It's time to say goodbye...

Yes, it’s true, I am leaving Jamaica soon. It is time for me to come back home and start a new chapter! Just in time for winter! …And I don’t mind at all!

After the Holidays, I am planning to settle in Montreal, and work in the hotel industry again.

Yes, it does mean Erik and I will have to go through another period of long distance relationship! But after surviving the ultimate test of moving in together in this far-from-ordinary situation, we know that we are happy and strong together!

With all the time I had to think, I now know that I am someone who needs to be working to feel whole, gain a sense of accomplishment and independence. Lately, I also realized how many events and simple things I was missing back home: family birthday events, my great friends, my sister’s engagement, my best friend and her first baby (she is just the CUTEST), visiting my grandmother to support her during a time of grief… Being able to be there for them through good or bad times brings me a LOT of gratification.

After a year and a half spent flying back and forth between Canada and Jamaica, I can say that my life has changed forever. Living in Jamaica and seeing the things I saw every day, has brought me a new perspective on a lot of things. I had the chance to live a life I never thought I could have. I will always be grateful to Erik for this incredible experience and I am leaving the island with countless wonderful memories. Jamaica will always be part of our story and it will stay with us forever. It has not often been easy as it was my first real overseas experience. My journey had its ups and its downs but I am glad I managed to stay as long as I have. Even though sometimes my days appeared longer than they were, my time here has gone by really fast.

I still cannot believe I did not get into a car accident driving in the daily Jamaican chaos! I did however find a way to end up at the hospital once, but that was just because of my usual clumsiness. A few stitches later, I can truly say I’ve been scarred for life in Jamaica haha.

Of course there are things I will miss from my life in Jamaica…:

• Speaking in French with Erik and saying anything we want without anyone understanding what we are talking about! :P
• Opening the curtains of our bedroom to see the Blue Mountains every day.
• The awesome small group of friends I was just getting to know better…
• The 7 mile beach and the cliffs of Negril.
• A great list of restaurants in Kingston we made a habit of visiting every now and then… I know I will have cravings… :P
• Waking up late whenever I want… was the only thing I loved about not having a job!
• The Blue Mountain coffee mmmmmm………
• The night sounds that you would only hear in the tropics…
• Our dear housekeeper: Jennifer! She got attached to us like we were family and I will miss having great talks with her about Jamaica…
• The GOATS…hahaha especially the baby ones…! I never got tired of seeing them everywhere on the streets! They are just SO adorable and can surprise you with a dance or a jump or something! I am sure it would have been fun to have one at home! RIGHT?

But let’s face it…there are also things I will enjoy EVEN MORE in Canada after living in Jamaica:

• Feeling at home again!
• Shopping for groceries at a normal price with constant great products and UNLIMITED possibilities!
• The different seasons and wearing different styles with multiple layers!! :) (Only a girl would say that…I know!)
• Driving, knowing that most of the people ARE following the rules...
• Living in an accommodation without worrying about the bitchy ants or worse…the horrible cockroaches…
• My social life…or just having the chance to see my friends whenever I want to!
• REAL CANADIAN FRESH COW MILK!!!!!!!!!
• Drive-thru service everywhere!
• One word: Poutine.

Writing this blog started as a personal therapy and occupation but surprisingly, people loved it more than I could imagine. I received a lot of personal messages asking for more information. Most of them were relieved they found some about an outsider living in Jamaica since they were planning to move here for different reasons. I even got to meet new friends in Kingston thanks to my blog! I can now strongly recommend writing your own blog if you find yourself in a similar situation.

I would like to thank every single one of you, my dear readers. I will continue to update my Facebook page from time to time. I will also reply to your emails and try to answer your questions to the best of my knowledge. I also want to wish you happy holidays and may 2014 bring you everything you wish for as well as some good surprises!

As they say…walk good – (Farewell)!

YS Falls.

We all know about the famous Dunn’s River Falls, but are there really the best falls in Jamaica? No. There are too many tourists and vendors, high prices, and not enough to do on site. If you have one attraction to visit on the island, my personal favorite is the YS Falls!

This hidden paradise is located in the countryside of St-Elizabeth about 80km from Montego Bay and Negril. The Falls fee is only US$17 per adult and half price for children. You will board a tractor jitney that will take you on a 10 minutes ride to the waterfalls location. Welcome to the jungle! This amazing attraction has several features: seven waterfalls, natural pools, canopy tours ($), river tubing ($) and playgrounds.

