Welcome to Jamaica
"Welcome to Jamaica, Jamaica no problem!” That was the hearty welcome emblazoned across a green and gold banner in the customs area of Kingston’s Norman Manley Airport.
When people talk about going away for some R&R, they’re usually talking about rest and relaxation. In Jamaica, it’s reggae and rum. Only in Kingston airport would Bob Marley be piped into baggage reclaim while you wait for your cases.
Only here would your official World Cup welcome pack contain a slinky bottle of Appleton rum (courtesy of the Jamaican tourist board - I haven’t opened it yet, in case you were wondering). We’ve also been given the obligatory XXL t-shirt and floppy white sun hat, to be worn in emergencies only.
Kingston and the surrounding area will be my home for the next two weeks as I cover World Cup Group D for Radio Five Live at Sabina Park. And from my first day here it is fair to say that music is the city's heartbeat. Life goes on to the backdrop of a reggae rhythm or ska beat, particularly downtown which we drove through feeling perfectly safe on Sunday afternoon - although the advice is not to go there at night as Kingston’s murder rate is not to be sniffed at.
The geography of the Jamaican capital is a mixture of the dramatic and the industrial. It is nestled at the foot of the stunning Blue Mountains to the north and its southern boundary is a somewhat industrial waterfront, overlooking the seventh largest harbour in the world.
We are staying in Port Royal, a ramshackle but quaint relic of the past, situated at the end of a spit which stretches out parallel with the waterfront of downtown Kingston itself. It was once a focal point for the British Navy, and before that the pirate capital of the Caribbean.
The romantic in me would love that to explain the extraordinary shipwreck we happened upon whilst driving back up the spit to the mainland. The beach was full of debris and the waves were still battering the groynes, even on what seemed a relatively calm 30 degree day. It gave us some indication of just how powerful Hurricane Ivan must have been when it struck the island in 2004 en-route to the Cayman Islands. Some of the damage can still be seen around Jamaica.
I flew into Kingston with Arlo White and our first mission has been to navigate our way to Sabina Park to pick up our accreditation and check out the broadcasting facilities. Not as easy as you might think. We have a hire car but maps seem to be unheard of - same goes for signposts.
Arlo opted to drive and did what can only be described as a 'champagne manoeuvre' by performing a u-turn across what we later decided was definitely a central reservation on the main road between Port Royal and Kingston. The curb wasn’t too pronounced… no damage done!
Like most grounds, Sabina Park has been undergoing a major refurbishment, but they face a race against time to get it ready for the opening game on Tuesday. An impressive 3,600 seater grandstand has been erected which will house the media as well as players dressing rooms but one part of the stand is still missing its seats and bearing in mind the urgency of the matter the stadium was hardly a hive of activity.
You have to understand the laid back attitude here. Infuriating if you want something in a hurry but useless to challenge it. The usual phrase is “No problem, man”.
The ground itself has retained its charm, with the old Kingston Cricket Club pavilion still holding pride of place next to a much larger temporary stand. World Cup fever doesn’t quite seem to have hit town in a huge way just yet. Retailers are cashing in with replica but unofficial and sometimes dated team shirts, and you can buy World Cup mugs, key rings, coasters - you name it (I opted for playing cards in case of rain interruptions).
I’m sure it will all gather pace once the teams arrive here from the opening ceremony in Montego Bay, which is a four-hour drive away on the other side of the island, or a short flight.
The two main newspapers here are the Daily Gleaner and the Daily Observer. The Saturday Star though had the most striking back page – “Dejected” was how it described West Indies fans after the host nation were all out for 85 against India in their warm-up match.
Brian Lara has been keen to point out that they were bowled out for 80 by Sri Lanka in the Champions Trophy qualifiers, only to bounce back with a win against Australia and then reach the final. Noticeable though that on our windy route through Kingston and the surrounds today, we saw three different groups of boys playing football on various patches of wasteland, yet not one impromptu game of cricket.
There is a humid heat here which might not please the Irish team. The mozzies are biting too, so anyone heading out to watch, bring your factor 30, a strong repellent, and if you don’t like rum and reggae, you’re sure to get a taste for it by the time you leave.
T shirt looks fine - if you can trade it up for a XXXl I will take it off your hands for you!
Complain about this postIt could be if there was live coverge of cricket on radio like
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/
Regards
Complain about this postAmarand.Pikle
I hope for the West Indies sake that this tournament is a great success. The new stadium in Trelawney is a beauty and I hope you get chance to visit there. Get yourself a West Indies T shirt and endear yourself to the fans.They are lovely in Maroon and pale blue-easily the most stylish available.
Complain about this postBest wishes,
John at Hotel Four Seasons
See you on the party stand - March 17th Paddys day, Ireland vs Pakistan its going to be huge.
