Travel Journal

Sumfest feeling economic pinch - But top American acts boost profile

Even though he has almost 20 years experience as a show promoter under his belt, Johnny Gourzong believes this month’s production of Reggae Sumfest will be the most challenging to date.

Jamaica has not escaped the rigours of the worldwide recession that started in August 2008, and Gourzong says Sumfest, which runs from July 19-25 in Montego Bay, has felt the pinch.

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Tags: Acts, American, Boost, economic, feeling, pinch, profile, Sumfest

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Roots-reggae pioneer keeps it ‘Real’

As one of the pioneers of roots-reggae music, Winston Rodney, a Bob Marley protege better known as Burning Spear, has long been a respected figure in music, counting everyone from Bono to B.B. King as fans.

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Tags: keeps, pioneer, Real, Roots-reggae

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‘Mi vehicle cyaan dearer than mi house,’ says Flippa Mafia

When flossing king, Flippa Mafia, scored number one last year with the hit single Dem Yah and Dem Yah, it was the signal that this deejay was one of those “to watch”. And he has proved that this success was no fluke.

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Tags: cyaan, dearer, Flippa, house, Mafia, Says, than, Vehicle

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Interview: Sean Paul

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Sean Paul followed in his parents’ footsteps and became a professional athlete at the age of 13. But after eight years playing for the national water polo team, he gave it all up to focus on his music career. This turned out to be a wise move, as he’s gone on to sell more than 12 million albums, nab a Grammy and collaborate with the likes of Rihanna and Beyoncé. We hooked up with the man himself as he prepares to release Imperial Blaze, his first album since 2005.

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Tags: Interview, Paul, Sean

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TripAdvisor, the world’s most popular and largest travel community, announced its top 10 eco-friendly accommodations, according to TripAdvisor editors and travelers. From rustic cabins in the forest to contemporary digs in the city, these green properties allow travelers to be environmentally conscious, while enjoying incredibly unique and beautiful places to stay.

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Tags: Eco-mmodations, Green, Tripadvisor, Unearths

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Guests of all ages will enjoy in this celebration of all things spring, and what better way to welcome a fresh new season, than with a weekend getaway at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village, complete with spacious Orlando family hotel suites.

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Tags: Fairfield, Family, Hotel, Offers, Orlando, Springtime, Suites

Posted in: Asia, Australia & Pacific, Deals, Family Travel, Hotels, Middle East, News, Plan a trip, Tips, Travel, Travel Community, Travel Deal, Travel guide, Travel stories, USA, Canada, Mexico

The San Francisco Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf hotelhas completed a multi-phased renovation, in which all 285 deluxe guest rooms and suites received a complete makeover including the new Marriott Revive bedding package. In celebration, the hotel is offering a special weekend package so visitors can enjoy an reasonably priced “staycation” getaway.

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Tags: Completes, Dollar, Fishermans, Francisco, Hotel, Makeover, Marriott, Multi-Million, Wharf

Posted in: Asia, Deals, Destinations, Family Travel, Hotels, Middle East, News, Packages, Plan a trip, Reviews, Specials, Tips, Travel, Travel Community, Travel Deal, Travel guide, Travel stories, USA, Canada, Mexico

Fire on Babylon: Jamaica Bans Sex and Violence in Music

It’s like the 1950s all over again.

Jamaican lawmakers say they will forbid all lyrical references to sex and violence on their radio stations. The Jamaican Broadcast Commission announced new rules which ban “any song or music video that depicts sexual acts or glorifies gun violence, murder, rape or arson.”

The government also passed a law banning “daggering” in music videos, a kind of sexually suggestive dance.

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Tags: Babylon, Bans, Fire, Jamaica, Music, Violence

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Reggae-influenced Skindred ready to rock the Machine Shop

While Eddy Grant’s classic early-’80s tune “Electric Avenue” seems to be a perfect fit for the self-described “ragga punk metal” sound of Skindred, the group didn’t have high expectations when they recently knocked out their own version of the song.

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Tags: Machine, Ready, Reggae-influenced, Rock, Shop, Skindred

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Who, a make one`s way anthropologist lustiness appeal, are these human beings career themselves travelers, prep added to what conduct they determine? What are their mythos, established practice, rituals, myths?

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Tags: Analyzing, Consciousness, Couch, Myths, Persistent, Through, Traveler, Travelers

Posted in: Airport Transfers, Asia, Australia & Pacific, Central America, Deals, Destinations, Family Travel, Hotels, Middle East, News, Plan a trip, Press & Publicity, Press Releases, Tips, Tours, Travel, Travel Community, Travel Deal, Travel guide, Travel stories, USA, Canada, Mexico