After the zip line, I took the aerial tram back down. The downhill segment of the lift takes you down closer to the floor of the canopy. Here you can get a closer view of the plants and trees that make up the rainforest. The downhill cable is supported by an arm halfway up the pylon. By using a smaller footprint – both upper and lower cables are supported by the same pylons – Mystic Mountain demonstrates their commitment to minimizing their impact on the environment.
More people were in the park by now. Many more chairs of the tram were filled. By the time I rode back up the second time, the sun had burned through the clouds. The rainforest showed off its verdant beauty. Flowers were way more vibrant. Leaves were shimmering in the sunlight. The Flame of the Forest (aka Flamboyant Tree, Royal Poinciana) revealed how it got its name, especially when backlit by the sun.
Maybe it was the near silence, but I felt a deep sense of peace riding back up. Looking to my right toward the interior of the island, I thought back on my visit to Mandeville in 2007. An undulating sea of greenery spread out as far as the eye could see. Sitting in this chair, up above the traffic and sounds of the highway and everything else below, just freezing the moment to see and enjoy just how beautiful Jamaica is. This was another one of those times that reminds me that I am truly blessed to be here again.
Turn to your left and look out over the Caribbean. The colors of the sea below are on display. You can see the variations in color from a turquoise to a deep sapphire. You can see the coral under the water. Up ahead and to your left, Ocho Rios comes into view.
The aerial tram continued its climb back up. We neared the top. This time I was prepared for the camera and had my best Usain Bolt pose ready. Flash! It came out way better than my first half-hearted pose. I ended up buying the photo.
Back at the top of the mountain, I decided to do a little shopping while here. It felt good not to be rushed. I bought some artwork from some of the outdoor vendors who I guess are licensed to be up here. I talked to one of the artists for a little while and bought one of his pieces. He took the time to explain to me how the piece was crafted. It felt good knowing that when I got back home and presented the gift to my friends, I would be able to tell the story about how the work was created using the artist’s own words. There’s also an indoor gift shop.
My next stop was the Mystic Lookout Tower. I walked up the stairs to the top and took a few photos. From up here you have an unobstructed, almost panoramic view of Ocho Rios. After I took the photos I wanted, I packed up the camera and just stood there admiring the view, thinking again about why I love Jamaica.
Near the bobsled station is the infinity pool and slide. Incredible views of Ocho Rios can be enjoyed from here. The pool looked very inviting. From in the pool, seems like the thing to do is to swim over to the edge and look out over Ocho Rios. If I am able to return here, maybe I’ll plan to spend some time in the pool, and maybe take a turn or two on the slide.
A Hummingbird Sanctuary
I did not know about the Hummingbird Sanctuary and nearby nature trail prior to arriving here. I was thrilled to find out it exists. The site says the garden is “designed to attract and feed hummingbirds in their natural environment where they remain free to fly.” Inside the sanctuary I was finally able to get some pictures of the red-billed streamertail hummingbird, also called the doctor bird. The red-billed streamertail is the national bird of Jamaica. Look around the country and you will see the image of the hummingbird, or at least its tail, in logos everywhere. Probably the most prominent example was on the tail of now-defunct Air Jamaica’s aircraft.
I was able to get a couple of photos of the hummingbirds but it wasn’t easy. Instead of standing still so as not to startle the birds, guests kept moving around and talking. Which led to the birds alighting and flying off a second or two later. It took probably half an hour just to get the few photos I did get.
There is also a restaurant on the grounds. I would imagine they have incredible views from here, too. I didn’t dine here or even go inside. I imagine weddings are held here as well as other large, planned events.
As I had another appointment for later in the evening, I decided to head back to the chairlift and back down the mountain. I had a good time here. I would like to come back again. Next time I might check out the restaurant.
A few minutes after getting back to my room at the hotel, I noticed that my ulcerative colitis, which had flared up back in January and was still active when I arrived here yesterday, had suddenly gone into remission; it basically vanished. I was surprised that it cleared up that fast but gave thanks for the blessing. I was very glad about that because now I could eat jerk chicken and other foods without having to time when I have it or worry about the other repercussions this condition brings.
I still had a few minutes before I was supposed to meet Glen Garwood, the driver who would take me on a tour tomorrow. I went down to the lobby to see what was going on and Glen was already there. Since I wasn’t expecting him yet, I had to run back up to the room and grab my things.
When I set up the tour with Glen, I asked him if we could include a trip to Scotchie’s for today after I returned from Mystic Mountain. He was able to put that on the itinerary. So we headed out toward Drax Hall for dinner at Scotchie’s Too Mammee Bay.
It was still a bit early when we arrived back at the hotel. I decided to get some sleep in advance of what would be a busy day tomorrow. It was about this time that I realized the air conditioner was a little noisy. It sounded like a faraway truck. After a while, I was able to ignore it and get to sleep.
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