From The Silver Screen to Sochi: The Real Jamaican Bob Sled Team Is Back

In 1993, Walt Disney Studio’s released a feature film loosely based on a true story that went on to forever more win over audiences hearts. The success of ‘Cool Runnings’ brought international attention to the Jamaican Bob Sled Team, who’s 1988 debate in the Calgary games defied disbelief that the island nation with no natural snow could find a way to train to compete on an international Olympic level.

Fans of the story might like to know that the Hollywood adaptation was a completely fictionalized account with a largely different outlook the conditions that created the athletes interest, as the Business Insider suggests.

The original inspiration took flight from the passion of two American businessmen who after seeing a native pushcart derby, approached the Jamaican Olympic committee to inquire about the prospect of bob sledding which it so resembled.

Jamaican bob sled originals Devon Harris, Michael White, Dudley Stokes, and Nelson Stokes would comprise the pioneering roster in 1988, which 26 years later enjoys a tradition of continuing to show the world just what the spirit of the country is capable of. While early showings on the world stage produced lack luster competition results with their debut performance, this did nothing to weaken the team’s resolve, who found incredible encouragement in the support of their fellow Olympians. From offering the determined team technical advice to lending them equipment so that they could compete despite their sub-standard athletic support, the team would preserve. 

History would go on to happily record their 1994 Olympic run, where in the Jamaican bob sled team came in 14^th place, finishing ahead of the United States, Russia, Australia, and France.

What, then, does such a spirited group of athletes do with their off season? Enjoy their natural habitat, of course. It’s one teeming with possibility, where in a vibrant color and wide range of offerings are becoming increasingly attractive to the destination traveler who can plan on catching a piece of the positive vibe for themselves, such as the vibrant reggae scene alive in the region.

While Bob Marley’s Kingston tunes are a natural thought to the mainstream, other well regarded bands such as Black Zebra and Downstairs are acts which travelers can look forward to seeking out when making the great Jamaican pilgrimage. Those interested in more of the skinny on music acts to catch while visiting would do well to check out The Daily Source, a leading Jamaican news outlet.

Speaking of positive reggae vibes, in preparation for this year’s games, the team composed an original song set to a music video which aided audience awareness towards the aim of fundraising to cover their competition.

Despite enduring a low ranked performance in this year’s games, the Jamaican Bob Sled team has promised to make a triumphant return in the 2018 games and represent the spirit, soul, and determination of the proud island nation once more.

A recap of their exploits can be enjoyed by checking out ESPN’s coverage. So until the next winter games roll around, there’s plenty of time for you to consider a trip to experience one of the world’s most original destination spots, where a now booming network of vacation taxi services are waiting to help you enjoy the soul of the island.

About Jamaican Routes

Jamaican Routes was founded by Joel Richardson and Denton “Gabby” Martin to provide personalized taxi and tour services all over the Island.  Having shown visitors “His Island” for over 30 years, Gabby and his drivers are recognized as one of the most desired island transport companies.  More information can be found at www.jamaicanroutes.com

Jamaican Routes Tour Company and Jamaican Bobsled Team Both Capitalize On Social Media

The Jamaican Bobsled leveraged Facebook and Twitter to raise enough money so that they could participate in the Sochi Olympics. By engaging their audience to raise over $80,000.  They used many of the same strategies as Jamaican Routes, a Jamaican Tour company, run by Denton “Gabby” Martin that has quickly risen to the top of Google searches for Jamaican Tours and Jamaican Tour companies.

Both have shown that even in a country like Jamaica, social media can be used to achieve international results and recognition, even on a limited budget.

“The song is synched to their run, and is quite possibly the best use of social media I have ever seen” said Joel Richardson, Denton Gabby Martin’s co-founder and President of Jamaican Routes.

“Jamaica is a very special culture” says Joel and almost everyone is connected to social media via their phones. This is truly the testing ground for Google’s vision of a ‘mobile future’. Realizing that, we pursued an aggressive social media strategy for Jamaican Routes, which continues.  Our vision is to keep our fans, followers and customers, informed on local happenings and we have achieved tremendous results.

One of every three incoming contacts comes from a social media site or post says Richardson.

We started Jamaican Routes to provide a very personalized travel experience on this island and we have proved there is a demand for that. Gabby, who has been showing “his Island” to visitors for over 30 years, knows virtually everyone and his travelers soon realize what a comfortable and fortunate choice they have made when they travel with him.

