Cool Blue Hole & Rio Nuevo

Cool Blue Hole St. Ann

Last week Sunday I went on yet another of my monthly photograph trips which took me to the garden parish of St. Ann. The LOP/JWI Flickr Group trip explored just two locations in the parish, Cool Blue Hole and Rio Nuevo.

Large water pipe at Cool Blue Hole (This portion is reportedly wood)

The first stop of the trip was a small water fall with a very deep hole at its base, called Cool Blue Hole. The journey to the falls was really off the beaten path as the road leading to this little known attraction was barely wide enough to hole th bus that we were in, but after a few minutes a s bumpy ride we arrived at the location. Before reaching the river though, we encountered a strange looking, yet huge water pipe, which I heard was partially made from wood, reinforced by metal braces. A close look at the pipe did look almost like it was wood, but I didn't venture too close as I saw a small fountain of water spewing from the side of the pipe.

One of the models on the trip shot at Cool Blue Hole

On approach of Cool Blue Hole, I could see why it was called by that name! At the base of the falls there was a pool of water with a deep turquoise colour, a signal of not just pristine beauty, but of depth! The water was nice and cool, even though it was only my feet that felt the pleasure of it's caress since I declined to swim in the deep section. I however spent my time there capturing its beauty as well as the beauties that went into the water for their photo closeups! A sudden downpour came from the skies which forced everyone to scramble to the shelter of the bus and with that we were on our way again.

Rio Nuevo St. Ann

After leaving Cool Blue Hole, the next stop was where Rio Nuevo emptied its contents into the treacherous sea. An treacherous the sea was, as we were advised that there should be no swimming in the sea as it churned with very strong currents. But one look at the rough dark waters was enough to deter even the most adventurous of us. Despite the mean looking skies and the intermittent light rain which tried to call our bluff, we spent the rest of the day shooting the abundance of models that we had on our trip against the sceneic backdrop of the area. Time certainly flies when you are having fun, because before we knew it, it was time to pack up and head back home to Kingston.

Another model on the trip shot at Rio Nuevo

On our way back home, we stopped at one of our usual food stops, Lyming, in the hills of Walker's Wood to refuel, refresh and relieve ourselves. I had myself some jerk chicken and festival while a few other photographers on the trip participated in the live entertainment. After that final stop, it was time to head home, the end of yet another trip of not only photography, but good times, great socializing and the exploration on my country, Jamaica.

See more photos on my flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stunnerj/

Black River Safari

An American Crocodile on the banks of Black River

The town of Black River in St. Elizabeth is famous for the river that gives it its name and also for the residents of that river. No not fishermen, but the reptile on the Jamaican Coat of Arms, the American Crocodile! One does not have to risk his live by attempting to be a Steve Irwin to see these dangerous inhabitants of Black River. All you have to do is to go on the Black River Safari, in the comforts and safety of a boat which takes you along the course of the Black River.

Baby Crocodile at Black River

A large Crocodile spotted swimming

The Black River Safari tour begins near to the end of the river and takes a complement of about fifteen persons on the boat up the river. If you think finding crocodiles along this tour would be a challenge, then you will be certainly mistaken! From the boat left the dock we say two crocodiles basking in the sun with their mouths wide open! The stood there motionless and for a good minute ore two it had the confused boat of spectators trying to figure out if the were real or not! It was not until the boat got really close that these crocodiles decided to reveal their true status when they began to move. The rest of the tour up the Black River was just as fruitful as there were crocodiles of different sizes, form small baby crocodiles to a very large one that swam leisurely near the boat.

A bird resting on a branch on the side of the river

This wild life sanctuary was not limited to the famous crocodiles as several family of birds could be seen along the banks of the river. The tour was about an hour with a few stops when we spotted the crocodiles and birds  in their natural habitat. If you are into wildlife and photographing wildlife, then Black River does have something to offer. This is not somewhere you would spend the entire day, but it is good for a one hour tour if you are in St. Elizabeth.

