Places to visit in Jamaica - Bob Marley Museum

BOB MARLEY

The Bob Marley Museum is one of the most visited places in Kingston for tourist, the museum is located at 56 Hope Road once the home of Bob Marley and then converted into Tuff Gong studios Marley's studio and Record Label. After his passing Tuff Gong studios operated for some time and then renamed Bob Marley Museum.

BOB MARLEY MUSEUM

The Museum's was honored to have as a recent visitor US President Barack Obama  in April of 2015 on his maiden visit to Jamaica. President Obama on arrival in made the Bob Marley Museum his 1st stop one his one day visit to the Island. 

Bob Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley in Nile St Ann in Jamaica his early education included attending Stephney Primary and Junior high School in catchment St Ann. while at catchment Marley got an early introduction to music alongside his childhood friend Neville Livingston. At about age 12 or there about Bob Marley moved to kingston with his family and resided in Trench Town.

The move from St Ann to Trench Town could have been disastrous for Bob Marley but he made it a  perfect opportunity, it gave him access to the the world of music in Jamaica where he pursued his craft. Much of Bob Marley's music were stories of life and  living in the Ghettos of Trench town, "Stand up for your right", "cold Ground was my bed last night and rock was my pillow" "Trench Town Rock"  are all  stories of life in the Ghettos of Kingston. 

Marley a Rastafarian by religion or cult  gained international fame was signed to musical contract by Island Records while signed Marley won a Grammy and had several #1 hits on Billboard. After his passing Marley became more famous with estate annual earning in 2015 compared with Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley and some of the other top earning artist dead and alive. 

Marley is survived by his wife Rita Marley and international star of some measure and his many children and grand children.   

Jamaica's Majestic Mountains

Blue Mountain Peaks

Jamaica is mountainous from one end of the island to the next, her two most well know mountains are the John Crow Mountains and the Blue Mountains well known for its daily climbs to its summit by visitors and nationals alike. These climbs are guided tours by organised and certified climbers or individuals who do this as a private business.

A return trip to the blue mountain peak from St Andrew could take as little as 8 hours for the avid climber usually starting at the early am with a quick turn around you could be back to Kingston by late afternoon. For visitors interested in exploring other vacation spots such as the blue mountain  in jamaica your trip to the blue mountain would be worth at it least a 2 day climb.

Holiday cabins Blue Mountain range

Your Jamaica vacation packages could include family vacation packages to the blue mountain peaks staying at exotic log cabins one of Jamaica's hidden vacation places on the blue mountain range.  

   

Camp and Ride, Cinchona Botanical Gardens Jamaica

Cinchona Botanical Gardens 

Cinchona Botanical Gardens, located at 5000 feet above sea level in Jamaica's Blue Mountains, is surely a suburb of heaven. The gardens is home to several types of orchids as well as other rare flowers Plants and trees, all set among well-kept lawns or gardens or just along the main roads.The views from Cinchona are spectacular, including both Blue Mountain Peak, Catherine's Peak and the Yallahs River valley leading down to the St. Thomas coastline. Cinchona gardens is one of many places to see while backpacking in jamaica, cheap accommodation in the vicinity of the Gardens allow backpackers to spend the overnight. 

Is Portland out of Step?

Port Antonio Square

Port Antonio the is the most North Easterly Town in Jamaica, Capital City of the Parish of Portland most recent census give Portland a Population of 82,685 of jamaicas 2,706,763 residents in 2011 census results. Portland, braggs its Natural beauty makes it different and should attract development toward tourism and articulture however there ample evidence Portland has lost its tourist appeal and now linger behind Parishes like St Elizabeth and Kingston.

While tourism exploded from Oracabessa to Negril and now White house in Westmoreland with some growth in St Elizabeth, Portland continue to regress with its crumbling tourism infrastructure. Facilities like the Trident Villa Hotel now rebuilt, Titchfield Hotel, Bonnie View Hotel, Frenchman's Cove Hotel, The Blue Lagoon and the Dragon Bay Hotel all remain in ruins or under poor or no management.

Obama in JAMAICA

On his way to the conference of the Americas President Barack Obama visited Jamaica for the first time. On arrival in Kingston the United states President surprised the world by paying a visit to the Bob Marley Museum. Jamaicans love the fact that Barack Obama is President of the United States, there is close to 2 million Jamaicans live in the United States with some certainty every Jamaican who are now Citizens of the United States voted for President Obama in both Elections. In  Jamaican Elections the average turnout is close to 75% of eligible voters participate in National Elections.

