"Auntie" Elise's "Secret" Jamaica Rum Punch Recipe - The Blue House Ocho Rios Jamaica

OK so I finally have a little time to pluck at my keyboard to pass on "Auntie" Elise's Jamaica Rum Punch recipe to all you guys and gals who are having withdrawal symptoms having gotten hooked on my "secret" recipe ! LOL !!

It is a slight variation on our traditional Jamaica 1-2-3-4 rum punch recipe.

I've modified it slightly here to include ingredients that I hope will be easily accessible for you all.

one part sour - one cup bottled lemon juice

two parts sweet - 2 cups plain syrup. Look in any generic cook book for a recipe for simple syrup or cheat a little :) and buy "bar syrup" at you local booze shop

three parts strong - 3 cups Appleton "Red Rum" ie Appleton Special. Not overproof, not VX.

four parts weak - 4 cups chaser - suggestion 1 cup canned Grace fruit punch if it's available in the ethnic isle of your local supermarket or the nearest Jamaican/Caribbean Food store or your favourite fruit juice as long as it's not overly sweet, plus 3 cups water.

4 dash Angostura Bitters

Grated nutmeg - as much as you like John Michel ! :)

Pour over ice and enjoy while you reminisce about chilling at The Blue House Luxury Bed And Breakfast Villa and your next vacation here ! :)

First Published Online Article on The Blue House Luxury Bed and Breakfast Villa in Ocho Rios Jamaica!

Playing around on the computer tonight, I stumbled across what might be the first published online article written about enjoying a vacation at The Blue House Luxury Bed and Breakfast Villa in Ocho Rios Jamaica !

The author, Ben Thompson, has written many articles on Jamaica hotels and Jamaica vacation properties. Has he been a guest here ?

Hhhhhmmm.

Regardless .......... Thanks Ben !! Come visit sometime.

Jamaica Vacation - VIP Encounter at Dolphin Cove Ocho Rios Jamaica

A few months back, guests from the UK and Germany who happened to be vacationing at the same time at The Blue House Luxury Bed and Breakfast Villa, were talking about the high cost of swimming with the dolphins, debating whether or not it was worth the $250 and whether or not they would be willing to pay that much. In the end they simply opted to pay the minimum entry fee of $50 and go have a "look see".

One of these guests reported in her Virtual Tourist review that the dolphin encounters were disappointingly brief saying "there seemed to be a conveyor belt of swimmers, and the dolphins made a series of circuits with a different person hanging on each time."

Another guest, Michael, even though he was equally disappointed with the two minute encounters he had witnessed, had a "life dream" of swimming with the dolphins so felt pulled to return there. He'd observed that 8 persons at a time swam with the dolphins in fixed time slots so he was considering purchasing an entire time slot for a once in a life time thrill and making his dream a reality. Not usually an extravagant person, Michael debated long and hard, agonizing about biting the bullet and bringing his dream to fruition. For me, life dream or not, the amount of money in question seemed way too extravagant, so I made a couple of phone calls, and arranged a "discounted life dream" :).

Paraphrasing from Michael's his Tripadvisor review:

"I had a "life dream" to swim with dolphins. At Dolphin Cove tourists can swim with the dolphins. I watched this and was really disappointed. Large groups of pleasure-seeking tourists line up in a row; two dolphins go past and pull each for just a few metres, then move on to the next one. It looked to me like queuing for a short ride on a jet ski. All this for US$250.

I told Elise of my impression and that I want more than this. Some days later she told me that she’d spoken with the owner of Dolphin Cove and had arranged something special for me. On a day when there was no cruise ship in town, Daryl took me to Dolphin Cove. THEN A DREAM CAME TRUE. With only the trainer as companion I could swim for 30 minutes with "Misty" and "Pepe" – touch, hold and play completely at ease with them. It was one of the most touching experiences of my life."

Michael now dreams of bringing his wife and his children to vacation at The Blue House so they too would be able to enjoy the same magical experience.

Photos furnished by Michael and published with his permission.

Real Jamaica Vacation - Exploring The Nyabinghi Rasta Culture In Ocho Rios Jamaica

Fourteen years ago, a childhood fantasy "took root" and was lovingly nurtured in the heart of an incredibly sweet, young Argentinian boy, growing and growing until eventually it became, in the lad's own words, his lifelong dream.

Can you imagine how much pleasure it brought to the heart of this "Real Jamaica" innkeeper in Ocho Rios, when she was lucky enough to be instrumental in helping this now young gentleman bring his long, cherished dream to fulfilment ?

Lots and Lots and Lots !! A whole Heapa Lots !! :)

Since the first time 8 year old Juan Martin avidly watched a recorded performance of Bob Marley, he has longed to become a Rasta and play drums with the Nyahbinghi. With the surprisingly loving support of his Mamma and his Pappa, Juan Martin arrived in Jamaica this past March, at the ripe old age of 22, earnestly seeking the fulfilment of his dream.

