Lovely Jamaica

Upon my arrival I was lucky enough to get a ride with a couple Jamaicans out of Kingston across the island to the lovely hills of Ocho Rios. I was lucky enough not to be taken for all I was worth. Being alone and with two strangers from Jamaica, for two hours in a car with everything I own was a little bit risky but as always I roll on faith. My arrival was smooth and in perfect timing to catch Reggae Sumfest and some nice Caribbean sun and fun.

The farm here is lovely and overlooks town and the ocean. I have been working on some the unfinished projects that have got neglected and need a professional finish carpenter, or just someone to finish. This place is great.

I wish only I could really catch the essence of Jamaica for all of you at home. This is a place worth experiencing, just bring a friend or two. People here travel in numbers for a reason. Jamaica can be a dangerous but you just must look out, and be careful about what you do, when and how. Common sense is important here and you must just be on your game, whatever one you have to play.

People here are unique, colorful, assertive and even a little aggressive. Look out or you will be taken advantage of, this country depends on tourism and everybody has there way of making a little off us tourists.

None the less this place is amazing, colorful and full of experience the average visitor would never expect. Here you just have to be open and willing to go with what Jamaica offers you. Here the music does not stop, everybody plays their favorite tunes, there are live artists nearly every weekend and small festivals every other week or so. Jamaicans love to celebrate and live life to its fullest. I have been lucky enough to experience a lot of the best Reggae artists here on their own land where they are performing for their people, very different from what we get from the same artist at home. So far I have seen, Damien Marley, Beenie Man, Ninja Man, Richie Spice, Luciano, Lutan Fyah, Queen Ifrica, Capleton and many others. High energy and great performances. Something you just have to hear and see to experience.

I have made good connections here and the people I am staying with are great, well connected and very welcoming. The farm is organic, has great views and amazing potential as a model for sustainable living with Jamaica. It is a great place and now open to anybody I now and am willing to recommend. Let me know when you would like to visit.

Bless

Jamaica

So I made it here after all to Jamaica, the final wish and destination on this long adventure. I have now been here for about 5 weeks, and have enjoyed nearly all of it. Yes Jamaica can be a little rough but it is worth it. It is a place where you must just be on your toes, things move fast here, Jamaicans are creative people and quick, naturally.
This place is more than I ever expected it to be! The people are great, take a little warming up to but most people here I have found quiet nice, creative and simply unique. From Rasta to Rude Boy, people here live as they like, do what they want to "full-joy" life as they say. Instead of enjoy they fulljoy life, and it shows in their passion for music and dance, everywhere. People dance as they go and sing as they wish.
I have enjoyed many of sites in Jamaica and more than anything have just enjoyed living within a large family of Jamaicans up on Rocky Hill, the neighborhood village of a family whom has lived on the hill for nearly 150 years, 5 generations plus and has developed an community of peaceful living and unity within a country that often has a lot of troubles, violence and hard times.
I have learned an amazing amount about life seeing how Jamaicans persevere hard times in this land of beauty.

Panama City and the Canal

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I never thought I would actually see the Panama canal, as much as I have thought of it and marveled at what I knew of it. Yes, it is an amazing feat, and an engineering marvel. It is simply huge, and an wonderful example of mans ability to overcome all obsticals in order to achieve something we see as necessity. I spent part of a day watching ships come into the locks, drop or rise in elevation as water was pumped in or out, and saw them then pass on way further through the canal. Panama City is pretty amazing for a city, perched on the Pacific side of Causeway to the canal it boarders that water and its skyscrapers reach toward the heavens. This is known as the Miami of Central America and it does a good job of living up to its reputation.
Tomorrow I head to Jamaica. I will stay in touch and post as I can. For now I am on the move, to experience yet another place. Peace and love from the bottom of Central America

The Island of Ometepe

These pictures are from Ometepe, the waterfall was a good hike up one of the volcanoes. Connected with some other world travelers and had a good time parading around with them for awhile. One from Morocco, another from Spain, two from Holland and three from Australia. Pretty amusing group, we managed to travel for about a week together before going our own ways. Had a little time fro creativity in Nicarague and carved some pendants from slate with some special skills I picked up in Belize. I can´t wait to get a little more creative, hard to do away from home.

More Nicaragua

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These are some pictures from other parts of Nicaragua, a beautiful county with more to offer than you would expect. Great people, beautiful country, great beaches, good waves, volcanoes, gringos, and much other natural bounty. The city pictures were from the colonial town of Grenada, one of the oldest cities in the Americas, a lovely place with many kind people. Did not get to spend much time there but enjoyed what I could. Went to an amazing place called Ometepe. Two volcanoes in the middle of lake Nicarague, that connect to make the largest lake island in the world. As far as setting goes this was one of the most amazing settings I have ever experienced. A true treasure.

Surfs Up Nicaragua Style

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So I can surf after all, kindof. At least I can swim, avoid getting smashed into the rocks, and stay clear of major danger while trying to surf. After about 8 days of struggling to keep up with the real surfers I managed to drop into a wave and ride it out, now I know why people turn into surf bums. My goal is to try and enjoy surfing make it part of my life without becoming a total bum. I´m not sure if that is possilbe from the surfers that I am familiar with.
Nicaragua was an amazing place and spending it with good people from home made it a joyful experience. Not exactly authentic but great none the less. I managed to actually catch waves while out at a point break all by myself, the point break was a little more forgiving than the beach break that the boys wanted to surf, so they dropped me off, the boat that is, and left me to the sharks. I guess there is no better way to learn, sink or swim, all or nothing, good idea in theory. I was not proven wrong and had a great time all alone. Thanks buddies.

Nicaragua and Costa Rica

I just spent about 3 weeks in Nicaragua on the northern Pacific side of it and I am now on the southern Caribbean side of Costa Rica. I had a ton of fun with my home town surf buddies Bodi and Brandon, who showed my the whats what of surfing off the coast of Nicaragua. They were all catching waves while I was being caught by the waves and pounded into the surf. After about 10 days of trying to catch waves I was finally able to do so, drop in and ride them out. I now know why surfers are also addicts. Even missing waves can be enjoyed but catching them gives you a natural thrill that is hard to beat.

A couple of the last days on the water I was dropped off, by boat, at a point break outside of the river estuary, where I was left to myself to just enjoy what I could and learn on my own how to really be in the right place to catch them. After a short period of uncertainty I was able to gain comfort in being out alone while the real surfers caught waves on the beach at a more punishing wave, something I learned was a little out of my league. After getting comfortable I was able to catch more than a few waves and really enjoy my time out there alone.

After my stay with Bodi and Brandon I left and was able to catch a ride with other home town friend to Costa Rica, he gave me a ride as far as he was going and then I caught a bus to the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose. This town was huge, busy and a lot like San Francisco but Latino. For a big city it felt nice but being that I don´t really love cities I left the next day for the much more me of a town, Puerto Viejo. A small beach town on the southern Caribbean coast with a laid back vibe and beautiful beaches. Here you get a feel for the Caribbean flair that is up and down this coast, you also are able to see why people rave of the beauty here, it is pretty amazing, I tried to take some pictures today but my camera ran out of batteries after two pictures.

I could get used to this place, but I am making my way to Jamaica and need to be there in about two weeks. Being that I do not know how I am going to get there I´ve just got to keep rolling. I will head for Panama tomorrow, and hope to get to the Bay islands of Bocas del Toro and Bostamentos, hoping to pick a a ride to JA in some luxury yaught. Wish me luck..