The Smell of Green Country

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

The sound of crickets and the smell of fresh air in the country is always so refreshing. The Jamaica flag has the colours of black, green and gold. The green represents the land. Indeed, our land is fertile and there is lush vegetation. From the vast cane fields to the glorious mountains, Jamaica is green from Negril to Morant Point. We do have idle land whereby development will occur and there's no bones about it. However, from an environmental perspective we should leave some places untouched. A green oasis is what the country side is. It represents a getaway from the hard, urban, concrete environment. There's just an undeniable mystique about driving through the country and being in the heart of nature. It makes us feel free and at peace with ourselves.

Silent Sunset

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

Nestled on the backseat of a taxi rushing through the central business district to get to a  get together with friends...the window is rolled down and I'm searching for something interesting outside my window. With my driver speeding down a few avenues to get to my destination, the wind blowing through my hair...light and very airy. While in motion, I like to look above the tree tops. The sky is an interesting place where birds, kites, eagles and planes fly. But, nothing compares to the powerful feeling I get from seeing the merging of colours to make a masterpiece in the heavens.    

"Lovebird"

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

'Twas once a symbol of national pride. The Lovedbird was indeed 'soaring to new heights'. A very beautiful bird in the sky she was and something truly Jamaican. The only real memory of this national bird now sits on the roundabout at the Norman Manley Airport.  The tale/tail of a broken winged bird. Someday we will have back a bird just as beautiful I hope. 

Silver Button

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

The truth is summer hasn't even started yet. Technically, we are in the last part of spring but the temperature is blazing...but summer is nigh and to stay cool you better hang outside. The night sky doesn't have many stars but being under the shimmer of the moon is very enchanting. It is the light bulb of the sky that glows on the magical creatures of the night and sits gloriously above or roof tops. As a child, I used to wonder if I could just touch it...like get a ladder and climb my way to get there. In my later years, I think I can only do that in my dreams. Looking up at the moon is like looking at the sun in reverse. It is a thing of great thing of beauty and it's splendiforous to see it her shine in full. 

Suburbia's Urban Edge

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

Today I was in Suburbia or for a better expression looking out at the Red Hills of Kingston. I remember going to school in Suburbia. It was a quiet neighbourhood that didn't like too much noise and any events that occurred at the school could be shut down by the relevant authorities if they made just one phone call. What's so interesting about this suburb in Kingston is that in my school days, I could count the number of houses on the hill. That was then...and now there is an urban explosion of palatial mansions on the hill. It is the Jamaican Dream to own a house on the hill but then what pressure does it put on the natural resources? We basically carve out our hillsides to secure housing and it makes me wonder if the hills can manage the stress it's place under in terms of land use and amenities. I really hope we are not building to the collapse of the hills which experiences vast land slippage during the rainy season.  Arguably, from the top down looking at the City of Kingston from the hills, it is one of the most green urban areas. The air quality may not be that great but most properties have a tree or two to help reduce air pollution. For future development, the relevant authorities must exercise some development control. Sure, we can build big houses on the hills, we just need to ensure that there are parameters for zoning in order to curb the population.   

Salem Nights

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

Nobody likes being sick and wellness is a state of mind. I stood on the 9th floor of Cornwall Regional and let's just say the view makes for lots of life and living.  The clouds were something to behold. Orange clouds rolled by and burnt beautiful images which faded into shades of gold and pink as the sun dissipated. The city lights decorate the other side of the town of Montego Bay like pepper lights and the ocean has become tempered after a day's work of crashing waves on the seashore. Mount Salem is home to the only major hospital in the parish. Sure, other health facilities exist such as hopes, clinics and other private practice but I doubt that the others have views like Regional. The views and vistas from the hospital are anything but simply amazing. If you are driving down Howard Cooke Boulevard you can see Regional on Mount Salem above the city. Arguably, it could use a splash of colour to make its landmark brighter. I'd also like to think it's in a central location but that's relative because I live 13 miles outside Montego Bay. Either way, there are great views of the city and they should be applauded for tapping into the use of solar energy by using solar panels to power the hospital's operation. We are immensely blessed to live in the tropics where the sun shines almost everyday. Thus, they are operating more efficiently and contributing to energy savings. More government institutions and agencies need to follow suit  for the sake of the public purse and environmental stewardship.

