Dining At The Gap Café

The entrance of The Gap Café

Tucked away deep in the Jamaica Blue Mountains is a small cafe called The Gap Café. This quaint rustic restaurant is located in Portland Gap, twenty one miles away from Kingston. However, the journey certainly feels longer as the mountain road to this well elevated restaurant in narrow, windy and is a very rough ride, so you may want to prepare your self mentally for this long drive. Nevertheless, if you are longing for rustic dining in the clean mountain air away from the noises, the hustle and bustle of city life then this journey will worth the trip.

Directions along the winding road.

Milestone at The Gap Café

Driveway to the café from the road

The rustic charm and board structure of this restaurant and cafe definitely blends in with the natural look and feel of it's rural location and is reminiscent of a old country house. It is perched on the side of the mountain overlooking the lush green forrest that carpets the Blue Mountain Range, perfect for that rural dining.

The back balcony or The Gap Café

One of the many plants outside the café

View of Holywell from The Gap Café

Once you enter the cafe you cannot help noticing the blue and white inside of the main inner dining area and lobby is decorated with white and cream furniture with framed pieces of Jamaican history mounted on the blue board walls. If you are looking for even more of a natural rustic dining experience the balcony overlooking the blue mountains will definitely fulfill that desire.

Interior of the café

Interior of the café

The food was pretty good, and I especially enjoyed the oxtail which was season to the bone, full of flavour and the meat fell right off the bone with stroke of a knife. My dinner date had a variation of Chicken Cordon Bleu, chicken breast stuffed with callaloo and cheese.

Chicken Cordon Bleu with Rice and Peas

Oxtail with Rice and Peas

My highlight of the evening though was the French Pressed Blue Mountain Coffee which was absolutely delicious with that wonderful freshly brewed coffee aroma. We had it with a slice of chocolate cake which was not as wonderful as I had hoped but definitely the coffee made my day.

French Press Blue Mountain Coffee

French Press Blue Mountain Coffe and chocolate cake

If you are looking for a good drive out in the hills on a Sunday evening and want to dine in a rustic country atmosphere then The Gap Café is worth a try. And be sure to end your evening with some French Pressed Blue Mountain Coffee!

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Pastor Brown's Artistic House

The view of Pastor Brown's house and park taken from the main road

Several weeks ago on my way to Portland I again saw one of the most unusual houses I've ever seen, a site I normally see while traversing the route between Kingston and Port Antonio. However, as I had the time and my trusted camera in hand I decided to stop, for the first, to take a closer look at what seems like a prominent landmark along that route.

Some of the structures in Pastor Brown's attraction

Another view of the museum/park along the main road

A photo of Pastor Brown's throne

Wooden animal figure in Pastor Brown's park

I pulled over on a somewhat narrow soft shoulder long the narrow winding road of Black Hill district in Portland, and went over to investigate the very colourful house across the valley and the equally colourful and interesting structures and signs that lined the roadside in front of the house. There were several colourful items in what seemed to be a mini museum with many colourful creations including a colourful bench, wooden figures depicting different animals, an impressive structure that looks like a combination of a throne and a gazebo, several other unusual pieces, seemingly cryptic signage and of course two Jamaican flags.

Pastor Brown posing in his throne structure

Pastor Winston Brown posing proudly beside his photo that he took at the Royal Palace in London

While I was there looking and taking a few photos I heard a voice beckoning to me from one end of this makeshift roadside museum. It was an elderly man clad in a light blue bush jacket and dress pants with a full head of grey hair signifying his crown of old age. He introduced himself to me as Pastor Winston Brown and proceeded to give me a tour of his mini park and tourist attraction. The 81 year old man walked me through his handy work like a proud father as he explained his masterpieces to me and told me of his journey to London England where he met the Queen during his younger years. He was especially proud of his prominently displayed photo which documented his trip to London and the Royal Palace. But the tour didn't end there!

