keepitjiggy.com

Welcome to the NEW-and-IMPROVED KeepItJiggy.com website and blog. Take some time to look around - lots of new things happening around here! The categories in the sidebars will expand (Jamaica & travel topics on the left - reggae music on the right), or mouse over the tabs at the top of the page for drop-down menus. Red text will usually represent a link.

Listen to some great reggae "chunes" (new & classic) while you're here. Open the pop-up in the Streampad player at the bottom of the page (the little icon on the right with box & arrow), and you can surf from page to page without stopping the music each time. Enjoy!

This is my labor of love and a work in progress. I've kept all of the old pages and added some new ones. I hope you like it. I'm adding new info on a regular basis so bookmark us and visit often! Please leave comments or use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the page if you have questions or want to see something added. Bless up and always keep it jiggy!

Saturday, March 06, 2010

WITH a good performance at last Saturday's Follow Di Arrow show held at James Bond Beach in Oracabessa, St Mary, Lutan Fyah set the pace for what can be expected of him in 2010.

The singer had to dig deep in his musical arsenal to entertain the vociferous dancehall enthusiasts who were in their element. He appeared on the stage at 2:40 am dressed in a green army jacket, blue jean pants, black turban and black sneakers. The audience roared with approval from the get-go, as he chanted, "Whole heap dem caan believe man say Rastafari now." He did a tight set which included hit songs...(continue reading in the JamaicaObserver).

I have been an avid fan of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race for many years! And yes, believe it or not, Jamaica now has a dogsled team.

Its "captain", Newton Marshall, is racing in the 38th Annual Iditarod in Alaska! This has taken at least 3 years of preparation with Newton living and training in British Columbia. (Obviously he needed some snow...LOL!!!) Three-time Iditarod champion, Lance Mackey, has been training Newton and Mackey's "semi-retired" lead dog, Larry, is now leading Newton's team. This means there's no possible way Newton will get lost out there; Larry is a great leader and a past winner of the Golden Harness Award. With or without our help, Larry knows his way to Nome!

Marshall is racing the Iditarod as a rookie, but proved he is qualified to face this test, having raced the Yukon Quest in 2009 and winning the Challenge of the North Award as a result. This award was given for his perseverance in spite of all the odds against him and Yukon Quest race officials selected him as the award recipient. The Jamaica Dogsled Team is sponsored by Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Chukka Caribbean Adventures, WestJet Vacations, Alpine Aviation and Annamaet Petfoods.

The race officially started yesterday and Newton is currently doing well out on the trail, running right in the middle of the pack. Not bad for a rookie! This race is grueling and many mushers and teams never complete it. So, Godspeed to Newton, and may Larry and the team take him for the ride of his life all the way to Nome! Mush mon!

Visit Jamaica Dogsled Team's official website to follow this exciting and challenging race and to learn more about the team. Chukka Caribbean Adventures offers dogsled tours in Ocho Rios. Visit their website and take a ride on your next visit.

If you find you have an interest in The Last Great Race on Earth, visit the Iditarod's website to learn about the sport and follow the race.

I have always thought WassiArt created some beautiful pieces of art pottery! I intend to make a visit to their studios next time I'm in Ocho Rios and buy something wonderful just for me. Most of their artists are self-taught and are recruited from the surrounding rural communities. And their clay is dug by hand from the Blue Mountain ranges, is packed into rice bags and carried on heads across a swaying footbridge strung across a deep chasm. It is then taken by truck to Wassi Art. So this art and its artisans are truly indigenous to Jamaica!

They have a showroom at the Devon House shops in Kingston but their studio, showroom and factory is located in Ocho Rios on Bougainvillea Drive, Great Pond (near Sandcastles and off the road toward Fern Gully). They also offer factory tours Monday thru Saturday from 9AM to 5PM. Visit WassiArt on the internet to see more of their beautiful creations. Aren't these lovely?! Of course we could buy items online but I think this calls for a special "buying trip"!

