What do you think about living in Kingston vs living in Montego Bay? It's been a while since last time I had an unscripted VLOG on my channel, so here it comes! I'm sharing my personal experience of living in Montego Bay vs living in Kingston. PS. THANK YOU for watching! This video ends abruptly on purpose, because very few people watch my conclusions, so I've decided to remove them entirely and see if this works better.

Sorry Irina but Ukraine lost but Jamaica gain and you are the number 1 vlogger with respect to facts, research and being informative. I look forward to your vloggs

SOCIAL LIFE IN KINGSTON IS UNMATCHED 🎉🎉🎉

You are a real treasure. I was born in Jamaica but you have taught me more about Jamaica than almost anyone else. I love your balanced factual viewpoint, the research you do and also how you compare with the outside world. That is the frame of reference and anchoring point for many. Thank you

I really wish Jamaican would view Jamaica the way you see it. From Kingston JA and I am living abroad and yes miss home.

This is one of the reasons i live your vlogs , because you show the beauty and history of beautiful Jamaica.. I’m sick of the bloggers that just want to go yo trench town and show the so called dangerous neighborhoods.Every country had ghettos.🇯🇲🇨🇦

Very much appreciate your perspective on Jamaica's two main cities. Montego Bay mostly developed from tourism and Kingston the historically commercial and educational hub. Different but equally important!

St, Thomas, Portland and Port Antonio are beautiful parishes, i was there in April, love to go back 🇯🇲🇨🇦

Don't talk too loudly about the electricity bill, JPS will be coming for you.😂😂😂

I lived in Kingston for a year, and decided it wasn't for me. What I prefer about Montego Bay, is exactly what you described- homes being somewhat up in the hills and away from the business centers of Montego Bay. I need that bit of country life where I can go into my backyard and climb trees and see and hear birds, and have my neighbors give me a hand of plantain from across the fence that they grew in their own backyard.

I'm from Ochi, and I have lived In negril, mobay, Mandeville and now kingston, well, Spanish town..however the differences also has an economical factor...rite now I go between Ochi and Spaintwn as I now work in town. Ochi is soo different from everywhere else in Jamaica 🇯🇲

I would say Kingston is at the cross road of being a truly cosmopolitan.

Kingston have everything you can think of it's just the money you need to live the life you want

Regarding the youtubers who love trench town and Jamaican inner cities in general. Based on responses I have seen from their subscribers, it seems that 'poverty tourism' and 'danger tourism' really appeals to their audience. Some say it helps to remind them that there are people out there who are doing worse than them, which apparently makes them feel better about themselves. I guess after all those images and videos about how beautiful Jamaica is, they find it refreshing to see some poverty. Basically, its badmind. There are some youtubers who may be obsessed with trench town because it reminds them of home and its where they are most comfortable. I've noticed some youtubers hunt out depressed communities no matter which country they travel to because it's where they feel most at home.

I remember my days as youngster going to Hope Gardens and there was an amusement park there with Bumper Cars and roller coasters...awwww, fond memories😊😊

You make me feel quite nostalgic about my hometown---Kingston. Yes, THE MAJESTIC HOPE GARDENS, EVENTS, THE BLUE MOUNTAINS nearby, and the famous hike I took there. Thank you for always doing such balanced presentations.

Irie, you are so right about some for these bloggers who wants to glorify dangerous areas for Jamaica…example CHRISMUSTLIST!!….I had to cancel him!!….great job my sister IRIE!!!!

Thanks irie for showing Jamaica in a positive way. I was in Jamaica last month and was pleasantly surprised how the country has developed since my last visit in 2010. I am back in the UK and I surly😮 miss it. Thanks for your ongoing highlight of Jamaica. I love your podcasts ❤.

Out of Jamaica from Mandeville great parents great town grateful for my upbringing Thanks for videous u make

You are so right. Love Hope Gardens; so beautiful. It would be nice for places like this to be highlighted to tourists, who think. of Kingston as too dangerous to visit. I am sure you love the theatre in Kingston as well. So many things to do. The food at Hellshire is great. There used to be a beach at Hellshire, seems to have eroded away. Lack of preservation of our resources. Great video. Thank you!

Hellshire used to be a great beach a few years ago. I grow up going there every weekend. Overtime it the corals disappeared and cause issues that lead to what you see now just rocks everywhere and the beach is gone. It has just become a place to eat seafood.