Jamaican Routes has a tour package to visit Magic Mountain and the Jamaican Bobsled attraction for visitors to the South Coast Tours Jamaica.

To inquire about this and other tours or to just get advice on some of the hidden treasures of “his Island”, call Gabby at 855-246-7710

About Jamaican Routes

Jamaican Routes was founded by Joel Richardson and Denton “Gabby” Martin to provide personalized taxi and tour services all over the Island.  Having shown visitors “His Island” for over 30 years, Gabby and his drivers are recognized as one of the most desired island transport companies.  More information can be found at Jamaican Routes.

The Jamaican Advisor, Issue 1, Civic Awareness, Olympic Heritage, and Arts Culture Are Alive In Paradise

Any way you slice it, one of the most appealing international tropical destinations is showing its colors in brilliant ways. For those seeking out new vacation hotspots, there are many that might like to know about the revitalization of Jamaica now surging with a warming respect for life, the arts, and athletics alike.

Consider the Miss Jamaica pageant, whose appointment of the new Caribbean Queen has crowned native Lachoy Harris with praise for her talents in the way of music, dance, and civic minded debate on the nation’s future.

Harris, a student at the sophomore level attached to the Caribbean Student Association, wowed the judging panel with her unique performance of a Jason Mraz cover, thus tapping in the cultural music heritage of the proud island nation.

The young woman is a lovely example of potential future Jamaican music talent, a heritage which runs strong into the modern culture with indie artists such as reggae heavy artists Black Zebra and Downstairs, or the popular hip hop group Acematic.

Such soulful examples of where Jamaican arts meet with the civic consciousness of the region are likewise as warming. Visitors will find their stay left with quite the impression by taking a moment to consider the Sandals Foundation, who’s initiative to heal ailing children in the Montego Bay Excursion region of the nation contributed $200,000 CAD to renovate a medical facility in the St. Lucia to facilitate modern medicinal technological conferencing towards the aim of better serving the sick and in need of care.

Jamaica’s living culture has a cool heritage running strong beyond these mere matters of interest. While audiences the world over tune their attention towards the 2014 Olympic Games, it is perhaps under recognized that the Jamaican Bob Sled team is far more than just some 90’s era family Hollywood comedy.

The internationally respected sports team raised $80,000 in stride with an intelligent social media campaign dialed into the modern crowd funding avenues.
This original song is synched to their run, with a music video edit with actual footage from one of their competition runs. This year’s two man team is comprised of Jamaican natives Marvin Dixon and veteran Olympic Winston Watts, who debated at the 1988 Calgary games.

That’s it for now {but certainly not all} for this installment from your Jamaican Advisor. For folks still shopping for travel destination deals and the hook up on how to experience this island paradise for their selves, check out the growing list of classy services such as Jamaican Routes where entrepreneurs like Joel local’s like Denton Gabby Martin and his network of drivers are waiting to help you experience this lovely culture for yourself.

About Jamaican Routes

Jamaican Routes is operated by Denton “Gabby” Martin and his friend Joel Richardson is founder of Jamaican Routes a taxi and Tour Company providing transportation and Jamaican tour guide Island wide. He lives in Portland Maine and has been traveling to the Caribbean and South America for over 30 years.

Rasta Relaxation Tours: The Future of Cannabis and Jamaican Vacation Culture

Wine country travelers make destination plans for the likes France’s Alsace region and the sprawling experience of California’s Napa Valley. Now, a new guard of travel leisure patrons with like tastes for fine cannabis can look forward to a bright future.

Here in the U.S., destination adventure trips such as Colorado’s High Life Tours have stream lined into the growing state-to-state legalize it movement. This kind of European sentiment growing legs in America that cannabis is and should be a sanctioned extension of a class-experience is expanding, and there are signs that it’s headed to pleasing new places.

Take Jamaica. While its government sealed-and-dealed appeal is still being advocated for by legislative consideration, it is well known how welcoming the locals are to give travelers a taste of their natural heritage. Reports of tours of ganja farms reveal friendly vibes from locals towards this exact kind of hospitality such as Nine Mile, the home turf of Bob Marley himself.

