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 | Adventuresfromelle8 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 | Adventuresfromelle10 Comments

5 Places in Jamaica Which Remind Me Of “Foreign”

For now, my travels have mostly been local because it’s cheaper, involves less planning, less packing and little to no time-off. It’s also very satisfying to explore my own home. However, I still dream of traveling to distant shores when the time is right and as such, I spend an enormous amount of time watching and reading about travel. During my local adventures and travel research, here are five places in Jamaica which remind me of foreign destinations I’ve seen online.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle12 Comments

Shafston Great House, Westmoreland

Great houses are remnants of colonialism in Jamaica, built between the early 1700s to the mid-1800s. A great house was the seat of authority on the plantation, home to its owner or representative. Generally speaking, greathouses had two floors typically made of brick or cut stone, but the second floor was sometimes constructed of wood. At slavery’s peak, there were about 700 of these homes across Jamaica but fewer than 100 remain today due to a combination of fires from slave revolts and eventual neglect or demolition by its owners. Exploring great houses may be seen as morbid given the ghastly history of enslavement they represent, but I enjoy visiting for the architecture. They also serve as a reminder to celebrate how far my people have come. With that said, here’s how I ended up at the Shafston Great House in Westmoreland.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle17 Comments

Five Museums You’ll Want to Visit in Jamaica

The island of Jamaica, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant music scene and rich cultural heritage, offers both locals and visitors the opportunity to delve into its history and artistry through its diverse array of museums. These museums provide a captivating journey into the heart of Jamaican culture, revealing the island’s colourful past and traditions. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the best five museums in Jamaica that offer a glimpse into the country’s dynamic heritage.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 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 | Adventuresfromelle11 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 | Adventuresfromelle8 Comments

Timeless Beauty: Georgian Architecture in Jamaica

Georgian architecture is a style that originated in the early 18th century in Britain during the reigns of the first four King Georges (1714-1830). This architectural style has left an indelible mark on the world with its timeless elegance, balanced proportions and classical design elements. Our colonial ties to Britain led to the emergence of Jamaican Georgian architecture during the late 1700s-1800s, with its emphasis on light and air, and modified to suit the tropical climate of the Caribbean. Despite the negative history attached to Jamaican colonial buildings, I still admire the timeless beauty of our surviving Georgian buildings. With that said, today I’ll share more about Jamaican Georgian architecture as well as nine surviving Georgian buildings across Jamaica worth visiting.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle27 Comments

What’s One Question You Hate to Be Asked?

Caribbean culture is quite intrusive and nosy so you’re bound to get uncomfortable questions and receive unsolicited comments and advice a lot. I suppose it’s the same in many other cultures too, but it’s a part of my culture which I can’t stand. For the most part, I’ve grown used to it but it still manages to catch me off guard sometimes. Relationships, marriage prospects, your fertility, weight, health, dress, hairstyle, skin, career, politics, religion, you name it– it’s not off limits in casual conversation at family get togethers or with coworkers, acquaintances or even complete strangers and my patients! In answer of today’s WordPress prompt, here’s why questions about career are the ones I hate to be asked about the most.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle41 Comments

Soaring High: Three Ways to Fly in Jamaica

Since the beginning of time, humans have been fascinated by flight– perhaps because we admire the talent of winged creatures who can take to the air with ease while we can’t. However, our greatest talent is the ability to use our brains to overcome physical limitations. Thus, the first successful human flight in a powered aircraft was achieved by the Wright Brothers on December 17, 1903 in North Carolina, USA. Fast forward one century later and now flying is seen as commonplace. Flights allow the fastest movement of goods and people, but can still be enjoyed recreationally. With that said, today let’s talk about three ways to fly for fun in Jamaica: through recreational flights with the Aeronautical School of the West Indies, through parasailing, and finally through paragliding.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle24 Comments