❤where have you been?? Need more videos...your content is unmatched by anyone in jamaica 🇯🇲

Originally from the bottom Clarendon area and when i move to Kingston for university it really did feel like a different country(some what). From the architecture,buildings and art in the downtown area to the rich business industry in the upper and new Kingston area it was a completely different experience from the major city of different parishes(May Pen,Mandeville,Junction etc....). Things you think you would need to go outside the country for is made accessible in Kingston ranging from niche restaurants(Japanese etc) to miscellaneous items

The most positive commentary on Kingston I have ever seen. Thank you❤

The water situation is probably as you said. Sewage cost. That house you had in MoBay probably had its own soak-away pit where the sewage just soaks into the earth and it’s not managed by NWC. Newer housing schemes, apartments and townhouses usually need NWC’s sewage system

You are an ambassador, thanks for creating the balance.

Love Hope Gardens. So beautiful there. Next time the restaurants have an event there be sure to go. Kingston has a better mix of people reflecting how the entire island was many, many years ago. Younger Jamaicans have no clue. Forgot to mention that Apple Maps works better there but only on iPhone.

When I was in high school in the 70's our biology teacher, Mrs. Brimacome, (Miss Brim), took the class on a trip to Hellshire beach to study the eco-system for our biology class. It had pristine white sand and lot of vegetation such as mangrove growing there. The nearest housing development was Edgewater, which was some distance away. It was the best school trip ever had and I still remember it at the age of 60 something😊. I was totally horrified when I visited Hellshire some years ago and saw what it has become. What a shame!

The water bill is higher in Kingston because a public sewage system runs under ground instead of sewage tanks in the house or apartment. The waste is treated so you pay for clean water and dirty water. This was put in in the 1970 -1980s

I really appreciate the time stamps in your videos, so easy to seek and watch the section I want to see.

I have been to Fort Clarence early in the morning and the sea was nice and calm. Ive also been there When the water was rough, full of sea weed and unswimable.

Thank you for showing beautiful Jamaica 🇯🇲 especially hope garden many travelers don’t go such a beautiful park and zoo after this video hopefully many people will watch and go to the park

Thanks, Irie, for your consistently positive vibes about Jamaica in spite of the difficulties they are facing. Am part of the St James diaspora abroad. Blessings

3:09 we do have places like this in Montego Bay #1 lovers park (old hospital) #2 harmony beach park , 5:38 if you live in place like Catherine hall, bogue etc you don’t need a taxi you can walk to Fairview shopping center if you live in rose hall you can walk to beautiful whitter village

I do agree with you about the beaches in jamaica, I really don't mine paying to go into a beach because the ground will be clean an you have places to shower, unlike going to a free beach which are plenty on the north coast they're is no place to shower and people just throw garbage all over. As for the light bill being different maybe the house in Mobay was an older building than kingston.

Your sewage cost is basically a mark up on your water bill, I believe 100%. You are paying for sewage because you do not have a pit on property, you are connected to NWC sewage system. Most buildings in Kgn, especially buildings built after a certain year are not allowed to have a pit, they must connect to NWC sewage system. I didn't know this was not for the entire country, I lived in Kgn, so I thought this was std across the country. But I own property in spn twn, and its the same there, just like kgn.

Born and raised in Kingston 2 ...🇯🇲

I used to be in the same predicament living in Trelawny (one of the forgotten Parishes). Kingston is really a nice city. I have the fondest memories and really good friends there.

Several years ago, Flow stopped flowing in my area so I moved to Digicel. Digicel is much more reliable. We recently had problems because of high trucks breaking the lines. Each time they come to repair but it takes time. So I decided to get Starlink. When it is down, I still have Starlink. Now that I have Starlink, it went down just once!!!!

I live in St. Thomas, I have Flow Fibre, very fast and never had an outage. I have had flow internet since it was called Cable and Wireless from way back in 2003. Never had a bad experience.

Great video as usual. You are an ambassador for Jamaica 🇯🇲. Blessings

Jamaica is beautiful

Thanks for showcasing Jamaica 🇯🇲 in a positive way. Love you Irie.

