Cooking in Nature at Falling Edge Waterfall, St. Andrew
“Magic is at the core of myths.” — Colin Farrell
This past Sunday, I revisited one of the most photogenic spots in St. Andrew—Falling Edge Waterfall. Although Sunday wasn’t ideal for exploring due to limited transportation and crowds, I had been putting off this trip for a while and decided it was time to scratch it off my list. This wasn’t just a typical visit; I had something new planned—cooking a delicious meal right by the waterfall. I’ve been to Falling Edge Waterfall many times. Still, this time was special because I’d be trying out a new recipe I spotted on Instagram: Bell Peppers stuffed with Quinoa cooked in coconut milk, mixed with an array of colorful vegetables.
I returned to one of the most picturesque spots in St. Andrew—Falling Edge Waterfall.
It was a long-overdue visit, and despite deciding to go on a Sunday (which wasn’t ideal).
I figured it was time to scratch this trip off my list.
I’ve visited Falling Edge Waterfall a few times, but this time was different.
I planned to cook there for the first time.
The dish? Bell peppers stuffed with quinoa cooked in coconut milk, mixed with carrots, cilantro, sweet peppers, spring onions, thyme, green beans, corn, and tomatoes.
After seeing a photo of this recipe on Instagram, I knew I had to recreate it.
My day started at 8:00 AM, when I hopped on a coaster bus in Half-Way-Tree, headed towards Stony Hill.
Along the way, I made a quick stop at a gas station to grab a tin of mixed vegetables, my only missing ingredient.
I made my way to the Stony Hill taxi stand near Tastee Patties Restaurant.
Getting to Stony Hill Square from Half-Way Tree was easy, but I hit a snag when I had to wait nearly an hour for a taxi heading up to Bowden Hill.
The wait for a taxi felt endless (Sundays, am I right?).
This is why I try to avoid Sunday adventures, public transportation is scarce.
Once the taxi finally came, it took me past scenic spots like Boone Hall Oasis and Straun Castle Garden.
The road to Bowden Hill was lined with bamboo trees, offering stunning views of the mountains.
I couldn't help but reminisce about previous visits to Falling Edge Waterfall.
As we wound our way through bamboo groves and mountain views, I knew this trip would be just as special as the others.
The driver dropped me off near Bowden Hill Primary & Infant School, but at an extra cost since the road conditions were terrible—it felt like we were driving on no road at all.
When we arrived, I paid a local Rastaman JMD 350 to access the waterfall. Falling Edge Waterfall used to be free, but with its growing popularity, a fee was introduced.
With my three bags filled with pots, food, and camera gear, I began the hike from Bowden Hill Primary & Infant School, following the path to the left.
The trail was narrow, winding through the hills, but I followed the orange arrows spray-painted on trees, rocks, and roots to stay on course.
The sunlight filtering through the trees made for perfect photo opportunities, and I couldn't resist stopping every few minutes to snap shots of the surroundings.
I saw mushrooms which was a spectacular view. I want to get into the mushroom world since they are power in nutrients. Eventually, I reached the waterfall, and as always, I was in awe of its beauty, despite having seen it many times before.
Since it was already past 11:00 AM, I got straight to cooking before the crowd could arrive.
Setting up my portable stove, I started with the quinoa. Everything was going smoothly until a couple showed up.
Thankfully, it was only two people, and I managed to work around them while creating content.
Once the quinoa was done, I brewed some lemongrass tea, savoring a few sips by the waterfall.
Next up was stuffing the bell peppers, and I have to say, I felt like a real chef out in the mountains.
The food came out beautifully, and I took some amazing photos of the dish. It tasted just as good as it looked!
After eating, I dipped into the icy cold water of Falling Edge. As refreshing as it was, the water was freezing, so I didn’t stay in long.
Of course, the mosquitoes were out in full force, so I quickly dried off and got dressed.
As I packed up to leave, another couple arrived, testing the water’s temperature.
After exchanging a few words, I said goodbye and made my way out.
Despite the mosquitoes and the cold water, Falling Edge Waterfall is always worth the visit. The serene beauty of the surroundings and the experience of cooking outdoors made this trip truly special.
I saw a beautiful spot of the mountains and decided to take a few photos. A bot was passing and I asked him to snap a few photos since I packed away my tripod. He took some great shots.
Would you visit Falling Edge Waterfall, even with its icy water and abundance of mosquitoes? Let me know your thoughts and stories in the comment section below. See you on the next adventure!