Robert Lalah, Assistant Editor-Features

Allison

On Sundays, when Alicia Allison gets out of bed she's likely to have a hearty stretch, shuffle over to the bedroom window, peek outside and adjust her eyes to the sunlight, and the sight of dozens of Thai people heading off to temple - the Bob Marley Temple. Fitting, really, in a place whose unofficial name is the 'Bob Marley Island'.

"It's off the coast of Thailand, and it's called Ko Sumi. I bought a home there, some time ago, when I found out about it. The entire culture is dedicated to Bob Marley, his music and his message. It's the perfect place to live, for any Marley fan," she said, almost giddy.

Miss Allison was born in London to a Jamaican mother and developed a love for reggae music - Marley's in particular - from early. "He has such a powerful message and spirit. I don't know anyone who really listened to his music and was not touched in some way," she said.

Her eyes brightened whenever she mentioned the late singer's name, and she spoke with great pride of her home on 'Bob Marley Island'.

MARLEY FANATICS

"The population is somewhere around 60,000. I'd say everyone there is a Marley fanatic. There are many Thai Rastas living there, who converted to the faith through inspiration from Bob's music. There's a Bob Marley Temple, a Marley bar, everything. There is even an enormous Bob Marley flag on the island," said Miss Allison.

"There are people living there who don't believe that he is really dead. There are tabloid newspapers printed there that have stories all the time of Bob Marley sightings in the supermarkets and all over the place," she grinned.

The blushing reggae fan is on vacation in Jamaica, and she plans to celebrate the reggae icon's birthday (February 6) here. She is, however, surprised that there isn't more of a celebration planned for that day.

"I think it's very strange the way you guys celebrate the occasion here. To be honest, it's like you guys don't know what a legend really is. Back home, his birthday is like a huge carnival with street parades, Bob Marley rides and everything. It really is a great tourist attraction," she said.

"It is something of a disappointment here. You wouldn't believe how many people there are on that side of the world who would do anything to be in Bob's homeland for his birthday. They would never believe how simple the occasion is treated here."