A Trip to the Jungle

As I emerge from the rock I’ve been under for the past several weeks, I come bearing coloured photographs to delight and tease your senses.

When one is in the throes of cutting, pasting, copying and deleting portions of one’s first novel, one loses track of time–literally. One day evolves into the next and the next and the next, weekends become weekdays and weekdays become weekends and the days of the week become one, big, fat blur.

But then that blur can be swept away by a day so full of amazing sights and people, you return on a cloud to your home underneath that rock.

What am I yammering on about?

KONOKO

It’s where the Tainos once settled. It means rainforest, wooded area, jungle. And what a jungle it is.

No need to walk with your cutlass or machete. There are no bushes to hack away and rocks to hoist yourself over. In this jungle, you’ll find walkways and bridges.

No need to carry a compass, map or spyglass. In this jungle, you’ll find capable and friendly tour guides.

No need to walk with a waterskin or satchel of non-perishable food slung across your back. And no need to catch, butcher and roast any animals or fish over a fire you’ve made yourself from dry bush and flint. There’s a comfortable bar and grill serving up cold drinks and warm jerk chicken, jerk pork, fish, bammy, festival et cetera.

No need to find a secluded shrub to relieve yourself. There are clean, equipped restrooms with soap, hand towels and such.

And no need to fight off any wild beasts. Because they are all securely caged and fenced.

But do bring your camera, your inner child, sense of wonder and some good company (that’s also in touch with their inner child and sense of wonder). And be prepared to learn about Jamaica’s flora, fauna and Tainos.

I will only give you a hint of what I saw in the konoko–just a hint. Because if you’ve never been, I want it all to be a surprise. I want you to feel like Chris (or Christine) Columbus, like you’ve discovered a new place, a new getaway, a piece of Jamaica that you’ll want to visit again and again and again.

See you in the morrow!

Peace and love,
Angie