6:29 Port Royal beach, Wickie Wackie beach and Bob Marley beach are also near Kingston

I always enjoy your videos. And I admire the fact that you manage to find the beauty in Jamaica that most of us who were born there, overlook or take for granted. Apart from Fort Clarence and Helshire Beach in Portmore, you could just take a drive to Port Royal. Along the way, you'll see somewhat hidden places where you can access the beach. I once took a trip to Port Royal and on the left, there was an old premesis that looks like it was built in the slavery days, and there was access to a beach from there. The 3 of us that went on the trip were the only ones there, and I didn't have to park on the roadside. If you go to Port Royal, keep an eye out. Cordel, sending love from Germany.

Hi Irina, a huge thank you, for highlighting Hope Gardens😊. It's a place I have desired to visit for the longest while, but haven't yet. You have rekindle my desire once again and I will endeavour to make that long awaited visit in the next few months, on my return. Pleased to hear that you are enjoying your change of location. Will make contact soon.

I visited Hope Gardens a few months ago, and i quite impressed. It is well kept and a good place to visit.

As a born and bred Montegonian who transplanted to Kingston i agree with you. Kingston is much more efficient and most things are in quick reach but i plan to retire on the North Coast.

i think when you rent a stand alone house in Jamaica the rates higher because in Kingston the houses are connected to the sewage but as far stand alone houses in montego bay normally when those houses are built they have a sewage system close by or under some part of the house. the sewage system is not connected to anything and the owners of the house when the sewage is full normally have to call a company to clear the sewage.. and i think for those apartment complex they might have special electricity boxes that conserve electricity as to a regular house with regular boxes...am sure if you rented a stand alone house in Kingston the rate might be higher

I work in Hanover,and moving forward to Mobay ✌️👍

Great to see you back! Interesting vlog and valid points you have raised. As a certified tour guide operating in Kingston, my experience is that tourists are visiting Kingston, albeit for 2-3 days before heading to the Northcoast. Tourists primarily visit Kingston to go to Bob Marley Museum and some to Devon House. It saddens me however, that there are many more attractions (and hidden gems) to enjoy in Kingston, especially Downtown, however, die to the negathve perceptions and relentless travel advisories being issued by America etc tourists are reluctant to visit Kingston. Many simply opting to stay in an all-inclusive resort in the North Coast. As you so rightly state, there are many social, cultural, and artistic events in Kingston, some often free I.e Kingston Creatives monthly artwalk Festival, Kingston's weekly Night Market. In fact Kingston's Mayor will be holding a free event in St William Grant Park this Saturday - Africa Day. Anyway, great vlog as ever. I find it refreshing you keeping it real. Enjoy your time in kingston. Good luck with your project. One Love Jamaica 🇯🇲 ❤️

Hi Irene re the Sewage Charges. There is large sewage plant at Soapberry (near Portmore) that serves residents in Kingston and Portmore. Once your home is approximately 100 Yards from the Main Sewage Line, you are charged a Sewage Charge which is approximately the same rate as your Water Bill. That is why the water is so high in Kingston. But I would suggest you check out that NWC bill as it seems a lot to me.

Thank you . Much love and blessings to you and your family. One love Jamaica.😀❤💚🧡🙏

I usually grab my phone to find rain sounds at night, and stumbled across your video instead and had to watch. I was sad when it ended, because it was so informative and its literally the debate Im having with myself about which side of Jamaica to move to when I relocate. I was born in MoBay, but was never raised there so Im detached from any sentimental factors other than my family living in the rural parts of St James. So Kingston has been a contender for me because of some of the activities and amenities you've listed, as well as the film/media and theatre resource being more tangible there as well. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this video and keep up the good work, Irena! GOD BLESS ✨️⚘️

What can say Irina. You are just the best. Always enjoy your blogs. Thanks for the positivity and loving my country JA. Bless up😊

I moved from Kingston to Mobay just before the pandemic. I do miss Kingston as well, lots of activities and trips to Hollywell and beyond. We do have Flow fiber internet in Ironshore.

Love this and couldn’t agree more especially with there being more social events in Kingston. Growing up in Mobay it always seems like a more reserved place. Anyway, excellent review of both places and loved the fact that you kept saying “we” you are a true Montegonian now! ❤😂

Once got a water bill for 60k no pool, no garden. Previous bill was around 15. They change the meter and that’s it. We still had to pay. This is on the outskirts of Kingston. Asafa Powell had a similar case with JPS this year right in time for the New Year.

