
Kingston ᛫ January 29 – February 4, 2018
From Southfield, I took three different transportations to reach Kingston. First, a route taxi to Junction, then another one to Mandeville, and from there a bus to Kingston. This journey took about 3.5 hours and cost in total J$ 950 (6 €/US$ 7.5). When I arrived, I took another taxi to Halfway Tree, the part of town where I met my Couchsurfing host. He was actually British Jamaican, very friendly and there was also another couchsurfer from Sweden staying with him.
Bob Marley statue in front of his house that is now a museum. On the picture underneath you can see the “three little birds”, his background singers Marcia Griffiths, Rita Marley, and Judy Mowatt. ONE LOVE!
I was really excited to finally visit Jamaica’s capital because I didn’t get the chance to during my two previous vacations. Together with the couchsurfers, I visited the Bob Marley Museum, Tuff Gong International Studios, Devon’s House (very nice ice cream), the beach in Portmore which is a city right next to Kingston, and some nice Rastafarians.
We had a great time. In addition, we went to a couple of good food places, eating typical Jamaican dishes like patties (dumplings filled with chicken, beef, or veggies), coco bread, jerk and curried chicken with rice and peas.
Learning More About Bob Marley
Although the Bob Marley Museum with a US$ 25 (20 €) entrance fee was a bit pricey, it was definitely worth the visit. I recognized many places around the house from pictures of Bob Marley. It was nice walking through the backyard where he used to play football and sitting under his favorite mango tree where he used to meditate.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t allowed to take pictures inside the house. The maybe most surprising and funny thing I learned about him that day was that he liked denim so much that even his bed sheets and pillowcases were made of denim. He had a nice big bed, but I just can’t imagine it to be very comfortable. 😀
One thing I didn’t like about the city was the traffic though. Luckily, our host had a car and drove us to many places but a big part of the time we spent in the car stuck in traffic.
On Friday night, we went out to a club. The party wasn’t as boisterously as we expected. At first, mostly foreigners danced and it took a while until the Jamaicans started too. By the time we left later at night, many people were dancing. To me, it didn’t seem like everybody was just enjoying themselves but rather like a competition who can move their ass the most. Even though it wasn’t my favorite party, it was definitely an interesting and fun experience.
We arrived in the Blue Mountains just before sunset. The sun rays breaking through the clouds looked stunning. You can see Kingston and the ocean in the background.
The Blue Mountains
I also wanted to visit the Blue Mountains. Since spending the night there turned out to be too expensive, I decided to go just during the day. One time I went together with the Swedish couchsurfer. So we took a taxi and arrived after about half an hour, just in time for the sunset. At Bloom Café, we enjoyed tasty cakes (that we had actually bought at Cafe Blue – Irish Town), natural juice and an amazing view.
The following day I wanted to return and spend more time exploring the mountains. That didn’t go as planned though. I met up with a lady that I had met on my first day in Montego Bay. She had told me about her nice place in the mountains and that I should visit her.
We met up at the University of the West Indies after she was finished teaching her class when it was already early afternoon. She explained that her husband and son would pick us up when they were done with their work. So we hung out with one of her colleagues and had interesting conversations, but I couldn’t really enjoy it because I really wanted to see the mountains.
When her family finally came to pick us up it was already pretty late. As a result, it was dark by the time we arrived at her house. It was a very cool place but I wish I could have seen it during the day. I didn’t stay long because I didn’t want to get back to Kingston too late. If I had known how the day goes, I would have taken a taxi of course. But now I just have another reason to return one day. 😉
Traveling Back to the West
I left Kingston on Sunday to return to my “home” because I had to work on Monday. Since I had found out that traveling in Jamaica is a little difficult on Sundays, I booked a bus. It was more expensive than route taxis but hassle-free. The so-called Knutsford Express charged J$ 3100 (20 €/US$ 25) and took a little more than five hours to reach Negril (after stopping in some other cities).
From Southfield, I took three different transportations to reach Kingston. First, a route taxi to Junction, then another one to Mandeville, and from there a bus to Kingston. This journey took about 3.5 hours and cost in total J$ 950 (6 €/US$ 7.5). When I arrived, I took another taxi to Halfway Tree, the part of town where I met my Couchsurfing host. He was actually British Jamaican, very friendly and there was also another couchsurfer from Sweden staying with him.
Bob Marley statue in front of his house that is now a museum. On the picture underneath you can see the “three little birds”, his background singers Marcia Griffiths, Rita Marley, and Judy Mowatt. ONE LOVE!
I was really excited to finally visit Jamaica’s capital because I didn’t get the chance to during my two previous vacations. Together with the couchsurfers, I visited the Bob Marley Museum, Tuff Gong International Studios, Devon’s House (very nice ice cream), the beach in Portmore which is a city right next to Kingston, and some nice Rastafarians.