Erik and I took my parents last year for this magical experience. We simply paid for the falls and we had so much fun! A guide led and helps us walk through the falls, informing us where we can jump or swim into the river pools and took great pictures of us (bring a waterproof camera!). 


Like any other similar activity, I would recommend water shoes, giving you a better chance not to slip and injure yourself. 

After enjoying yourself in the falls, you can choose to do more activities on site or just relax in the natural pools! You can either have your own lunch on one of their picnic tables or enjoy a light snack and beverage at the shop.  The YS Falls will always be a great memory for us and if you have the chance to go, I am sure you won’t be disappointed!

Toss and Roll

I have to admit, I love eating at the restaurant…a lot and I imagine a lot of you do too! Some of us, including me, are trying to control the damage by working out on a regular basis. You have to agree that when it comes to choosing what to eat, it is always difficult to go with the healthy option. For any restaurant, it is kind of hard to make healthy food tempting and fun, right? Not anymore! A new possibility is there to help us, here in Kingston now located on 75 Hope Road.

Toss and Roll succeeded to get my attention and I was already sold simply by their photos on Facebook and Instagram! Toss and Roll serves salads, wraps, fruit juices and much more. 

Small Sweet Chili Shrimp wrap with Honey Jerk Chicken salad and two Green Tea Coolers

Here are the best parts about this restaurant:

• You create your own meal by choosing your protein and their seasoning as well as your vegetables, cheese and dressing!
• All of their wholesome ingredients are from local farmers and prepared fresh every day.
• Just taste their Green Tea Cooler. Enough said.
• They deliver anywhere in Kingston! So even if you are feeling lazy you get to choose Toss and Roll over pizza!! YESSSSS.
• What more do you need? GO!

In conclusion, I think you should definitively consider supporting this small business and trust me you won’t regret anything when you will have your mouth full of fresh and delicious flavors and this without any guilt!

Here is their info, look at the menu and you will be craving it already:

https://www.facebook.com/TossAndRoll

http://www.iphoneogram.com/u/39731541

https://twitter.com/tossandroll

8/10! Enjoy!

CPJ Deli.

Did you know that inside the CPJ Market was a Deli serving breakfast and lunch? I had the chance to try it and I absolutely loved it! A big breakfast for two (2 omelets with English muffin, pancakes, extra bacon and sausages, coffee) costs near JM$2000 which is less than most of the restaurants in the area. 

The free Wi-Fi and the comfortable seating make it another nice spot to work on your laptop. The only thing I did not like was the fact that the meals are served with plastic cutlery on cardboard plates. But the food, the service and the look of the place made me feel good about the Deli, almost as if I was in a regular breakfast restaurant. One other thing: If you order the pancakes…know that they are HUGE. You will also find on the menu: fresh pastries, quiches, soups, salads, sandwiches, pastas, meats, cheeses and much more! After you enjoyed your meal, you can even shop for groceries or just bring back home a bottle of wine and some snacks from the CPJ Market! 8/10

For my fellow expats new to Kingston.

New to Kingston? Here are a few tips on how to get by for your basic requirements. These are all places or services I can personally recommend but of course there is more for you to discover. :)

Which provider to use for your cellphone services:

• Lime http://www.time4lime.com/jm/
• Digicel  http://www.digiceljamaica.com/

*Both companies are good. They always compete with each other to offer the best prices, you can choose the one who fits your needs better.

• For your TV, landline phone and Internet services, the only existing major company is Flow. http://discoverflow.co/jamaica

Where to buy your groceries: (You need to have a few options since sometimes only one of them has the ingredients you want)

• My personal favorite: Loshusan Supermarket at the Barbican Centre > 29 East Kings House Road
• My second choice: Sovereign Supermarket at the Sovereign Centre > 106 Hope Road
• Other option: John R Wong Supermarket directly in New Kingston > 1-5 Tobago Avenue (can have a lot of people begging for money at this one though).

Wholesale clubs:

• MegaMart (annual membership is JM$1200 but you can also pay without having one) > 29 Upper Waterloo Road
• PriceSmart (annual membership is JM$3000-3500) > 111 Red Hills Road

Specialized food products:

• CPJ Market > 71 Lady Musgrave Road
• Uncorked > 29 Barbican Road
• Fromage Gourmet Market > 8 Hillcrest Avenue

Where to shop for clothes, shoes and more:

• The Village Plaza and Tropical Plaza (Pumas, Adidas, Payless, Xtras, Go West, Rituals…) > Constant Spring Road
• Sovereign Centre > 106 Hope Road

Drugstores:

• Monarch Pharmacy * You can find them at the Barbican Centre, the Sovereign Centre and at the Tropical Plaza.