Admission: Tour costs approximately JM$1500 (Approx. US$17)  per person


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Turtle Bay

Turtle Bay, Portland

On my recent photography group trip I went to a not so famous place that was in my own home parish that I never even knew existed until a few months ago. This hidden attraction called Turtle Bay is tucked away in the lush green parish of Portland on the eastern most part of Jamaica. This cove boast some interesting rock formations that tower several feet and are surrounded by the crystal clear water of the Caribbean sea. These rock formations seems to be the remains of collapsed cliffs that have been weathered by the restless sea and the hands of time.

Turtle Bay, Portland

As tempting as the water may look however, the rocky shoreline and rough seas may prove to be a bit too much for taking a dip. However this place does offer a a lovely scene for photographers and nature lovers alike. It's not a place you would really go to spend a day frolicking in the sun, but it is certainly worth a visit if you are driving near the community of Manchioneal in Portland. Turtle Bay is certainly an usual part of this island's coastline.

Turtle Bay, Portland

Admission: Free

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About Mek A Trod

Holland Bamboo St. Elizabeth

Welcome to my travel blog, Mek A Trod, exploring the beauty of Jamaica. Mek A Trod seeks to highlight the many wonders of this beautiful island paradise called Jamaica. However, this blog is not like your typical travel blog which only highlights the main and well known attractions of Jamaica. Instead, it seeks not to enlighten you about our famous attractions, but it will also expose you to the many hidden jewels as well as the places many Jamaicans take for granted.

I decided to start this travel blog as I have recently started to explore this beautiful island by means of my photography group trips. These trips took me to the four corners of Jamaica, to places I never knew existed. I could not keep such a revelation and beauty to myself and as such I have decided to share this with you by means of this travel blog.

However, Jamaica is not just about beautiful and unique places as this island has so much more to offer. This blog will also explore the life blood of this country,:the people, the culture, the entertainment and of course the delicious dishes one can enjoy in this diverse country.

The posts of this blog will not bore you with lengthy descriptions of these attractions and aspects of Jamaica.  It will rather give a brief synopsis of of these attraction, events and dishes, yes just a taste to make you want to explore for your self and to give you an idea of the many aspects of this beautiful country. Each post will display photographs and the location on the Jamaica map as well as other relevant informations such as admission, opening hours, etc. to help you plan your trip.

It is hoped that you will enjoy visiting this blog and find the information here useful as you "mek a trod" across Jamaica.

Jamaica

The Geography

The island of Jamaica is located in the Caribbean Sea south of Cuba with geographic coordinates 18 15 N, 77 30 W. This tropical island covers 10,021 square meters with a coastline of 1,022 km, boasting some of the most beautiful beaches and scenic cliffs. Jamaica rises some 2,256 meters above the Caribbean Sea at the highest point, Blue Mountain Peak, where a panoramic view of the eastern mountainous part of the island can be seen. The island enjoys a all year tropical climate, which makes it a favored tourist destination.



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History

The island and its native people the Arrawaks were discovered in 1494 by Christopher Columbus on an expedition to find gold. No gold was found, however, a treasure was discovered. Xaymaca, as the natives called it, "the land of wood and water", a precious gem in the midst of the Caribbean Sea.

The Island remained a colony of Spain until in 1655 when the English invaded and claimed the island form the Spanish. The Island remained a colony of England for some time. It was under the rule of the English that the island gave birth to Port Royal. The House of Assembly met there and the infamous buccaneers took their prizes there. The inhabitants lived a wild, reckless life, and Port Royal was described as one of the wickedest places on earth. However, in 1692 the Port Royal earthquake and tsunami claimed most of the land where Port Royal stood along with its people.

Jamaica gained independent in 1962 and displayed its unique flag of black, green and gold. Jamaica has continued to stand out ever since with its unique culture. Music such as Ska and the world renown Reggae and its icon Bob Marley placed Jamaica in the eyes and hearts of many. The natural beauty of its mountains, warm climate, white sand beaches, history and amazing people continues to captivate the world.

Today Jamaica is a premier tourist destination with many unique attractions as well as several all inclusive resorts that provide warm hospitality to their visitors.