Hurricane Central: Sandy Takes Aim At Jamaica

Hurricane Sandy

Just a few days ago all was well in the Caribbean basin but things were about to change! A low pressure system formed on Sunday the 21st, then on Monday the 22nd it became Tropical Depression 18, on Tuesday the 23rd Tropical Storm Sandy was formed and immediately took aim at our island Jamaica. I woke up this morning to see that Sandy grew in strength and has become a Category 1 Hurricane with 80mph maximum sustained wind and now poses an even more serious threat to Jamaica. This is the first direct hit for the island since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988.

I will now chronicle the state of events as the day progresses and Hurricane Sandy makes her way across Jamaica for as long as the power will last. Stay tuned!

It's now 10:48 am in Kingston and all seems quiet apart from the constant rain that has been soaking the island since Monday. I have been seeing reports that the wind has started to pick up in the eastern end of the island.

UPDATE #1
12:13 Conditions are now deteriorating as Sandy now approaches the island. The rain has begun to increase in intensity. There has been report of flooding, storm surges in places like Caribbean Terrace and the temporary bridge at Kintire has been swept away by the raging Hope River.

View of Kingston & St. Andrew from Red Hills taken by Atom In The Skin

Storm surges at Caribbean Terrace Harbour View (Jamaica Observer)

Storm surge at Caribbean Terrace (On The Ground News)

Adventurous citizens running from large waves crashing in at Caribbean Terrace (On The Ground News)

UPDATE #2
12:52 The eastern end of Jamaica seems to be getting the brunt of the hurricane so far. Fallen trees have blocked some roadways and downed power poles have cut off power to many communities in Portland.

Fallen tree blocking a main road in Portland. Photo: Vidal Smith Jr.

UPDATE #3
Here is a video clip I took just after retracting my awning. This is the first of the winds associated with hurricane Sandy so far in Kingston.

UPDATE #4
Jumped on the UPS to share this quick clip of Hurricane Sandy winds here in Kingston Jamaica.

UPDATE #5
Hurricane Sandy has left the island of Jamaica but not without the scars associated with a hurricane. There have been reports of flooding, several trees are down, roads are blocked, several power lines are down leaving approximately 70% of the island without power. The city of Kingston is regaining power in may sections including where I am which go back power at approximately 12:00 midnight. The full impact will not be known until at least later today.

Down light pole in Portland. Photo: Dale Virgo

Fallen tree in an apartment complex. Photo: Stush

UPDATE #5
Photos of the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy taken this morning.

Only sections of the city of Kingston and St. Andrew has power. Photo: Atom In The Skin

Fallen trees blocking sections of Red Hills Rd. Photo: Atom In The Skin

Fallen trees on power & communications lines sections of Red Hills Rd. Photo: Atom In The Skin

Down trees along Red Hills Rd. Photo: Atom In The Skin

Citizens doing cleanup work. Photo: Atom In The Skin

Restoration work in progress along Red Hills Rd. Photo: Atom In The Skin

Fallen trees along Red Hills Rd. Photo: Atom In The Skin

Residents of White Hall Ave cleaning up debris. Photo: Atom In The Skin

A section of the Sandy Gully at Dunrobin Primary that has collapsed. Photo: Atom In The Skin

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F&B DownTown An Oasis In the City

Main dining area at F&B DownTown

Normally when Downtown Kingston is mentioned a few things come to the mind of most Jamaicans: no parking, cheap items, Coronation Market, unsafe environment, derelict buildings to name a few. But little would think of finding fine dining in a relaxing ambiance that gives the feel of dining in contemporary New York City restaurant. F&B DownTown has done just that, brought a wonderful dining experience to the heart of Downtown Kingston. Why would I say that?

The fusion of food and jewellery

Swiss Stores Jamaica Downtown location

F&B Downtown, located at 107 Harbour Street, brings a unique fusion of food and jewellery as it is also the location for Swiss Stores Jamaica Downtown outlet. The owners have managed to seamlessly integrate the two unrelated stores into one pleasing dining and shopping experience. They accomplish this through their open design and high roof which allows both entities to merge without losing the wonderful abience that make dining with friends a pleasure. The location comprises of several sections which included the main dining area, two lounge areas for a more intimate and relaxed feeling, a bar, the jewellery counter and a private conference room for those who want to take the board meeting out of the office. The location also offers such amenities as free WiFi for those who have to remain connected to "the grid"!

Two of the three lounge areas at F&B DownTown

The bar at F&B DownTown

Private conference room

The decor of F&B DownTown is definitely pleasing to the eye and the low soft lighting immediately brings one into a calmer more relaxed atmosphere, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city just outside it's doors. Black and white photographs from a local photographer that reflects different aspects of Jamaica line the wall along the main dining area while hanging lamps provide that soft moody lighting by the marble counter of the bar. The lounge areas are outfitted with cosy leather couches and dark stain wooden coffee tables which blends well with the soft lighting of the building.

