Pot Spots

by Erik Olsen on

We in no way would ever advocate drug use. Personally, I keep away from the stuff as it tends to interfere with my ability to work and focus and remember stuff and helps prevent me, sort of, from writing nonsensical, long run on sentences that seem to go nowhere at all and juset go on run-onningly such that….damn, where was I?

Oh yeah, pot vacations. Um, ok, so let’s see. Now where would you in all available American media expect to see an article about the best stoner vacations? The New Yorker? Travel and Leisure? Nice try. Or you wish. Nope, predictably said article can be found in this month’s High Times magazine. Yes, right there next to the Bud of the Month centerfold and a mind-sharpening quiz (thirty two joints minus seven joints is how many joints?) is a piece that helps you discover your inner hippie. So where do they recommend you go? Number one on the list is St. George, Utah….just kidding. Ibiza gets the top nod, followed by Nerril, Jamaica and (of course) Amsterdam.

Word for the Travel Wise (05/18/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Summer time is oh-so near and with the sun ah’ shinin’ and irie feelings all abuzz I’m sure vacationers will be flocking to the islands as soon the season is officially here. Perhaps they are headed there now, but if you plan on making Jamaica one of your island destinations why not wait and make your trip extra special by tacking on one of the largest Reggae concerts of the year to your itinerary? Hell, I’d do just about anything to get to the Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest this year. To my misfortune I won’t be making it July 16-22, 2006, but there’s always next time. The concert is set to take place in Montego Bay to be specific and the lineup is just plain stupid. Ugh – someone please shake something on the dance floor for me.

Today’s word is a Patois word from Jamaica:

mash up – to destroy, tear down, break up

Quite frankly I think destroy is a little far off, but I tend to use the mash up term to say something to the extent of “have a real good time at the party/concert/fete.” Mash up sounds a lot cooler than have a real good time, but please don’t destroy the place.

You can expand your ‘Rasta Patois’ in several ways. The most rewarding way is straight from the horse’s mouth, so you may wish to seek the knowledge from some West Indian folks in your neighborhood. If you can’t learn anything that way due to the low number of West Indian peeps in your circle, try watching films. The Rockers is an awesome and entertaining starting point. The 25th anniversary edition DVD has great features, including a small Rasta Patois dictionary. A good source on the net is Jamaicans dot com and Jahworks seems decent.

Past Patois words: satta, gwaan, labrish

Word for the Travel Wise (04/07/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Time to get hip to Jamaican patois again. Why?
Because my travel agent says so? Duh! Because AirJamica is running ridiculous
sales and I’m sure you’re dying to save a lickle, right? Then follow my lead and we’ll both be jammin’
hand-in-hand.

Today’s word is a Patois word from Jamaica:

labrish –
gossip

I’m never one to gossip, but when the agent spills the rum on a sweet opportunity to
splash around in tropical island water these are tings I just can’t keep to mi self! Don’t listen to me though and
don’t be crazy mon! Go see with your own two. Just remember AirJamaica and if
they ask who sent yuh tell them it wasn’t me. I’m serious!

You can expand your ‘Rasta Patois’ in several
ways. The most rewarding way is straight from the horse’s mouth, so you may wish to seek the knowledge from some West
Indian folks in your neighborhood. If you can’t learn anything that way due to the low number of West Indian peeps in
your circle, try watching films. The Rockers is an awesome
and entertaining starting point. The 25th anniversary edition DVD has great features, including a small Rasta Patois
dictionary. A good source on the net is Jamaicans dot com and Jahworks seems decent.

Past
Patois words: satta, gwaan

Blog Alert: The Pan Collective

by Adrienne Wilson on

Since the return of my trip I’ve been
rather hush-hush on speaking anymore about Trinidad & Tobago. Mostly because I figured someone would scream or send
a dart to my back if they heard one more story or trip tip about this spectacular island in the Eastern Caribbean, but
my silence stops here. (Kick, shout, scream and do whatever.) For those who can never get enough of island things I
point your attention to a brand new blog in town called The Pan
Collective. Don’t be fooled – the site may have a good number of talented bloggers straight out of TnT, but lookout
for blurbs on Aruba and Jamaica as well.

Overall it’s a place where you’ll find info on art, culture, food,
family life, and unique perspectives about the region. (Check out this entry on the Phagwah festivities.) Be sure to bookmark this one and continue to
visit as they grow.

via Chookooloonks

Best Cave Hotels

by Neil Woodburn on

I
couldn’t resist this article in The Independent when I came across its tantalizing headline, “Five Best: Cave hotels.”

I really enjoyed my first and only night I slept in a cave when visiting the Cappadocia region of Turkey.  The
air was a little musty and the accommodations sparse, but it was an awesome experience nonetheless.  I’d
heard of other cave hotels around the world but thought them all to be on par with my Turkish experience.  But
this is not the case.

Entrepreneurial troglodytes have converted a handful of caves into luxuriant, first class accommodations. 
Apparently there aren’t enough to warrant a top ten list, but the five The Independent came up with seem
rather impressive on their own.  

I was pleased to see Cappadocia on the list—albeit a
different place than where I stayed.  The other hotels mentioned are located in a mineshaft in Australia; a former monastery in Rochecorbon, France; the romantic cliff-side town of Oia on the Greek island
of Santorini; and the coast of Jamaica.   The Jamaican cave hotel seems particular opulent and at
$515 a night, it damn well should be.