TROCIAL CHRISTMAS - CASTAWAY

My European friends are always amazed at the thought of a sunny Christmas. Anybody who has watched TV knows that Christmas = fireplaces, snow, reindeer and white Santa Claus in a wooly red hat etc.

In Jamaica we still have the Santa Claus but he's usually black... sometimes skinny. I imagine he's really sweaty and hot running around in his red woollies. My mummy used to tell me that Santa had to slip through the bars on the windows instead of down the chimney, because people don't generally have fireplaces in the Caribbean.

We spend most of the time outdoors, usually on veranda's or terraces next to pools or the ocean. I ate Christmas brunch on a bamboo chair in the sunshine wearing a dress.

On my second day we took a canoe out to Lime Cay, a tiny tiny little island about 20 minutes off the coast of Kingston. It's about the size of a football field with nothing on it except sand and some wild trees. My friend said she felt like Robinson Crusoe. 


Lime Cay essentials:

Sunblock (The sun out there is no joke)
Towel
Sarong
Bikini
Appleton Rum (VX if you're flossin, Special if you're not)
Coconut Water (for chaser)
Water (so you don't get heat stroke)
Lighter
Ganja
Rizzla (Raws, please)
Some cash for the canoe man ($1500 JMD or $15 USD round trip)
Iphone camera
Food! (We ate about 20 bags of plantain chips, but usually people bring KFC)

photo above from http://absolutetraveladdict.com/2012/12/20/lime-cay-beach-port-royal-kingston-jamaica/

So who wants to come visit? 

x o x o

BRITAIN & IRELAND'S NEXT TOP MODEL MINI REUNION - LONDON

My friend, Rissikat, made a Vlog of our London day out for her youtube channel. 

She does so many other cool videos of natural hair tutorials and Vlogs about her life, modelling between Ibiza and London.

We met on Britain & Irelands Next Top Model Cycle 8 and she has been one of my closest friends since then. Emma and Kelly also make appearances.

Check it out below!

x o x o

STRAWBERRY HILL, JAMAICA

It's that time of year again! Christmas on my paradise island.

After months of being away from home I took two flights and I'm here, and now I don't want to leave. 

The past few days have been a whirlwind of family, parties, reggae music, sun and rum.

Strawberry Hill Hotel is a magical space perched high up the Blue Mountains above Kingston. This hotel has a really interesting history and is currently owned by Chris Blackwell - founder of the Island Records label. 

Blackwell is the music industry icon that released Bob Marley & the Wailers first album "Catch A Fire". According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to which Blackwell was inducted in 2001, he is the single person most responsible for turning the world on to reggae music. 

Strawberry Hill has been a haven for musicians, artists and creatives from Bob Marley and Grace Jones to U2 and The Rolling Stones. 



The roads up the mountain are windy and have pot holes galore. It's a pretty intense drive if you're not used to it. As you climb up from Kingston the air gets very cool and the vegetation changes from tropical palm trees to rainforest firs and bamboo.

We drove up in the afternoon to have Jamaica's world famous Blue Mountain coffee and watch the sunset.

The property was designed by one of Jamaica's most respected architects - Ann Hodges. 

There are several secluded villas, a restaurant and beautiful spa, amongst other luxuries. I have been up here for a yoga class on the pavilion in the photo below, over looking a vast green valley. After yoga the hotel provided brunch and cocktails or coffee. 

First day back on the rock and it was magical. My little piece of heaven, I missed you.