President Obama at the Bob Marley Museum

President Obama wow audiences at the University of the west Indies in his speech to students an guests. The United States President seemed in a Jamaica vacation mood but did not enjoy one one of the Islands vacation spots on this visit. Jamaicans were happy to host President Barack Obama 

Emancipation Park or Usain Bolt Park

                                         Emancipation Park Kingston Jamaica

ONE OF the most enthusiastically sung lines from Bob Marley is his delivery of Marcus Garvey's command to, "emancipate yourselves from mental slavery none but ourselves can free our minds". While it is generally recognized, if not embraced, that Christopher Columbus did not discover anywhere and the African people did not begin their existence as slaves, emancipation from mental slavery goes beyond the general rewriting our story. In our daily lives, as a people, we celebrate and elevate the very things that enslaves us to positions of pride.

Hon Marcus Garvey,"emancipate yourself from mental slavery none but ourselves can free our minds".

Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr. was born in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica to Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Sr., a mason, and Sarah Jane Richards, a domestic worker. Of eleven siblings, only Marcus, the youngest, and his sister Indiana survived until maturity. His family was financially stable given the circumstances of this time period. Therefore, Garvey's father could afford to maintain a large library, and it was from his father that Marcus Garvey  gained his love for reading. He also attended the elementary schools in St. Ann's Bay during his youth.  While attending these schools, Garvey first began to experience racism. When he was younger, he used to be friends and play with his white neighbors. However, when they reached their teenage years, they began to shun him. Sometime in 1900, Garvey entered into an apprenticeship with his uncle, Alfred Burrowes, who also had an extensive library, of which young Marcus made good use.

Bowden Pen Maroons

Ambassabeth Cabins 

During the Summer of 2011 the Carr/Allen reunion visited Bowden Pen in the foot hills of the John Crow Mountain in Portland Jamaica. It was August 1st the day the Maroons (Aborigines) in Jamaica Celebrate their Emancipation from the British Colonialism.

 In the New World, as early as 1512, black slaves had escaped from Spanish and Portuguese captors and either joined indigenous peoples or eked out a living on their own.Sir Francis Drake enlisted several 'cimaroons' during his raids on the Spanish.As early as 1655, runaway slaves had formed their own communities in inland Jamaica, and by the 18th century, Nanny Town and other villages began to fight for independent recognition.

"Remembering of the past an antidote for the future". 

Ndyuka Maroon women with washing. Suriname River. 1955

When runaway slaves banded together and subsisted independently they were called Maroons. On the Caribbean islands, runaway slaves formed bands and on some islands formed armed camps. Maroon communities faced great odds to survive against white attackers, obtain food for subsistence living, and to reproduce and increase their numbers. As the planters took over more land for crops, the Maroons began to vanish on the small islands. Only on some of the larger islands were organized Maroon communities able to thrive by growing crops and hunting. Here they grew in number as more slaves escaped from plantations and joined their bands. Seeking to separate themselves from whites, the Maroons gained in power and amid increasing hostilities, they raided and pillaged plantations and harassed planters until the planters began to fear a mass slave revolt.

The early Maroon communities were usually displaced. By 1700, Maroons had disappeared from the smaller islands. Survival was always difficult as the Maroons had to fight off attackers as well as attempt to grow food.One of the most influential Maroons was Francois Mackandal, a houngan, or voodoo priest, who led a six year rebellion against the white plantation owners in Haiti that preceded the Haitian Revolution.

Emancipation Day is celebrated in many former British colonies in the Caribbean and areas of the United States on various dates in observance of the emancipation of slaves of African origin. It is also observed in other areas in regard to the abolition of serfdom or other forms of servitude.

Emancipation Park Kingston, Jamaica

On midnight of July 31, 1838 it was reported with great pride that many slaves journeyed to the hilltops to greet the sunrise of Friday, August 1, 1838 that symbolized a new beginning in their lives. When morning broke, large congregations joined in thanksgiving services held in several chapels and churches across the island.

Today, Jamaicans continue to celebrate Emancipation Day through the reenactment of the reading of the Emancipation Declaration in town centers particularly, Spanish Town, St. Catherine which was the seat of Parliament when the Emancipation Act was passed in 1838. The day is also widely observed as a national public holiday when all schools and public buildings are closed.

