Work on golf swing at Jamaican resort

By Dianne Newcomer

"My golf swing was off. My hook was the size of the Florida Panhandle, and I was taking it out on everyone. I resented everybody who tried to give me tips," said Gary Flynn, a busy pharmaceutical representative from West Monroe. "Luckily, my wife recognized the problem and suggested we go somewhere to work on my golf game."

Gary was realistic. He knew Carrie was not totally thinking about him when she came into my travel agency asking about a good place for golfers to go to work on their game, but, as long as she had sun and sand and beach butlers waiting on her every whim, he knew she would be happy while he golfed.

When I found a package for a little more than $3,000 that included airfare from Monroe, a week's stay at the beautiful Sandals Grande Ocho Rios with all meals, drinks, entertainment, water sports, plus free unlimited golfing privileges at the Sandals Golf and Country Club — with free golf lessons — they were set to go.

Here's what Gary had to say about the experience:

"People say Jamaica is paradise, and I totally agree — especially when it comes to golfing. The Sandals course is a fun course to play. Unlike what you'd expect from a golf course at a beach destination, the club isn't located on the sand or even near the ocean. You'll take a bus or a taxi into the hills, passing through some local neighborhoods. This gives you the opportunity to see some pretty scenery as well as to get a quick look into the depressed economic condition of the country. You quickly understand why Jamaica is so dependent on tourism and foreign cash to feed its financial system.

"Since Jamaica was once a British colony, the traffic still drives on the left side of the road. I obeyed our Sandals tour guide's advice to check out the scenery and look out the side windows of the bus during our free transfer to the country club, because looking out the driver's window and seeing the crazy Jamaican drivers coming at you was way too frightening of a proposition.

"At first glance, the Sandals Golf Club did not appear to be a whole lot different from many other resort destinations — lots of green foliage with palm trees and a nicely manicured layout with some elevation. It's a short course and appeared fairly easy to play, but, as I soon learned, between the wind (the course is more than 700 feet above sea level so sometimes I had to take two to three clubs more than usual) and the small elevated greens, I was definitely being challenged. This was something my fragile golf ego did not need.

"And, that was when my $15-a-day caddy charge paid off. My caddy was a middle-aged Jamaican named Cowboy with a single-digit handicap who had never been off the island. The caddies at the Sandals Club are given the opportunity to play the game in the evenings and during the low season, so they, like Cowboy, not only are trained by professionals, but many are quite accomplished players.

"Cowboy was well-schooled in the yardages and techniques of golf. His low handicap score was not just a mere boast. He taught me a lot about Jamaica that day, but, most importantly, he helped me improve my game. It was easy to take advice from someone who took their job so seriously and had a great sense of joy about it at the same time. His lessons were invaluable.

"My caddy, the well-kept golf course with a jerk shack in the middle and a beautiful warm sunny day made for such an excellent experience that I played three more days during my vacation. Remember, the golfing was free, and, since I had the time, I decided to take advantage of their five-hour instruction school for only $295. I don't know if it was the school or the help of Cowboy, but I eventually found the third hole, which could turn a long 7 iron into a sweet 5 iron, was no longer as intimidating.

"Meanwhile, as I was working on my golf game, Carrie was taking advantage of another free, all-inclusive feature at Sandals — she was learning to scuba dive. After her first dive, she was so excited about the neat things she had seen underwater and how the dive leaders had been so attentive that I took the course and joined her on a couple days of boat dives, ranging from 20 to 90 feet. Once again, it was all free and really very impressive. We saw shipwrecks, underwater caves and all sorts of marine life.

"In short, our Sandals vacation to Jamaica turned out to be much more than we had expected. We not only had the chance to relax and escape our everyday life routines, but we had a real adventure — and a lot of it was free. We both learned how to scuba dive and see a whole new world we never knew existed, and, most importantly, with the help of a Jamaican named Cowboy, I learned to enjoy my golf game again."

The cold wet days of a Louisiana winter have arrived, so why stay here? Escape and find your adventure. Like Carrie and Gary Flynn discovered, there really are "deals" out there that can make a world of difference in how you enjoy the game of life.

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20090118/LIFESTYLE/901180304

Reggae, jerk and rum in Jamaica

Having given the world reggae, jerk seasoning and the finest rum, Jamaicans have much to celebrate and they certainly do, all through the year and usually with reggae, jerk and rum.

From exuberant island-wide bashes to local fiestas, Jamaica is home to a large variety of events.

There are jerk festivals, yam festivals, coffee festivals, seafood festivals and, of course, reggae festivals. The Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay in July is the mother of all reggae festivals.

The art of social satire is alive and well in Jamaica at the Little Theatre Movement National Pantomime, which runs from December well into the New Year.

Don't miss this irreverent song-and-dance revue at the Ward Theatre in Kingston, which has its origins in British-style theatre but, since 1941, has developed into a uniquely Jamaican tradition.

You should also visit the National Gallery to see the Annual National Exhibition (December to February), which showcases the work of Jamaica's newcomers and old hands. It's the highpoint of the island's arts season.