Vitamin Sea

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

One of my favourite things about being an island girl is going to the beach. Seeing water makes me happy and I find it very therapeutic to frolic in. Yes, many say Jamaica is more than the three S's: sun, sand and sea but frankly, the sea is a big part of our geographical determinant. We are a small island developing state surrounded by the Caribbean Sea whose waters reflect shades of turquoise, iridescent blue, sky blue, navy blue and sea green. Water is one of the most important elements in our tourism product. Jamaica is dubbed, the "Land of Wood and Water" and we boast of having one of the safest water supply systems in the world. Our greatest challenge as a country is that the best beaches are being sold to hotels as part of their vacation packages. Perhaps, this may be viewed as a new form of colonization by locals. The naked truth is that sooner rather than later locals won't have any free beaches they can go, to enjoy some recreational time. A Beach Control Act exists to enlighten citizens about their public rights to access beaches. However, we may question whose interest this act protects. When investors come to our shores, the shares of citizens are not taken into consideration. If there are any stakeholder analyses, it is just observing due process for the sake of formalities. Development occurs at any given cost and  the concerns of citizens are usually overlooked. Our beautiful beaches are a part of our cultural heritage and most treasured natural resources. As such, our citizenry need to get more engaged where our rights are concerned to advocate for local usage of our beaches. 

Sundae Sunset in the Capital

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

I sat in my Julie mango tree and watched the sun disappear over the mountain. Sundays are usually quiet and I spend it reflecting on the week that was. How sweet it is to watch the sun smile behind the clouds!This should be our outlook for that which we do not see. Sunday is the first day of the week and we mentally have expectations for the next 6 days. After Sunday, there's Monday and all the MONDAY MATTERS that in actuality we consider the first day of the week. Some of us take a grouchy approach to Monday and I must admit I am guilty of it too. However, if we get back to basics and make Monday, Sunday then we would be much more relaxed on Monday morning when we have to go to work. Attitude is everything! So, soak up the sun in Sunday and indulge in something therapeutic whether its getting or making sundaes, going to the beach or just watching television with the family. The catch is you have to tell yourself that your Monday will be just as or greater than your Sunday.   

A Blur of Holland Bamboo Avenue

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

I'm at it again! This time I spent one day driving through 11 parishes excepting St. Thomas, Portland and St. Mary. Bamboo Avenue in St. Bess reminds me of a gateway to serenity with striking arches of green canopy. This two and a half mile stretch of road between Lacovia and Middle Quarters is a must see on the South Coast. The sad reality is that this enchanting avenue might not be famous for bamboo in the future since it is being cut at a rapid rate by vandals and affected by fire from poor agricultural practices. If the bamboo is not replanted, it will all just disappear. Cultural heritage tourism is the life blood of our tourism industry. We must advocate for the sustainability of this avenue as it pertains to preservation and restoration. Sure, the parish council plays its part but the community must also get involved in the management and protection of its physical resources. Getting involved means that the community has shared interest in environmental protection and development of the avenue. I charge us to appreciate the value of our heritage products. They age and are in need of restoration and the onus is on every stakeholder involved to play their part to ensure continuity of the product. Bamboo Avenue is a space that has been made into a place...and if it becomes further neglected it will be a forgotten memory or something of a blur that once existed. 