Gov.of Jamaica

Boating at the Jamaica Yacht Club Kingston

Clipper 2014 in Port Antonio

The Jamaica Yacht Club was formed in 1884 by a group of enthusiastic sailors. On the 29th of November 1889, the Club was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria following a visit by Prince Edward, then the Prince of Wales, who later became Edward VII. Until 1962, when Jamaica became an independent nation within the Commonwealth, the Commodores were all Governors of Jamaica, whether or not they were yachtsmen. In 1963 the Commodore was chosen for the first time from the membership of the Club.

To establish, maintain, and conduct a yacht club and marina for the accommodation of the members of the Club and their friends, and generally to afford to them all the usual privileges, advantages, and accommodation of a Club.

                     Royal Jamaica Yacht Club  

 The Clubhouse has a bar and restaurant, with a beautiful view of Kingston and the Blue Mountains; is open for lunches and snacks seven days a week and depending on the occasion, breakfast and dinner are also available.

We accept credit cards, cheques and cash. The Club has its own private label credit card for use by members. Value added tax obtains to all purchases from the restaurant or bar. Our Quarterdeck accommodates 250 persons, and we cater for member's private parties. Casual apparel and beachwear are offered for sale by the Club.

There is a large swimming pool in close proximity to the restaurant and bar. Meals can be taken in the dining room, on the veranda, at the bar or poolside... or on board! 



The RJYC Club is 2 mins of the Norman Manley Intl. Airport.

The ithrees

Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths

The ithrees were a Jamaican reggae singing group made up of three women, that was formed in 1974 to support Bob Marley & The Wailers after Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer the original Wailer backing vocalists left the band.The ithrees members were Marley's wife Rita Marley, plus Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths. Their name is intended as a spin on the Rastafarian "i and i" concept of the Godhead within each person.

 Marcia Griffith was already a star when The ithrees came together. Her duet recordings with Bob Andy, which included "young gifted and black," had brought her international attention. When she invited Judy Mowatt, who had previously sung with the Gaylettes, and Rita Marley to harmonize with her on a recording with Bob Andy, she set the stage for the trio's formation. The recording session proved so inspiring that she invited the two women to be guests on a song that she and Andy were scheduled to perform that evening at the House of Chen in New Kingston.

Shortly after the departure of Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston from the Wailers, Bob Marley asked the three women to sing on his recording, Jah Live. They continued to work together for the next ten years. In early 1975, The ithrees joined Bob Marley for a tour as opening act for the Jackson Five. Although they continued to perform together following Bob Marley's death, the three women soon elected to pursue solo careers.

Why did Ronald Reagan Kill, "Law of the Sea Treaty".

Jamaica Conference Center

Jamaica Still bear the burden of Maintaining the site of the Law of the Sea Headquarters!

Now, "Jamaica Conference Center"

Located on the picturesque Kingston Waterfront, the Jamaica Conference Center was built in 1982 as the venue for the preparatory meetings of the International Seabed Authority, an arm of the United Nations. The Center was built to United Nations specifications and its facilities and services rival the best.The Center comprises five Conference Rooms, three Caucus Rooms, Delegates Lounges, a Restaurant, a Private Dining and Reception Area.  

Law of the Sea Treaty once again rears its ugly head in U.S. Senate

By Steven Groves The Heritage Foundation

It's bad enough when American tax dollars are blown on government-created debacles such as Solyndra and "Operation Fast and Furious." But at least in those instances the expenditures carried a bare modicum of democratic legitimacy.

What if, on the other hand, the U.S. Treasury was raided for billions of dollars, which were then redistributed to the rest of the world by an international bureaucracy headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica?

Kingston Jamaica Law of the Sea HQ

That's what will surely happen if the U.S. Senate gives its advice and consent to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a deeply flawed treaty that was rejected by President Ronald Reagan in 1982. (The treaty was revived by President Bill Clinton, who sent it to the Senate in 1994. It has languished there ever since.) The Barack Obama administration is pushing for United States Senate action on the treaty, and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., is currently scheduling a series of hearings to extol the purported benefits of LOST, the first of which is set for May 23.

Of course, the vampire must feed, and its sustenance is American dollars, sucked out of the U.S. Treasury by a provision of LOST known as Article 82. If the U.S. joins LOST, it will be required by Article 82 to forfeit royalties generated from oil and gas development on the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles — an area known as the "extended continental shelf" (ECS).

