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Coffee: the Story

admin — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 13:47:32 +0000

Coffee drinkers know how to drink a cup of coffee but how many of those know the details of coffee, sources or the formulations of each cup. These are basic information about coffee.

Coffee strains

The science name of coffee is ‘Coffea’. There are more than 6000 strains of coffees in the world but only 2 strains of coffees that used in the marketing. These are Arabica and Robusta.

1. Arabica has 44 chromosomes. The products of each garden are about 240 to 480 kilogram. The Arabica will have flowers after rainy season and the duration of Arabica to produce the fruits is about 6 to 9 months. The character of Arabica products is flat shape fruits with acidity taste. Each fruit has caffeine from 0.8 to 1.4 percentages. The suitable temperature for plant the Arabica is 15 to 25 Celsius.
2. Robusta has fewer chromosomes than Arabica, it has only 22 chromosomes. The fruits of Robusta are egg-shapes. The Robusta will have flowers in every season and take time from 8 to 11 months to produce the fruits. The products of each garden are about 360 to 480 kilogram. And contain caffeine inside the fruits about 1.7 to 4.0 percentages.

Sources of Coffee

Many countries produce nice quality of coffees to the world markets. Coffee drinkers ought to have a special taste of coffees from the popular sources such as Columbia , Brazil , Costa Rica , Mexico , Guatemala or Jamaica.

Columbia is a source of Arabica strain. The temperature and soil in Columbia can produce high quality of coffees. The renowned coffees are Medillin, Bogota and Suremo.
Brazil has coffee trees more than 4000 millions and it is a biggest source of coffee in the world. The popular brand of coffee from Brazil is Brazilian Sandos.
Costa Rica is one of high quality source of Arabica. If you go to visit Costa Rica , try to ask for the coffees named Tarrazu and Tres Rios.
Guatemala, the Atitlan mountain of Guatemala is the source of Arabica. The renowned coffees are Antigua and Coban.
Mexico, the prominent of coffee from Mexico is organic coffees. The good taste of coffee in Mexico is Veracruz .
Jamaica, the renowned coffee from Jamaica is Blue Mountain . The Blue Mountain is the best strain of Arabica and about 90 percentages of Blue Mountain export to Japan . The brands of Blue Mountain in Japan are High Mountain Supreme and Prime Washed Lamaican.

Rafting on a Couples Only Jamaica Vacation

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:33:03 +0000

It’s easy to find an all inclusive vacation in Jamaica but the majority are for families. That’s great for people with kids and fine for those who don’t mind having kids around at their holiday resort. Many couples with grown up children, enjoy being freed from the demands of family vacations. The last thing these couples want is to have to spend their holiday with other people’s children around them instead of their own.

There are however, several very good couples-only vacation resorts in Jamaica that can be booked on an all inclusive basis. Three are owned by the same company and are called “Couples”. One is in Negril, one in Sans Souci and the other is in Ocho Rios. We enjoyed a glorious sixteen day holiday at Couples, Ocho Rios a few years ago. Being naturists, we were attracted to this hotel because it has a clothes-optional facility in the form of a tiny island, a hundred metres or so out from the hotel opposite the main beach. The island is served by a beautiful swim up bar and a boat to take you there and back at any time you want throughout the day. Most of the island is covered with decking on which sun loungers and hammocks are set out to furnish guests with comfortable seating. There is exactly the right amount of coconut palms to provide the sunbathers with a perfect combination of sun and shade at all times of the day. The island is an idyllic place to do nothing all holiday except sunbathe, swim and enjoy the drinks and snacks provided at the swim up bar. But even fanatical sun worshippers like ourselves will want to take some time out and see a bit of Jamaica during their stay.

Without any doubt, the most enjoyable excursion for us was a raft trip on the Rio Grande, Jamaica’s longest river that runs from the Blue Mountains into the sea. Tours,organised by the hotel, start with a fascinating coach journey to Port Antonio, calling in at the famous Blue Lagoon along the way. This was the setting for the film Castaways and it is indeed the most beautiful and peaceful place you could ever wish to swim in. Don’t expect a beach however. The Blue Lagoon hasn’t got one and the film’s beach scenes were shot elsewhere.

The starting point of the raft trip is at Berridale, six miles by road and nearly three hours by raft from the sea. The rafts are thirty two feet long and constructed from bamboo poles lashed together. The deck area has a seat for two passengers at the stern whilst a dreadlocked boatman, stands further forward and steers the raft with a long, bamboo pole.

