One good thing about living in the US is that the Caribbean is so close. So, I decide to check out the ex British part of it- for the first time ever. So here are the good and the bad.
Good: Just two and a half hours from Atlanta.
The fresh air of the tropics. Really pretty natural scenery- very similar to the Subic Bay in the Philippines, but with more mountains. Not crowded. Been eating local food which is wonderful and typical Caribbean- yams, goat meat fresh chicken and fish, rice and beans, plantain bananas.
Lots of nice British colonial architecture- same thing that you see in India and Singapore. Many bright white and red buildings ala Bahamas.
Some unusual things- egrets walking the streets, pheasants walking around.
The Atlantic is so different from the Pacific- it's emerald with white caps all over and there's this great fresh air with a scent of iodine coming from it. The sand underneath is soft and yellow, no corals, no rocks.
Most people look like Black Americans- many are pure West Africans, some look like mulatto types with British/Celtic features but mostly just Senegalese/Nigerian like. Very friendly and humble and happy to talk to you. Sweet accents and gentle voices and demeanor. Unlike with Black ( and white) Americans, there is no ice barrier or deep suspicion of a stranger-" Hey mon! com'ere mon!" Everyone wants to be your friend and are approachable and smiley ala Filipino. So, there is probably no loneliness here for anyone as you can just walk up to anyone and strike a conversation. It's socially healthy.
There is virtually no homosexuality here- it's not tolerated so all guys are always slapping each other, there are Hi Fives and great friendship among men.There's generally a warm and friendly inclusive vibe coming from the people. There's also little or no racism against non Blacks. A great relief!
As one Jamaican told me- "We don't consider ourselves black ( or white). We consider ourselves Jamaican".
Been swimming in the sea with all Jamaicans around me and also in the pool and drinking rum all the time.
They take the Discover card- very few foreign countries do. The Internet and the Wi Fis are very fast and fully functional. Little to no downtime.
The girls are very friendly and not scared of strangers or foreigners. Local guys have more than one GF with kids from them. If you want a black African-looking girl with no toxic attitude, this is the place to find one. There is apparently no hostility from the locals if you do.
Bad: It's outrageously expensive. Almost the same prices as in the USA- maybe only 10% cheaper. Some items are even more expensive than in the US. I have no idea how locals can live here. Even a simple street meal is like $5 minimum.
Taxis have no meters and charge you $5 for a one mile ride.
A plastic cup of rum with juice was $5 dollars.
The immigration is really strict- asking you all sorts of questions, wanting to know so many things about you. I did not feel very welcome coming in. The disembarkation form is cumbersome and very long. The visa was for 3 months even though the immigration site says that we are to be given 6 months.
P4P- I visited a local massage parlor and it was on a hill overlooking the sea -ala Malibu- a nice building in a gorgeous location. They had a bar and a beer was $4 dollars. Two girls lounging in the chairs. The cheapest massage was for $40 but the special service started at $100 an hour. There was no air conditioning in the place.
Most hostels advertise deceptively lowish prices because they show double occupancy but you alone will end up paying $40 + for a small room with no a/c as most don't have it. So, it's a total rip off. Don't stay at hostels here. Might as well just add a bit more and get a hotel room.
The Jamaicans' language is Patois, and it sounds like a guttural W. African tongue which is totally incomprehensible to me. That's what they speak among themselves but use English with foreigners and in official situations. So, unless you speak it well, you will not really fit in.
They offer you illegal substances everywhere- on the beach, in the city, etc. I don't like that.
The girls are not that pretty- many fat ones with giant haunches. But at least they have no attitude.
Many places seem to close at 10 PM and there's no concept of room service at my hotel- they had no idea what it was.
Conclusion- a nice break from the matrix but I would not want to retire here.