Read more: http://nation.foxnews.com/law-sea-treaty/2012/05/21/obama-s-law-sea-treaty-spreads-wealth-around#ixzz20ts6dezQ

Rita Marley - One Draw

       Rita Marley Reggae Queen

Perhaps best known as the widow of reggae legend Bob Marley and often called the "Queen of Reggae," Rita Marley has spent time and energy as the guardian of his estate and musical legacy, and, more important, as the keeper of the flame of his ideas. But her role in the history of Jamaican music has not been limited to her family relationship with Bob Marley. In the mostly male-dominated field of reggae, she was a solo act of note before she ever joined with her husband musically, and she emerged as a successful artist on her own after his death. Moreover, as part of Bob Marley's backing trio of female vocalists, the iThrees, Rita Marley was an important contributor to the music that made her husband famous worldwide.

Rita Marley was born Alpharita Constantia Anderson in Cuba in 1947. Growing up poor, she was raised in the Trenchtown neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica, that spawned the careers of many of the musicians who created a rhythmically complex, spiritually inclined new music called reggae. Three of those musicians, who had formed a trio called the Wailers, often passed by the metal shack where Rita Anderson was living with her aunt and small child. The Wailers consisted of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer; they were among the first acts to record at the influential studio of producer Coxsone Dodd. Bob Marley, already a standout talent, made a special impact. "I remember how I would scream to hear his songs on the radio," Rita Marley told Interview.

Mutabaruka---Dis Poem

 

Mutabaruka is a dub poet. His name comes from the Rwandan language and translates as "one who is always victorious". He lives in Potosi District, St. James with his significant other, Yvonne, and their two children. Mutabaruka continues to perform and write poems on every issue known to man. He's known for his expressions and lively performances more so than just the poems themselves. Some of his themes include sexism, politics, discrimination, poverty, race, and especially religion. Mutabaruka's stylistic form is in a way pathos related. He uses stories and experiences to get readers to think about issues in ways that they wouldn't normally think about them.

Known as Allen Hope as a child, Mutabaruka grew up in the Jamaica with his mother, father and two sisters. When Mutabaruka was only 8, his father died from unknown causes. He attended primary school where he received his nickname, "Mutabaruka". Later, he attended the Kingston Technical High School where he trained in electronics for four years. Muta then began finding himself within his early to late teenage years. In the late 60's into early 70's there was an up roaring of Black Awareness in Jamaica during Prime Minister Michael Manley leadership. Muta, who was in his late teens at the time, was drawn into that movement. In school he read many "progressive books" including Eldredge Cleaver's “Soul on Ice” and some that were then illegal in Jamaica, such as The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Mutabaruka envisioned himself as a young revolutionary. While still employed at the Telephone Company, stopped wearing shoes, he stopped combing his hair, started growing locks, and altered his diet. During his time at the Jamaica Telephone Company Ltd, Muta began examining and surrounding himself with the Rasta lifestyle. He found it meaningful and worth living for. Soon after, he converted completely to the movement.

bloggerythm: Carlene Davis Ken Boothe - Why Me Lord

Reggae to Gospel

Born in Colonel’s Ridge, Clarendon, Jamaica, Carlene Davis was raised by her grandparents who
instilled the importance of Christ in her life from an early age. As a child Carlene regularly
attended church and sang in the choir. At 14 years old she migrated to England to join her
parents and after completing college there, she moved to Toronto, Canada, where she sang with
several bands. Carlene’s first recordings, reggae versions of Peter Paul and Mary’s “Leaving on a
Jet Plane” and Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” received steady airplay on
various Canadian radio stations.

Ken Boothe

Ken Boothe was born in the Denham Town area of Kingston in 1948, the youngest of seven children, and began singing in school. His recording career began in the late 1950's when he formed a duo with his neighbor Stranger Cole as "Stranger & Ken", the first tracks released by them being "Hush Baby" on the B-side of Cole's Island Records single "Last Love", and the "Thick in Love" single on R&B Records, both in 1963. They released several more popular singles between 1963 and 1965, including "World's Fair", "Hush", and "Artibella". Boothe also recorded as a duo with Roy Shirley (as Roy & Ken), which resulted in the release of the single "Paradise" in 1966.

bloggerythm: Carlene Davis Ken Boothe - Why Me Lord

Jimmy Cliff - Viet Nam.wmv

Early life and career

Cliff was born in Somerton District, St. James, Jamaica. He began writing songs while still at primary school in St. James, listening to a neighbor's sound system. In 1962 his father took him to Kingston to go to Kingston Technical school where he ended up sharing his cousin's one rented room in East Kingston.

He sought out many producers while still going to school, trying to get his songs recorded without success. He also entered talent contests. "One night I was walking past a record store and restaurant as they were closing, pushed myself in and convinced one of them, Leslie Kong, to go into the recording business, starting with me," he writes in his own website biography.

