My Failed Trip to Ocho Rios

Just as in life, not every plan turns out to be a traveling success story. We were all set for a perfect vacation in Jamaica: staying at the all-inclusive Sandals Resort with unbelievable weather and activities lined up for the rest of the week.

Then a simple, arrogant mistake on my part turned it all inside out: I wanted to get off of “hotel island” and visit more local Jamaican shops and restaurants; completely forgetting that the reason many resorts are all-inclusive is to provide tourists with guaranteed clean water and food. I went to a vegetarian marketplace and ate a bunch of food, including cut fruit that had been washed in the off-site sink. Sure enough, by the end of the night I was so sick I was hooked up to an IV for dehydration and vomiting. It took me the rest of the trip to recover.

On the plus side, I made it out a few days to just enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. And I made friends with a little chameleon who would change colors in my room depending on which brightly colored wall he was sitting on.

Jamaica, I demand a redo!