Hurricane Dean.. I told you Jamaica not so easy

Hey All,

The fact that I'm writing means that I am okay, alive and kicking. I had written a post in the middle of the night but that's on another computer. But I just thought I should let you know I'm good. There are certain areas that have been hit really hard and the damages are devastating but for the most part Jamaican are okay.
There is a certain comradery that has take n over the island of Jamaica and everyone is showing a genuine interest in helping their neighbours. There are alot of fallen tress and some roofs have been damaged but the Kingston area is not the worst hit. I am trying to find pictures so that you can get a proper idea of how badly hit some areas have been.
I got back water momentarily but I guess that will come in intervals now I am praying for the electricity to come back.

Special thanks to the Hilton Hotel Jamaica for allowing me to charge my phone and use the internet.

More to come but in the mean time

Jah is my umbrella,
Blessed Love,

Mamachel

The Hurricane Dean Alert

I know, I know I flaked I went to Caribana and didn’t write about it but, so much has been happening I’m finding it hard choosing where to start. Since I’ve been away Election campaigns have become extremely passionate, Beenie Man and D’Angel have separated and fighting in the streets and now this frigging hurricane. Okay, let’s start with the most pressing matter. It’s Saturday and my phone keeps ringing, friends, family, making sure that I have everything in order and also giving me the latest updates from the Weather channel (as if my television isn’t stuck on that channel). Hardware stores are all out of ply wood, kerosene oil is like water in the Sahara and the sounds of chainsaws removing any hazardous tree limb resonates through the air and all now the workmen are yet to come to fix my kitchen window (it cannot close). Yup, Hurricane Dean is on its way.

I have tossed and turned all night trying to think of what I might have forgotten as I have chosen to brave this Hurricane alone in the place I call home (some say I’m crazy). Having survived numerous Hurricanes i.e. Gilbert, Ivan etc. I consider myself a veteran. However, one cannot help but feel a certain apprehension when I realize that the simulation of the path of the hurricane shows Dean swallowing Jamaica all that red, yellow and green I cannot see my island Jamaica in the diagram.

Its safe to say all of Jamaica is watching this storm with serious trepidation and taking it quite seriously despite CNN and Weather Channel reports of the opposite. As I travel to Ocho Rios this morning with my partner in crime Esther (she had work) I cannot help but take in the lovely weather (calm before the storm) and all the wooden stalls that are filled with a variety of our tasty fruits like star apple and jack fruit. I wonder to myself will all these things be here the next time I make a “country run”? Will there still be a Faith’s Pen, Fern Gully, Flat Bridge (Esther says flat bridge naah lef’ Jamaica)? I smile as the answer creeps into my mind. Of course! This is Jamaica after all, a country that has been underestimated time and time again. A country that has always proved critics and doubters wrong.

So, as the clouds darken Es and I look at each other “it’s coming” we both think but we smile. Is okay Dean, we understand everyone wants to come to Jamaica after all this is paradise, and if you misbehave we can handle you, because we might be likkle, but we Talawah!


Blessed Love,
Jah is my Umbrella, Ella, ella, eh, eh, eh ☺
Mamachel

Caribana, Toronto and Me pt. 1

Hey All,

Its been sometime since Mamachel got to see the UrbanChef and all so we decided enough is enough and packed me up so that I could discover and explore some Canada. The following is my attempt to chronicle my experience so far:

July 28th

4 a.m. and I'm Still staring at ceiling and watching some ghastly infomercial on t.v. too excited to sleep flight is at 7 a.m. so decided to just wing it and stay up the whole time until its time to bath. That time eventually rolls around and I start getting ready. Cousin comes and picks me up and we head to the airport. Upon arriving at the airport my mouth drops open the line is ridiculous there is no way I'm getting on this plane in time to go see my UrbanChef, clearly Air Jamaica has good business when it comes to Toronto flights.... Well the fact that my opening reveals that I'm in Canada clearly I made the flight. I will save you the account of the bad ass kid in front of me that wouldnt stop crying, or the three piece of ackee and tough dumpling called breakfast, or low and behold the hourlong wait for baggage claim.. I wont mention any of that. Instead I will tell you of how after all that seeing my guy pull up with some Roti in hand madeit all worth it. I'm going to have a wonderful vacation... Caribana here I Come!!!

More to come

Mamachel