Health care:

• Winchester Medical Centre >  3A Winchester http://winchestermedicaljm.com/
• Andrews Memorial Hospital > 27 Hope Road http://www.amhosp.org/index.aspx

Where to get in shape:

• Chai Studio > 88 Barbican Road in the Barbican Business Centre http://www.chaistudiosja.com/

• Core Fitness > 29 Barbican Road http://www.corefitja.com/

• Spartan Health Club > 9 Lady Musgrave Road http://www.spartanhealthclub.com/

Where to go to the movies:

• Palace Cineplex (Only 2 theaters but greatest location) > Sovereign Centre 106 Hope Road
• Carib 5 (Much more like an American movie theater but less attractive location) > Cross Roads, Kingston 5

http://www.palaceamusement.com/

Hardware stores:

• Super Valu Home Centre > 137 Old Hope Road
• Rapid True Value > Sovereign Centre and The Village Plaza

Furniture stores:

• Courts > Hope Road in front of Sovereign Centre
• Singer > 21 Constant Spring Road

I hope this post can help anyone moving to Kingston feel more comfortable getting out there and explore the city for your simple needs. Remember to look at my restaurant reviews, and Kingston related posts for more activities!

http://isabelleinjamaica.blogspot.com/p/restaurants-reviews.html
http://isabelleinjamaica.blogspot.com/2013/05/one-day-visiting-kingston.html
http://isabelleinjamaica.blogspot.com/2013/04/lime-cay.html

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http://www.facebook.com/isabelleinjamaica

Second chance to Rooms On The Beach, Negril.

In last June, I had the chance to reunite with a good friend from Canada who decided to visit us in Jamaica. Gabrielle started travelling not so long ago and loved everything about it so she was really excited to see this island. Even though I warned her about our location and that the weather could be affected by the Hurricane Season, she still wanted to come.  It rained almost every day in May so I was pretty scared it would be the same in June but as soon as she arrived the Sun came back. It was perfect. Having someone who enjoys discovering a new country made me relive my first moments here in Jamaica. So of course I took her on a road-trip to Negril! I decided to give a second chance to the Rooms On The Beach resort. I am glad I did. It was a completely different experience than what my friend Laurence and I previously had in March. Since Gabrielle and I now stayed in the low-season and the hotel was almost empty, we were upgraded to an Ocean Front King bedroom with a huge balcony! 

 

The only thing was that our patio door did not lock. The pool was closed for treatment for our two nights stay but this time it was not an option as the beach was picture-perfect. Because the hotel was not busy, we had better service at the front desk and at the restaurant for complimentary breakfast. So after this second experience at Rooms On The Beach Negril, I would now definitively recommend to stay there in the low-season or if you request an Ocean Front room. It is THE place to go when you are on a budget and you have a rental car to enjoy Negril by dinning out of the resort. I would rate this second stay an 8 out of 10.

*Great restaurants from a walking distance: 
- Café GOA (street side) : breakfast all day and more!
- Kuyaba (beach side)
- Italian Café (amazing lobster and pizza!)

*Great restaurants to go to if you have a car or if you are willing to take a taxi:
- Rockhouse (main restaurant by the cliffs...amazing view!)
- Rick's café (for a lunch, drinks and cliff jumping)

Dinning out at The Rockhouse restaurant by the cliffs

Grill 71.

The nicer decor is sitting outside the restaurant.

Last weekend, we tried this new restaurant located in the Courtyard on Lady Musgrave Road, Grill 71. On a Saturday evening at 7PM, we were the only clients in the restaurant. The blinds were closed and there was no music, it was kind of sad. The general look of this place reminded us of an American Dinner but with a modern look and minimalist décor. We were not sure about it but decided to stay and give it a chance. 

The music started and some old hits played, it gave a little bit more life to the restaurant. Fortunately, the menu does not match the appearance and ambiance of the restaurant. I would have like to try a lot of their dishes. We ordered the Pulled Pork Spring Roll to start which was good. Erik had the Moroccan Lamb Burger with fries and I was curious about the Asian-Style Salad with cranberries, almonds and sesame seeds. We were pretty satisfied with our meals but rather disappointed with our restaurant experience. Grill 71 offers the take-out option and regrettably, I think this is the best possibility that we eat from that restaurant again. I feel bad but I would rate this one 6 out of 10. 

