Jamaica, the land of my dreams

by Robin James
(UK)

Hi, I was born in the Nuttall hospital in St Andrews whilst my father was posted there in the British Army.

As my mum starting giving birth on the way back to the barracks so was actually born Jamaican.

It has been my life's ambition to visit Jamaica since I was 11 years old.

Having gone through an acrimonious divorce in 2006, I came into some money from the sale of the marital home, and through a Jamaican lady I've known for many years, arranged to visit a friend of hers in Portmore for a month in 2013.

After a week there I decided to visit Ochi Rios for 2 weeks and the last week in Mobay as that was where my return flight was.

I fell in love with Jamaica within the first week, and made many friends. I loved Ochi and spent 2 fantastic weeks going around with a few young guys visiting all kinds of places.

I spent the last week in Toby’s Resort (Mobay), and again fell in love with the area and the people.

I returned to the UK after the month and within 2 weeks I’d booked my return flight and hotels to Mobay and Ochi for another month!

Whilst back in the UK, my friend in Portmore called me and told me that a young girl he knew wanted to friend me on Facebook, so I agreed, and we started chatting every day, and said that she would love to meet me on my return to JA.

On my return I booked the 1st and last weeks in Mobay, and the 2nd and 3rd weeks in Ochi, and during the second week arranged to meet the young girl in Kingston on the 17 of March, but told her it would only be for a day as I couldn't afford an hotel in Kingston.

But she said that I could stay at hers for the night if things worked out.

We met in Scotches in Kingston, and within the first 10 minutes we hit it off, and went hers in Greater Portmore.

We fell deeply in love, and I stayed for 2 and a half months, but eventually had to return the UK.

We kept in touch every day, and after 3 months I returned to Jamaica.

We had talked a lot about a long term relationship, as I was looking at retiring to Jamaica. She met me at the Norman Manley Airport in Nov 2013, and when we met I got down on one knee and proposed (the quietest she'd ever gone) and she accepted.

During my 7 month stay, with her help, and some great friends, I managed to get my Jamaican Passport, birth certificate and marriage certificate.

After Christmas, we moved to St Mary, where we arranged to get married in St Ann’s Bay on Valentine’s Day this year!

It was the best day of my life, a true traditional wedding where I didn't see her in her white wedding dress until she arrived at the Registrar Office.

My Best Man and 2 close friends did us proud and took us to Shaw Park Gardens for some beautiful photos, and then we went on to Port Antonio for a 5 day honeymoon.

I had to return to the UK in May to finalize my affairs before returning to Jamaica in October for good, been a long hard few months, but well worth it as we can now spend the rest of our lives together in paradise.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, sorry it is a bit long winded, just wanted to say that true love at first sight does happen, and wonderful.

We love each other with all our hearts.
To my lovely wife Veneshia.

Editor's note
Have a experience in Jamaica? Share it with us, just like Robin did. The more the merrier!