Complain about this postDid you know that Tony Cozier was born in St.Kitts and attended the St. Joseph's Primary "Roman" School.
For a while, I thought that he was from Barbados.
Anyway. Windies all the way. That 85 all out was depressing but we will recover! (I hope)
Complain about this postwant to exchange places by any chance? glum cold east midlands for west indies v pakistan? any chance at all? thought not! i guess i`ll have to stick to watching it in the 2nd best atmosphere...on the couch with 10-20 crazy pakistani fans! WORLD CUP FEVER...COME ON PAKISTAN!
Complain about this postWelcome to Jamrock, enjoy your stay and should you get lost, just hook me up and i'll be your guide. Enjoy the sights, sound and sun.
Complain about this postGood stuff Alison!
Enjoy de vibe, de people, de music, de fry fish in Port Royal & de rum. Oh yeh, de cricket tuh.
The t-shirt is killa still.
Like Bob asks, "Is dis love, is dis love dat i'm feeling?"
Complain about this postThank you for visiting my country, Jamaica ( Jah mek Yah) I do wish the english team good luck. Hi: Mike Arthurton, Hey, Ian B. Alan B how are u. still a lefti.
This is going to be a wonderful world cup of cricket. My money is on the Windies, com on, I am a windie man
Visit Port Royal.
Complain about this postHey the beaches are in Mo Bay, Negril, Ochorios, Port royal, St best and a lot more places. Not King.
Enjoy Jamaica, We are much more than you will find on this trip. I do hope you will find the warmth and love of Jamaicans. Capture the sprit.
I forgot to tell you it's not Montego Bay, it is Trelawny, main town Falmouth. That's where the opening was held.
Complain about this postBye, taak to u again. You know what, go to Portland and have some Bosto Jerk Pork, it deh ina di heast, it lush and green dong deh.
Portroyal hab di fish. Enjoy Jahmekyah.
'Well done Jamaica ! it was indeed spectular at the opening ceremony..... Hats off to u guys!!!! To all the visitors.... com'on! LET'S RALLY ROUND THE WEST INDIES & GUYANA!! CHEERS!!
Complain about this postIt's a tough life Ali. I hope you can find some enjoyment amongst all this tropical hardship. JM must be envious. Let me know the London time when you give your commentaries on the matches.
Complain about this postsounds excellent. Wish I was there. Good luck to the organisers and local people. I think it'll be a classic WC
Complain about this postFlying back 'home' tomorrow and will be at Sabina Park cheering on the WI against Zimbabwe on 19th..........much to the disgust of my girlfriend who will be sitting next to me supporting her home nation. Domestic rivalries in sport - uh-oh ! :)
Greetings to all you Cricket fans near and far. WINDIES..........COME ON !!
Complain about this postBesides Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica to me is the best of the lot! Loved it when I studied there. And don't worry about the crime.....bad bwoys love cricket too! lol!
Complain about this postTrelawny is beautiful, but I'm looking forward to West Indies v. Pakistan at Sabina Park. And try the festival with the jerk pork. it's wicked!
Never mind the tshirt - love the floppy hat ... Keep up the good work and you might even convert me into a cricket fan....(that might be more about the rum than the cricket though)
Complain about this post(o:
Enjoy the cricket Ali.
Complain about this postAs for John's comment about the T-shirt - the Aussie cricket cap fitted him better!
i've had enough of people telling me that australia after their not so good perfprmance against the kiwis is no longer a strong contender for the trophy,i think beleiving that wud be like beleiving newzeland stands no chance at all since they lost to the bangladeshi team in their warm up game,it isn't always as simple as that in cricket,is it?
Complain about this postright now,i seem to be having difficulty picking my fav. team in todays match between westindies and pakistan,since i 've always been a great lara fan and wud like him to do good not only as a batsman but as the captain of his side but at the same time being an indian i've affinity with the pakistani team and also share birthday with its skipper inzamam-ul-haq so a special relationship with them too,u see
so may the best team wins
Hey Alison: Nice to meet you earlier this afternoon! Hope that we'll get to see you tomorrow. We are heading out tonight, so feel free to give me a call if you fancy some food or a beer later on? Cheers for now, Julian (one of the two brothers you met at the Morgan's Harbour Hotel)
Complain about this postYou did well.... Hats off to u Sri Lankans!!!!!!! I really enjoy the team spirit within u!!!! Win or lose!!!! u guys always seem to be in jolly mood...just can't wait to watch the next series! THE BEST OF LUCK GUYS and to the Windies captain BRIAN LARA..... u will definitely be missed..May You Enjoy Life Beyond those Boundries You've shown us....HAPPY DAYS BRIAN!!!
WE'RE STILL RALLYING AROUND THE WEST INDIES WITH CRICKET WORLD CUP 2007
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