Frenchman's Cove

If you ask me which is my favorite beach in Jamaica? I would answer Frenchman’s Cove for sure. Unfortunately, the road to get there is as long and difficult as any path from Kingston to the north coast, but this particular drive always seems longer than it actually is. Maybe it has something to do with our misadventure with flooded roads back in 2012 or the fact that it starts with a painful drive through Stony Hill. But once you have reached the heart of Port Antonio, Frenchman’s Cove, nothing else matters…you are now in paradise! This place is amazing, peaceful, breathtaking and certainly special. Why? Because of its remarkable scenery, an opening in a rock wall creates this private white sand beach settled at the outlet of a fresh-water stream. 

This makes the nice blue water refreshing and cooler but who cares…it is so hot in this country! Frenchman’s Cove Beach sometimes becomes a natural wave pool and everyone enjoys spotting the next big wave and screaming when it finally reaches them. A restaurant by the beach offers a great option for lunch, simple Jamaican food. We tried the resort last year because of Mother Nature and we did not like the rooms in the Great House but the Villas by the cliffs are really interesting to me. Maybe we will give this resort a second chance in the near future; it will give us the chance to enjoy the location more than usual and not have to drive back on those roads so soon. This beach is unbelievable; you must go if you have the opportunity!

Redbones Blues Café

If you are in Kingston and you absolutely want to get a taste of the Caribbean cuisine, Redbones Blues Café is your best bet. The intimate setting of the terrace plus the relaxing Blues and Jazz music is the perfect combination for a lovely evening. You won’t regret ordering the Callaloo Strudel, the Grilled Baby Lamb Chops, the Lobster and Three Cheese Ravioli or the Chicken Breast Stuffed with Callaloo and Jerk Spiced Cheddar. But honestly, everything we try at this restaurant turns out to be amazing too! Most of the plates are served with the best potatoes you’ll ever have in Jamaica and…well…vegetables haha. Just talking about it makes me hungry! This place also hosts cool live music shows every week. While staying in Kingston, you now know where to have an unforgettable meal! I would rate this fine dining restaurant 9 out of 10.

Caffé da Vinci

Caffé da Vinci is the Italian restaurant in the Courtyard Marketplace. This restaurant has a chic décor, a great selection of wine and appealing menu. From pasta to pizza, everything is delicious! Pizzas are at a really reasonable price! The service is always flawless. My personal suggestions are the Tricolore Pizza, the Risotto di Mare and the Ravioli Al Ripieno Di Fromaggio. Mmm mmm MMM!! I would rate the restaurant 9 out of 10.

Chilitos

If we don’t know what to eat for dinner, Chilitos is always a nice solution. On the way back from Erik’s work we love to enjoy Mexican food while the rush hour traffic passes. It is our favorite spot for a cheap, delicious but not so healthy meal :P. They have different type of music playing taking part in the cool ambiance. Service is good. Food is great for value. Our favorite items are the Gorditas, Nacho Supreme, and Chimichanga. Chilitos is also the place to drink a Corona instead of the usual Red Stripe, but they also offer Margaritas, Olé Olé!! Erik is always asking me when will be our next visit at Chilitos so from time to time I force myself to go with him ;). I would rate this unique fast-food restaurant 8/10.

One Year in Jamaica.

It’s already been one year since I moved to Jamaica. AND I’M STILL HERE!!! Haha I really did struggle for the first time with adaptation by moving into this country. There were a lot of changes I had to deal with. Anniversaries like this one often bring mixed feelings for me. I don’t regret a thing, I love being with Erik and I cannot imagine it any other way. Even through my darkest days, Erik was my daily dose of happiness and comfort. I will always be grateful to him making this all possible. This experience will always be a part of us. It is an unbelievable chance we have and our future will make this worth it. We still have a lot to discover here, a lot of memories to make. Jamaica will always be full of surprises! I still cannot believe what my life has become. We don’t know how much time we have left here, we don’t have any official plans but we know that life already has a lot of them for us and we have to appreciate this time of liberty. 

