Teika Samuda shows adventurous perks of ‘Being Jamaican’
Published:Saturday | June 4, 2022 | 12:07 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
For Teika Samuda, being Jamaican means experiencing authentic adventures, infused with culture and beauty. And in so doing, she has decided to package this island’s rich history and share it with the world by creating her own tour company.
The business, which actually goes by the name Being Jamaican, is designed to ease the stress of planning and executing your next trip. Picture the very best that Jamaica has to offer: the people, culture, music and of course, natural beauty – all mapped out.
“Our mission is to unveil the oftentimes overlooked cultural and natural beauty of Jamaica and promote organic experiences. We pride ourselves on sharing the nooks and crannies of the island and taking the path less travelled,” the principal consultant told Saturday Living.
Before embarking on this mission, Samuda had already done some exploring of her own.
Her love affair with travel began as a child. While living in St Elizabeth, she would travel with her family to the neighbouring parishes on the weekends. And these road trips were spearheaded by her father. The young explorer revelled in the great unknown and that appreciation only grew as she got older.
At university, she travelled to the homes of friends in other parts of the Caribbean islands and the United States. “I became a world traveller with my first big business trip. I had the opportunity to travel to Europe in 2010,” she explained, revealing that the once in a lifetime experience saw her exploring cultures, food and drinks for over two weeks. “I learnt and lived!”
Another notable notch on her world traveller belt includes her trip to the Motherland in 2016. She fell in love with Ghana in West Africa, and treasured the memories made in Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa.
One of the obstacles she has faced thus far is the language barrier encountered while exploring Spanish speaking countries. “I’m not a Spanish speaker by any means, but rely on the Spanish I learned from Ms Campbell at Hampton School, up to third form. I have visited Mexico, Cuba and most recently in April of this year, Columbia. And so far, it’s working out well,” she added.
INCEPTION
So what exactly sparked the inception of her company? Through a successful recommendation. “A friend of mine had a visitor coming to the island and wanted my recommendation of where to take them and what they should do. Instead of sharing my suggestion and moving on, I opted to [create] a proposal with me as the tour guide,” he said.
Her friend approved the exciting proposal and Samuda was hired, marking it the start of her first official tour.
Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that the travel trajectory would go from elementary to tertiary, then make a stop at career street. But sightseeing at every opportunity, both locally or internationally, sealed her fate.
Being Jamaican specialises in highlighting treasure trove off the beaten path, that is, parishes that aren’t as commercialised. “You’ll often find us exploring St Elizabeth, Portland, St Mary, St Thomas and in the hills of St Andrew, like the Blue Mountains. We are by no means limited to these parishes, as hidden gems can sometimes be in plain sight. We do offer excursions in the parishes of St Ann, St James and Westmoreland as well.
Among the popular spots visited so far the famous Blue Lagoon, Frenchman’s Cove, Reach Falls, Rio Grande, Turtle Bay Cove and Boston Jerk. She listed touring Nanny Falls in Portland as one of her personal ‘faves’.
“As you hike trails forged by our ancestors centuries ago, you experience an amazing blend of nature and culture. Led by a modern-day maroon, it ends at a majestic waterfall. I love to relax at the river’s edge and splash under the falls. The experience immerses you in the rich history of the town and the people who live there. You learn of the preserved traditions of the Maroons and the national hero they celebrate, Queen Nanny,” Samuda said.
It is important to venture into the great outdoors and try new things because simply put, adventures enrich lives. Going outside of your comfort zone isn’t a bad thing. It exposes people to new terrain, new backgrounds, new cultures, new challenges and new skills, “On a continuous basis, outdoor adventures can have a positive impact on physical and mental health.”
Still high on her bucket list is going back to Africa to visit Ethiopia and Marrakesh. She’s also looking forward to riding in a hot air balloon in Bali. Locally, Samuda anticipates doing an overnight camping excursion in the Blue Mountain, “Think being kept warm by a crackling fire, sipping chocolate tea and sleeping under the stars!”
For persons seeking to take their adventures to the next level, the professional recommends engaging in research beforehand, “Find reputable people or companies who can deliver the kind of experience you seek. Also, don’t be afraid to take solo trips either. If your friends or family can’t join, do it still. Now is the time to live!”