Rick’s Cafe Jamaica – Iconic Tourist Trap

If you’ve never been to Jamaica, at the very least you are familiar with a few of it’s gifts that are uniquely their own. Simply mention Jerk, Red Stripe, Reggae, Blue Mountain Coffee, or  Bob Marley  and people are whistling Three Little Birds and looking for their swimsuit. And chances are that long before they even booked their first trip they heard about the iconic Rick’s Cafe in Negril, Jamaica.

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Rick’s Cafe was founded in 1974 when Negril was little more than a sleepy fishing village and hippie retreat. Almost 40 years later Negril has morphed into an idyllic escape with world-class resorts and hotels built into it’s west end cliffs and Rick’s Cafe has become a tourist trap. A tourist trap that you absolutely should not miss!

There are three things you’ll want to get out of your trip to Rick’s Cafe.

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First, you’ll want to watch the cliff divers. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit Rick’s four times and I can tell you that your stomach will lurch every single time you watch one of their professional divers soar from the bird’s nest 75 ft above the water. As a brief aside, please don’t be one of those eye-rolly tourists huffing and puffing because the guys jumping from the incredibly high platform for your amusement would like a tip. If you can make it to Jamaica, you can part with a couple of dollars for these amazing performers. Rant over.

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If you’re brave enough, you can jump off the 35ft platform into the turquoise water below. For the record, I am not brave enough. I’m a watcher. Someone has to do it or what would all you thrill seekers do it for?

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Second, soak up the vibe. Slip into the attitude of the latitude because every ting irie mon. No really, it is. Rick’s Cafe has exactly what you need — sun, reggae, cold drinks, and happy people on vacation. Strike up a conversation with your neighbour or get up and move to the entertainment on the stage. If there’s one thing you should check before you arrive at Rick’s is your stress.

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Finally, take in the sunset. It’s amazing how many of us don’t take time to watch the sunset. Heck, most of us don’t have a view of the sunset, it’s so obscured by buildings. Rick’s Cafe, and the cliffs of Negril in general, boast one of the best seats in the house. Grab your honey or throw your arms around your little munchkins and marvel at the sun setting over the Caribbean Sea. I mean truly marvel at it.

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You can get to Rick’s by land or water. If you choose to take a catamaran cruise, which I highly recommend by the way, make sure you know how you’ll actually get to Rick’s Cafe. Some charters will tender you in on a small dinghy, but on others it’s man overboard, so expect to get wet.

Finally, here’s the one things I recommend you do not have at Rick’s Cafe. Their version of Jerk Chicken is a crying shame.  A breast of chicken that comes with some sort of country style gravy on it that’s supposed to be “jerk”. Nuh-uh. Don’t do it. Get your jerk on at a jerk hut or for a real treat visit Scotchies or Sweet Spice, two incredible restaurants on the island you should not miss. Stick to little appetizers and some ice cold Red Stripe at Rick’s Cafe and save your appetite for more authentic fare later.

 

10 Must Haves for Travel with Newborns

When two became three a year and a half ago, we really had to think about what items we packed for our month long travels. Travel with newborns can be easy as long as you have the right gear. We covered 15 cities in 6 countries during the little one’s first year! Here’s some of my must haves for travelling during those early months.
 
1.    Infant travel bed – The best thing when hotels do not have cribs available or when visiting family. This contraption fits comfortably between the parents (we never had any space issues in a queen bed) and there’s no danger of rolling over the baby. Folds up compactly as well.
 
travel must haves for newborns
2.    Baby carrier – Travelling in most South Asian countries with large groups (read family) it would be near impossible to have a car seat. The baby carrier was used not only for our city tours by foot in London and Paris but also on planes that did not provide a basinet or baby seatbelt and on our road trips in India. I strapped myself to the seatbelt as per usual, the bottom belt tucked under the baby’s legs and the top belt secured under the two top buttons on the carrier. It’s not the safest method but it was the best we could do – I was well secured by the seatbelt and the baby was strapped onto me (no danger of any belts choking her).
 
