KINGSTON, JAMAICA – MAY 24: The West Indies team gather during day three of the First Test match between West Indies and Australia at Sabina Park on May 24, 2008 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sometimes things take awhile. In the Jamaica, things take forever. Ya mon, soon come. I’m ordering two beers at a time.

Perhaps this is why cricket and Jamaica go hand in hand. A cricket “test” is played from 10 am to about 6pm, with 2 breaks for tea (yes, tea) and a lunch break over 5 days (yes 5). I kind of think of it as marathon baseball that could end in a tie with a few daily breaks.

Why rush when it’s 90 degrees out and 100% humidity? These were the conditions today and everyday. If there is a reason to hurry and finish the day, the food here is enough reason to stop what you’re doing and eat.

The food has been a highlight of the trip. Jamaican food is not new to me, I grew up a few blocks from two Jamaican shops in Toronto. I was eating beef patties, goat roti, ackee salt fish and rice and peas before I knew where or what Jamaica was. No visit to Toronto is complete for me without a visit to the one shop that still stands.

I was starving tonight. Using my travel book, I found my group of three a local place specializing in seafood. The drinks took a long time to arrive and when I finally placed my order, the waiter asked me to follow him to the back to choose the fish. I’ve done this in a Chinese restaurant before, but didn’t expect it here. We chose snapper and it was delictably steamed in a spicy scotch bonnet broth with okra, carrots, and cassova. It was superb.

Amazingly, the food here tastes the same as the Jamaican food in Toronto or maybe I should have said that the other way around. The only difference is that “soon come” applies so expect a longer than usual wait, it will be worth it.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA – MAY 25: Andrew Symonds of Australia is pictured after he is dismissed during day four of the First Test match between West Indies and Australia at Sabina Park on May 25, 2008 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Tags: cricket, Jamaica, photos

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