Another AWESOME Vlog...Love it❤

I had to subscribe after watching this video! Great video! On point! And I agree about all these content creators that only go to the Ghetto and make it seem as if that’s all JA is about!, so thanks we appreciate you.

It could be that Kingston properties are connected to a central sewer system as oppose to Montego Bay septic tank. Therefore, you only pay general water usage.

I laughed😂 so many times watching this. Appreciate this vlog so much. I love Hope Garden...it is so magical. I hope you get the opportunity to your around Kingston because it is really underated for it's beauty or it's perks.

Nice video as always! These freer "vlogs" are a great way to prevent withdrawal symptoms between your larger productions, lol. Jamaica definitely has different "vibes" in different areas which may surprise foreigners who imagine it to be more homogeneous. Yeah the North Coast is more "touristy" but the landscape also has a slightly different personality. It's more lush, because the NC generally gets more rain, and hills are often closer to the sea allowing, say, Dunn's River Falls to plunge right to the beach. The South coast has more coastal flat land, notwithstanding exceptions like Lover's Leap. I grew up in St. Andrew and whenever we went to Ocho Rios during summer break, I felt the change in atmosphere even as a child.

Please note Digicel is also in Richmond St. Ann.

Hello Irena. I always love your vídeos so informative. I am a Jamaican 🇯🇲watching from Metropolitan Atlanta Georgia. Planning to visit Kingston soon!. Anyways I once Lived in Harbour View years ago, when it was Upper Class and Middle Class people were living there now it has changed dramatically. Well my family used to go to Gunboat Beach, or a beach in Port Royal. It was always very nice. ❤❤🎉😊

Kingston looks culturally exciting. Interesting.

I remember taking school trips there in the 70’s. Love this place

Kingston is the cultural and governmental center of Jamaica. Lots of history correlated with Port Royal too.🇺🇸🇯🇲

Well done as usual. And yes please do explore Hope Gardens History at some point, respect. The abrupt end made me laugh 😃 later still

Big ups Irene ❤

Happy to See a Vlog! Can't wait to watch. If ya ever around St.Mary would love to link up! Been here retired for about a year amd you've inspired us to share our journey. Blessings. 🥰🤙

Thank You Irina, you are such a great ambassador for Jamaica and the gems you impart in your vids are so enlightening. I'm not sure I have seen many KZfaq vids that give the perspectives you provide about living in Jamaica. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the pros and cons of residing in Kingston vs Montego Bay. BTW I agree with you about the "KZfaqrs" who focus on the "Ghetto" areas of Jamaica it is so disappointing that they choose/not choose to give a more balanced perspective of the country. I will continue to watch your vids as I always learn something new about the country of my birth. One Love !!

Irie thank you very much for always highlight Jamaica for us who live overseas. I am so appreciated all your hard work. Really love you videos them and the other hand . Am learning a lot from you in all your research thank you very much.

OK, the NWC situation is like this, Montego Bay and other towns including where I live in upscale St. Thomas there are no sewerage charges because you're not connected to their disposal system, they have individual systems. However, Kingston and patrs of St. Catherine does and that cost is 50% of your water charges Hope this explanation helps

The Bogooyaggafication of Hellshire Beach. Hellshire beach suffered from a serious case of over vending, there are more vendors over there than people and too much illegal buildings. It just amazes me that for a people so dependent on nature and the environment for their livelihood, one would think we would be more concern and more proactive to protect the very thing that is providing our daily income and sustaining our lives. This is a classic case of defecating where you eat.

Been in Kingston 3 months ago and I DID go go to Hope Gardens and did NOT went for "Ghetto Tourism", think you're a bit harsh there. Hope Gardens is awesome and a well appreciated place of calmness in the otherwise rather busy Kingston. Had so many nice conversations with Kingstonians, I'd otherwise wouldn't had, because they don't work in the tourism industry.

bigup keep up dee good work

I love Montego Bay and can't see myself going anywhere else

You should visit Hope Gardens on Saturday morning they have a great women farmers' Collective

I like your video good job you should do More about Kingston

8:24 This is another idea for content. Take a look at the controversy around beach access and the Beach Control Act of 1955 passed by Norman Manley. I believe it was the father of Tourism, Abe Issa, that influenced the bill to be passed into parliament. I've been trying to get more background on it. Knowing the research skills you have, you can look into it.