travel with newborns
 
3.    Breast pump – At times it’s hard to breastfeed in very public places and a hungry baby is not what you want to deal with when surrounded by chaos. Pumped milk to the rescue! Also let’s not forget that glass of wine that MUST accompany those fancy dinners or that tawny port 31,000 ft above homeland.  If you’re concerned about the 110volts vs. 220 don’t be, most hotels have a shaver outlet which works just as well for the pump. Ladies it DOES NOT work for your hair dryers or curling irons though! Be warned! If you are worried about sterilizing the bottles, nozzles e.t.c, don’t be. I always keep a small bottle of washing liquid in the diaper bag, I use this to wash all the items (at the hotel) and then because I’m skeptical about tap water in certain countries, I always boil water in the kettle and then rinse out the ice bucket. Next up toss all the washed items into the ice bucket and pour boiling water to sterilize the items. Toss the dried items into a larger ziplock.
 
travel with newborns
4.    Nursing cover – I’ve fed at Westminster Abbey, a monastic ruin from 1 B.C, at the Churchill war museum, 31,000 ft above ground and countless restaurants and stores, all thanks to the discretion allowed by the nursing cover.
 
travel with newborns
5.    Wipes and diapers – I took these from Toronto because I did not want to deal with experimenting with the wrong kind.  For a month with a newborn we needed 3 large packs of wipes (to keep at the hotel), 3 travel sized packs (for the diaper bag) and 200 diapers.
 
travel with newborns
6.    Pacifiers – I used these arduously on the plane for takeoff and landing and to soothe her to sleep when we went out to eat. Given that I tend to drop things, we “lost” quite a few for the day. Even if I drop it for a second, I refuse to re-use it until it has been sterilized. Have extras on hand, like 5!
 
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7.    Blankets – I always take two blankets wherever I go. One to lay on the chair (I prefer each side to be differently coloured so that I always know which is the “dirty” side touching the seat), the other to drape over her.
 
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8.    Disposable change pads – We’ve been in places where there has been no change station or worse, an absolutely filthy one. I like to lay the disposable change pad first and then the travel change pad on top. Yes I’m a bit of a germaphobe. Most times I either changed her in the car or tucked away in a corner at a restaurant.
 
travel with newborns
9.    Hand sanitizer – Oh boy did I use this! After dealing with street vendors in India, taking the subway in London and pretty much any interaction we had with “foreign” objects.
 
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10.    Camera and laptop – Hey I have to update my blog and Facebook page right!?!
 
 
 
It’s true I’ve had to sacrifice my mandatory 7 pairs of shoes, extra jewellery, hair accessories and purses to fit these items, but truth be told, I didn’t really miss them…much! Best part is that we donated some of the clothes and extra diapers to those kids who are less fortunate in Mumbai. This also makes room for the shopping I’ve done  All in all we fit all of these and our clothes into one suitcase each (two in total), not bad eh!
 

Born in Sri Lanka, raised in Dubai, Bahrain, Pakistan, the U.S, Australia and England, Yashy now finds herself settled in Toronto, where she met her husband. Toronto, with its captivating events that fuel her passions is the only city that has managed to entertain Yashy for longer than seven years. She continues to nurture her love affair with the city by staying engaged with the diverse community and seeking cultural events that tickle her passions which include fashion, wine, dining, cooking, cocktailing, travelling, and now… exploring all things baby related. 

A branding specialist by profession, Yashy is now a work from home mom. When she was on maternity leave with nothing but poop and time on her hands she started blogging ( www.babyandlife.com ) to share her passions and how she strives to strike a balance between baby and self from the very start of motherhood. The blog discusses “lifestyle” – travel, entertaining, food and drink and for the most part- all with a baby on the hip. You can find Yashy on Twitter most days lusting after the next travel opportunity and sharing food and baby pictures alongside events happening in Toronto!