Juan Martin's adventure started in Kingston and climaxed on the outskirts of Ocho Rios at the home of the reclusive Nyahbinghi Rastafari Elder, Prof-I.



During the first part of his journey through Kingston, Portland and The Blue Mountains, Juan Martin had a revelation without fully realising or understanding it. He encountered many with the dreadlocks that he had long associated with the Rastafari culture yet his intuition told him they were not the Rastas he was seeking. He would later understand that there are Rastas and then there are Dreads, and that there's a whole world of difference between the two.

On his arrival at The Blue House Luxury Bed and Breakfast in Ocho Rios where I am blest to be the innkeeper, I introduced Juan Martin to a Rastafari I have contact with on a day to day basis. Juan Martin instantly realised that he was finally face to face with a genuine Rasta, one who was more than willing to sit and chat with him about the various aspects of the Rastafari culture he had spent so many years eagerly researching in Argentina. I simply stood back and watched as happiness and joy glowed brightly in my young Argentinian friend's eyes.

Juan Martin had long dreamed of beating drums with the Nyahbinghi so the next morning we set out on an adventure to seek out a particular Rasta who is revered by many as an Elder of the Nyahbinghi. I had heard that, from time to time, this Rasta Elder would hold Binghi at his home where many of the Rastafari would gather to chant and drum.

I'll admit that I was more than a bit apprehensive about barging in, unannounced and uninvited, into the home of strangers, intruding in their very private space, especially having heard that the Rasta Elder we sought is a bit of a recluse. I can only say we were extremely blest that day. On later reflection, we all agreed that our initial meeting was like a harmonious intertwining of like spirits.

Prof-I later told me that when he stepped out to meet us, he immediately sensed our kindred spirits. He realised first off that we were not run of the mill, curiousity seeking tourists coming to invade their privacy and snap photos. He therefore welcomed us with the peaceful, loving, gentle, humble nature that is indicative of a genuine Rasta. We sat with him for hours while "I-Tin" (Juan Martin's new Rasta name) attempted to drink his fill of the culture he had dreamt about for so many years. Esctatic, I-Tin seemed to be floating a foot off the ground.

Prof-I openly shared with us the simple lifestyle he lives with his family on a few acres of land. They live off the land, eating whatever it provides. He regaled us with story after story of living a life of persecution because of his choice in living true to his chosen faith, starting at aged 9 when his own mother put him out of the house because he announced that he was going to become a Rasta. Many in our own Jamaican culture perceive the Rastafari as nothing more than "dutty ed and wutlis" (dirty head and worthless), never bothering to open their minds or their hearts to the true nature, culture and religious practices of the Rastafari. Despite all the trials he faced in life, Prof-I now seems very content in, and I quote, "living an ancient lifestyle in a modern world".

As the day progressed to evening, a family from Toronto, with 2 children, who were also guests at The Blue House, joined our gathering. Prof-I, who has thrived on a raw food diet (the latest health food rage) for the past 32 years, whipped us all up a delicious meal of "live food" which is the correct Rasta terminology for raw food.

With full bellies, we were then treated to the most amazing, most mesmerizing experience of my life to date.

Six of Prof-I 's fifteen children, ages 5-15, gathered around with drums and treated us to an impromptu and totally captivating "jam session". They chanted songs they had written themselves about the Rasta culture and their simple lifestyle, effortlessly and lyrically rolling out one song after another. We all simply sat in awe, entranced and filled with the joy, love and peace that resounds in this Rasta family's humble home.

Totally mesmerized as we all were, it was extremely difficult for each one of us to finally pull ourselves away for our return to The Blue House where a much delayed dinner awaited us.

I-Tin returned to Prof-I's home several more times before reluctantly heading off to Negril for the final lap and the winding down of his "dream" vacation.

Back home in Argentinia, Juan Martin now has a new dream, to return for an extended stay in Jamaica and to maybe one day produce a film about the Rasta culture he loves so much.

Sunsets Galore ! - Real Jamaica Vacation in Ocho Rios

Sunsets are such an awesome display of God's superb artistic ability.

Our neighbour directly across the street from us cut down his massive lychee tree last week, amidst much rejoicing and cheers from us at The Blue House.

The Blue House is once again blest with incredible sunsets, an ocean view, (or as we rightly say in Jamaica "sea view") and even a glimpse of Sandals Dunns River and the Riu Ocho Rios across the expanse of deep, blue waters. Lights twinkle at us from these hotels on clear nights and I fantasize that they're saying "Wha gwan, Blu Howse. Lang time mi nuh si yuh" in morse code. :)

My heart is singing and overflowing with joy at the return of these sights after being deprived of them for so many years!

At sunset most evenings my brother, Chef Darryl, laughs at me as I grab my camera and make a mad dash for the front balcony of our bed and breakfast, gleefully clicking away as I record umpteen versions of fiery sunsets like the one above.

PRAISE GOD !!