Visiting JA?

[Taco B]

Heard from more people that downtown Kingston is really not a safe place to visit. And I believe them for sure.
My hometown Amsterdam has some parts that are not very safe but these areas are probably very nice compared to the JA ghetto's.

[nattydread]

From my first time Visit to Ja recently, Kingston is not that bad how people make out to be. When I went there to visit family members, everyday me and my cousin were out exploring alot of the areas of Kingston, and he took me through Maxfield avenue, Spanish Town rd, some parts of the Waterhouse area and even some parts of Trenchtown which is an area where alot of people will tell you to avoid, and being a very light skinned guy, I got on well with the people in those areas mentioned. There are some areas that you dont go on your own especially at night but like they say, crime is everywhere. My inspiration on my visit was to see the real Jamaica and their way of life and I found it an amazing experience, and I am definately going back again soon. I would definately recomend going to visit Kingston to anyone who wants to visit Jamaica.

[Jah Glu]

That is a very interesting post nattydread. Especially because i always thought that as a white person, you could only be in the rich uptown areas which sounds kinda boring. I just thought that going into Waterhouse or Trenchtown even at daytime was like asking to be robbed.

[Nefta]

Why i don't feel that visiting any part of JA should be any trouble.Get robbed is a thing that can happen to you when you visit every part of the world like Mexico or Indonesia to mention a few.I believe that passing through the ghetto is the same in every island.For sure you have to be carefull but don't let the fear proyect itself to the people then like animals the weak get eaten by the predators.Even in your own country you know of places that are hot places and when to pass through.

[super_ape]

i've always wanted to visit jamaica but, besides not having enough money of my own to do so, i am turned off by the amount of crime. i am a skinny white fellow and have no desire to be targeted because of my looks.
i live in nyc and there are spots that are best avoided, but i have grown accustomed to such things, and often go about my own way with no worries, just be mindful of where you are and what you are doing.
but the ja scene seems much more violent and sketchy, obviously poor. i thought the bronx was bad, from vids that i have seen of kingston, i'd definitely want a guide if i took a walk through the parts of kton that i;d want to see.
anyone know about ocho rios?
ape

[darewon]

If you can avoid flying/out Kingston, try to fly into/out of Montego Bay. Kingston is a airport fraught with delays leaving Jamaica. I was stranded for two whole days, and believe me "Jamaica No Problem," means "Not My Problem" so getting help in that situation is a nightmare.

Be prepared to be charged more for taxis and anything you buy on the street. It's pure capitalism (like everywhere else) and people will charge you more to make more to survive.

Negril and the other resort spots are definately nicer and more tourist friendly. If you can I would visit a Maroon area (like Accompang). The mountain areas are treacherous to navigate. Whatever you do, do not attempt to drive in the mountains as there are plenty of tour buses that do so.

Also do not enter a taxi without a red license plate. Those are un-licensed and may get you into trouble. There are also vans doing this illegally with people crammed into them. Use your judgement.

Another thing, Jamaicans drive fast, lightening fast. There are funny rhyming signs all over Kingston warning of this.

My favorite experience was buying meats from a vendor in Old Harbor (or was it Harbor Bay?, I forget) while these cars converted into makeshift sound systems (the trunks filled with amps and speakers) blared classic reggae tunes. It was a much needed brake from hearing sound clashes from 2AM to 6AM nightly. And reggae isn't dead in Jamaica. There are classic radio stations, but no classic reggae clubs. Weekly there will be concerts, but mostly dancehall fare with the occasional oldtimers show. These are posted all over the telephone poles.

Definately find a local to take you about town. It really helps. I stayed at Mona Campus (as a graduate student) for a month and finding a local to take us about saved us from getting fleeced.

Check out the Reggae Explosion museum in Ocho Rios (same as the book). Bob Marley museum in Kingston.

Oh yeah, DO NOT, or resist going to a public market/flee market. They are out to get your money! Anybody want to buy a 60 USD carved rooster?

[Freddy C]

Ocho Rios is a convenient base from which you can reach a lot of different areas. When I was there I hired a little Suzuki Jeep (don't rent a saloon car with automatic transmission!) and reached most places from Ocho - Mandeville, Black River, Treasure Beach, Port Antonio, Montego Bay, even Negril.

If you have a long drive ahead, say Negril back to Ocho, set of early. I refuelled in Negril at 7am and reached Ocho Rios in really good time. This way you avoid traffic jams in Montego Bay.

Most of the tourism is centred around Negril, Mo Bay and the north coast - Runaway Bay and Ocho Rios but I'd definitely recommend Port Antonio for a visit. It's has a nice chilled vibe compared to Negril which is very commercial.

[Mr. G]

I was planning to go there with my girlfriend right after college, however a Jamaician friend of ours reccomended against it. He's been back and forth between Canada and Jamaica with his family a lot, and he said lately things are getting worse there. Even him, very dark skinned, born in jamaica (lost his accent though), told me about some of the trouble he ran into, all in the cities.

He reccomends that foreingers stay on the resorts or do the 'touristy' thing. I would have gone there purley for the reggae history and the beautiful country-side, not to lay on a gated beach. In the end I decided against it; a white guy and a chinese girl would stand out in a bad way in Jamaica!

Planning to teach in China instead, I'll be sure to bring my vinyl, have jamaica in my mind

Just my opinion...

[Taco B]

Mr G,

My wife and I made the same decision (after long discussion). For me visting Jamaica was purely for the reggae history, and visit some nice beaches and see some beautiful nature as well. Normally a little bit of danger would not put me off going. However the situation in JA seems to be getting worse and worse even for black people visting. Can you imagine two very white people from Holland?

Just out of curiosity: where in China do yo plan to go? I lived in Beijing in 1994/1995 and travelled Chian quite a bit.

[Mr. G]

Yes it was a hard choice for me as well, but better for the bank account I guess...

I'm not to picky as too where in China I go, but I hope to go to a small city in the south, maybe in Guangdong province. Plus my girlfriend is originally from a city (xinyi i think) in south Gungdong, so she hopes to join me and visit family(tu)

You're very lucky to have travelled China, I've heard its a very beautiful country. I would maybe visit Beijing, but wouldn't want to live there, waaaayyy to busy for my liking