One Year Lived – Book Giveaway

Here’s what I want for my kids. I want them to go to school through high school, take a year or two post-secondary and then I want them to walk away from it all. I want them to shirk responsibility, toss their books aside and go sow their wild oats and such….only I don’t want details about the oat sowing of course. Why do I want this for my kids? There are three reasons:

  • I want them to go experience life somewhere other than where they grew up. Who knows? Maybe their true path lies on the other side of the earth (which would break their Mother’s heart into a million tiny pieces but I try to not think about that)
  • So that they don’t miss the opportunity to experience complete freedom. No class to take notes on, no job to be on time for, no schedule, no mortgage payments, no kids. That time in our lives is brief and it should be embraced.
  • Finally, I want them to embrace the humanity in all people, not just the ones they see in their own backyard.

In fact, I am currently trying to convince my 20 year old step-son to run, not walk to the nearest airport. So far, it’s falling on deaf ears and that’s why it was timely that Adam Shepard dropped me a line to tell me about his book One Year Lived.

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Adam saved his money for two years and then took off to explore the world. Along the way he volunteered with children in Guatemala, went bungee jumping, ziplining and scuba diving, visited Auschwitz, read 71 books and fell in love. And this is what I want for my children. As Adam says “There’s only so much you can learn in the classroom. Sometimes you have to get out there to experience it, to touch it, to feel it, to see if for yourself. It’s fascinating the perspective we gain when we step out of our bubbles of comfort, even just a little bit.”

Indeed. There are lessons here for all of us, because you don’t have to take a year to travel. Take what you can and get out there.

I’m so excited to be able to offer readers of Life in Pleasantville a free copy of One Year Lived until Wednesday, April 25th. Simply click here and enter email: slimshep12@gmail.com and password: 123456 and then download your book in one of three formats.

But before you go, tell me in the comments, will you push your kids out the door to go travel or encourage them to stay close to home?

 

 

Travel Young – Why You Should & How to Do It

Why You Should Travel Young And How to Do It

You know those carefree days when you can live off your parents’ income and it’s perfectly normal and perfectly acceptable? Well, I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but those days will end. That’s one thing you must understand well about growing older and earning your own money: you’ll begin to be responsible for every facet of your well-being, and budgeting is a big part of that. Does this mean that you’d never be able to go anywhere anymore, because now you’d have to save for it? Thankfully, no.

travel young on the trans-siberian

I’m 25, and although it’s been almost five years since I graduated from university, I still depend on my parents for a lot of things: emotional support for one, but monetary support for another, when I can’t handle the weight on my own. So it seems that parent-dependent days really have no end: they would always have our back no matter how old we get, and no matter how many mistakes we make. (In the same way that we should always have their back no matter how old or how forgetful they get, but that’s a different story.)

travel young Liverpool

So parent-dependent days may not end, but it’s also inappropriate to have them pay for things when we can do so ourselves.

Are you thinking of traveling but you’re not sure if your meager budget can afford it? Or do you think traveling is something to be reserved for later in life, when you already have a house, a family, three dogs, a cat, and millions of dollars to your name?

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Why You Should Travel Young

It’s been said many times and in many ways, but clichés are clichés because they are true: traveling teaches you in ways staying put inside your comfort zone just can’t do. Sure, you know your city by heart and it’s great that you do. But there’s a whole world out there that doesn’t think and live the way you do, and wouldn’t it be nice to see why you’re still alike even though your humanity is your sole common ground?

I’ve always been very vocal about cultural immersion being my favourite part of visiting another city or another country. It’s really a great feeling, being able to understand why people are the way they are, why they do what they do, and in spite of our glaring differences, wanting to embrace it all.

Seeing new places and meeting different people especially when you go out of your way to actually get to know them, opens your eyes to the greyer side of life, more than just the black and white. You become more tolerant of diversity, less judgmental of others’ way of life, just because they differ from yours.

travel young Russia

To be aware of all these things at a young age gives you the power to make more conscious decisions as you grow older. When you understand that the world is so much bigger than yourself and your inner circle, maybe you could encourage your schoolmates to be less exclusive and more accepting of others. Or maybe when it’s time for you to choose a major in university, you can work towards a career that will allow you to champion a cause that struck your heart when you were off the grid.