We had a great time. In addition, we went to a couple of good food places, eating typical Jamaican dishes like patties (dumplings filled with chicken, beef, or veggies), coco bread, jerk and curried chicken with rice and peas.
Learning More About Bob Marley

From left to right: Bob with his wife Rita and children Sharon, Ziggy, Cedella, and Stephen;
Bob sitting in front of his mango tree (see gallery below);
Playing football not far from where I was standing;
Rolling a splif, smiling at me 😉
Although the Bob Marley Museum with a US$ 25 (20 €) entrance fee was a bit pricey, it was definitely worth the visit. I recognized many places around the house from pictures of Bob Marley. It was nice walking through the backyard where he used to play football and sitting under his favorite mango tree where he used to meditate.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t allowed to take pictures inside the house. The maybe most surprising and funny thing I learned about him that day was that he liked denim so much that even his bed sheets and pillowcases were made of denim. He had a nice big bed, but I just can’t imagine it to be very comfortable. 😀
One thing I didn’t like about the city was the traffic though. Luckily, our host had a car and drove us to many places but a big part of the time we spent in the car was stuck in traffic.

I really hope the messages of this mural at Tuff Gong International will become true around the world one day. One love! <3
On Friday night, we went out to a club. The party wasn’t as boisterous as we expected. At first, mostly foreigners danced and it took a while until the Jamaicans started too. By the time we left later at night, many people were dancing. To me, it didn’t seem like everybody was just enjoying themselves but rather like a competition who can move their ass the most. Even though it wasn’t my favorite party, it was definitely an interesting and fun experience.
The Blue Mountains
I also wanted to visit the Blue Mountains. Since spending the night there turned out to be too expensive, I decided to go just during the day. One time I went together with a Swedish couchsurfer. So we took a taxi and arrived after about half an hour, just in time for the sunset. At Bloom Café, we enjoyed tasty cakes (that we had actually bought at Cafe Blue – Irish Town), natural juice, and an amazing view.
We arrived in the Blue Mountains just before sunset. The sun rays breaking through the clouds looked stunning. You can see Kingston and the ocean in the background.
The following day I wanted to return and spend more time exploring the mountains. That didn’t go as planned though. I met up with a lady that I had met on my first day in Montego Bay. She had told me about her nice place in the mountains and that I should visit her.
We met up at the University of the West Indies after she was finished teaching her class when it was already early afternoon. She explained that her husband and son would pick us up when they were done with their work. So we hung out with one of her colleagues and had interesting conversations, but I couldn’t really enjoy it because I really wanted to see the mountains.
When her family finally came to pick us up it was already pretty late. As a result, it was dark by the time we arrived at her house. It was a very cool place but I wish I could have seen it during the day. I didn’t stay long because I didn’t want to get back to Kingston too late. If I had known how the day goes, I would have taken a taxi of course. But now I just have another reason to return one day. 😉
Traveling Back to the West
I left Kingston on Sunday to return to my “home” because I had to work on Monday. Since I had found out that traveling in Jamaica is a little difficult on Sundays, I booked a bus. It was more expensive than route taxis but hassle-free. The so-called Knutsford Express charged J$ 3100 (20 €/US$ 25) and took a little more than five hours to reach Negril (after stopping in some other cities).
See More Pictures of My Time in Kingston
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Mural
My Swedish friend Bianca and me in front of the rasta mural at the museum. From left to right: Haile Selassie I, Bob Marley, and his sons Ziggy, Stephen, Rohan, Julian, Ky-Mani, Damian and Abraham.
Kingston – Tuff Gong Studios One Love Lyrics
I liked this piece of art at Tuff Gong studios: The lyrics of Bob Marley’s One Love written in letters of different license plates.
Birds at Portmore Beach
If you are in Kingston and want to visit a beach, you should go to Portmore which is located right next to Jamaica’s capital.
Kingston – Bob Marley and the Wailers Mural
I just loved this Bob Marley and the Wailers mural at the museum’s entrance. It makes you want to listen to some good reggae tunes.
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Graffiti
At the entrance of the Bob Marley Museum you are greeted with colorful graffiti art that puts you in the mood for what you are about to see.
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Information
Read and learn more about the Honourable Robert Nesta Marley O.M.
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum House Entrance
The entrance of Bob Marley’s house at 56 Hope Road, Kingston 6. Sadly, it was not allowed to take pictures inside where his guitar, clothes and other artifacts are displayed. You have to come and see for yourself. 😉
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Picture Wall
From left to right: Bob with his wife Rita and children Sharon, Ziggy, Cedella, and Stephen; Bob sitting in front of his mango tree (see next picture); Playing football not far from where I was standing; Rolling a splif, smiling at me 😉
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Mango Tree
This mango tree was Bob Marley’s favorite place to sit, smoke and meditate (see 2nd picture in the text above). It was very special to do the same so many years later.
