perhaps the best examples of that delicacy- jerk
pork, jerk fish, jerk conk, jerk anything - in little
roadside shacks. Nearby is another of the world’s
most beautiful beaches called, Long Bay that not
only breath taking houses Yahima - an excellent
restaurant and a bevy of inexpensive cottages.”
Drive on for an hour past Boston and you come to
the Somerset Falls, that a series of waterfalls,
tunnels and rock pools filled with this astonishing
turquoise fresh water is totally stunning- indeed
utterly and thoroughly gobsmackingly breath
taking. We spent day there on Baker’s
recommendation and the 2 hour trip return was
well worth it as it reminded me of some seventies
Tarzan movie – rapid running water, tendril and
vines agogo - and again was really rather quite
considering the enormity of its natural untouched
attractions.
Undeniably, Baker knows his onions. He has been
here almost 30 years. He bought Geejam as a
holiday home, added a recording studio and then
chalets for the visiting musicians. Word got around
and friends of his from both New York and London
started popping by. So popular was it that he then
launched it as a boutique hotel. Today, Baker and
Beaver are expanding the Geejam concept.
“We also have two fantastic renovated private
villas to rent-Panorama and Cocosan - that blend
next level living with the lush, natural tropical
surrounds, smiles Baker. “Panorama is a place that
Audrey Hepburn summered at regularly with her
son, Mick Jagger frequently stays at and features
a stunning 180-degree view of the Caribbean Sea
and we had Beyonce and Jay Z at Cocosan this
year. “
Cocosan is like something from a James Bond
movie – huge bedrooms, infinity pool, fine
contemporary art decorates the walls- as such
Daniel Craig stayed here while filming the Bond
movie No Time To Die.
I stayed at both premises, at the former with my
great friend film producer, Andrew Mysko and his
wife Kira who, having travelled the world over,
were hugely impressed with everything they saw.
They rafted, rested, swam and ate the best food.
They want to come back soon.
“Along with restoring the villas we recently began
Another other great Port Antonio attraction is the
rafting down the, initiated by, Errol Flynn, is not
to be missed. “ You take a taxi for about 45 minutes
and get a bamboo raft with an experienced
oarsman that will gently sail down the river and
stop off at stunning spots of natural beauty and
wonderful waterfalls.” And Mr. Baker is not wrong.
I was utterly gob smacked, jaw on the floor, by the
trip that was as rewarding an afternoon as one
might ever find anywhere on this planet. One
boards a raft and is slowly punted down the
achingly azure fresh water, stop off for a swim or
two and arte treated to an exquisite meal (maybe
the best I had while in JA) of crayfish tales, pok
choy and rice and peas, cooked on an open fire on
the riverside pebbles by a local lass Belinda and
organised by Geejam. So good is her scram that
Beyonce and Jay z chartered a helicopter to take
them there for lunch while Johnny Depp loved it
so much he had the wrap arty for Pirates of The
Caribbean tight there on the river bank with
Belinda catering. The raft trip takes about three
hours and is so incredibly peaceful and thoroughly
relaxing it alone deems a visit to Port Antonio
worthwhile.
A further jewel in Portland’s crown is Frenchman’s
cove- a semi private beach and stunning natural
inlet that is still regarded as one of the world’s top
beaches and rightly so. Only about 150 metres wide,
it is fed by a freshwater azure river deep enough to
swim in while the beach itself is rarely full and
sports just one little beach bar come barbecue
restaurant.
“Frenchman’s was, and still is, a real playground
for the rich, famous, and exceedingly fashionable,”
explains Baker. “Richard Burton, Elizabeth
Taylor, Robert Mitchum and Peter O ‘Toole
regularly frequented Frenchman’s Cove which
Marlon Brando tried unsuccessfully to purchase.
John F. Kennedy allegedly brought Marilyn
Monroe there for a secret weekend and now, you
can hire chalets on the beach and drink at the bar
and eat at the restaurant. It’s a fantastic place to
spend the day and the small fee to get in simply
pays for its upkeep and cleaning but also means it’s
never packed.”
And if you tire of lazing on a beach you can drive
on just 3 miles west along the coast to the village
of Boston. “This is where Jerk seasoning was
invented, ‘ attests Baker. “Here you can buy