Shades of Blue & Green in Caymanas

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

I wasn't in the best of health when I captured this still but seeing it made me feel a whole lot better. Another one of my backseat pictures that had a soothing tone and evoked a mellow mood. In essence, it captured how I felt through the imagery and symbolism. I was feeling really blue because I was sick and looking at the mountains it felt like a great challenge to overcome. The cane field is a radiant green, which is a powerful colour representing life and the adage which says, "the grass is greener on the other side." This scenery reminded me of a few beautiful lines from A.L. Hendricks and Lloyd Hall's composition "Jamaica Land of Beauty" :

"From riverside to mountain
From cane field to the sea
Our heart salute Jamaica
Triumphant, proud and free"

Indeed, the land is an untouched gem along the urban corridor on Mandela Highway. Development is occurring all around it in terms of housing, transportation and other land use. However, I hope it stays in its pristine state for a very long time. Beauty like this once destroyed, we can never get it back.

The End of Great George Street

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

Sav-la-Mar gave me life today! It was my first time in the capital of Westmoreland and it was an eclectic urban mix. Arriving on Great George Street, I laid eyes upon the cast iron fountain...a beautiful relic from Jamaica's colonial past. I decided I would walk out the entire street and it was really interesting to see. A consumer can do everything on this street! We can go to church, buy books at the bookstore, read a book at the library, shop for clothes and beauty products or purchase fabric to make clothes, check out furniture, do personal banking...go to the supermarket or just cash out at a wholesale. I just thought it fantastic! The street just seemed like a one stop shop. My walk was pretty delightful. I observed that some buildings were aesthetically pleasing while others had zero pizzazz. The use of colour could be played up a whole lot more but it was still visually something to see. The town's urban form has a linear layout but it's beauty lies in having the ocean at the end of the street. My eyes caught a flock of black birds flying over some fishermen in their boat. Then on the other side there was a wall blocking the ocean view. I saw a group of doctors posing for a picture underneath an arch and my curiosity piqued. I walked over to them and low and behold I got sprayed by sea water and it made me happy.  

From the Other Side of Kingston Harbour

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

Standing in awesome wonder reminiscing on how I moved from city to city. My favourite place to be is where water meets the sky. It conjures an element of mystery and healing simultaneously. There is nothing more pacifying than soaking up a scene like this. The moving clouds roll by concealing the enigma of the heavens and the deep blue waters...a place just as rich as the grave but very soothing to observe its ebb and flow. We must appreciate beauty like this as is. We may not understand how it all comes together like a puzzle but think of it as a great work of art that changes colour and mood based on the weather. Just take a picture to remember the emotion(s) it evoked in you.  

Along Life's Rocky Path

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

Some of my best adventures in life were those I had not planned for. Frankly that's the art of life. Not everything under the sun can be planned for. Sometimes things happen to help us slow down and enlighten us to the beauty that surrounds us. I truly believe, those are some of the best surprises because they open your eyes to new possibilities and beautiful experiences. Some of us just need to stop wearing shoes with the designer label of fear and take chances by walking on roads where we can't see around the corner. Maybe just maybe you'll end up liking the view.  

As Sure As the Sun Sets On the Waterfront

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

Our faith is sometimes the only spark of hope we have in our rasp. I encourage you to hold on to it and never let it go. Dreams may seem elusive but your belief can give the mind wings to fly. Today, I had an incredible amount of faith in a transaction that appeared to the human eye as next to impossible. I took a chance on myself and sent out my request to the universe and I believed it would not return to me empty...and it didn't. God wants us to be bold and fearless and do what we are called to do. Get out and live in the light. It gives you greater courage to do what you have been afraid to do, when you actually do what you need to do. Live up!

Raindrops on My Sunroof

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

I never knew rain could create such beautiful art. It was a joy to be stuck in the middle of traffic in the rain on a Tuesday afternoon. I looked up and saw the pattern of raindrops and it made me happy in a strange way. Water is one of the most powerful elements and it be used as an element to heal and provide therapy...better yet traffic therapy. So, if ever you are stuck in the rain look outside your window or if you have a sunroof look up coz there might be something there to remind you slow down and enjoy the view.