (I only know Barnett Street so I can't mention the street name). It's a restaurant I always passed on previous visits but I never thought to eat there, I usually stick to the usual fast food options like BK & KFC. After that Fried Chicken I had there I will definitely be eating there again.

Day 2 a.k.a PARTAY DAYYYYY started pretty mild. A friend did some errands in Town. We stopped by Whitter Village (I really love that place) for a little while before heading to my favourite food spot...WENDY'S! *throws confetti* After lunch (at 5 PM!), we headed to Dead End on Gloucester Avenue (Bottom Road) to catch the sunset. One word.....BREATHTAKING! Here are a few pictures from the day:

Loving my Glamhead (Thanks to my AMAZING PIXIE Ryan!)

Felt "Touristy" 

No outfit is complete without a smile!

Jamaica Land I love

Sitting by the water

Ms. SuniPink herself...LOVE HER!!!!

Beautiful Western Sunset

Heading to Sangster's Intl

Simply Beautiful

The night's main escapade was the Rotaract Club of Hanover's Uniform Party in Lucea, Hanover. I am a character sometimes...lol...so I decided to wear my little brother's Preparatory (elementary) school uniform and add my feminine touches. This was my first visit to Lucea, Hanover & I guess it wasn't much of a visit really because we got there after Midnight. The town was fairly busy as that time. Pantucky was fresh in the air and people were just lyming.

The party wasn't really my style but I made the best of it. Luckily, Miss Shani was all the entertainment I needed for the night! Nonstop vibes!

Sunday was a very exciting day because we ventured to the Loreal Makeover Tour at Fontana Pharmacy. We started the day with breakfast at Wendy's (I am so in LOVE!!!!). The Wendy's experience was a trip because of a very interesting Vybz Kartel & Gaza Slim music video which was daring enough to consider Scamming a form of Reparation *blank stare*. Anyhow.... the whole Loreal Experience was amazingly documented by Shani so check out her blog for that fabulous review & video! (http://sunipink.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/the-makeover-tour-studio-squad-loreal-paris/ & http://sunipink.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/larger-than-life/). It was a fun & somewhat larger than life Sunday afternoon experience.

Here is a little video of my trip. My cinematography skills are not the best but it was fun attempting it! I used Windows Media Maker because Adobe Premiere & I are still getting to know each other.

Unfortunately, I had to return to my fast -paced Kingston life. My trip to Mobay was yet again a wonderful experience greatly due to my dear friends Shani, Amani, Zaheer & Alwyn! Until we meet again Mobay...ONE LOVE.

Thanks for reading my blog!

They Say The Best Is From The West....

Last weekend was an AMAZING!

I needed a little break from the hustle and bustle of city life, so I decided to spend the weekend with my friend Shani (http://sunipink.wordpress.com/) in Montego Bay!

My journey started on Friday in Downtown Kingston; I decided not to opt for the Knutsford Express route because I don't think I need to pay $2500 for a $650 journey...lol. Anyhow....Downtown (as expected) was hot and miserable and the wait for a bus was long. 4 hour journey aside...when I got to Coral Gardens I was uber excited! It was the start of girl's weekend! The fabulous Miss Sunipink turned me into a dancehall diva for the night with the help of her trust make up kit. Thank God I know a MUA.

Every Montegonian I know declares that Friday night belongs to Pier 1. So...we kick started the night with a "Kingstonian" friday night ritual... a fast food run! After which we had drinks at the Wexford. Anyone who knows me knows that I love me a good bar and an even better bartender and the Wexford did not disappoint me at all.

At about 1 am we made our way to Pier 1. I am the worst dancer ever but turn on some music and i'm a dancing machine!!!!

Saturday was chill day, so Shani & I did the Bottom Road...the tourist way. And of course...we met some wonderful people. The afternoon, was spent at the Fairview Shopping Centre a.k.a "UPT Kingston." My taste buds had a field day at Cafe Blue and the Mobay Chocolate Company; and my inner Goddess had a field day at Fontana & Bohios.

The weekend offered well needed rest & fun....

Here are a few pics from the Weekend!!!

Make-Up Courtesy of Shani (http://sunipink.wordpress.com/)

Me (On the phone as usual) & Shani

Pier 1

Sitting by Margaritaville

Me & Ele

Kissing the Elephant

Fooling around in Fontana

Merry Xmas

True Words in Bohios