It is little wonder as the nation’s Rastafari heritage is, like Mr. Marley, steeled in the collective consciousness. One can imagine the wading through the waters of Montego Bay by day, then making for an evening of relaxation, and if so desired, a personalized cannabis selection to enhance your stay. With sustainable tourism initiatives continuing to take flight, the likelihood of these kinds of avenues has all the right momentum. This is further aided by overseas investment capital that continues to reinforce the nation’s future.

An eco-based ganja tourist attraction, along with its organic minded dining market is one such prospective pairing that would please just about any traveler with taste.
Kingston, Montego Bay, and Negril have all been given high regards for their cuisine as evidenced by reviews such as The Travel Channel should you be intrigued by just what kind of meal might go with your herbal experience.

As far as Jamaican development, there is likewise the socioeconomic side to this argument for the future of legalized Rastaman relaxation tours, as the wider range of improved sustainability improves along with the hotel destinations and naturally stunning accessible wild life attractions such as Dolphin Cove.

Official ganja tours may have a bit of time to bid before we see this kind of progressive development realized. In the interim, there are a lovely number of eco-based tours, attractions, and taxi services to available to help you make the most of your time and negotiate the cultural waters. No matter what your interests are, what everyone can count on is the rise of such tour guide services in Jamaica who will have the latest and greatest on all manner of developments and things to do upon your arrival.

See also - Treasure Beach Jamaica | Airport Transfers Jamaica

Safe Affordable Jamaican Travel

Jamaica is an exciting place and here are a few tips to help.

I’ve been asked recently by a single woman traveling alone about the best way to get around while exploring things to do in Montego Bay Jamaica and other top Jamaican tour sites like Dunn’s River Falls, all in 10 days and covering the whole island from Kingston and Negril and the South coast of Jamaica. She wants to see Ocho Rios on the north as well as Black River on the south, a 150 mile long island holiday adventure (Jamaica is about 150 miles long but it can take most of the day to cover it by bus). The way to make it affordable, fun and safe is to know the variety of ways to get around and how to ask for the best transportation option.

You begin with a Montego Bay airport transfer or Kingston airport transfer which could be with a large tour company like Sun Holiday Tours. These large buses service larger all inclusive hotels and other well established resorts. These can be booked ahead of time online or arranged by your hotel if you are a guest. If you are staying in a guesthouse, boutique hotel or hostel, a more flexible point-to-point option is to hire a taxi car service from in front of the airport. This has its hazards of high prices and lots of confusion at the airport door.

Lately there have been small independent companies like jamaican routes and Clive’s Transportation that are booking ahead of time like the big outfits and give you reliable service. The added benefit here is these local drivers will also act as a tour guide with lots of local knowledge who can makehidden gems appear before your eyes while under their protection or help you plan other options.

The inexpensive form of car travel is to get a route taxi. These are allowed to pick you up anywhere off airport property – a long walk or a short expensive ride from the approved airport guys. A route taxi is labeled as such on the door of the cab telling you which towns they drive between and can be as cheap as $1.00 for several miles (about $100 JA dollars at this time). These route cabs can take you anywhere, including the local bus stop, your inexpensive long haul option.

The buses service most of the working people of Jamaica and the school children in their uniforms, who will all welcome you aboard. You need to do a little asking around at the bus depots. Speak up, speak clearly and ask if you don’t understand the thick Jamaican Patois you will encounter. You will be helped to your seat and be packed in tight on the right bus.

Here’s another testimonial about a single woman’s adventure in Jamaica:

“I never felt unsafe, just use your common sense as every other place in the world. Be open and talk to people! I think you will find fun when it comes to dancing and vibe, it seems like the island is really great (according to the people I met and know who both live and have traveled all over the island).”

Jamaican Hidden Gems Require Local Knowledge

Often while traveling you want to find a hidden gem:one of those places you will never forget, the one with the amazing view, intimate privacy or the happening local gathering place. It is a very satisfying feeling and makes you feel like you are in the right place at the right time.

I have stumbled upon such places but more often than not it has come about with the help of a local friend I have made or taxi driver I have trusted.

When travelling to Jamaica many fellow travellers surveyed tell similar stories. A bonus is, when looking for things to do in Montego Bay for instance, you will also be protected from price gouging and worse. The chance of being hustled is often eliminated as well.

