How To Be Jamaican

Jamaica has many destination spots, one of the most popular is Ocho Rios because of the great waterfalls and all inclusive resorts. There is also Negril which the natives refer to as "The North Coast" because it's on the northern coast of the island. If you plan to visit Jamaica, pick up a map and get familiar with the area you plan to travel to. If you're doing the all inclusive vacation thing, please do take time out to check out some of the sites we listed here so you can mark them off your bucket list.

IN OCHO RIOS:

Dunns River Falls

Chukka Cove

Cranbook Flower Forest

Dolphin Cove

Reggae Beach

Wassi Art Pottery Factory Tour

IN NEGRIL

Mayfield Falls

Roaring River

Rhodes Plantation

Kool Runnings Water Park

The Lighthouse (read more...)

Use of stamps began on 8 May 1858, with stamps of Great Britain.

Until 1860, the postal service under the control of Great Britain, despite repeated efforts by Jamaican authorities to take over. Soon afterwards, British stamps were no longer accepted, and De La Rue was commissioned to produce stamps for Jamaica, featuring a laureated profile of Queen Victoria. The first issue consisted of five values ranging from one penny to one shilling, each with a different frame, inscribed "JAMAICA POSTAGE", and were watermarked with a pineapple design. They were first issued on 23 November 1860. Additional stamps in the series appeared through the end of the century.

In 1863 four letter boxes were placed around Kingston. Inland delivery was increased from twice/week to three times per week in 1868. Mail carriage was originally via mule, then via railroad in the 1860s, then back to roads due to difficulties with the trains, not switching back to railroad until the railways were improved in the late 1870s.

Jamaica joined the Universal Postal Union on 1 April 1877.

In 1887, the Legislative Council resolved to use a common stamp design for both postage and revenue purposes, and in 1889 Jamaica issued three key plate stamps inscribed "POSTAGE & REVENUE", with the value tablet in a different color.
In 1900, Jamaica's first pictorial stamp featured a view of Llandovery Falls. Originally intended as a commemorative stamp marking the adoption of Imperial Penny Postage in 1889, it was too long delayed, and is considered a regular stamp. Originally issued in red, it was redesigned and issued in red&black the next year.

For unknown reasons, Jamaica did not adopt a profile of Edward VII upon his accession. Instead, beginning in 1903, new stamps featured the coat of arms of the colony. Following a special petition in 1910, Edward VII was recognized posthumously on a two-pence gray stamp issued 3 February 1911. Stamps depicting George V were more timely, first appearing in 1912.

A pictorial series in 1919 included twelve stamps, ranging from the Jamaica Exhibition of 1891 to various statues and scenery. The series was not commemorative, but was a result of repeated requests by local philatelists to governor Leslie Probyn.

The next definitive series was issued for George VI in 1938, with low values being a profile of the king alone, and the higher values including scenes of various local industries. An issue with new scenes and a full-face portrait of George VI marked the granting of self-government in 1944, although it was not issued until August 1945.

A set of four stamps with historic scenes marked the 300th anniversary of British control in 1955, followed in 1956 by a series of 16 stamps depicting flora, fauna, and local scenery.

Upon independence in 1962, the 1956 stamps were overprinted "INDEPENDENCE" and "1962". In 1964, a set of three depicted Miss World Carole Joan Crawford; they were soon followed by a new series of 16 with various designs. Only the one-pound value included a portrait of Queen Elizabeth; from independence on, the Queen was rarely included in designs.

(Information from wikipedia.com) (read more...)

JERK CHICKEN JAMAICAN STYLE

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into chunks
4 limes, juiced
1 cup water
2 teaspoons ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 onions, chopped
1 1/2 cups chopped green onions
6 cloves garlic, chopped
2 habanero peppers, chopped

Method :

1.Place chicken in a medium bowl. Cover with lime juice and water. Set aside.
2.In a blender or food processor, place allspice, nutmeg, salt, brown sugar, thyme, ginger, black pepper and vegetable oil. Blend well, then mix in onions, green onions, garlic and habanero peppers until almost smooth.
3.Pour most of the blended marinade mixture into bowl with chicken, reserving a small amount to use as a basting sauce while cooking. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
4.Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat.
5.Brush grill grate with oil. Cook chicken slowly on the preheated grill. Turn frequently, basting often with remaining marinade mixture. Cook to desired doneness.

OXTAIL JAMAICAN STYLE

2 lb. Oxtail

1 Chopped Onion

1 Chopped Green Pepper

1 tbsp Paprika

2 tbsp Seasoned Salt

3 Carrots

1oz Jamaican Browning

1 can Butter Beans

2 cloves Garlic

4 Stlks Thyme

6 Pimento - All Spice

1 oz. Vinegar
Method :

Trim the extra fat from the meat if there is any. Wash oxtails in cold water/vinegar solution. Put the oxtails in the pressure-cooker with the browning, paprika, and salt.

Add 4 cups of water to the pot. Place the pot on the fire and turn the fire to high.

Allow the meat to cook under this high pressure for a limited time. Here’s how, wait until the pressure builds up to its maximum point (threshold), and use your timer or clock to measure two minutes cooking time at maximum pressure.

Turn off the fire and wait another minute. DO NOT REMOVE THE POT COVER.

Slowly remove the pot from the heat source. You can also put the pot in the kitchen sink and run cold water on it; let it cool fast.

When the pot is cool enough, carefully remove the cover and pour the contents into a saucepan. Turn the fire to medium and cook the oxtails until they are medium soft, or soft.

Taste the gravy, now add salt to taste if needed.If the textures of the oxtails are the way you want them to be, add the rest of the ingredients, except the butter beans.
The butter beans should be added two minutes before you finish making this stew.When the stew is ready, you may serve it with White Rice or Rice and Peas.

Note :

The cooking time for these Jamaican oxtails should take about an hour and a half. That’s a lot less than the usual 4 to 5 hours it takes to cook oxtails.

And the type of oxtails you use can lessen the amount of time it takes when preparing this dish.

RICE AND PEAS JAMAICAN STYLE

1 medium sized can red kidney beans
1 can coconut milk
2 cups of rice
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 table spoon oil
1 scotch bonnet pepper (whole, do not chop up)
water

Method :

Drain the liquid from the can of beans into a measuring cup and add the can of coconut milk and enough water to make four cups of liquid. Place liquids in a pot with beans, onions, garlic, thyme and oil, bring to a boil. Add rice and stir for a minute. Reduce heat to Medium-Low. Place scotch bonnet pepper on top of liquid and cover tightly for 30 minutes or until rice is cooked. Remove scotch bonnet pepper before serving. (read more...)

How sad it is....we know at some point we all have to leave this earth but even when it's someone not related to us but somehow touched our lives, it is always still sad. I will not be able to make it to say goodbye to the late great Gregory Isaacs but if you're in Jamaica and have the time.....

....THE public will be able to view the body of the late Reggae singer Gregory Isaacs tomorrow at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston. The body will be available for viewing between the hours of 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. (Jamaica Observer) (read more...)

Can anyone confirm? was there really an earthquake in Jamaica today? I heard it was a tremor of 4.5 or something like that on the richter scale. (read more...)