Be Careful When Eating These 3 Jamaican Seafood

Jamaica’s rich marine ecosystem is a vital part of our cultural heritage, economy and environmental health. This vibrant underwater world is home to a diverse array of species, including the parrotfish, lobster and queen conch. However, these species face significant threats from overfishing and habitat destruction. To ensure their survival and the health of the broader marine ecosystem, it is crucial to avoid eating parrotfish and respect Jamaica’s closed seasons for lobster and conch. Today, let’s talk about the reasons behind these practices and their importance for sustainable marine conservation.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle20 Comments

How To Buy A House In Jamaica

No matter where you are in the world, buying a house is a huge undertaking as real estate is typically the most expensive thing one owns. What should be a rewarding experience can quickly become daunting or stressful if you’re not careful. Having bought a home recently, I thought I’d document the experience to guide other aspiring Jamaican homeowners. Here is my six step guide on how to buy a house in Jamaica for 2025 & beyond. NOTE: This article is NOT intended for professional advice.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle13 Comments

Tropical Terror: The Wrath of Hurricane Beryl

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 every year. Jamaica’s most devastating hurricane was Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, and as a child, it’s something all the grown-ups spoke about every time storms came up in conversation. I think they were all traumatized from the lack of electricity and running water for weeks as the country grappled with billions of damages and had a delay in restoring these vital connections. Jamaicans learnt a lot about how to prepare for hurricanes since then. My first hurricane was Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and I feel foolish that I’d wanted to experience one in my child-like ignorance; now I wish to NEVER experience one again. Since then we’ve had a string of other dangerous storms such as Hurricanes Dennis and Emily in 2005, Dean in 2008 and Sandy in 2012, but Beryl has surpassed them all.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle30 Comments

8 Ways to Beat the Heat this Summer in Jamaica

Every summer seems to get hotter and hotter in Jamaica, and you would be right! The hottest meteorological summer ever recorded in Jamaica was from June to August 2023 with an average daily temperature of 30.6 °C. The Caribbean region is one of the most vulnerable parts of the world to the effects of climate change. In Jamaica, like the wider Caribbean, we feel these effects in the form of heat waves, droughts, water scarcity, food insecurity and mountain wildfires. Hurricanes and flash floods may also become more intense. The heat can have deleterious effects on our health too, increasing our risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Some persons are at greater risk of being affected by the sweltering heat, such as the elderly, bedridden persons, infants, children, overweight persons and those with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.  As the summer heat intensifies, staying cool has to be a top priority. Whether you’re a local or visitor, these eight practical tips will help you beat the heat and enjoy our vibrant island life to the fullest.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle13 Comments

A Beginner’s Guide to Booking Foreign Trips

This is a question I’ve been getting with increasing frequency over the past few months, so I thought it best to write an article in case anyone else would like some help. Jamaicans have grown increasingly more curious about the world around them in recent years, and that’s wonderful to see given our visa-free access to 90+ countries on a Jamaican passport. I plan all my trips myself because it adds to the excitement, and I get to learn about the country I’m visiting in the process. I don’t consider myself an expert because as it stands, I’ve only been to 5 countries, but read on for my advice on how to book a good trip from scratch.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle12 Comments

Cold Weather: A Caribbean Girl’s Perspective

Today’s WordPress prompt caught my eye and it’s been ages since I’ve replied to one. My simple answer is no, but nothing in life is ever black or white. I experienced my first taste of cold weather a few weeks ago– my first time seeing or walking through snow or having to check the temperature before heading outside so I could know how layered I needed to dress. I cheated a little by visiting Ontario in spring, so the weather wasn’t as miserably cold as it can get but I experienced mostly single digit and subzero weather– a shock to the senses for a Caribbean girl who has never left the tropics. I was happy to return to the warmth and familiarity of Jamaica where the weather is either wet or dry, but here are the things I appreciated about the cold.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle42 Comments

Experience Jamaican Maroon Culture at These Three Festivals

Jamaica, with its rich history and vibrant culture, boasts numerous festivals and celebrations that are deeply rooted in its heritage. Among these are the Maroon Festivals which pay homage to the resilient spirit and traditions of the Jamaican Maroons – direct African descendants who escaped slavery and formed their own communities in the rugged interior of the island. The island’s three Maroon Festivals each offer a unique insight into Jamaica’s African cultural retention: namely the Accompong Maroon Festival, the Charles Town Maroon Festival, and Kromanti Fest. Here’s why you should pay these three festivals a visit.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle10 Comments

3 Jamaican Festivals Worth the Journey

The jewel of the Caribbean, Jamaica, is not only famed for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture but also for its lively festivals that celebrate the island’s rich heritage. Among the myriad of events that dot our calendar, several stand out as must-visit experiences for any traveler seeking to immerse themselves in the essence of Jamaican culture. I wrote about our annual Jamaican food festivals and music festivals last year, however there are some more experiences which didn’t fit into these categories but deserved the mention. Each of these 3 festivals offers a unique glimpse into different aspects of Jamaica’s soul, from its literary prowess to its sporting legacy. With that said, today let’s talk about three Jamaican festivals worth the journey.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle12 Comments

Shamrock in Jamrock: Jamaica’s Irish Legacy

St. Patrick’s Day is an annual cultural and religious holiday celebrated on March 17, and a public holiday in Ireland, Northern Ireland, some Canadian provinces and in Montserrat, the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean. It commemorates the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. While St. Patrick’s Day has religious origins, the holiday has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture and heritage where people wear green, decorate with shamrocks and often indulge in Irish whiskey and beer, particularly the iconic Irish stout Guinness. Jamaica does not celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in any shape or form, but since the holiday is just around the corner, I thought it fitting to share five facts about Jamaica’s rich Irish heritage.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle12 Comments

Embracing A Cottagecore Lifestyle in Jamaica

Cottagecore is a term I first heard late last year, and I instantly fell in love. I realize I was already living by and gravitating towards several of its principles for years; I just didn’t know about the terminology. For starters, cottagecore is an aesthetic and lifestyle movement of the 2010s which celebrates rural living and places an emphasis on nature, traditional skills, and a slower pace of life. In Jamaica, our version of cottagecore is ital– the lifestyle Rastas have been promoting since the 1930s which prompted them to move out the city, establish off-grid villages with their own schools and live off the land. Here’s what cottagecore is all about + how to embrace this lifestyle in Jamaica.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle12 Comments