Yes, I am in Jamaica! The beautiful island of love. Or as I would rather say, the island of sun, sea, beach and good food. Just like Hawaii, I never really thought I would make it over here. But I did. An opportunity presented itself that I just couldn’t pass up on. My friend Victor, who I met during the Cannabis Cup 2008 when I had to interview Leon, invited me to come over to Montego Bay for the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival. The line up is too fresh for words, so I had to go of course!

On friday I flew to Philadelphia, where I had a night lay-over before my flight the next morning to Montego Bay. This actually came in handy cause this way I could leave my winter clothes that I packed for Philly & New York, at my homie Drew’s place. Drew picked me up from the airport and it was basically a wrap for me seeing it was late night already for me by the time we got to his crib. The next morning my flight was at 7.55, meaning we had to get up at 5 am. Mad love to Drew for getting up that early on his day off AND having to ice-free his car before driving me to the airport again.

Montego Bay. What can I say, absolutely beautiful. As tired as I was, I was very excited to arrive in Jamaica. So it happens in the line for immigration, I see these Blak Roc jackets a little ahead of me in the same line. The guys from Creative Control, Skibeatz, amongst some others. I had spoken to Chike online before we all flew out there, so that was a coincedence, but in the life of Pay, this always happens, not so much surprising anymore ha. We exchanged information but I will probably see them at the festival where they will be filming like myself.

The hotel I’m staying at is managed by Victor’s friend. The people here really do treat me like extended family from Vic. All so very nice and respectful, I couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay. The hotel is a walk away from one of the famous beaches in Jamaica, Doctor’s Cave, which is also a secured beach so it’s safe and you actually get served on the beach. =) That evening, Baba, “my driver” who also came to pick me up from the airport, took me to get the original Jamaican Jerk Chicken. Whoohoo!

On sunday my girl Mimi from London was arriving here. It was a last minute thing that we both decided was gonna be great, so we went ahead with it. Baba came and got me to get Mimi from the airport. We dumped her stuff at the hotel and headed out to get food and hit the beach. We found the Jamaican Bobsled Cafe and ate there. Shout out to my friend Malik! lol.

On monday we had breakfast at the Native restaurant, which is where they serve breakfast for the hotel guests. Its 2 buildings next to the hotel and it became my regular spot. Great food. But their orange juice is the best in the whole world (that I’ve tasted so far). I will definitely miss that when I leave. Oh and their garlic bread as well. So warm and fresh! Yep, definitely recommendable for whoever is going to Montego Bay.

Mimi and I decided to go to the beach early and lay out. We got there around 11 am and it was SO great to just do absolutely NOTHING for a change in good weather at a clean nice peaceful beach. The water was so warm, we didn’t wanna get out of it ha. I was too greedy to get a tan and actually got a sunburn. Not that bad but I was a red lobster with a terrible headache that evening. The red is gone now, but my skin is still a little hot and burning. Yep, that’s what you get Pay, for trying to get your original skincolor back. All that snow and ice made me even paler than usual. I feel halfbaked, but I’m definitely not complaining. I’m just a dumbass. lol (I used sunblock though!)

So basically we were at the beach all afternoon. By the way, the men in Jamaica get a mentioning in my blog. They are so aggressive with their approach. The first day when I walked to the beach alone, I swear it was one big road of cars hunkin their horns passing me by. Or hanging out their windows trying to holler. Baba explained to me that a lot of foreign women come here to hook up. Well, not Pay. But Baba also said that they don’t take “no” serious cause the women be frontin’ at first and then submit to the men. Again, not Pay. Let me leave this incident I had with a certain Jamaican man out the blog. Let’s just say, in the end I had to put him in his place.

When Mimi got here, it wasn’t as bad, cause you know, we’re a team. Ha. No for real, I guess it’s harder for them to approach two women instead of one. At the beach they can’t harrass you, there is security that WILL check if you’re ok and if necessary, will escort the harrasser off the beach. Anyway, I’m sure I will experience some more of this. But I’m getting used to already.

Mimi and I made The Native restaurant our “regular spot” lol. We had dinner there last night, in the middle of hummingbirds and big flying creatures that I still haven’t figured out of, what they are.

Today it was the first cloudy day. It even rained a little bit. But seeing I’m halfbaked, I wasn’t planning in going to the beach anyway. Donahue, the hotel manager/ Vic’s friend, arrived back in Montego Bay last night and offered to drive us around to see the area, seeing it was a cloudy day anyway. He took us to the Rosehall Golfclub (awesome ocean view from the mountain) and we drove through downtown Montego Bay, like the actual native area instead of all the tourist streets we are located in.

Mimi is leaving tomorrow, flying back to NYC. I will be leaving Montego Bay, driving to Kingston with Donahue. I am very excited about that seeing its a 4 hour drive straight across the country, the island, so I get to see a lot more beautiful things, even more than I already saw today. The nature here is so wonderful and the air is so fresh you wanna breathe extra hard.

Anyway, I type too much. Hence me putting my adventures down in parts cause else it would be books.  More to come up later, I got Kingston to explore, Vic will be there so I will finally see my friend again who made this trip possible. And of course, the Jazz & Blues Festival is coming up this weekend with a line up such as Babyface, Joss Stone, Erykah Badu, Tamia, Kelly Price, Deborah Cox and way more. I get to film and hopefully I get some interviews in while at it. Stay tuned!

Peace & Blessings. <3