You are taken at a leisurely pace for most of the way, occasionally picking up speed to cross stretches of the river that might be described as minor rapids. The boatman provides his own brand of constant entertainment, telling many far-fetched yarns about the rich and famous people he has transported in his raft or by singing some Bob Marley favourites to you.

The photo opportunities of the voyage are virtually incessant. As well as some beautiful scenery and wildlife in the form of vultures and other exotic birds, your navigator also creates many pictures worth snapping as he stylishly poles the raft, guiding it through its tricky course. There is always a colourful array of tropical plants to admire on the banks of the river and your guide is most eager to tell you their local names and provide interesting stories or folklore about their uses or associations.

Along the way, you will pass other rafts selling refreshments and the boatman will suggest that he stops for you to buy a can or two of Red Stripe lager or some trinket souvenirs. He is also likely to invite you to take a swim in a particularly inviting part of the river where it is perfectly safe to do so.

The big advantage of going on a trip organised by the hotel is that when you get to your destination at St Margarets Bay, your coach will be awaiting you. If you organised the trip yourself you would have to find some way of getting back to Berridale to pick your car up.

As well as rafting, there are many more wonderful places to visit and things to do in Jamaica but if you prefer not to go on excursions full of kids and want to enjoy your vacation as an exclusively couples only experience, my best travel tip is to book your vacation at one of the “Couples” all Inclusive Hotels. The best time to go is between December and April, when Jamaican weather is at its best and the waters of the Rio Grande are not too swollen or rapid.

The Sodom Of The New World Of Smatt Story

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:33:07 +0000

Black Jack Smatt
(Merchant Trader/Pirate circa 1660)

Port Royal was synonymous with the word Pirate as a result of its gaudy displays of wealth, anarchy and loose morals. The city was renowned to be The Wickedest City on Earth and The Sodom of the New World as its population consisted of cutthroats, harlots and pirates. It was a popular place for British and European backed privateers to spend their treasure amid the 17th century. After governments abandoned issuing letters of marque against Spanish treasure fleets, a number of privateers made the transition to pirate and used the city as their mainstay. Pirates from around the world soon swarmed to Port Royal from afar, including Jack Smatt.

Black Jack Smatt, as he soon became known, arrived on the Island around 1660 in order to take advantage of the booming merchant trading between Europe and the New World. As the sands of time shifted, Black Jack grew restless with his conventional labourings and pursued the more lucrative act of privateering – the warranted attack on enemy ships. His unrivalled excellences in this industry and hunger for true greatness eventually lead him to piracy.

He was well-known as a rum drinker, a womaniser and a rogue spirit. One of his most infamous endeavors was plundering a large Spanish galleon, sailing out of Panama, originally sent from Madrid to protect the Spanish Maine. It was apparently a massive ship of around 200 tonnes and overflowing with treasure. Although Smatt’s holds were already full, the allure of more was too great. It is said that as the pirates drew near to the Spanish ship, it signaled for surrender, however, it was cunningly braced for battle. As Smatt approached, the merchant vessel fired its cannons, yet due to good fortune a sudden gust of wind caused the shot to miss. Allegedly it was at this instance that Smatt’s crew used their grappling hooks and pulled the ships together. The pirates promptly boarded the ship and Black Jack Smatt commandeered one of the largest treasure hauls of the era.

Soon after this, he exploited the absence of the Crown’s rum rationing rules, using rum to win over his crew and as bounty aboard his ship. The popularity of rum was so great that any scarcity of it could lead to rebellion on pirate ships. The thirst for rum seemed unquenchable and many ships plundered as its crews were too drunk to control them. Rum became an intrinsic piece of the most prosperous pirating age- “The Golden Era” of 1650 – 1740, and Smatt had found the jewel of Jamaican Rum, his own special blend, created from a blend of rums from the finest distilleries in Jamaica of the time. It was said embody the free spirit that was Black Jack Smatt. The story that was rumoured amongst other pirates who were fortunate to get their hands on some was that if drunk, would bring them the luck and good fortune of Black Jack himself.

After an earthquake destroyed Port Royal in 1692, Black Jack Smatt disappeared along with many other inhabitants of the city. Legend is that the earthquake was an act of God resulting from the city’s sinful reputation. Descendents of Black Jack Smatt still live in Jamaica continuing to make their living from the sea.

Facts about Jamaica

admin — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 12:33:13 +0000

There are many interesting facts about Jamaica that a tourist to this beautiful destination should know.

Being the first Caribbean country to gain independence, the island has more stories of the past to unveil. The island inhabited by the Arawaks in the early periods, was once ruled by the Spanish, and later by the British.

