A Trip to Serenity Park

A one-day trip in Jamaica need not be expensive. I have found that in hard financial times like these, excursions have become necessary to maintaining sanity. So...I try to find the money!

Okay. I set a plan to go to this place: Serenity Park, which is a safari of sorts (it does not have a variety of animals so I don't call it a zoo). I guess you could say it's like America's Busch Gardens, but smaller.

Serenity Park is located about 38 kilometers from Kingston, St. Andrew; and the quickest way to get to it from there is by using the Spanish Town toll road, getting off the toll road at the Spanish Town round-a-bout, and then taking a left on to the Old Harbour main road. The Park is located in the heart of Bushy Park- a Clarendon town reknown for chicken farming.

If you are a person that lives a "hand to mouth" existence like myself, you would have to make a very special effort to put aside some money for these occasions: I normally give my Mom the money to hold until I am ready...because I trust her more than I trust myself!

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AVERAGE 1-DAY THRILL-SEEKER COSTS IN JA.: (prices quoted in J.dollars)

-To rent a car *****************$8,000-$13,000 (price varies depending on distance)

-Gasoline/petrol ************** $2,000 (is sufficient to take u wherever, and back)

-Toll plaza fees *************** $ 500 (both ways)

-Cash to spend on food & entertainment $2,500

• TOTAL Cash TO SET ASIDE for this excursion= approx. $18,000JMD/ $280USD.

Serenity Park is known to Jamaicans as an inexpensive and dependable family-friendly retreat, not too far out of town. It is a location of varied experiences that provides enough fun for all. The entry fee of $250JMD allows you to take a peep into this wonderland, meet other patrons, and pet a couple exotic animals.

If you crave more experiences...well you have to pay for them! For example: $200JMD will get you a small boat to sail out onto the lake; going fishing is at a cost of $100/fish. An additional $300JMD is charged for getting one fish cooked...and bear in mind, you are not allowed to fish and take your "catch" home: you have to eat your "catch" on the premises.

I had no problem finding Serenity Park because this was my fourth visit, but I mused to myself that any one visiting for the first time could miss the main gate, because the compound does not have a road sign.

Having tried the other experiences before, I opted for "the eating experience" this time..., and headed straight for a foot bridge that lead to the main picnic area, located on an islet in the middle of the lake!

Aside from cooking the fish you catch, you can eat other meals at the canteen. Prices range from $250JMD- $300JMD, with chicken and rice and peas at the lowest price, and the more exotic Jamaican favourites like: oxtail, cow foot and curry goat at the highest. I paid for a chicken and rice and peas meal, and after being served, went to eat by a wooden picnic table in one of 4 thatch-covered gazebos.

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It was a peaceful day (National Heroes Day-a public holiday) with a comfortable crowd: reggae and soca music blasted from two huge speaker boxes, ensuring that sound reached all corners of the compound.

While eating and comfortable in the shade, I was content just observing the other patrons milling about: looking up and smiling or engaging in small talk whenever appropraite. Us Jamaicans love to make fun and suss, so when a male patron attempted to catch back a fish that got away...and fell into the lake in the process...all the patrons who saw went wild with laughter! This was my queue to get active in the fun and I hurriedly finished my lunch.

I had a good time and stayed for a few hours more. If you are interested in visiting Serenity Park, you could do a Google search with keywords "Serenity Park-Jamaica".

HAVE FUN!!