The Ultimate 2019 Adventure List
The year 2018 was one of the most traveled years I’ve had in a while. I not only traveled to tonnes of new places; but I also embraced and welcomed so many new experiences. And best yet, many of these unexpected experiences were shared with friends old and new. Yet, there were also so many setbacks and a myriad of things that didn’t go according to plan. It’s actually unbelievable that the year ended as well as it did.
After starting off the year in a bit of a stall. A little unknown fact is that I was pretty much unemployed for the month of January 2018 (a story for another day). As a result, a lot of financial ripples came and disrupted my life. Added to that, I lost someone very dear to me and that also took an emotional toll. So you can imagine that I was not doing much travel while living on my shoestring budget and feeling blue. But fortunately, time has helped to heal many a wounds and I was able to push through to some amazing opportunities and adventures.
I know this post comes a wee bit late. Considering we are all the way in mid-February 2019. It’s not because I didn’t already have the list ready. Trust me, this list has been ready since 2018. Rather I was in a bit of a writing slum. I knew what I wanted to say but the words just wouldn’t come out as I wanted them to. It’s like I was turning over the engine to start but the car kept on stalling on me. Well I’ve finally got the engine started and ready to go again with you all in the passenger seat.
The first thing I want to do before I share my 2019 adventure list is to do a little reflection on the year past. Last year, I put pen to paper, err finger to keyboard, and shared with you all My 2018 Adventure List . A list of places that have been hanging out on my travel bucket list for far too long and I was determined to check them off and say sayonara suckers. It’s funny now to look back and see how many of the places I didn’t see and how many of my plans fell through. God was truly laughing on all my plans. So let’s recap shall we.
MY 2018 ADVENTURE LIST:
1. VISIT GREEN GROTTO CAVES - Done
I’m happy to report that after years of wanting to visit the Green Grotto caves; I’ve finally been there. I have finally made it to one of the places that has been on my local travel list for around 5 years or more; and I did it on a solo road trip no less. And I’m happy to report that it’s a great experience. I believe it’s honestly an experience that everyone should have at least once. A place of rich culture and architecture right here in my backyard and I’m happy to have made it. More to come in a future post.
2. VISIT A WATERFALL ( I’M STUCK BETWEEN REGGAE FALLS, KWAME FALLS AND REACH FALLS) - Done
Now this one is a kind of yes and no accomplishment. I did visit a waterfall last year, but it was not one of the ones I mentioned above. In my defense, the time I made the journey to Reach Falls it was closed due to the weather and the water being dirty. Fortunately, I had the absolute pleasure of visiting the Breadnut Valley Waterfalls with some amazing blogger friends. In my first organized blogger event, myself and 2 other local travel bloggers made the trek southwest to the Breadnut Valley Waterfalls. It was an amazing experience that I will be sharing with you very soon so look out for that post.
As it goes for the remainder of the list, erm…. let’s just say it was a proverbial fail on sticking to this plan and following the list. Eek! I traveled to waaaaay more than 2 places last year but I pretty much went rogue and ventured away from the list. And that’s alright. I know that I’ll make it to the places someday, but it just wasn’t meant to be in 2018. You see my lists are a guide and not a be all end all. Life happens. Plans change. But the goal remains the same and the journey is usually delightful. So here’s to failures; may we learn from them, grow from them and overcome them.
3. CLIFF DIVE AT RICK’S CAFE X
4. GO ZIPLINING X
5. GO PARASAILING/ PARAGLIDING X
6. SPEND THE DAY AT KOOL RUNNINGS WATER PARK X
7. VISIT BLUE LAGOON X
8. HAVE A FUN DAY AT MYSTIC MOUNTAIN X
9. GO WHITEWATER RAFTING/ TUBING X
10. LEARN TO SURF X
THE 2019 ADVENTURE LIST:
So now that we’ve looked back on the past; what’s in the works for 2019? Well, I’m so happy you asked. The new year is always the time when we are full of excitement and ready to cast off the ordinary and do something big. Something unexpected. Something new. And while I won’t be jetting off to foreign lands by the drop of a hat; 2019 already promises to be even more well-traveled than 2018. The more I explore, the more I want to explore.
I’ve already purchased a few travel deals and started penciling in my 2019 travel dates for the first 3 months. There are so many unique adventures to be had in Jamaica and so many destinations I’ve yet to travel off to. And since I haven’t been everywhere… yet; I’m ready to really start checking off that travel bucket list. So without further ado, here’s my 2019 adventure list.