After two singles that failed to make much impression, his career took off when his "Hurricane Hattie" became a hit, while he was aged 14. It was produced by Kong, with whom Cliff remained until Kong's death from a heart attack in 1971. Cliff's later local hit singles included "King of Kings," "Dearest Beverley," "Miss Jamaica," and "Pride and Passion." In 1964, Cliff was chosen as one of the Jamaican representatives at the World's Fair and Cliff soon signed to Island Records and moved to the UK. Island Records initially (and unsuccessfully) tried to sell Cliff to the rock audience, but his career took off in the late 1960s.His international debut album was Hard Road to Travel, which received excellent reviews and included "Waterfall" (composed by Nirvana's Alex  Spyropoulos and Patrick Campbell-Lyons), which became a hit in Brazil and won the International Song Festival.

"Waterfall" was followed in 1969 by "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" and "Vietnam" in 1970, both popular throughout most of the world. Bob Dylan called "Vietnam" the best protest song he had ever heard.Also during this period, Cliff released a cover of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" as a single, but it was not included on his Wonderful World, Beautiful People album.http://youtu.be/b4V9AYhtKkg

"Bob's whole life is about Africa, it is not about Jamaica." Rita Marley

Bob Marley Legalize it

Rita Marley planned to have the body of her late husband, Bob Marley, exhumed and buried in Ethiopia, his "spiritual resting place" in 2005. She wanted it to be a month long celebration of what would be his 60th birthday. The area in which she wanted to bury him was a Rastafarian community that was given land by the country's last emperor, Haile Selassie. She claimed to have the backing of the Ethiopian government and said "We are working on bringing his remains to Ethiopia. It is part of Bob's own mission. Bob's whole life is about Africa, it is not about Jamaica. How can you give up a continent for an island? He has a right for his remains to be where he would love them to be. This was his mission. Ethiopia is his spiritual resting place. With the 60th anniversary this year, the impact is there and the time is right.

The remains of Bob Marley being repatriated to Ethiopia underscores the thinking of those who would have given this idea the slightest thought. Bob Marley is by far the most noble and recognized symbol in modern Jamaican History by far. There is nothing that the world recognizes Jamaica with as the Music with of Bob Marley.

The Legacy of Bob Marley should be developed to Become the National Symbol he is, sites of his early upbringing Trench Town, The Studio where he recorded his first song, the Trench Town Play field where he played Football should becomee the Bob Marley walk to fame. The current Museum at 56 Old hope Road in Kingston is too Small, the Building should Be replicated and relocated at his Burial site where there is adequate land for expansion.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Chris Blackwell Strawberry Hill

Chris Blackwell Strawberry Hill Jamaica

Over the weekend of April 16-18, approximately 100 persons milled around at Strawberry Hill for a game, new recognized by some Jamaicans, but a point of social contact for many others.

It was the fifth annual Strawberry Hill High Stakes Backgammon Tournament, organized by Alastair Macbeth, which welcomed 26 entrants vying for their share of 2 million dollars in prizes.

One female, Lisa Gabor from NYC, along with 25 male competitors such as William Mahfood, Ruddy Armstrong, Mike Hirst, Balsam Vaswani, Dwight Sangster, Andrew Issa who had been playing at various spots, at times on their computers, entered the battle of skill, strategy and risk. Others supporting included Damian P Daley and Patrick Ewbank day.

Chris Blackwell, owner of Strawberry Hill, tournament’s title sponsor, played host, and an exemplary host he was. He with the support of sponsors such as Wray Nephew, Wisynco Ocean Spray and Haagen Daz ensured that nobody was left wanting. Property manager Nicholas Lynch, and his smiling team kept everyone fed, and warm. For added warmth, there was a cozy fireplace, and, Joe Adduci had his brand cigars for those who smoked. The weekend started with a cocktail party on Friday evening, and a one-night knockout Sniper Tournament with 16 entrants vying for Dickie Jobson (deceased member) Memorial Award. Aaron Johnston copped this award along with $50,000.

That Friday evening, after an informative welcome address by organizer Alastair Macbeth, all specially invited guests and players feasted on a Jamaican meal starting with pumpkin soup as appetizer. This was energy for the sniper tournament which was to last until almost 3 am Saturday morning.

Saturday was relaxing, with a round robin segment, and ending in a night of rain watching and memory collecting. Planned entertainment by Gramps Morgan was put off by the after effects of the erupting volcano in Iceland, which had rippling effects on the artiste schedule in London, but there were Latin music beats to soothe all weekend long.