Jamaican Stew Peas

Hey World!:)

Just felt like sharing my dinner with you. That is some good ol' Jamaican Stew Peas with Pigstail and a serving of fluffy white rice and cheesy bread (which is not Jamaican but i just had to fulfill my cheesy bread craving). #yum

M A R L E Y : The Life, Music & Legacy of Bob Marley

Hey World!:)

The Bob Marley Documentary is here and in theatres near you! Have you watched it as yet?! Take a peek at the documentary trailer above. The documentary is now in the theatres and On Demand. I am currently pacing myself where school and the rest of my life is concerned right now, so i will wait and watch it May 17. ^_^

Check the following links to purchase the Official Soundtrack for the Documentary:

• Marley: Original Soundtrack [Audio CD]
• Marley: Original Soundtrack [Vinyl]

Bob Marley was a very wise man and his philosophy on life, love and people is really that piece which is missing from most people. Below are the quotes i've carried with me:

 “Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you're living?”

“The people who were trying to make this world worse are not taking the day off. Why should I?”

"My life is only important if me can help plenty."

“You may not be her first, her last, or her only. She loved before she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters? She's not perfect - you aren't either, and the two of you may never be perfect together but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold onto her and give her the most you can. She may not be thinking about you every second of the day, but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break - her heart. So don't hurt her, don't change her, don't analyze and don't expect more than she can give. Smile when she makes you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she's not there.”  

“Love the life you live. Live the life you love.”

“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.”

“Don't worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright”

 

Look at that gorgeous smile!:) 

National Dish

Hey World!:)

Breakfast today was really really good, i just had to share it with you. Above is Jamaica's National Dish-- Ackee and Saltfish, which was served with Roast Breadfruit. Yum! But some persons prefer eating Ackee and Saltfish (Codfish) with fried dumplings (also called johnny cakes), boiled dumplings, boiled green bananas, yam, bread, bammy or white rice (which i recently learned of).

This is normally a breakfast or brunch meal. If you vacation on the island, the hoteliers will ensure that you have the choice for some ackee and saltfish atleast once from their daily menu. It is highly requested from visitors to the island while on vacation.

However, ackee is a seasonal fruit so when you need that ackee fix check your local foodstores, the West Indian isle in Walmart for this canned product from Grace Foods.

I can assure you that if it is not eaten throughout the year, every family has it on their tables at Christmastime with some hot cocoa!:)

Ackee and Saltfish is a must have! So try some today!

Patwa Huh?

Hey World!:)

Meme Chat... Patwa?! is going to be a new feature where i will post words, sayings or proverbs in my Jamaican dialect, Patios (pronounced Pat-wa) as well as explain the meaning of the word or phrase. This feature is in honour (yes, that is the correct spelling of honour, we use British English) of our Jamaica 50 celebrations!

I'll post this feature every monday. Here is the first of this lil series:)

"When chubble tek yuh, pikney shut fit yuh"

Translation: When you find yourself in trouble, a child's shirt fits you.

Explanation: When we are in trouble, we appreciate whatever help we can get to extricate ourselves. This is so, even if under normal circumstances we would have thought such help woefully inadequate.

Easter Bubbling

Hey Guys!

Just leaving you with two (2) hot tracks. The first is from Konshens - Gyal a bubble, to get you in the mood for the weekend;)

Go turn up the volume on your speakers, no actually BLAST IT [from 2:12] and let the music take you over, practice your moves LOL:) and enjoy!

 

The second track is from Mr Vegas - Bruck it down.

Easter in JA

Hey World! *waves* :)

So apart from going to church during Easter and making sacrifices during Lent, one major thing for Jamaicans at this time of the year [apart from eating bun & cheese lol] is traveling to Ocho Rios for Easter Weekend. Reason?! To party ofcourse!

Below are just a few of the parties which patrons look forward to every year at Easter:

And the new comer on the Ochi block, Chocolate Bunnies, which should be happening now. I wonder how it's going....

