My recent roaming adventure lead me to the beautiful island of Jamaica.
Being a native of the island, I always jump at the opportunity to return to and
explore the jewels of my country.
Jamaica is divided into 14 parishes -
Cornwall County : Hanover, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Trelawny, Westmoreland;
Middlesex County: Clarendon, Manchester, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Mary;
Surrey County: Kingston
Parish, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Thomas. On this trip I was able
explore 4 parishes, Saint James, Trelawny, Manchester and Kingston
Parish.
My adventure began in Montego Bay, St James.
Montego Bay is the capital of the parish of Saint James. It is the
second largest city in Jamaica and the fourth largest by population
after Kingston, Spanish Town and Portmore. Montego Bay is a popular
tourist area. I stayed on the
Hip Strip located along Gloucester Ave. The
Hip Strip is a long road with hotels, beaches, shops and attractions.
Some of the
Hip Strip attractions include
Margaritaville , Acropolis Gaming & Entertainment Centre , Doctors Cave Beach and local free beaches.
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| Free Local beach on the Hip Strip |
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| Free local beach on the Hip Strip |
Going to the beach is a must in Jamaica. The clear blue waters and beautiful sun rays make for a perfect day everyday in Jamaica.
Along the Hip Strip you can find beautiful hotels, restaurants and craft vendors.
Margaritaville was a delicious, exciting and entertaining experience. Now, normally when I return to my island I prefer to eat native foods. However, this time my pallet craved something different. I explored the tempting menu and was truly pleased. Each dish was prepared exquisitely. Although the entrees were familiar, each was prepared with Jamaican spices and flavors which created a unique twist.
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| Jimmy's Jammin' Jambalya | | | | | |
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Jimmy's Jammin' Jambalya was an extraordinary dish loaded with plump shrimp, chicken and succulent Jamaican andouille sausage simmered in a spicy (Jamaican styled) Cajun broth. Served on a fluffy bed of white rice. De-Lish!
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| Combo Platter |
The
Combo Platter was one of my favorites. This beautiful dish was comprised of half a rack of finger-licking baby back ribs, zesty blackened chicken and crispy, deep fried with rich flavor, coconut shrimp served with golden french fries. The dish came with two dipping sauces, tangy bbq and a spicy pepper sauce.
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| Cheeseburger in Paradise |
The
Cheeseburger in Paradise was exactly as described. I was definitely in paradise indulging in this scrumptious cheeseburger. It was a basic cheeseburger that I opted to have with crumbles of bleu cheese on top. What made the dish more delightful and fun was the guitar shaped platter it was served on. How cute and clever!
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| Cheeseburger in Paradise |
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| Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich |
The
Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich was a marinated chicken breast topped with smoke applewood bacon, Swiss cheese, creamy avocado ( known as pear in Jamaica), lettuce and tomato presented in between a soft pretzel bum. I love the concept of pretzel and bread combined. Delicious!
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| B.O.B |
This mamma jamma of a burger was a piece of beefy heaven.
The Bacon, Onion, Bleu cheese burger known as the B.O.B was a juicy full-flavored burger layered with smoked applewood bacon, onion rings, drizzled bleu cheese dressing, lettuce, tomatoes and topped with Gorgonzola cheese crumbles served on a buttery brioche bun. I know...that was a mouthful. A big savory, finger-licking mouthful!
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| Jolly Man |
The
Jolly Man is a fruity concoction busting with awesome flavor. It was a great companion to the delicious burgers.
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| Bananarama |
Bananarama was a scrumptious delectable dessert. It is stamped as the
Caribbean Favorite so it a must have when you visit Maragritaville. This glorious dessert was made with a perfectly ripe banana rolled inside a tortilla shell, fried crisp, topped with luscious chocolate sauce and served with a scoop of rich vanilla bean ice cream. Added as an extra special tasty treat were the freshly made banana chips and whip cream that garnished the dessert. Simply irresistible!
After a extraordinary meal, the fun adventures can begin. Margaritaville has a wild 120ft water slide that winds its way from the rooftop terrace and shoots you out into the beautiful Caribbean sea below. In addition there are two giant water trampolines and a huge water slide.
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| picture courtesy Margaritaville.com |
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| picture courtesy of Margaritaville.com |
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| picture courtesy of Margaritaville.com |
After an action packed fun filled day, Margaritaville offer dynamic nightlife. At night the restaurant is transformed into Club Ville and it totally comes alive. Nightlife includes a great mixture of tourist and locals. The deejays spin a great mix of reggae, dancehall, hip-hop and dance music.
So the next time you're in Jamaica make sure you stop by and visit the
Hip Strip. Great adventures await you that will be flavorful and joyous for the soul.
So.. Roam free and be inspired!
attractions on the