Irie, can you do a video about your favorite neighborhoods in Kingston , especially where non-Jamaicans would feel most comfortable?

Awesome video Irina. Thanks very much. One Love.

Thanks for this video

Hope gardens was my playground from infant dayz to adult days if the plants and trees cud talk😅I love Hope Gardens one of my favourite chill spots 💯🎯

7:06 There used to be a beach in Port Royal. (I don't know if Port Royal is considered farther from Hellshire) Gunboat beach used to be just before Norman Manley Airport. On the strip to Harbour View, there is a restaurant/bar on the beach. There is also Port Henderson beach near the Portmore Toll Booth. I think there are some areas along Sir Florizel Glasspole Highway. I think Kingston Harbour is mostly known for industrial purposes, so it makes the coastline of Kingston less touristy but there are beaches (I've mentioned about 3 more apart from Hellshire), they may need more investment.

Cool! i havent seen one of Irenes vids in a likkle while!

I love how you say, when you move to Kingston no one see you as a tourist. Thats what i like about Kingston. I am a born Kingstonian.You are so informative and accurate in your videos. Thank you and continue the good work you are doing. Blessing!

Always amazing 👏 ❤

Check if you have a leak, Irie. Also, Hellshire used to have a nice big beach. The beach has been eroded over the years. There have been calls for beach restoration and to save the livelihoods of the restaurants. Check out a phot of Hellshire ten years ago and you will be shocked.

All this time I thaught u lived in ochi...lol. great comparative video, u did it justice.

Enjoyed the video. Reggae Month in February in Kingston has a lot of free concerts especially in Imancipation Park. For beaches, try St Thomas. I like Lyssons Beach. Only discovered it recently. It's an hour drive from Kingston without the cost of the toll to Ochi. The private section has a small charge with changing room and picnic tables. It's a small intimate space and not as developed as North Coast beaches. Fort Clarence is great and has decent facilities including restaurant but I find the water can be a bit rough most times. Good for surfers but surprisingly I've never seen any there. For nightlife check out jazz night at Terra Nova Hotel on Wednesdays.

🇯🇲🇯🇲 Irene, Miss Invisible in Kingston vs Miss Obvious Tourist in the west. Irene, my human, Jamaica trivia app 👠🍒 As a born and bred Kingstonian I’ve visited rural Jamaica umpteen times over the years but always short-stay or passing thru. In my youth I always knew I was missing out on the nearness and easy access to nature; I begrudged those “country” kids who could "guh shoot birds", play in the river or "tek mango stone dogs". My eyes were wide openly shut. There were soo many places I instinctively knew I was missing out on everytime I would hear “Jamaica is soo beautiful” from a random tourist. Hope Gardens/Zoo I dear say have always been a gem in Kingston and but is so underrated now as compared to the “good old days” when it was a must visit by organized school “outings”. It was there I first saw a lion, the king of the jungle, though he seems malnourished as if on hunger-strike. Devon House back then was only but a footnote to us “Schoolas”. The only ice cream we talk about was from the ice cream truck that routinely stopby on Sundays.

Hello the water discrepancy is mainly due to whether or not you are on the sewage system. The house that you rented in Mobay was probably not on the sewage system but rather on a septic tank. Meaning your waste water drained into a underground septic tank in your backyard. which is how things were back before a proper sewage system was regularized. Both in Mobay and Kingston there are houses on both systems so water prices will differ depending on which system you are on. How it works is, if you are on the sewage system, whatever amount of water you use, you generally put back into to the sewage system as waste water, so essentially you are paying twice for the water, once to receive it and once to drain it as waste ....hope this makes sense lol

Absolutely always love your videos, your doing a great Job....1 Thing I wish you had spoken more about is HOW did u find where these events are being kept for free or not for people like me who love exploring as well.

Hi Irina...I see you took my suggestion! Great video. Keep em coming!

great positive video❤

Maybe the townhouse in Kingston probably has some solar supplementing electricity or in Montego Bay there is a bridge light tax lol

There is fort Clarence Beach. Very beautiful beach with sunbeds and seats

Gained a new follower. Thank you for your content. Was very much appreciated at this time. X