Rightly famous for its beaches and music,
beautiful, brash
Jamaica is much more
besides. There's certainly plenty of white
sand, turquoise sea and swaying palm trees,
but there are also spectacular mountains and
rivers, tumbling waterfalls and
cactus-strewn savannah plains. Far more than
just a resort, the island also boasts
vibrant towns and cities such as sprawling
Kingston, which inspired the music of Bob Marley and
countless other home-grown reggae
superstars.
Jamaica is a country with a swagger in
its step - proud of its history, sporting
success and musical genius - but also with a
weight upon its shoulders. The island faces
the familiar problems of a developing
country, including dramatic inequality of
wealth and social tensions that occasionally
spill over into localized violence and
worldwide headlines. As a result Jamaicans
are as renowned for being as sharp, sassy
and straight-talking as they are laid-back
and hip. People don't beat around the bush
here, and this can sometimes make them
appear rude or uncompromising. Particularly
around the big resorts, this direct approach
is taken to extremes at times, with
harassment reaching irritating levels.
But there's absolutely no reason to be
put off. As a foreign visitor, the chances
of encountering any trouble are minuscule,
and the Jamaican authorities have spent
millions making sure the island treats its
tourists right. As the birthplace of the
" all-inclusive " hotel,
Jamaica is well suited to those travellers
who want to head straight from plane to
beach, never leaving their hotel compound.
But to get any sense of the country at all,
you'll need to do some exploring. It's
undoubtedly worth it, as this is an island
packed with first-class attractions, oozing
with character, and rich with a musical and
cultural heritage; if you're a reggae fan,
you're in heaven.
