The guides ask us not to touch any of the plants along the trail, because many of them can cause skin irritation. The forest is like a Garden of Eden. Birds calling out above us, flowering plants in every color of the rainbow, huge vines clinging to unknown trees and the sound of water racing in the dark green abyss below. To this day, I still wonder why I didn't see a single insect. Paradise!

There are nine platforms in the "canopy," which range from 105 feet to 660 feet apart. You swing through the Laughland River Gorge like Tarzan. Exciting, fun tour!

The 4x4 off-road Safari Tour gave me a chance to see the interior of Jamaica in a zebra-striped safari Jeep. It highlights Jamaica's beauty, culture and history, in terrain only accessible by Jeep.

The Jeep holds eight passengers, and I sit at the back with my camera ready for action. We leave Ocho Rios and drive into an area called Fern Gully. The road sits deep in the gully, and many of the locals make a living selling from roadside shacks. Our drivers name is Chin, and he stops at some of the stands.

We leave the gully and head to the top of the mountain on dirt roads. At one point we see the coastline of Ocho Rios and take a break in the country. Chin surprises us with a variety of fruits and punch.

As we leave the area, Chin stops under a tree and has us pick eight leaves to pass around. He tells us to rip our leaf in half and asks us what it smells like. I have never in my life smelled a leaf with such a wonderful fragrance. As I smelled it, I wanted to rub in on my body. The tree is called a Bay Rum Tree, and its leaves are primarily used in cologne or after-shave lotion for men.

As we made our way back to Ocho Rios, the elementary school was letting out for the day. The children, dressed in their uniforms, waved and smiled for my camera.

Kick up some dust in Jamaica, with the Safari Tour!

Our group's package tour includes the Dunn's River Party Cruise. We board our catamaran and rock out to Reggae music. Even the flying fish seemed to be skipping to the beat. We dock outside Ocho Rios and get in our snorkeling gear. In the reef, I see many colorful fish and drink half of the Caribbean.

We snorkel for about 45 minutes, then set sail to the famous Dunn's River Falls. I see the falls spilling onto the beach as the boat docks. There were hundreds of folks hiking the falls. You are asked to hold hands and make a human chain for your safety and the safety of others. The river currents are so strong, it makes sense to hold hands for stability. The climb is about 600 feet on natural limestone steps, and you get a nice massage in the many pools to the top. If you don't want to climb in the falls, you can walk next to it on a carefree boardwalk. If you only do one tour in Jamaica, make sure it's to Dunn's River Falls.

I left Jamaica without seeing the bobsled team, but have fond memories of beautiful scenery, exciting tours, great food and, most of all, the hospitality of its people. As the saying goes in Jamaica, "Yeah man, no problem."

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E-mail: sbaker@desnews.com