Kingston – Tuff Gong International Rita Marley
Bob Marley’s wife Rita opened up Tuff Gong International studio at its current location. She finished what he had envisioned before his death when the studio was still at his home where the Bob Marley Museum is today..
Kingston – Tuff Gong Studios
The Tuff Gong International studio was founded by Bob Marley and produced some of his most famous music. His children amongst other artists continued producing music there after his death. It was special for me as a reggae lover to see it.
Kingston – Tuff Gong Studios One Love Art
I really hope the messages of this mural at Tuff Gong International will become true around the world one day. One love! <3
Kingston – Rastafari Ganja Plant
Welcome to Jamrock: On my first day in Kingston I got to see how real Rastafarians live and some of their cannabis plants. The big ones are located in the mountains though where the climate for cultivation is better.
Kingston – Old Car with Ganja Plants
A Kingston backyard with an old truck that is used to raise some ganja and other plants.
Kingston – Houses
Since I spent a lot of time in the car due to traffic while I was in Kingston, I spent some of this time taking pictures out of the car window. This is one of the few that came out good though. 😉
Kingston – Parish Church
There are many churches in Kingston and in Jamaica in general. This one is called St. Thomas the Apostle, Kingston Parish Church. Street vendors selling clothes and other stuff on the side of the road are also very typical.
Kingston – UWI University Chapel
The University Chapel at the University of the West Indies used to be a rum store in the 18th century.
Kingston – University of the West Indies
The campus of the University of the West Indies with the aqueduct and the Blue Mountains in the background.
Kingston – UWI Aqueduct
The aqueduct that runs across the UWI campus used to carry water when the estate was a sugarcane plantation.
Blue Mountains – Natural Juice & Cake
Enjoying cake (mine was passionfruit cheesecake) and natural fruit juice in the Blue Mountains with Kingston in the background.
Blue Mountains – Kingston View
We arrived in the Blue Mountains just before sunset. The sun rays breaking through the clouds looked stunning. You can see Kingston and the ocean in the background.
Blue Mountains – Kingston Night View
When it got dark, Kingston was even better visible because of its lights from our viewpoint in the Blue Mountains.
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Mural
My Swedish friend Bianca and me in front of the rasta mural at the museum. From left to right: Haile Selassie I, Bob Marley, and his sons Ziggy, Stephen, Rohan, Julian, Ky-Mani, Damian and Abraham.
Kingston – Tuff Gong Studios One Love Lyrics
I liked this piece of art at Tuff Gong studios: The lyrics of Bob Marley’s One Love written in letters of different license plates.
Birds at Portmore Beach
If you are in Kingston and want to visit a beach, you should go to Portmore which is located right next to Jamaica’s capital.
Kingston – Bob Marley and the Wailers Mural
I just loved this Bob Marley and the Wailers mural at the museum’s entrance. It makes you want to listen to some good reggae tunes.
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Graffiti
At the entrance of the Bob Marley Museum you are greeted with colorful graffiti art that puts you in the mood for what you are about to see.
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Information
Read and learn more about the Honourable Robert Nesta Marley O.M.
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum House Entrance
The entrance of Bob Marley’s house at 56 Hope Road, Kingston 6. Sadly, it was not allowed to take pictures inside where his guitar, clothes and other artifacts are displayed. You have to come and see for yourself. 😉
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Picture Wall
From left to right: Bob with his wife Rita and children Sharon, Ziggy, Cedella, and Stephen; Bob sitting in front of his mango tree (see next picture); Playing football not far from where I was standing; Rolling a splif, smiling at me 😉
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Mango Tree
This mango tree was Bob Marley’s favorite place to sit, smoke and meditate (see 2nd picture in the text above). It was very special to do the same so many years later.
Kingston – Tuff Gong International Rita Marley
Bob Marley’s wife Rita opened up Tuff Gong International studio at its current location. She finished what he had envisioned before his death when the studio was still at his home where the Bob Marley Museum is today..
Kingston – Tuff Gong Studios
The Tuff Gong International studio was founded by Bob Marley and produced some of his most famous music. His children amongst other artists continued producing music there after his death. It was special for me as a reggae lover to see it.
Kingston – Tuff Gong Studios One Love Art
I really hope the messages of this mural at Tuff Gong International will become true around the world one day. One love! <3
Kingston – Rastafari Ganja Plant
Welcome to Jamrock: On my first day in Kingston I got to see how real Rastafarians live and some of their cannabis plants. The big ones are located in the mountains though where the climate for cultivation is better.