Local language – Patois

When visiting Negril many years ago I remember spending more money in the first two days of my vacation than I did the remainder of the 14 day trip! Once you learn what things cost and how to ask for it with a little touch of patois thrown in like – “Mi ere fi pay de local rate an y’ dun kno!” (I’m here to pay the local price and that’s all you need to know!) you are good to go on your own.

Hiring a Jamaican taxi and tour business like found at Jamaican Routes is and easy way to find your local friend and tour guide even for a first time visitor. It doesn’t matter if you arrive at the Montego Bay airport (Sangster international ie., MBJ) just needing an airport transfer, or if you then ask your driver, Denton Gabby Martin, about things to do in Negril or about heading to Ocho Rios, YS Falls, and the Bob Marley museum, or about how to say “what’s happening man” (“wappen dada”) you will benefit from the experience.

Most drivers you find on the side of the road can be helpful, most Jamaicans are, but there will be lots of haggling and you may never know if the price is as reasonable as it can be with an established transport company. Another hidden gem is one of the featured tours I know about. Morgan’s Harbour, a new location which has been under construction for many years and has the special feel of a private resort. Across the street from the Sea Garden Beach Resort I discovered this “gem” with Gabby last year. The pictures tell the story and no doubt you can believe there have been many relaxing days spent here and are now waiting for you to enjoy.

About and hour west of Montego Bay there is another place with special charm not far from Dolphin Cove, which is a popular place to swim with the dolphins. Half way from Montego Bay to Negril is the parish of Hanover where Lances Bay and Bulls Bay Beach are located. Almost exclusively a “locals” area there is plenty of hospitality and Caribbean seawater to swim in that feels like silk against your skin.

Business Profile of Dennis Morgan

Dennis Morgan is one of the most successful and notable businessmen in Montego Bay, and a major contributor to the area's industry. He made his fortune in Jamaica's thriving tourism industry through a number of local business interests. He has also used his money to support local projects, such as the building of a recreational church hall.

His main business interests include SeaGarden Resort, a luxurious beach holiday destination with a fantastic range of facilities, and Sun Holiday Tours which offers a range of Jamaica tours to people visiting the country. He is also a board member for Kingston Airport, an important hub for the island's thriving airlines.

Sea Garden Resort

Dennis Morgan is the owner of SeaGarden Resort in Montego Bay, and this is one of his biggest and most successful business interests. It is a luxurious destination comprising around 150 rooms in three seven-story buildings.

Apart from Dennis Morgan's business expertise, SeaGarden has enjoyed success because of its excellent location. It is situated next to a beautiful beach, and is also highly accessible. It is also only a few minutes away from the nearby Montego Bay Airport, the busiest air terminal on the island and a major hub for airline Air Jamaica. It is also close to many local areas of interest, making it an ideal base for those wishing to see the area's sights or take part in Jamaican tours of important sights.

Sun Holiday Tours

Another of Dennis Morgan's major business interests is Sun Holiday Tours. This company works with a range of international agents and holiday organisers to provide tourists with a fantastic selection of Jamaica tours.

The range of Jamaica Tours offered by the company includes a range excursions based around sights and attractions in Montego Bay, which can be useful for those staying at the SeaGarden Resort.

Tourism is a large part of Jamaica's economy, and this is especially true in Montego Bay. The city benefits from beautiful beaches, duty-free shopping, and a range of modern and historical attractions. Combined with easy access through Air Jamaica's busiest airport, this makes it immensely popular with tourists. As such, being the owner of both SeaGarden Resort and a major firm offering Jamaica tours makes Dennis Morgan into one of the biggest single contributor's to the area's economy.

Kingston Airport

As well as owning two major businesses within the tourism industry, Dennis Morgan is also on the board of Kingston Airport.

Kingston Airport is one of the island's main international airports, and a hub for major airline Air Jamaica. Properly known as Norman Manley International Airport, the terminal sees more than 130 international flights depart every week.

Tourism is central to Jamaica's economy, and both Kingston Airport and Air Jamaica play vital roles in this industry. Dennis Morgan's place on the board of such an important hub for international travel is a measure of both his business acumen and his contribution to Jamaica's economy.

Jamaican Routes is the only Jamaican tour guide providing popular destinations of Jamaica tours. See the real hidden Treasure Beach of Jamaica. For Airport transfers in Jamaica call us on 855-246-7710.