Jamaican Geography and Climate

The beautiful island of Jamaica is 235 km long, with its width varying from 34 to 84 kilometers; it lies 140 km south of Cuba and 190 km west of Haiti. Being the largest Commonwealth Caribbean Island, Jamaica covers an area of 10,911 sq. km. Bauxite, limestone and gypsum are the natural resources seen in the island. Numerous white sandy beaches, crystalline sea and gorgeous mountain ranges are the distinguishing features of this much sought after tourist destination.

Jamaica features upland tropical climate and semiarid climate. The highest rainfall is found in the northern and eastern parts of the mountainous areas. May to October is the peak time for heavy rainfall in the island.

Interesting Cultural Aspects

Jamaican culture and tradition shows the influences of English, African, Tainos, Jewish and Indian cultures. Christianity is the main religion of this place, though there are other minor groups with other religious beliefs. Patois, the local language of Jamaica, is the mother tongue of the Jamaicans. But the official language is English. Jamaicans are modest people and follow conservative form of dressing. The dances of Quadrille, Myal, Pocomania, and Kumina, folk music, dramas, and Reggae music greatly reflect the rich Jamaican culture.

Unexplored Natural Beauty of Jamaica

Blue Mountains, the largest mountain range, is an attractive geographical feature of this place, which adds much to its scenic beauty. The island is surrounded by serene coastal plain. Negril, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and many other fascinatingly beautiful locations beckon visitors to this region.

An awareness of the important facts about Jamaica will be of great help to visitors to this region, and enable them to plan a wonderful trip.

Jamaica Tube – Jamaica’s Biggest Network – Connecting To Di World

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:47:27 +0000

A community of video lovers and artists. You’ll find the best online video content on http://jamaicahtube.com because we attract those who love the medium. Write comments, post video, build a network of friends, Embed Videos From YouTube, or just sit back and watch your favorite shows. You’ll find it all right here.

Jamaica tube is about finding new ways to see, share and engage your world through the power of online video. You can find – or upload – videos about your interests and hobbies, eyewitness accounts of recent news and distant places, and everything else from the strange to the spectacular.

Use Jamaica Tube to:

– Share your videos publicly, or privately with family and friends
– Discover new videos through channels or tags
– Get feedback on your clips and creative work
– Spread your videos across the web by posting them to your blog, website, or social network profiles

I’ve been a member of the tube for 1 year and i’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

Jamaica Tube is Jamaica’s largest video site, attracting more than 15 thousand unique viewers each month. We’re committed to delivering an exceptional entertainment experience, and we do so by engaging and empowering our audience every step of the way.

Jamaica Tube has been one of the top independent online video sites, and we’re a leader in the evolution of digital entertainment in Jamaica.

Jam Tube is not a video sharing and hosting site that allows any and every video to be posted. Instead, Jam Tube is a video entertainment site that focuses on:

Short-form – Jam Tube specializes in short-form original video – content that is made for the interactive Internet medium. We don’t have full-length television episodes or movies chopped into pieces. The average video on our site is just over 90 seconds long. People come to Jam Tube looking for an entertainment break in their day – and we deliver.
Entertainment – We’re all about entertaining a large audience by featuring only those videos that amaze, inspire and make viewers laugh. This means you won’t find hard news stories, personal videos or webcam chatter on Jam Tube.
Audience-driven – The Jam Tube experience is determined entirely by our community. Videos are user-generated, user-selected, user-reviewed and user-rewarded. At Jam Tube, we put the audience in the driver’s seat, empowering viewers in a much more meaningful way than other video sites

What does this all add up to? A better entertainment experience. We consistently hear from our viewers that it’s easier to find videos they like on our site as compared to others – and that keeps them coming back for more.

http://jamaicahtube.com

High Level Survey of the Gorgeous Beaches Travel Resort in Jamaica

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:32:50 +0000

Are you planning an upcoming stay at the Beaches resort in Negril, Jamaica? Wondering if it’s the right fit for you or your family? If so, keep reading for a review of some specifics about the property.

Very Kid-Friendly

This is not a resort for honeymooning couples or adults looking for some rest and relaxation. Beaches Jamaica is very much targeted toward children, and a large portion of the resort is dedicated to children’s activities and distractions – making it perfect for family vacations.

For families with kids, the resort offers several daycare centers, numerous Sesame Street themed activities (characters walking around and live shows), water slides, day trips for teens, story time and even infant care. The major appeal is that they have a variety of activities targeted toward each age group – meaning your teen and toddler won’t wind up at the same activity center.

For parents, though, the resort can seem a little too kid-focused. There are adults-only areas and pools that are either designated for just families or just adults, but parents won’t have the run of this place. However, you can enjoy a little snooze at the beach knowing your children are well looked after and having a great time.

