Tales of a Jamaica Trip

Jewel and her cousin Brenda love to travel together. This is what they had to say about their trip to Jamaica. They have traveled to many countries but see Jamaica as the most beautiful of them all with lush green mountains and charming picturesque beaches lined with strings of night clubs, expensive restaurants and water sports.  However, they felt that it was not an easy destination for two attractive women travelling without male companions. They quickly discovered that Jamaican culture is unquestionably macho, fighting talk is big, reggae lyrics often misogynist, and the popular cult of Rastafarianism is firmly based on woman’s subordination to man. Jewel and Brenda are known for being strong women with superb self-confidence and a king sense of humor that they were able to use to navigate through the customs in Jamaica and have a great time. People would freely warn them against wandering around the capital at night and against the “quashie dem”—the low life who hang out in tourist resorts.

While Jewel and Brenda felt there were no threats of sexual attacks, it was hard for them to escape the assumption that women

travelling without a male companion were on the lookout for a holiday lover—someone to share a good time and dollars with. They heard all manner of comments and every type of pick-up line from the sweet and caressing to the blatantly upfront. They were also advised that if they accepted an offer, they would be expected to stick with the same man for the entire trip and if they returned to the island again or otherwise they would be subject to ugly scenes if they try to pick up and drop partners. There is a delicate balance of exploitation that goes on between the locals and tourists in the main resorts and it doesn’t take much to offend macho sensibilities but once they became known in a place they discovered the atmosphere noticeably relaxes.

After being bombarded with lyrical sweet talk at every turn and witnessing a woman out partying alone, Jewel inquired of one of the men who hung around their rooms why no one was bothering her—he shrieked with laughter, “Rassclat! That woman went with three different men last night. She acts like a one woman Oxfam show!” Jewel and Brenda quickly learned that respect had to be earned and while women will be implored to “go natural” by countless sweet-talking men who are all pitching a “positive t’ing”, women who concede will be branded for “running around”. So, they picked two of the most attractive men on the island and hired them as “tour guides” to take them all over the island. They said it was the best decision they ever made to hire Ra and Leon to escort them. The trip turned out very enjoyable and they were able to travel from Kingston to Spanish Town, Negril and back to Kingston in two short weeks and as a result they learned the lyrics to all the reggae songs.

When asked where to next—“Jamaica again, and again and again!”