1. GO ZIPLINING
I’ve decided to bring this one forward into the new year. I’ve had this inkling to go ziplining for so many years that I can’t just box it off for the new new. I mean I’ve wanted to do this for about 8 years now. I think it’s finally time to check this one off. I really want to take in some breathtaking views as I glide across nature. Although, Fun fact I have a minor fear of heights, but trust and believe I’ll definitely be doing it. Even if my eyes are closed the entire way. Fingers crossed that I finally get to cross this off my list
2. HAVE A FUN DAY AT MYSTIC MOUNTAIN
One thing I enjoy is a good value for money. This adventure park is packed with so many things to do that I don’t even know if a day is enough to accomplish it all. Bonus points is that it offers ziplining as an activity so this could turn out to be a kill 2 birds with one stone kind of deal if I play my cards right. Now that’s what I call a good deal.
3. HAVE A DRINK AT FLOYD’S PELICAN BAR
Now going to a bar in the middle of the ocean might seem like a wee bit of a bad idea. But from what I’ve heard, spending some time at Floyd’s Pelican bar is truly an experience. A chill atmosphere, cool vibes, good food all supplemented by amazing views and spectacular sunsets.
4. VISIT THE ROSE HALL GREAT HOUSE
The story of Annie Palmer is infamous in Jamaica. The white witch who people claimed did all kin of supernatural acts and killed her many husbands taking their fortunes. However, I’ve never visited the plantation for myself before and I’d love to have the experience. I want to learn more about a person so notorious in Jamaica’s history that she’s a story used to scare children and visitors alike.
5. LEARN TO SURF
OK so another item from my 2018 list has migrated onto my 2019 list. Aside from the fact that I’ve wanted to learn to surf since PNP was in power (no shade). I recently also saw a mini-documentary on facebook about the surfer girls in Jamaica. It was a truly inspiring piece surrounding Imani Wilmot and how she uses surfing to inspire and empower women. And I’d love to be a part of that journey. Who knows? A new hobby could be emerging.
6. CHASE A WATERFALL
I put this back here because there are just so many waterfall cascades flowing across Jamaica and I just want to see them all. I especially want to try and see one the waterfalls I wanted to see last year. Reggae falls, Kwame Falls and Reach Falls. But… just for good measure I’m also adding in Mayfield Falls and Nanny Falls. And so let the waterfall chasing begin in ……3 ……….2 ……….1…………GO!!!
7. GO ON THE APPLETON RUM ESTATE TOUR (AND MAYBE GET A LITTLE SOZZLED)
Yo ho. Yo ho. A pirate’s life for me. What can I say? We are rum people here in these parts. Well…….. truth be told, I’m not really a rum person. I’m more of a beer, moscato, wine, flavoured vodka kind of girl. But a little rum never killed nobody. In fact, in some places rum is the answer to everything. Baby can’t fall a sleep, tip a little rum in their food. Aches and pains, rub a little rum on your body. You see where I’m going with this right? I’m pretty excited to go on this tour. You know, learn a little and have a drink or 2.
8. VISIT GLISTENING WATERS
If you’ve read my Bucket list for a Jamaican summer post last year, then you have some idea why this is here. This natural wonder of the world is one of only 4 destinations in the WORLD with the bioluminescence phenomenon. Let me set the scene. It’s a beautiful and tranquil night and you decided to dip your toes in the nearby waterbody. And boom… right where your feet are planted, it starts to illuminate. Now if that isn’t a sight to behold, I don’t know what is.
9. GO TO A FESTIVAL OF SOME KIND
Every year new festivals of some kind are added to the Jamaican calendar and I’m just eager at the opportunity to attend one. Especially since most of them have to do with food. I’m salivating just writing about this. My top 3 picks of festivals I want to attend are : The Blue Mountain Coffee Festival in March, The Portland Jerk Festival in July or the Food and Drink Festival in October. One, preferably all three, have to see me this year. My belly shall be full on yummies and my tongue shall be delighted with each bite.
10. HIKE THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
Can I tell you all a secret? This is the biggest iffy one on my list. You see the others all seem very doable. But this one….. Well this is going to be a true challenge. You see I’ve very much out of shape and overweight. So in order to accomplish this I’m really going to have to get my butt into high gear and push myself to work my ass off (literally!!) But this is a good thing for me. It’s an added motivation to shred the extra luggage I’m carrying on my back and finally get fit. Plus if I’m able to fix my mental, then climbing Blue Mountain should be that much easier.
So there you have it folks! My adventure list for 2019. I’m hoping to cross everything off this year so fingers crossed and time allowing I get it all done. How about you guys? Have anything you really want to do in 2019? Ready to join me? Tell me down in the comments. I looooooove hearing from you guys! Ready for an amazing year? Well let’s do this! And don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe and pin the images.
LOVE
NELLA