A homestay would be the nicest way to spend your time in Jamaica. You can arrange to rent a room in a private home through Countrystyle Community Tours www.countrystylecommunitytourism.com) or Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency (www.stea.net).

Make sure you read the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade's (MFAT's) travel advisory for Jamaica at www.safetravel.govt.nz before setting off; Jamaica has high levels of violent crime in certain parts.

Find gem off Rio
I will be in Rio de Janeiro for a conference for three days early next year. I have another four days to do a bit of sightseeing before I leave, but I wanted to get out of the city and perhaps a bit off the beaten track (if that's possible close to Rio). Where do you suggest I visit? Kurt Bysby

Although not exactly off the beaten track, you could do a lot worse
than jump on a bus and travel the four hours to Paraty ($30), west of Rio.

Set amid jutting peninsulas and secluded beaches, with a backdrop of
steep mountains plunging into an island-studded bay, this town is one of Brazil's real gems.

There is a beautifully preserved 17th-century colonial centre with cobbled streets closed to traffic. It makes a great change from the hustle, bustle and pollution of Rio. It does get busy during the December to February period but this translates into a vibrancy that is truly exciting.

There's also Ouro Preto, a wonderful baroque town with cobbled streets that climb the surrounding precipitous hillsides. The higher parts of the town offer some fantastic views of the surrounds and the 23 churches spread across the hills. There is a lot to see here, including some
outstanding local art. The town is six hours by bus from Rio ($40).

If you want to get away from the tourists, head a little further north to Belo Horizonte, a small city named for its beautiful view of nearby mountains. Belo has great restaurants and markets, concerts and art museums, as well as a friendly and welcoming nature. It's also six hours by bus from Rio ($40).

Haven for cyclists
My wife and I will be visiting family for a wedding in Wales next northern spring. We are keen cyclists and would like to bring our bikes over to do some cycling around the south of Wales. Are there good cycling routes around there?

Wales is a haven for cyclists. Official cycle trails, bicycle-only routes and quiet back roads provide a wonderful perspective on the Welsh landscape. There is also some serious off-roading possible on a plethora of world-class mountain-bike trails.

Bringing your own bike is a great idea, as it will free you to take as many days as you wish exploring southern Wales. Bicycles can be ridden on any track identified as a bridleway on Ordnance Survey (OS) maps, but you generally can't cycle on public footpaths.

The best roads for cyclists are the quiet, unnumbered country roads
and lanes between villages. You would be best to perhaps take the train out of Cardiff to start your trip.

VisitWales, the national tourist board, publishes Cycling Wales, an
introduction to the long-distance and regional routes with listings of tour organisers, bike hire outlets and regional publications.

It also produces a map pack and gives details of local routes that can be done over three to seven days. More information can be found at www.cycling.visitwales.com.

The Cyclists' Touring Club (www.ctc.org.uk) has information about cycling in the UK (and overseas) and mail order OS maps and books.

Sustrans is a sustainable transport charity that encourages people to walk, cycle and use public transport in order to reduce motor traffic in Wales. Its brainchild is the National Cycle Network (NCN), which comprises 16,100km of track and is coordinated by more than 2000
volunteers who maintain routes in their communities.

There are two main long-distance cycle routes in Wales, with their end points are on the rail network so you can catch the train back.

One of these routes, Lon Geltaidd, covers 355km from near Chepstow, via
Newport and Swansea to Fishguard on the North Pembrokeshire coast. The route picks up the varied landscape, history and culture of South Wales and includes 21km of car-free cycling through the magnificent Millennium Coastal Park. For more information go to www.sustrans.org.uk.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10551812&pnum=0

Americans offered winter escape to Jamaica

NEW YORK, USA (JIS): The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) launched a multimillion dollar marketing campaign in New York on January 6, which offers Americans, seeking relief from the cold of winter, a dream escape to the affordable island destination.

Dubbed 'Jamaica Winter Rescue Programme', the month-long campaign features ceiling banners, large floor mats, and large-scale posters, strategically placed at commuter terminals in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago, which communicate the message that not only is Jamaica the perfect winter getaway, but it is also affordable.

"We want to remind and encourage our North American friends that the perfect escape from the cold weather is just three hours away," said Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, at the launch held at the New York City Port Authority's busy bus and train terminal.

Tourism Director, John Lynch, in his remarks at the event, said that "many consumers are looking for relief during the current challenging economic situation, and we want to spread the message that Jamaica offers travellers both accessibility and value for a winter getaway."

With Jamaica recently voted among the top 10 holiday dream escapes by TripAdvisor, Lynch said that the JTB was excited that so many consumers are thinking about, and travelling to Jamaica at this time.

The advertising posters, which are designed by DraftFCB New York, are located in the main atrium and throughout the concourse levels of the bus terminal at 41st Street/8th Avenue, just outside Times Square.

The campaign also features scenic message boards, and special promotions on radio, television and the internet, where commuters will get a chance to win a trip to Jamaica.

http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-13458--10-10--.html