Ever since I made my first dollar on the internet, I have dreamed of becoming a digital nomad and traveling the world. As cliched as it sounds, living in a tropical place, waking up to the sun shining bright above endless azure water with the sound of waves along with the tap on the keyboard, is something every writer yearns for.
Little did I know I’d be at a crosspoint to choose to live that life. It was in 2020 when my husband and then-boyfriend mentioned moving to Jamaica. I let it go as hundreds of other his outlandish plans.
Today, I have completed three weeks of living in Kingston, the capital city of Jamaica; I can’t stop but think about how swiftly plans transpire in the grand scheme of things. It took us six suitcases to move our life 9090 miles from home.
It took us 6 suitcases to move our life 9090 miles from home.
Geography has always been my least favorite. I had to open Google Maps to find Jamaica’s location. I spent weeks researching, trying my best to understand the culture and logistics. Honestly, I was sold on seeing the beauty of its coastal cities and the Blue Mountains.
As a reggae fan, my husband was well aware of the country when he first learned about his firm’s new acquisition in the Caribbean. He had no second thoughts about the opportunity to move to Kingston and integrate the new team into his company’s ethos and modus operandi.
Most Indian expats prefer the States or the UK for the infrastructure, higher standards of living, well-established Indian communities, and the attraction of earning in stronger currencies like the US Dollar or British Pound.
Choosing an unconventional route has always been something we’ve been doing. We decided to spend a couple of years in the tropical lands of the West Indies. It’s too unconventional, and that’s why we like it. We crossed the Bermuda Triangle on our flight through Kingston, and I am sure we’ll patiently handle the island time as well.
Jamaica greeted us with a spectacular view of cargo ships outside our flight window. The baggage collection at Norman Manley International or Kingston Airport took longer than immigration, which went smoothly.
It was too dark by the time we got our luggage and left for the hotel, but the next day, the sun felt too sunny, and the clouds were too blue — the bluest I had ever seen them before. The vibrant colors helped deal with jet lag.
If you’d asked me if I would be happy to move this far from my home five years ago, my answer would have been a no. If you ask me if I’d move this far from home after five years, my answer would be a big no. But now seems like the perfect time to explore the world and extend our honeymoon period.
Moving to a place where nobody knows you and is miles away from home is exhilarating. It comes with a lot of freedom but with a cost of many trials and errors.
As a writer, it is a wild feeling to be able to be in one of the most beautiful parts of the world and unleash my creativity and imagination. We are already planning our trip to Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios — the famous tourist attractions and simultaneously finding unpopular local gems unknown to tourists. I have heard creators spend time in Port Antonio parish for its laid-back, quiet, and scenic views. I wish to do that once we’re settled in our house.
I’m eager to soak in the essence of “One Love” as the Rastafarians call it, that promotes unity, harmony, and unconditional love among all people.
I plan to continue with my remote job, write, and document as I explore Jamaica and other Caribbean countries. Will I become a travel writer? I don’t know.
The only thing I know is I want to make the most of our time here.
Would you want to hear about my adventures in the Caribbean? Tell me in the comments below :)
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