Traveling molds you the way no shopping spree can do.

 

How You Can Travel Far On A Budget

Here’s my personal travel-planning checklist so that you can travel young. Feel free to alter it to cater to your needs. The key to a successful trip is to do your homework well: research is invaluable!

  1.  Where do you want to go? If you don’t already have one, I suggest making a list of the places you want to see in the next five years. Once you’ve chosen your top three, try to gather as much information as you can about them.
  2.  When do you want to go? Is your travel time optimal? You don’t want to visit Nepal in June if your goal is to trek Mt. Everest’s base camp, because of the monsoon season. Read travel forums to check when it’s best to visit your desired destination. If it doesn’t coincide with your travel time, move on to your second choice.
  3.   Is it safe? Read travel advisories and the latest news to find out whether it’s perfectly safe to visit when you’re planning to. If you have friends who live there or friends of friends who do, it’s best to ask them for the inside scoop. Sometimes the news blows things out of proportion too.
  4.  How much are you willing to spend? When you set a ceiling to how much you can save before your trip and how much you’re comfortable shelling out, it’s easier to look for flights, accommodations and activities that suit your budget.
  5.  What are you willing to let go? The thing about a meager budget is that you have to be precise with the experiences that are not negotiable for you, and let go of the ones you can live without. When I was planning a two-week trip to England in 2010, I knew that I couldn’t do it all, especially because everything is more expensive in pounds. What were my non-negotiables? The Tower of London, the Stonehenge, and because I’m a die-hard Beatles fan, a day trip to Liverpool. What did I have to let go for another time? Shopping at Harrods and seeing a fabulous West End show.

It’s not impossible to go far with a meager budget; it just takes a lot of careful planning and whole lot of research! Always be on the lookout for different deals and promos, but be careful not to book anything right away. Compare and contrast, and until you’re comfortable with the price, don’t commit to it.

why you should travel young

The best thing about traveling when you’re young and single is that you only need to plan for yourself. Although it still takes a lot of time and effort if you want to get more bang for your buck, there are less considerations (without a mortgage, three mouths to feed, or limited time off work that needs to be worked around) and ultimately, it still costs less. You only have to ask your parents to know how daunting it is to plan not just for two, but for a whole family.

If there’s one thing that can convince you to travel young, it’s this: it’s never going to be this easy again.

Travel Young Stonehenge

Author Bio:  Ria is an eager blogger who works as a freelance writer and a Communications Specialist. In her blog, www.riamacasaet.com, she writes about her weakness for air crash documentaries, getting slapped in the face by a grown Greek man, and the perks of loving where you are.

 

Churchill, Canada

I’m a proud Canadian, of that there can be no doubt, but I have to admit that I’ve not spent enough time exploring this incredible country. Especially west of Ontario. Or north for that matter. In fact, upon further reflection, I’m a bit of a novice when it comes to Canada. I think it’s time to change that.

The Great Canadian Travel Company sent me this video of Churchill, Canada and I just had to share with you. What an amazing experience this would be! And I know they’re not really snuggly, but don’t those polar bears just look so darn cute?!

Where would you visit in Canada? Check out all the great places on The Great Canadian Travel Company’s page and come back and tell me where you’d go first.

No Tech Travel with Kids

by Katja Wulfers

We are a travelling family; not of the nomadic variety, although that has a definite appeal, and I’d never say never. There is something so exciting about packing our bags, hopping on a flight or in the car and taking off to parts unknown. It’s our favourite thing to do together. As much as the four of us are accustomed to travel there isn’t a trip we’ve been on that hasn’t caused butterflies in my stomach. Should you pay us a visit in the days leading up to a vacation you’ll find children buzzing with anticipation, adults grinning like Cheshire cats, and chaos. A lot of chaos.

As a foursome we’ve jetted to Hong Kong and mainland China, soaked up the vibe in the Caribbean, visited France many times, traipsed around the US, and explored Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. Sometimes all it takes is a day trip someplace different from home and we feel we’ve been away. Travel is family time because our daily life is often hectic and ruled by school, work, and sports schedules.