Kingston – Old Car with Ganja Plants
A Kingston backyard with an old truck that is used to raise some ganja and other plants.
Kingston – Houses
Since I spent a lot of time in the car due to traffic while I was in Kingston, I spent some of this time taking pictures out of the car window. This is one of the few that came out good though. 😉
Kingston – Parish Church
There are many churches in Kingston and in Jamaica in general. This one is called St. Thomas the Apostle, Kingston Parish Church. Street vendors selling clothes and other stuff on the side of the road are also very typical.
Kingston – UWI University Chapel
The University Chapel at the University of the West Indies used to be a rum store in the 18th century.
Kingston – University of the West Indies
The campus of the University of the West Indies with the aqueduct and the Blue Mountains in the background.
Kingston – UWI Aqueduct
The aqueduct that runs across the UWI campus used to carry water when the estate was a sugarcane plantation.
Blue Mountains – Natural Juice & Cake
Enjoying cake (mine was passionfruit cheesecake) and natural fruit juice in the Blue Mountains with Kingston in the background.
Blue Mountains – Kingston View
We arrived in the Blue Mountains just before sunset. The sun rays breaking through the clouds looked stunning. You can see Kingston and the ocean in the background.
Blue Mountains – Kingston Night View
When it got dark, Kingston was even better visible because of its lights from our viewpoint in the Blue Mountains.
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Mural
My Swedish friend Bianca and me in front of the rasta mural at the museum. From left to right: Haile Selassie I, Bob Marley, and his sons Ziggy, Stephen, Rohan, Julian, Ky-Mani, Damian and Abraham.
Kingston – Tuff Gong Studios One Love Lyrics
I liked this piece of art at Tuff Gong studios: The lyrics of Bob Marley’s One Love written in letters of different license plates.
Birds at Portmore Beach
If you are in Kingston and want to visit a beach, you should go to Portmore which is located right next to Jamaica’s capital.
Kingston – Bob Marley and the Wailers Mural
I just loved this Bob Marley and the Wailers mural at the museum’s entrance. It makes you want to listen to some good reggae tunes.
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Graffiti
At the entrance of the Bob Marley Museum you are greeted with colorful graffiti art that puts you in the mood for what you are about to see.
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Information
Read and learn more about the Honourable Robert Nesta Marley O.M.
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum House Entrance
The entrance of Bob Marley’s house at 56 Hope Road, Kingston 6. Sadly, it was not allowed to take pictures inside where his guitar, clothes and other artifacts are displayed. You have to come and see for yourself. 😉
Kingston – Bob Marley Museum Mango Tree
This mango tree was Bob Marley’s favorite place to sit, smoke and meditate (see 2nd picture in the text above). It was very special to do the same so many years later.
Kingston – Tuff Gong International Rita Marley
Bob Marley’s wife Rita opened up Tuff Gong International studio at its current location. She finished what he had envisioned before his death when the studio was still at his home where the Bob Marley Museum is today..
Kingston – Tuff Gong Studios
The Tuff Gong International studio was founded by Bob Marley and produced some of his most famous music. His children amongst other artists continued producing music there after his death. It was special for me as a reggae lover to see it.
Kingston – Rastafari Ganja Plant
Welcome to Jamrock: On my first day in Kingston I got to see how real Rastafarians live and some of their cannabis plants. The big ones are located in the mountains though where the climate for cultivation is better.
Kingston – Old Car with Ganja Plants
A Kingston backyard with an old truck that is used to raise some ganja and other plants.
Kingston – Houses
Since I spent a lot of time in the car due to traffic while I was in Kingston, I spent some of this time taking pictures out of the car window. This is one of the few that came out good though. 😉
Kingston – Parish Church
There are many churches in Kingston and in Jamaica in general. This one is called St. Thomas the Apostle, Kingston Parish Church. Street vendors selling clothes and other stuff on the side of the road are also very typical.
Kingston – UWI University Chapel
The University Chapel at the University of the West Indies used to be a rum store in the 18th century.
Kingston – University of the West Indies
The campus of the University of the West Indies with the aqueduct and the Blue Mountains in the background.
Kingston – UWI Aqueduct
The aqueduct that runs across the UWI campus used to carry water when the estate was a sugarcane plantation.
Blue Mountains – Natural Juice & Cake
Enjoying cake (mine was passionfruit cheesecake) and natural fruit juice in the Blue Mountains with Kingston in the background.
Blue Mountains – Kingston View
We arrived in the Blue Mountains just before sunset. The sun rays breaking through the clouds looked stunning. You can see Kingston and the ocean in the background.
Blue Mountains – Kingston Night View
When it got dark, Kingston was even better visible because of its lights from our viewpoint in the Blue Mountains.
Sign up for the Peace Love Travel newsletter for more travel stories and tips:
0 Comments