Diving head first into the high life
Rum punch before lunch is par for the course on a beautiful Caribbean island, writes DAVE LAFFERTY
THE daredevil plunged 60ft from the top of the cliff, executing a perfect forward roll before disappearing into the swirling ocean waves - while we watched in safety from the bar sipping a rum punch.
We were at Rick’s Cafe, perched on towering cliffs on the north coast of Jamaica, where highdivers test their mettle, cheered on by a thirsty, enthusiastic crowd watching in awe at the feats being performed inches from their seats.
The professionals take centre-stage but visitors can also chance their arms on various platforms and participate in this most bizarre of pub sports.
Unfortunately, I’d ‘forgotten’ my trunks so had to make do with a prime position nursing the most famous of Jamaican cocktails while the lucky souls took their leaps of faith.
The setting is magnificent and if you happen to be around when the sun begins to go down then you’re in for a treat.
Many places around the world claim to have the finest sunsets, I’ve seen a few of them in my time and the view from Rick’s Cafe certainly ranks among the very best.
If drink-diving is not your thing there’s no shortage of other activities to occupy you on this beautiful island.
Rick’s Cafe gave us a taste for the local rum punch so we headed to a distillery in the scenic interior of Jamaica.
The Hampden Estate is situated in a stunning spot in the isolated Queen of Spain valley in the parish of Trelawny.
It’s one of the oldest sugar and rum estates on the island and somewhere you could while away an entire day simply taking in the old-school atmosphere.
They make stunning rum but, just be warned, have a good breakfast because they’re very keen to let you sample their wares before and after their excellent guided tour.
I certainly enjoyed an afternoon nap following our morning visit.
After these hectic activities we were happy to retreat to the beautiful Jamaica Inn just outside Ocho Rios for a few nights of rest and relaxation. We weren’t disappointed.
If you enjoy waking up in the morning, slipping on some beach gear and stepping out of your bedroom door onto a palatial verandah before walking onto pristine sands and into a gently lapping sea, then this is the place for you.
The Jamaica Inn is a colonial-style masterpiece tucked away in a classy, quiet corner of the island. It’s been consistently ranked among the top luxury hotels in the Caribbean since it first opened its doors in the 1950s and it’s not hard to see why.
The Inn is small – just 48 suites and cottages – all either on the beach or a few steps from it.
The intimate nature of the Inn means there is a special emphasis on outstanding service.
Put simply, nothing is too much trouble, the service is first-class and couldn’t be faulted.
The food is all locally sourced, plentiful and extremely well-prepared. Breakfasts are a joy, sitting on the terrace eating a plate of the local delicacy ackee and saltfish while watching the waves rolling onto the beach below.
Don’t worry if you have left some bread because the tropical fish in the sea gather expectantly every morning in anticipation of some scraps being tossed their way.
Lunch and dinner don’t disappoint either with plenty to choose from and a quiet, relaxed intimate atmosphere to soak in. It didn’t take us long to chill out and forget the stresses of home.
In between all this eating, the Inn has free watersports on offer and with a coral reef just metres from its own exclusive beach where you can snorkel and see stunningly beautiful fish just moments from your sun lounger.
Boat trips along the beautiful north coast can be arranged and plenty of knowledgeable staff are on hand to cater for your every need.
If you can tear yourself away from the Jamaica Inn there’s plenty on offer around the bustling port of Ocho Rios, which is a popular stopover for the many cruise liners which visit the Caribbean.
Ocho Rios comes alive at night with its vibrant market and colourful restaurants.
We whiled away an hour or two sipping a Red Stripe watching the locals play dominos.
Now if you’re thinking of dominos as a gentle game played with your favourite granddad then you couldn’t be more wrong.
Dominos could be the island’s national sport and competition is fierce. Betting is rife and the locals cheer on their favourites who slam their ‘doms’ down with a loud cry each time they take a turn.
If dominos was an Olympic sport then Usain Bolt would have played second fiddle on the front pages of the local paper ‘The Gleaner’ for the past 20 years.
If you’re a bit of a thrillseeker then just outside Ocho Rios is the Yaaman Adventure Park. We tried the Wet ‘n’ Dirty Buggy Ride. Be warned, wear some old clothes as it more than lives up to its name!
We couldn’t stop laughing as we drove our dune buggy through muddy tracks through towering trees up and down slopes caked in the local dirt.
Still, it was only a few minutes back to the luxury of Jamaica Inn where we washed away the mud, laid down on our sun loungers, soaked up the rays and summoned up the energy to order a wellearned rum punch... I could easily get used to this.