Great Fitness Center

Probably one of the best features for adults at this resort is the fitness center. It’s stocked with state-of-the-art equipment and they run a number of fitness classes every day – ranging from low impact and introductory yoga to high-impact sessions like kickboxing.

Numerous A La Carte Restaurants

Anyone who has spent a week at an all-inclusive resort knows that the same buffet night after night can get tiring after a while. To avoid food boredom, locating a resort with numerous a la carte restaurants is key. Jamaica Negril offers 6 restaurants ranging from a beachside cafe to fine and elegant dining.

Harassment By Beach Vendors

The beach in Jamaica is public, meaning a trip down to the sand and beautiful waters also leads to dealing with a lot of harassment from local vendors selling their wares. If you don’t want to put up with this, then you’ll have to be content sunbathing by the pool instead.

Small, Closet-Sized Rooms

Unless you’re opting for a deluxe suite or large room, you’ll find the accommodations pretty small at Beaches Negril Jamaica. That said, if you’re sharing one room among a family of four, you may want to consider upgrading to a larger room.

The Final Word

Beaches Jamaica is a fantastic vacation option for a family. There are tons of choices for the kids and a range of activities for a range of ages. The one major drawback? The room sizes don’t comfortably accommodate a family.

So if you are either willing to squeeze into tight space (which may not be so bad when spending the bulk of your time outside) or can afford to spring for a separate room for your children, you will enjoy this location.

The Church And Homophobia In Jamaica

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:32:58 +0000

THE CHURCH AND HOMOPHOBIA IN JAMAICA

For many years in my country of Jamaica there has been attacks, physical and verbal against homosexuals. On Valentine’s Day of 2007, the Jamaica Observer newspaper reported that over two thousand people were gathered outside a pharmacy awaiting the exit of three alleged homosexual men who were inside the pharmacy. The report states that some people were calling for the men to be killed. The police had to come to the rescue of the men; if they did not the results could have been tragic. In February 2008, the Jamaica Gleaner published a story on the condemnation of homosexuals by the church community in which the homosexual behavior was described as “abnormal” and it was posited that the lifestyle can be “changed” with some form of intervention? These religious leaders have congregations who look up to them for guidance. It is very irresponsible for them to provide ammunition that people can use to feed their homophobic appetite. What about teaching tolerance instead of trying to change or stigmatize?

The examples of Jamaica given is intended to show that a country and a people can have a homophobic culture where there is an intense hatred of certain lifestyles and such hatred can lead to interaction on the macro level. Homophobia causes significant distress to the victim and dehumanizes a population or subculture. It is also a significant mark of discrimination and prejudice that is one that is often not openly addressed and some would prefer to think has ceased to exist in this age of tolerance, but cases like those presented above, indicate the prevalence of such a conflict in modern society.

LEST NOT FORGET OUR HISTORY

Lest not forget our history: Back in the days of slavery our ancestors, the black African, on the plantation were ostracized and liken to cattle, they were considered “hewers of wood and drawers of water”. In many instances the supporters of slavery drew from that one verse Joshua 9:23 to legitimize the practice of slavery. Many religious leaders and others in our highly “religious country” do the same, they draw for their bible and quote relentlessly from Genesis 1 and 19 and Leviticus 18 and 20 -to name a few, in order to fuel the hate. How different are we from the supporters of the enslavement of the African people? For a people who have a history of being oppressed based on our differences we should be careful how we wield oppression upon others who are different.

HOMOPHOBIA HURTS

Many times the level of intolerance in Jamaica has led to people being physically and mentally harmed from the effects of being shunned, teased and hated by others. Homophobia breeds hatred and oppression. Religious leaders are supposed to love, tolerate and nurture all humanity. Let’s not overlook the Lord’s other instructions: in between Leviticus 18 and 20 is Leviticus 19 where verses 17 & 18 states: “You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him”; “Thou shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but thou shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD” and verse 34 : “But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God”.

Why these three verses are poignantly overlooked in favor of the others? I think those three verses were strategically placed to remind us that there will be some amongst us who are different, whose lifestyle does not fit into our interpretation of “normal”, they are like “strangers” but we should love them because they are the children of God, they are our “neighbors”, the bible tells us so.

If we can hate one group and find reasonable literature or research to explain why we hate them, then what is to stop us from doing that to other groups who are simply different like the mentally or physically handicapped, the mentally ill or people of different ethnic backgrounds?

Why should we be their judge? If what they are doing is so wrong, “an abomination” as many religious leaders say then please leave their judgment up to a higher power.

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