However, how i will be spending my Easter weekend is exactly as below:(...... I am really tempted to go to Ochi though sooooooo who knows, maybe in my next post i'll be confessing that i actually went and i didn't do that which i ought to have done^_^

             

Scotchies Jerk

Hey World!:)

I've been crazy busy of late with school but i took a break from studying to have dinner at a cozy lil joint, Scotchies, recently because i was craving some good authentic jerk pork. Jerk foods is one of our island favourites (yes, that's how we spell favourite here). It was sooooooooo good! Yum!

The Scotchies i dined at is located on 2 Chelsea Avenue in Kingston but there are also two (2) other locations on the North Coast, in Montego Bay & Ocho Rios. I was in a hurry so i did not get a chance to take a picture of the venue but it was aesthetically pleasing, alot of greenery and wooden benches and thatch huts. The next time i visit i will ensure i take some pics to show you! :)

So i ordered the Jerk Pork with festivals

while my lil sis had Jerk Chicken.

So the next time you visit stop by and try some authentic Jamaican Jerk from Scotchies!

Music : Affairs of the Heart

This is another hit song from Damian "Junior Gong" Marley, titled Affairs of the Heart. I personally am in love with this track [and the man behind the music^_^] but it has been constantly on replay. Below are a few lyrics from this track Affairs of the Heart:

"... When the tour bus drop off and all light lock off and I'm a mere mortal again,

      promoter belly full and all the fans gone home, I'm glad that your more than a friend ..."

"... Nuff a dem nuh fortunate enough to have somebody
     Some just cannot see beyond the flesh and it's so funny
     Never get too caught up in yourself to feel the magic
     True love come n pass you by in life that is so tragic ..."

"... Well nuff a dem a just Miss Congeniality,
      dem pretty face and dem nah face reality
      well dem a quantity, woman you a quality! ..."

But don't just take my opinion, listen for yourself!

Living Legacies

Hey World!


In honour of Black History Month and February being identified as Reggae Month here on the island, i will highlight some of Jamaica's living legacies namely our heroes and those identified by a majority of the people, as being a true Jamaican Hero.


All of Jamaica’s national heroes fought to establish and lay the foundation and identity of Jamaica as a nation. They earned their status because of their political anti-slavery colonial endeavors. In one way or another they either fought for or were responsible for the development of the nation.


Some were freedom fighters on the battle field for the liberation of Jamaica, like Paul Bogle, Nanny of the Maroons and Sam Sharpe, others sought to establish freedom through the more formal legal and constitutional process like George William Gordon, Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante.


Marcus Garvey, the first national hero, contribution was made because of the global impact of his political and ideological philosophy- Black Nationalism. Bob Marley in his music philosophically drew almost exclusively from Garvey’s political philosophy and work.


However, there are two persons who the Jamaican people would like to see being bestowed as a National Hero and they are Bob Marley and Louise Bennett-Coverley. The strongest argument for considering Marley as a national hero is as a cultural icon and how that related to Jamaica’s national identity. Marley’s accomplishments and impact has enhanced Jamaica’s national identity in the international community.


While Louise Bennett "Miss Lou" is our first lady of culture. Louise Bennett-Coverley is a poet and folklorist of international reputation, an radio and television personality; an author of folk stories; a dominant personality of Jamaican theatre for four decades.  In short she is a living - and more often than laughing - a legend in her time. Her honours have ranged from the Member of the Order of the British Empire awarded by Queen Elizabeth II in 1961, the Musgrave Silver Medal, the Norman Manley Award of Excellence, and in 1974, the Order of Jamaica which entitled her to be addressed as 'the Honourable Louise Bennett-Coverley'.

NB.* All the individuals being highlighted are deceased. But i guess you must be wondering, why i refer to them as living legacies. The answer is really simple, the individuals above have made an indeliable mark on Jamaican society and although death have separated us, we still remember and honour their work.