Jamaica

There is a small island in the Caribbean that is one of the most popular countries and vacation destinations in the world. Though it is roughly the size of Connecticut, Jamaica still has a diverse landscape and offers many attractions to tourists.

The culture of Jamaica is very diverse due to the great amount of immigrants that moved there in order to try and find a better life. The most popular races represented are Africa Nations, Americans, English, Irish, Spanish, German, Indian, and Chinese. The African race if represented by the faces of people nine out of ten Jamaicans are black. African culture has also made a mark in the art, religion, and customs. The Spanish, English, German, and Irish influences can be seen in language, architecture, names, and governmental systems. Chinese and Indian influences are mostly represented through the food of Jamaica. So, if you travelled to Jamaica you could easily feel at home and not alienated from the inhabitants of the country. Commerce in local markets selling items such as shirts, food, crafts, and memorabilia and be made easy by Jamaica sharing the same language as America.

The most popular of destinations would have to be the gorgeous beaches that Jamaica has. There are even a variety of beaches on this tiny island. There is white sand to dark sand beaches, rocky beaches, coves, and some beaches even have waterfalls flowing onto them. The most popular beach is referred to as Dunn’s Beach or Dunn’s River Falls. This beach is located on the northern part of the island near Ocho Rios. There are tons and tons of natural mineral springs that are said to have healing powers. There are also many caves that can be toured and explored. Visiting waterfalls is also another natural wonder that can be appreciated in Jamaica. Most waterfalls are monitored by staff for safety reasons. You can swim in the pools created by the waterfalls, cliff jump, and cane dive at many of the waterfalls located on the island.
To experience a little more of the culture you can take a tour of places where pirates hung out and where slaves hid when they ran away. Jamaica also has a prominent night life. There are a great amount of night clubs where Jamaican dance and music can be experienced.

There are some fancy restaurants on the island where they serve the generic upscale dinner. To experience the best food you must go out into a local market and sample the street vendor’s food. There is an assortment of food served by street vendors; commonly served dishes are Jerk Chicken, Curried Goat, and peppered shrimp. Jerk is the most popular of these dishes. It is a spicy dish prepared a variety of ways depending on the region you are in, much like the way BBQ is treated in the U.S.A. Though it can be prepared different the key ingredients in all jerk prepared meats include, thyme, onions, pimentos and Scotch Bonnet pepper. Jerk is often served with a side of yams, sweet potatoes, or bread. Due to the spiciness of the food, Jerk is served with a Red Stripe Beer of coconut milk.
So if you are looking to really be integrated into the culture and customs of the destination you are visiting Jamaica presents a great opportunity to do that.