In the interest of togetherness we instituted a new rule two years ago, no electronics on family trips. WHAT? You’ve got it baby! The kids do not bring their DS, iPod Touch, or anything remotely beeping and soul sucking on family vacations. * Why? Because we are cruel, heartless, old, and borderline abusive. Also we wanted some real family time. Time to talk, or not. Time to sing, much to our children’s absolute embarrassment (bonus), or just listen to music. Time to play games. Time where we could exclaim in wonder at a passing sight or just sit quietly and appreciate the trip.

Beautiful isn’t it. Makes me tear up just thinking about it. Also makes me want to break out into Kumbaya or possibly If You’re Happy and You Know It. Before you gape in wonder at our reckless disregard for all that is good and holy, like parental sanity, it hasn’t been easy. The reality is, there’s been arguing. Also pinching, stick swinging, cheating at games, yelling – that was me, objects flying out the windows of moving vehicles, and tantrums – again, that may have been me. We are persisting because in between all the madness there are glimmers of peace and fun.

While driving through British Columbia last summer the kids played countless card games. Their future as card sharks is assured, which will be a huge benefit for paying university tuition fees. While using his Flip camera our son became Mr. Filmmaker. Some of the captured moments, like me yelling at them, should probably be erased, but others are quite funny. Nuh-uh…me yelling is not funny. He discovered a new interest which he may otherwise not have done if the iPod Touch hadn’t been M.I.A. Well, not so much M.I.A. as M.H.H.I. ** Our daughter wrote and drew in her notebook for hours. She probably completed an entire novel in a 17-day span. That’s quite an achievement for a 7 year old, and all because the DS stayed home.

Next stop – France this July. If my husband and I make it out alive, and reasonably sane, consider this experiment a viable alternative to all of the shooting sounds, repetitive music, and beeping you routinely hear from the back seat. If you don’t hear from us, send help. Or wine.

* We do bring a laptop to upload photos to and so that the kids can watch movies in the evenings. We’re not that old and cruel. We also bring our phones. We may be crazy, but we’re not certifiable.

** M.H.H.I. is the well-known acronym for Mom Has Had It.

Pleasantville Note: When I asked Kat to submit a bio to me for her guest post, she balked. I don’t blame her. I hate writing those things too. I do however LOVE writing them for other people. So when I suggested I could make hers up for her, she said, ok. So here you go:

Kat is a mom first, but is also trained in the Jedi arts. When not fighting Stormtroopers, she can be found at the bottom of a vodka bottle.

Honestly, I don’t even know where Kat came from. All I know is that one day I started talking to this hilarious person on Twitter and I never, ever wanted her to go away. Kat is funny, in a dry, twisted, sarcastic way and for that I adore her. She is also a terrific blogger. When she said she’d visit Pleasantville, I was thrilled. Welcome to my home Kat, let me pour you a sangria. I plan to get you drunk, so you’ll come back and visit again. Follow Kat @jackstrawlane and check out her blog Jack Straw Lane.

On The Road Again

Four states behind us and five ahead of us before we get home from our latest trip to The Florida Keys. We’ve traveled this road more times than I can count and still I love it. Road trips make me happy.

This song always pops into my head when we’re on the road. How can it not?

The Florida Keys

Hmmmmmm. What do you need to know about the Florida Keys? Well, how about it’s composed of characters, of which you play a starring role. Young, old, gay, straight, conservative, liberal, American, Canadian, European, the Florida Keys attracts them all. And I don’t know if it’s the warm breezes, the salty air or the attitude of the latitude, but they all get along in perfect harmony. It’s roaming roosters, tall libations and seafood so fresh, it practically flops on your plate. It’s cool too, in a Hemingway sort of way. You can’t help but feel a little bit hip walking Duval Street or riding a cruiser bike beside the ocean. It’s brightly painted bungalows, crystal blue waters and fishing off of bridges. It’s boating, snorkelling, and swimming. It’s go-go-go or slow-slow-slow. The Keys are eager to suit your mood. The Florida Keys stretch 120 spectacular miles and if you go, you’re going to want to check out every single one of them.