By Megan Kuhn

Air Jamaica plans to start transitioning its operations to Caribbean Airlines on 12 April ahead of the sale of Air Jamaica to Trinidad's and Tobago's flag carrier.

The Jamaican government has been negotiating a sale exclusively with Caribbean since January after negotiators failed to reach an agreement with US investment firms Indigo Partners and Oaktree Capital.

Last month the Jamaican government said it did not intend to provide financial support to Air Jamaica after its current fiscal year ends in March. The government has been trying to re-privatise Air Jamaica since 2008. (continue reading at FlightGlobal.com)

When in Portland, you must visit Boston at least once. SO GOOD. And be sure to take some bottled sauce home with you to satisfy those post-vacation cravings - pork, chicken, fish, sausage, lobster, whatever - it's all wonderful. Okay, I am definitely "home"sick now. Need to visit very soon, mon!

This guy has a stupendous sound (IMHO). And I admire his Jamaican patois considering he was born & raised in Italy! We so enjoyed Alborosie at RaggaMuffins 2010 in Long Beach, California two weeks ago - could have listened to him for hours. A talented songwriter as well, his current hit "Kingston Town" is his own creation. Thought I'd share it here I'll be adding an Alborosie page to the "Artistes" section soon.

Development programme in the offing to restore Hip Strip's glory

Nagra Plunkett, Hospitality Jamaica Writer

A development plan has been conceptualised for the Comprehensive Resort Upgrading Programme, which will place special emphasis on Montego Bay's 'Hip Strip' (Gloucester Avenue).

The project is to be undertaken by the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), with support from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

"The programme will see the transformation of the Hip Strip, which I am aware, is of great concern to Montego Bay business interests," disclosed Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett at the Canada-Jamaica Business Council luncheon in the western city last week.

The minister's announcement comes two weeks after merchants on the strip described their situation as dire, owing to the fact their businesses were suffering as a result of the closure of some seven properties on Gloucester Avenue... (read more in Hospitality Jamaica)

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
by Alexis Wong, photography by Peter Wesley Brown

At the Marley Resort & Spa, don’t be shocked to see Rita joining you for dinner—it’s her house after all.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS
Imagine spending your vacation in the home of Bob Marley. In the Bahamas, it’s a possibility.

Four years ago, Stephanie Marley, daughter of Rita and Bob Marley, decided to renovate the family’s holiday home in Nassau, Bahamas. But what evolved became much more. In June 2008, the Marley Resort & Spa opened, which Stephanie Marley refers to, as (hopefully) the first in a worldwide chain...(continue reading in SkyWritings Magazine)

Away from the beaches and posh resorts, Jamaica's real warmth shines through

By Steve Lambert (CP) – Feb 22, 2010

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — If you're among the hordes of snow-weary Canadians flocking to all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, it's easy to spend your week or two in the sun without seeing much of the country you're in.

You're surrounded by other tourists basking on well-groomed beaches and eating food often modelled on dishes you could have back home.

Even those who venture away from the resort usually opt for guided tours. Still surrounded by fellow travellers, you get shown mountains or waterfalls, or go shopping in areas designed for tourists, far removed from the daily routine of the locals.

But there is an alternative... (continue reading in the Canadian Press)

Wish I could go... watching these beautiful kiteboards on beautiful Long Bay Beach would be so great!!

Kite Boarding World Cup Series
KINGSTON (JIS):
Saturday, February 27, 2010

Jamaica is set to host the first leg of the 2010 Kite Boarding World Cup Series at Long Bay Beach, Portland, March 25 to April 3.

The 10-day tournament is expected to attract up to 1,000 visitors to see the over 50 competitors from Brazil, Wales, Norway, Spain, Poland, Australia, France, Denmark, the USA, Mexico, Italy and Jamaica... (read the complete article at Jamaica Information Service)