Pesto With Chicken served here with red wine

Alfredo With Jerk Sausage served here with ice tea

Some of what F&B DownTown offers

Now that I have described the ambiance, what about the food? F&B DownTown offers breakfast on week days between the hours of 8:30am and 11:00am and treats patrons to free coffee with the purchase of any of their sandwiches. For lunch the restaurant serves a wide variety of Premium Sandwiches, Gourmet Salads, Soups and Italian Style Pasta on their lunch menu. Being a lover of Italian food I opted to try the Pesto With Chicken with a glass of red wine, while my date for the day tried the Alfredo With Jerk Sausages and iced tea. The dishes were delicious and the ample serving was just right to tame the beast called hunger! The fun doesn't end at lunch for F&B Downtown as they have their version of the after work jam dubbed "Pop The Friday" on Fridays between 4:00pm to 7:00pm where patrons are encourages to "eat, drink, meet and shop" while they enjoy the offerings including freshly made popcorn.

Free WiFi for people like me

Diners enjoying the ambiance at F&B DownTown

F&B DownTown is certainly an oasis in the heart of the city, a refreshing dining experience which represents what Downtown Kingston should really be. It's my vision that Downtown Kingston becomes a centre for rich culture, exquisite dining experiences, a haven for business and services, a magnet for shoppers and a modern metropolis that Jamaican can be proud of. F&B DownTown and Swiss Stores Jamaica has made a step in the right direction and I hope others will follow too. If you are in the Downtown area or just want somewhere different to grab breakfast, have lunch or to just chill with a few friends and have a drink then F&B DownTown is certainly a good bet!

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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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Jamaica Night at Wyndham Kingston

Vegetable selection at Jamaica Night

I recently went to the Wyndham Kingston Jamaica Night buffet and sampled their Jamaican themed culinary presentations. Jamaica Night is one of the themed buffet nights that the Wyndham Kingston offers to its guests and patrons and is held every Tuesday at their poolside. Jamaica Night gives patrons a taste of our local cuisine as well as live entertainment provided by a local band. But what would my Jamaica night experience include?

Cow skin and gungo peas soup

For those who like to start off their dining the right way, the soup of the day was cow skin and gungo peas soup accompanied by a choice of white or whole wheat rolls. I was a bit skeptical of the cow skin and gungo soup but I was pleasantly surprised at how good it tasted. If it wasn't for the fact that I had to save space for the rest of the food I would have opted for a second serving.

My plate from the vegetable buffet

If you are like me and love your vegetables then Wyndham did not disappoint as there was an assortment of salads to choose from: such as fresh garden salad, coleslaw, chicken and sweet corn salad and if your a bit more adventurous there was a yam salad with red herring. There was also ham for those who wanted some cold cut meat to go with their choice of vegetables. However, if you are not the vegetable kind then there was fruit salad to ensure your meal was somewhat balanced. 

Cow foot a part of the protein buffet

The buffet offered main course dishes that give a taste of Jamaica and featured local meats such as curried mutton, jerk chicken, jerk pork, cow foot as well as fish stuffed with steamed callaloo. These meats were offered with accompanying starches such as yellow yam, boiled bananas and seasoned rice.  I'm not a fan of cow foot so I sticked with the curried mutton, jerk chicken, fish and the jerk pork with some yellow yam. The pork was nice and soft and the chicken was very tender and juicy while the curried mutton went well with my yam and banana. With all that down the hatchet, it was time to move on to the final part of the meal.

Apple Strudel

There was a wide assortment of pastries to satisfy the sweet tooth such as plantain tart, coconut toto, coconut macaroon, apple strudel. Being a big lover of pastry I made sure I sampled all of the above and what better way to have my pastry than with a cup of smooth, delicious, freshly brewed Blue Mountain Coffee!

Live band performing at Jamaica Night

I enjoyed this feast to the sound of a wide assortment of Jamaican music, ranging from Reggae to Rock Steady and Ska, provide by the live band. Some of the patrons enjoyed the music even more than I did as they abandoned their table and took to the dance floor and grooved to the music.

Jamaican craft items on sale at Jamaica Night

Food and music was not all that you could have at Jamaica Night, you could also take home a bit more of our Jamaican culture. Jamaica Night also features a vendor with a wide assortment of Jamaican craft items and clothing for those who want to take a piece of Jamaica home with them.

If you are looking for somewhere different to dine but want some Jamaican style food then Wyndham Kingston in New Kingston is definitely an option. All you can eat food under the open sky, live Jamaican music, secure parking  and all for a relatively reasonable price of JM$2560 per person makes Jamaica Night a pretty decent dining choice.

For more photos visit my Facebook album Wyndham Kingston Jamaica Night.

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Jamaica 50

Fireworks at the Jamaica 50 Grand Gala celebrations at the National Stadium

Yesterday Jamaica had the grand finale of the fiftieth year of independence from colonial rule, yes fifty years of being a sovereign nation. The country has certainly come a long way since that faithful day on August 6, 1962. However, it has a very long way to go before this nation can be the success that independence was supposed to bring.

Indeed, this country and its populous has undergone hardship, our successive leaders have failed miserably and our precious resources have been squandered due to the greed of those in power. Nevertheless, this tiny country is known by the entire world as it produces many reasons for us to be proud. Such a small and poor island has produced many icons like the king of Reggae music, Bob Marley, and the king of the tracks, dubbed the fastest man alive, Usain Bolt just to name a few.

We have made it so far through many hardships but we still have even a longer way to go to achieve the full potential of a talented nation and a beautiful country. Despite all the pitfalls the black, green and gold still stands after fifty years.

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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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