A view of Pastor Brown's unusual house from the foot bridge

Pastor Brown's colourful and unusual house

After showing me some of his art work and posing for a few pics beside them, Pastor brown invited me to take a closer look at his very colourful and unusual house. So a bit apprehensively I followed him down the valley and crossed over the small spring on a narrow foot bridge that he himself built. The unique house sits on the opposite side of the valley and overlooks his mini park and the main road. This impressive two story building is reminiscent of a castle and is adorned with many colourful tiles, drawings, including one of a rainbow and other decorations which set this house apart from any other house I have ever seen! He also introduced me to his wife who was sitting on the veranda of the house looking on. They were both kind enough to pose for a photo while they told me more about their fascinating place of abode. 

Pastor Brown and his wife posing with two of his photos

After giving them a "smalls" I told them farewell and left behind a true testament of pure Jamaican creativity, however eccentric it may be. So if you are on your way to Port Antonio be sure to look out for this striking house along the Black Hill main road, it shouldn't be hard to spot!

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Kuyaba - Negril Beachside Dining

The Kuyaba sign at the entrance of the property

On a recent trip to the popular Jamaican tourist destination, Negril, I stopped by Kuyaba for lunch. Kuyaba is a hotel and restaurant that lies right on the beautiful seven mile beach of Negril. The rustic wooden structures of the property gives the feel of being at a real island getaway at a remote location on the beach.

The view of  Negril beach from the Gazebo at Kuyaba Restaurant

The view of the deck and thatch roof of Kuyaba Restaurant from the gazebo

The wooded structure and thatch roof of the restaurant gives the place that relaxed feeling and complements the whole idea of dining on a beach. The restaurant consists of four areas: a covered dining area which sits under the large thatch roof; a bar which is also located under the thatch roof; a large outdoor balcony for those who want a real outdoor dining experience; and for those who like a little exclusivity and a great view of the beautiful Negril beach there is a gazebo that seats four and overlooks the restaurant and beach. All dining areas however provide a lovely dining ambiance as one's senses are stimulated by the gentle sea breeze and the soft crashing of the waves of Caribbean Sea. Nevertheless, there is no guessing where I decided to have my lunch! Up in the sky baby!

Grilled chicken wrap and a serving of fries

Grilled chicken salad served with a tasty dressing

Freshly made fruit punch with Jamaican rum

After being ushered up to the gazebo by my waitress for the day and perusing the lunch menu I decided to try the grilled chicken wrap while my date for the day tried the grilled chicken salad. For drinks we had freshly made fruit punch with some good old Jamaican rum and piña colada respectively. The wrap  was made with fresh vegetables and succulent grilled chicken strips and a creamy sauce, served with a side of crispy fries. The grilled chicken salad was also made from the same fresh garden vegetables and tender grilled chicken, but the highlight was the tantalising sauce that was served along side the salad. Both dishes were very tasty and combined with the view and gentle breeze made a wonderful lunch experience!

Buddy one of the birds at Kuyaba

Charlie one of the birds at Kuyaba

This was not my first visit to the restaurant as I have had dinner there once while in Negril for a destination wedding. I indulged in one of their pasta offerings and I was not disappointed as it was quite a tasty meal. Kuyaba restaurant serves all three meals of the day: breakfast, lunch and dinner and at a very affordable price! Don't worry about gaining a few pounds after indulging in what they have to offer as the beach is right there for those who want to take a swim in the beautiful blue Caribbean Sea that caresses the lovely white sand Negril beach. So if you happen to be staying in Negril or passing through Kuyaba restaurant is definitely a stop worth considering! And don't forget to say high to Buddy and Charlie, the resident birds, while you are there!

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Faith's Pen - The Jamaican Food Stop

Faith's Pen lay-by

For any Jamaican who travels the main route between Kingston and the resort town of Ocho Rios and the rest of Jamaica's north coast Faith's Pen is a well known rest stop to sample some Jamaican cuisine. Faith's Pen is located along the man road between the rural communities of Mt. Rosser and Moneague and consist of several shops serving up a variety of our local cuisine.

Cow Cod Soup

This lay-by offers the weary traveller a safe place to park, after traversing the winding roads, and take a break to sample some real Jamaican country cooking. The over 20 twenty shops are certainly adequate to satisfy the palate of even the most picky eater as they serve up an abundance of dishes ranging from soups to local proteins and starches. What do they include?

