WHEN 20-year-old Jibao Huang booked a last-minute flight from Los Angeles to Jamaica, he wasn’t chasing the usual beaches or all-inclusive resorts. He was chasing culture.

“I actually found Jamaica by accident,” Huang said. “I went on Google Flights looking for a cheap ticket and Jamaica popped up. I knew of Bob Marley, jerk chicken, the culture, and I said I had to experience it for myself.”

Huang landed on Sunday, January 11, with no itinerary and a single goal: See Jamaica beyond the tourist lens. As he researched the island, he noticed a pattern.

“Montego Bay and Ocho Rios kept coming up, but that’s where all the tourists go,” he explained. “I wanted to see the real Jamaica, where the food, the culture, and the people really are. That’s why I chose Kingston.”

Before arriving, Huang said he was bombarded with online warnings about Kingston, particularly downtown.

“Everywhere online it’s like, ‘Don’t go there. It’s dangerous. Those are the slums of Jamaica,’ ” he said. Still, he went.

“I understand it’s not comparable to big cities in America in terms of development but it’s not something dangerous or something that should scare you away,” Huang said. “It’s just a part of Jamaican culture.”

Walking through downtown Kingston, he observed daily life unfolding.

“Everyone was hustling, everyone was just minding their own business,” he said. “No one bothered me. No one tried to sell me anything unless I spoke to them first. People were just working and living.”

Rather than fear, he said what stood out was normalcy.

“It didn’t feel dangerous. It felt human.”

Huang said one of the biggest misconceptions about Kingston is safety, especially for solo travellers.

“A lot of videos online make it seem like you’re going to get robbed or hurt,” he said. “But when I got here I didn’t feel unsafe at all. Even walking alone at night, I felt normal. Everyone I met was kind. The hospitality here is unmatched.”

That warmth, he said, was felt from his first moments on the island.

“The first thing I did when I landed was buy a coconut,” Huang recalled. “I thought, tropical island… I have to.”

The price surprised him. “Only $300,” he said, laughing. “And the vendor cut a piece of the shell and used it as a spoon. That was my first time ever doing that. I definitely have to get another one before I leave.”

Standing at the Bob Marley Museum, Huang said the visit helped contextualise Jamaica’s global cultural influence.

“For someone like me who grew up hearing Bob Marley’s music, being here makes it real,” he said. “It connects the culture, the history, and the people.” He also mentioned his father’s love for coffee, which led him to try a cup of Blue Mountain coffee at Cafe Blue in Liguanea, St Andrew.

During his trip, Huang also travelled to Ocho Rios in St Ann and Oracabessa in St Mary, where he met a local chef who cooked for him — an experience he later described as deeply personal and memorable.

Still, Kingston remained his favourite.

“Kingston holds a special place in my heart,” he said. “If you want white sand beaches and resorts, Montego Bay or Ocho Rios is perfect. But if you want culture, food, real people and real vibes, come to Kingston.”

Huang said his travel philosophy is simple: Arrive with curiosity, not assumptions.

“No itinerary,” he said. “Just explore and ask locals… the Anthony Bourdain way.”

After just two days on the island he was already wearing a Jamaican shirt and planning his next moves. “I’ve only been here a short time and I’m already loving it,” he said.

Huang documents his travels on social media and can be found on TikTok and Instagram at @BaoAroundTheWorld.

Jibao Huang at popular tourist attraction Dunn’s River Falls in St Ann.

Jibao Huang displays one of the home-cooked meals he received from a local chef in Oracabessa, St Mary.