I landed in Jamaica on 16 th of June 2011. It was on a Thursday. I had flown from UK and thought I was coming to the same kind of climate. From the airport I was forced to strip my Eskimo clothes one by one. It took me over three months to settle down on the Island. I was later told it was summer.

Summer in Jamaica is cultural festivals and live music time. We go beach parties and spicy jerk chicken especially in Boston between Saint Thomas and Portland parishes. We get gate pass to big hotels along north coast and have drinks by the pool to cool down the hot temperatures in the day. Jamaica is pure paradise during summer. But here’s the thing – while all of Jamaica is beautiful this time of year, our mountains remain green and the Carribean sear remain blue and sparkling.

To be honest, there’s a special place in my heart for Ocho Rios during summer. Because Ocho Rios is just so perfectly located: mystic mountain is a place to go. Dolphin cove is a place to visit and dance river is a location you cannot miss when you visit Jamaica.

Ochi is far enough from the noisy kingston. It is the peace and tranquility I crave for always.