Food vendors preparing several local foods on wood fires and  grill

For starters there are several Jamaican soups ranging from the staple chicken soup and mannish water to the exotic cow cod soup. After belching off the gas with your choice of soup you can feast on jerk pork, jerk chicken, steamed fish, roast fish, roast yam, roast saltfish, roast fish, boiled corn, roast breatfruit, bammy and festival! Thirsty? Well the vendors can certainly quench your thirst with the world renowned Red Strip Beer, an assortment of soft drinks and for those looking for an extra pep some Jamaican roots wine.

Jamaican foods on the pan (local grill)

Faith's Pen is more than just the food though, as the vendors themselves are pretty friendly and you are certainly sure to come across some interesting characters like I did! While eating some food I saw this man, called Gippy by the vendors, sitting proudly by himself on one of the several tables provided for guests at the travel stop. He was more than willing to pose for a few shots and upon seeing this a few of the vendors pointed out another old man who frequent the stop, who they called Cigar Man. He too was pretty willing to pose for the camera. In fact this proved fruitful as the photos of Gippy was selected as one of the top photos in the recent JCDC Festival Visual Arts Jamaica 50 Competition and earned me an award.

Gippy, one of the old men of Faith's Pen

Cigar Man,  one of the old men of Faith's Pen

If you happen to travel the route between the island's north coast and Kingston or Spanish Town be sure to look out for Faith's Pen and sample some real Jamaican country food!

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The Climb to Mystic Mountain

The view from Mystic Mountain

A few months ago I went on a trip to the North Coast of Jamaica and I finally got to make a stop at Mystic Mountain, located just outside of the resort town of Ocho Rios. As I drove into the parking area I immediately wondered where was the driveway up to the top of Mystic Mountain, but my answer was soon to come. The only way to get to Mystic Mountain was via the Mystic Mountain Sky Explorer, which is a cable driven chair lift that continuously shuttle patrons from the base of the property to the very top. So with that only option available I hopped on to the lift, literally, and I was on my way! But what would I expect?

The starting point of the Sky Explorer lift

The canopy view of the Sky Explorer

If you are afraid of heights this ride will certainly prove to be a challenge as it takes you several feet above the ground above the canopy formed by very tall trees, some of which tower to the height of the chairs and even taller. This is not a brief ride so closing your eyes and hoping to arrive to the top in a few minutes will not work as the ride is fifteen minutes above ground. However, closing your eyes would only cause you to miss out on the lovely view of the town of Ocho Rios down below and the serenity of being way above the trees being serenaded by the chirps of tropical birds. There is also a point in the ride where you can have your photo taken with an option to purchase at the end of the ride. My description of the Mystic Mountain Sky Explorer is just a bit to wet your appetite, now here is the main course, a video clip of my ride to Mystic Mountain!

The Sky Explorer ride to the top of Mystic Mountain was certainly worth the trip as the location offered a breathtaking view of the the blue Caribbean Sea and the resort town of Ocho Rios nestled below. The view expands along the coastline heading to the neighbouring parish of St. Mary and gives testament to why Jamaica is called aa land of wood and water as lush greenery extends as far as the eyes can see.

View from one of the windows at the Mystic Mountain restaurant

Coffee served at Mystic Mountain restaurant

After making my way up to the to of Mystic Mountain via the Sky Explorer I had certainly worked up an appetite and headed straight for the restaurant to see what they had to delight the palate while I enjoyed the brilliant view. I decided to start off with some Blue Mountain coffee since I hadn't eaten in a while but I was utterly and extremely disappointed when I was told that they only had instant coffee! Now this is a big minus for Mystic Mountain as anyone who knows me knows I love my freshly brewed Blue Mountain coffee! I certainly did not expect such a disappointment at a famous attraction such as Mystic Mountain but I hope they have repented of their err and are now serving real brewed coffee.

Lamb Burger served with Sweet Potato Fries

After combing through the menu I decided to try the lamb burger, the sweet potato fries that comes along with it and a cold Red Stripe Beer. The lamb burger was certainly different from the regular burger that I am accustomed to as it had a really gamey taste, must have been a ram! However, the sweet potato fries were delicious and definitely something I would recommend as a must have at Mystic Mountain. I finished off with dessert, a colourful combination of vanilla ice cream and diced fruits served in a stylish glass.