Tea Tree Crêperie

Fully loaded Brunch Crêpe

Erik and I are breakfast lovers. We feel that every restaurant should offer breakfast at any time of the day. We were a little disappointed with the lack of choices for breakfast options here in Kingston. Of course, there are the restaurants of the hotels in the area but they do not have the same feel as a little breakfast eatery. Thank god… or should I say thank Maree and Carrie for Tea Tree Crêperie! This spot is now a regular weekend stop for us. From sweet to savoury, you can even build your own crêpe, but trust the famous recipes and you won’t be disappointed! A must would be their number one seller the Smoked Marlin Crêpe and for a sweet delight our favorite is the Strawberry Cheesecake Crêpe. If somehow you don’t like crêpes, they also make omelets, quiches, salads, soups and more. Indulge your breakfast with a special coffee or a Magic Mint Limonade (Magic for adults only ;) ) and you wish all your mornings were spent at Tea Tree Crêperie! You can find this treat waiting for you at the top of the stairs at 8 Hillcrest Avenue. They are opening soon in Montego Bay and have other projects even in Toronto, Canada! I would rate this one 10 out of 10 for sure. 

http://www.teatreecreperie.com/

Bamboo Blu, Ocho Rios

We found a new spot to enjoy a day at the beach! Bamboo Blu is an oceanfront restaurant in Ocho Rios, who also offers the beach experience. Lounge chairs are 5$ each and for a romantic setting they also rent cabana beds from 20 to 30$! Wi-Fi is complimentary. The restaurant has a good menu although some items are kind of overpriced. The staff is fun and the service is great. The beach is remarkable. The blue water and the warm breeze makes you appreciate this relaxing time. I would definitely like to stay one evening just for the bonfire! But I know we will go back! To get there, turn right next to the RIU all inclusive where you have to go through the security gate of Mammee Bay Estate, a little bit further on your right you’ll find the gate of Bamboo Blu. Open every day from 10 to 10. I would rate this restaurant 7 out of 10. 

Café EITS

Café EITS (meaning Europe in the Summer) is a great spot to have lunch and escape the busy city on the weekend. It can take you from 35 to 40 minutes from Kingston through Papine and the mountains up to Newcastle, past Irish Town. Once you arrive and select your table, you can relax in the peaceful setting of the restaurant. The menu is always changing and offers different delicate and tasty food.  We never leave unsatisfied of our choices.  The food is absolutely worth the difficult drive to get there. If you see the Salmon Terrine, the Fish Tea or the Blue Mountain Coffee mousse on the menu, no need to hesitate, those are amazing choices that I completely recommend. The place also includes a guesthouse, an art gallery and a small boutique. I would rate this small restaurant 7 out of 10.

Tracks and Records

We really enjoy the Usain Bolt’s restaurant, Tracks and Records. It is the greatest sports bar in Jamaica for sure. I love the decor and the booths with the interactive touchscreen table! You can play games while you wait for your order, or even place your order directly on the table. We also have a favorite appetizer at T&R, it is the Jerk Chicken Spring Roll! This one is very spicy but it comes with a fresh and creamy sauce to calm things down. You MUST try it. Our favorite items on the menu are the Jerk Chicken Quesadillas, Red Peas Soup, Mac and Cheese Crusted Beef Stew, Gourmet Ham and 2 Cheese Toaster, Escoveitch Fish Sandwich and Crispy Chicken Sandwich. Service is always good. They also have a souvenir boutique if you want to bring home a Usain Bolt item. I would give this restaurant 8 out of 10.

East Japanese.

Our favorite restaurant remains East Japanese. We LOVE sushi. We tried a lot of sushi places back in Canada and none of them compares to the quality of East Japanese at the Marketplace. You can see the Japanese Sushi Masters making your food with amazing skill. We usually always take the same appetizer and sushi. For starters, the Fried Spicy Tuna is a must. It is so spicy I have to drink 2 glasses of water, one beer and take a first sushi to put out the fire in my mouth haha. I keep ordering it just because it is SO good. For sushi, try the East Rock N Roll, Spicy Philadelphia Roll, Fire Roll, Andrew Special Roll and of course the AC Roll is a classic. The service is always perfect when we have our favorite waiter who knows us so well we don’t have to order beers and appetizers since he already did as soon as we walk in. This restaurant is our treat once a month and we crave it all the way until the next visit. I give it a 10 out of 10.

Jamaica and its beautiful people.

I love taking photos of random people on the streets. I always think it looks amazing to catch them in their own moment. Here are some of the shots I took on one of our road-trips.

Little boy dancing

Old age and youth

Rick's Cafe diver

Famous Ciiiiigarette Man in Negril