“The bold adventurer succeeds the best.” – Ovid
After years of anticipation, I finally made my way to Our Escape, a cozy cabin tucked in the hills of Spring Hill, Portland. I’d longed to experience this place since hearing about it, and the moment had finally come. The journey there was an adventure in itself, filled with detours, unexpected challenges, and encounters with kind strangers who made the day memorable.
My journey started in Half Way Tree,which is the capital of the parish St Andrew. Behind the Jamaica Urban Transit Company, you will find the coaster buses that goes the Portland. They are parked across from Burger Kingston which is located at 6 N Odeon Ave, Kingston.
I boarded a coaster bus bound for Portland. Eager to begin, I was frustrated when the bus took too long to depart. So, I took a quick taxi to Annotto Bay, then hopped on a minivan heading to Buff Bay.
When I arrived in Buff Bay, I bought charcoal and food supplies for a cooking vlog I’d planned to shoot at Cascade Waterfall before heading to the cabin.
However, the plan soon changed as transportation was scarce that day. By a stroke of luck, a Spring hill taxi driver was able to arrange a bike ride for me to reach the community of Cascade.
After picking up two pounds of grapes in the supermarket for the trip, I was ready to go. I started to have a conversation with the driver of the taxi and he seemed pretty cool so I decided to let him carry me to the waterfall.
We traveled along quiet roads, surrounded by Portland’s serene mountain views, quiet valleys, and endless blue skies.
We stoped at a roadside spring for a sip of cool, refreshing water.
Minutes later we got to the community of Cascade where I could hear and see the waterfall gushing down from the main road.
I made my way under the bridge then hike up the river. But I had to have my little photo section first.
Being my own photographer and videographer was a bit of a challenge, especially with my heavy bag filled with food, clothes, and my stove. Also, I was climbing rocks, walking in and out the river and recording.
But as I finally reached the falls, the rain started to trickle. I wasn’t worried until the rain started to pour.
I had planned to cook callaloo and quinoa by the waterfall, but the rain poured down, forcing me to sit and wait, eventually deciding to return another day.
After a long, wet walk, I caught a lucky break. A kind stranger gave me a lift to the nearby Coffee Depot, where I met a lady who helped me contact the caretaker of Our Escape cabin. There was no Flow cell service in the area.
He came a few minutes later. At this point I was freezing cold. We made our way across the white blue and yellow bridge.
Shivering from the cold, I finally made it to the cabin.
The cabin itself was even more breathtaking than I had imagined—small but charming, surrounded by lush trees and perched in a peaceful spot with no WiFi. Perfect for disconnecting and savoring nature's beauty.
A friendly rooster was my unexpected company during the stay, sticking by me as if I’d been the one to feed him before.
I didn't know where to start creating content. My brain was overflowing with ideas.
So I relaxed and decided to started from the entrance.
I took a few photos by the door. At this point it didn't matter where I took the photos, they were beautiful.
I felt like I was in cabin heaven, and I couldn’t stop smiling.
Then I made my way to the bed room. This place keep blowing my mind with it's beauty.
I took photos and videos at every corner of the room. I did every pose in my head untill I ran out of ideas.
The cabin was a photographer’s dream; every corner was so photogenic.
From the comfy bed and the artful details to the rain-streaked windows, I felt like a model in my own little paradise. This solo time was refreshing, and I didn’t feel lonely in the least. Surrounded by nature’s sounds and views, I felt utterly at peace.
I left my extra clothing so I had to do everything in my swimwear and put the clothes I wore to dry becuase those are the only ones I had to wear home.
Night came and the room became more gorgeous. I made lemon grass tea because I was cold. My warm clothing was at home but I was still overjoyed.
The bed and sheet made everything better.
The lamp at the bedsides made the room unbelievable beautiful.
I couldn't believe I took so long to visit.
I turned the lamp on the different light shades to capture the beauty of the cabin in different colours.
From the plant in the room, to the decor on the wall, the comfortable bed, pillows and sheet to the glass windows ,the shower, I was head overheels inlove.
Later, the rain added to the ambiance, bringing a calming rhythm as I relaxed, read a book, meditated, and reflected on life. I wrapped myself in the cozy bed, grateful to be in such a tranquil space.
I got up early to cook breakfast.
I cooked Steam Calaloo with green, red, and yellow bell peppers, onion, tomato, scallion, okroo, carrot and brussels sprouts.
I made sure they were properly washed
Then I chopped them up along with my Calaloo.
I then proceeded to steam this delicious meal.
I also steamed Quinoa to go along with my steam Calaloo.
I paired it with fried plantain which is my favorite.
A steaming cup of lemongrass tea to have with my beautiful and delicious breakfast.
Also, the grapes I’d brought along completed the meal.
I savored every bite, enjoying the colors and flavors.
My presentation was on point. Guys, I eat with my eyes so my food has beautiful with different colours.
I savored every bite, enjoying the colors and flavors.
After eating, I packed my bag and made my way to the entrance to take some photos.
I never got this opportunity since the rain was falling.
A friendly biker came. He was going to work but he decided to assist me in finding the waterfall.
I was happy since it was fifteen minute walk for me from the tiny house to the waterfall.
We had some difficulty finding it but we were successfully since I recorded the caretaker giving me the directions to the waterfall.
After a bit of searching, we arrived at this hidden gem.
When I arrived, I took a lot of photos.
The water was cold so I started to trimble. But I wasin my happy place so everything was perfect.I wanted to take photos up close of the waterfall but I couldn't. I didn't want my phone to be destroyed.
The water was icy cold, but I braved it for a few photos before the chill sent me back to the cabin to shower and pack my bags.
As my stay came to an end, I bid farewell to the rooster who’d kept me company. Luckily, an elderly man driving a van stopped and offered me a ride to Buff Bay, saving me from the hassle of finding transportation. We had a pleasant conversation about Portland’s beauty and local politics before I headed back home.
Would you ever stay alone in a secluded cabin in Portland’s hills? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and stay tuned for the next adventure!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Whatta Gwaan!
You've discovered my blog. I'm delighted you're here. Maybe it's destiny. I'm Doreen Lillian Scarlett welcome to Nature's Sweet Escapes where I go on the far side of Instagram to document and share my adventures.