Red Stripe Beer served cold

The dessert I had at the Mystic Mountain restaurant

There are other features of Mystic Mountain that I did not explore such as the Bobsled, Canopy Zip Lining, Infinity Edge Pool and the Mystic Water Slide. Hopefully I will get to return to experience these other attractions at Mystic Mountain so I will get the full Mystic experience.

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Green Grotto Caves Explored

Green Grotto Caves

Located on the north coast of Jamaica near to the town of Discovery Bay is a limestone cave system called Green Grotto Caves. Greet Grotto Caves is one of many limestone cave systems that are scattered across Jamaica, a island best known for it's brilliant sunshine and wonderful white sand beaches. The Green Grotto Caves is also called by several names including Rum Caves as it was used to store barrels of rum due to the cool temperature inside the cave and the Runaway Caves as it was used by Spanish to escape from the British and also by the slaves in a bid to escape. The cave is made up of two major cave systems which are collectively called by the name most Jamaicans are familiar with, the Geen Grotto Caves. I have always heard about these caves, diven past it on several occasions, but had never visited the caves before until a few months ago. But what would I expect and what did the caves have hidden inside?

"Cave Explorers" photographing the cave with hard hats on

Escape rout used by Spanish settlers and later by slaves

After a short safety briefing and putting on my hard hat to protect my head from making flesh to rock connections with the cave ceiling the group was ready to embark on a journey to the inside of Jamaica... Literally! As we entered the cave we could feel the heavy humid cave atmosphere and the characteristic cave features of stalactite, stalagmites and pillars revealed themselves without hesitation. The cave, being a tourist attraction, has well lit pathways and corridors for easy trekking by the curious explorer. However, the many dark areas and shadows casted by the light on the many cave formations gives that mysterious and eerie feeling to the cave experience.

A large stalactite protruding from the cave ceiling 

The cave system boasts large ballroom cavities with ceilings several feet high but those are quickly contrasted by low section that forces the curious visitor to get low. There are even very narrow tunnels that one has to crawl through one at a time to access other large openings below the surface of the earth, giving further testament to the dynamics of the Green Grotto cave system. As we explored the caves it didn't not take long for us to realize we were not along in this large cave system! There were others lurking in the dark, nestled in the tiny indentations and crevices of the ceiling and walls of the caves! What could this be?

A view of one of the larger sections of the cave, home to many bat species

The Green Grotto Caves is certainly not a barren cave as it is home to some nine of the 21 species of bats found in Jamaica. The bats range from small insect eating bats to larger fruit eating bats and in high numbers due to the availability of prime bat real estate in the cave system. The tour is not for those who are extremely scared of bats as these tiny mammals do fly around and pretty close when disturbed. However, they are harmless and rarely if ever make contact with people during the flight and are usually nested in the darker regions of the caves. Guano is very much evident on the floors, walls and ceilings of the caves, a further testament to the vibrant occupation of the many bat species found in Jamaica.

Pond in the Green Grotto Caves

Another feature of the Green Gratto caves is the is crystal clear pond located several feet down in the cave system. The water is so clear that the basin floors can be clearly seen at the shallower ends and the deep end is only obscured by the reflection of the roof that is mirrored by the surface of the water. This beautiful crystal cave pond was used in the original James Bond film "Live and Let Die", staring Roger Moore. This inviting seemingly clean water has lured many to take a refreshing cold dip, but the practice has been prohibited due to the high levels of bacteria from the abundance of Guano. There are several other features of the caves, some named from their perceived similarity to objects such as Market Place and Map of Jamaica, and Limbo Hole due to the tight space one has to maneuver.

Map of Jamaica

Market Place

Limbo Hole

The Green Grotto Caves is certainly one aspect of the Jamaican landscape that is worth exploring and it definitely will give a different view of this lovely island that is famous for sun, sand and sea.

For more photos of Green Grotto Caves VISIT HERE.

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