Day Two In Savannah

Savannah is a charming city and if you make it there to visit, chances are you’ll want to return again and again. On your first visit, you’ll want to get familiar with it, so I’ve broken it down into two easy itineraries for you. Day One is over here and Day Two is below. Remember though that in Savannah, takes things at a stroll rather than a sprint.

Day Two:

Drive your car down to the Savannah Museum of History and park for the day. It’s free for the day when taking a trolley tour, plus you can sit back and relax and let someone else do the driving. If you’re staying in the Historic section of town, you can conveniently grab a trolley car at 15 stops.

Today is the day to hop off the trolley at your leisure and explore at the various stops. Linger in the squares, stroll the streets admiring the architecture and beauty of the structures or take a tour at the many historic sites.

Make a point of visiting the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. Restored and maintained by the Girl Scouts of America, the house is stunning. Every minute detail has been attended to, making it an extremely enjoyable tour. What makes this stop most fascinating though is the history of Juliette Gordon Low herself. An incredible artist (painter, sculptor, iron forger), world traveler, and early feminist, Low was and still remains a trail blazer. This year Girls Scouts of the U.S.A. celebrates 100 years. Talk about a legacy.

From Juliette Gordon Low’s place, walk over to Reynolds Square and enjoy lunch at The Olde Pink House. Also known as the Habersham house, and a destination for ghost hunters, the Olde Pink house is steeped in history. We were there only for the food though. It was absolutely delicious. But don’t take my word for it. Check out my 7 year old’s review.

If you can resist the dessert menu at The Olde Pink House, take a stroll through Reynolds Square up Abercorn Street to East Broughton. On East Broughton you will find Leopold’s Ice Cream. *cue the singing angels* This little gem is ice cream heaven. As you would expect in Savannah, Leopold’s is overflowing with history. Here’s the thing though, you don’t get a history as long as Leopold’s if you’re not serving a the best ice cream EVER! Every flavour is made on the premises, one batch at a time. Plan to linger here, you will have a tough time deciding on a flavour.

From here, you can shop on East Broughton, which has Historic Savannah’s best shopping or you continue on exploring streets and squares while enjoying your ice cream. We headed to the Davenport House a few short blocks from Leopold’s. Built in 1820, Davenport gives a glimpse of what it was like to live in Savannah in the 1800s. It was also the first “save” of the Historic Savannah Foundation. Check their website for all the historic sections in Savannah.

We ended our day here, with two very tired little girls, by hopping on the trolley back to our car. If you’re up for more, continue exploring this beautiful city. Just make sure you’re aware of your last trolley trip back to your car. Enjoy!

Day One in Savannah

If you’re planning on visiting Savannah, here is a great itinerary for Day One of your trip. Our day started around 10am and took us until late in the evening. Shorten or lengthen as you see fit.

Day One:

Visit the Savannah Visitor Information Centre on Bay St. Gather information on all you’d like to see.

Stroll across the street to the Cotton Exchange and walk through the shops. Check out the many monuments in the park.

Walk down the cobblestone road to River Street.

Stop and grab a treat (or two) at the Savannah’s Candy Kitchen. Try a traditional pecan praline or one of the gopher turtles. Yummy.

Hop aboard the Old Time Trolley Tour on River Street.

Hop off at The Savannah History Museum.

Hop back on the trolley and head to the City Market for lunch.

Hop back on the trolley and finish your bus tour through Savannah, ending back on River Street. Check out the Savannah Bee Company and Bob’s Your Uncle for souvenirs for you and your loved ones. Stop and have a latte and a beignet at one of the many cafes along River Street.

Finally, board a Savannah Riverboat Cruise for entertainment and dinner. Try to go on a Monday night for the Gospel Dinner cruise to hear angels sing. The choir the night we were there was so incredible they gave me chills. If you’re not from the South, chances are you’ve never heard a real gospel choir. Don’t miss out. You will not regret it.

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