Jamaica is often associated with Bob Marley, “herbal medication”, Usain Bolt, and perhaps the phrase “Yeah mon,” however the most apt description is simply paradise. Jamaica’s tropical climate, white sand beaches, crystal clear water, and abundance of luxurious resorts culminate to create a magical environment. I stayed at the Sunset Beach resort in Montego Bay which offered an all inclusive package, allowing guests to relax and fully enjoy their stay.
The food was excellent, especially Jamaica’s famous jerk chicken. With unlimited eating, I managed to put on ten pounds within a week of staying at the resort. The bars provided unlimited drinks, with a few options for those under the drinking age.
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The pool had a miniature water park with a lazy river and water slides for children, while accommodating adults with a bar in another pool. The beach had an area for families to swim and play in the ocean as well as areas for other marianic activities. I enjoyed kayaking and wind sailing on their serene ocean. The reef was close to shore so when I took the snorkeling tour, Street, our guide was able to show us a lot of the ocean life living on the reef. And after a day of playing and relaxing, families could gather around the stage where Sunset Resort brought in entertainment groups from Jamaica. There I saw Children of the Drums, a group that performed traditional Jamaican dances while playing various drums. Every night featured a different performer or group and entertained the whole family. But the best quality of the resort was not the pools, the food, the activities, the entertainment, or the location, but instead the service. The employees catered to the guest’s every need, but they did it all with a smile. From the gentleman preparing omelets in the morning, to the lady at the towel hut, everybody wore a giant grin. Surrounded by the happy guests and happy employees, it was easy to remember that in Jamaica, there were no worries.
While the resort pampered me and treated me well, I wanted to see some more of Jamaica. One of the local attractions was Dunn’s River Falls. There, the tour guides led a climb to the top of the falls where visitors would link hands and walk up the rocks, through the coursing falls. With slippery rocks, running water, and fun guides, the trek through Dunn’s River Falls was exciting. Although climbing the waterfalls was an adventure in itself, the real highlight of that trip was the ride to and from the falls. On the way there, I got to interact with many locals. Some were well off and some were impoverished, but they all shared the one thing I had noticed in the employees at the resort. They were all happy, and not just because they were paid to be happy. To me it seemed as if Jamaica had discovered the key to being content, the key to living and existing. In Jamaica, they lived by the motto printed on their souvenir shirts. They lived with no problem. When I returned to the United States, I looked introspectively at my life and realized I was well off. Though I might face stressful situations and my life isn’t perfect, I realized that everything is better with a nice attitude. If you live with no problems, you have no problems.
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