Laarwijk, Suriname

We took the small ferry across the river, and visited Laarwijk, on the other side. At one time this area was a large sugar plantation.  When the plantation ceased operation (and we don’t know exactly when that was), the owners divided the land among the workers. The descendents of the workers live there today. The area is large, divided into orderly rectangles by sand paths and small canals.

We walked about 2 km away from the river without reaching the end, and it apparently extends beyond that, as well as that distance or greater from side to side. There are no cars. All goods are brought by boat. The people walk, ride bicycles, or cruise along on motorbikes. There was virtually no litter. We are told that many areas of Suriname are former plantations that have been divided in this way.

The fish is a Piranha caught in the river where we were anchored. No swimming in Suriname!

Domburg Bottle Project, Suriname

This morning we had coffee with Sofia and Ed, a Dutch couple who have lived in Suriname for more than three years. They have built a floating island, using great creativity and energy, callling attention to the masses of plastic that are discarded in our oceans.
“The Domburg Bottle Project,” begun in November 2006, used approximately 150,000 discarded plastic bottles, sewn into five large pockets of old fishnet.
The final island is approximately 10 by 7 meters, and 1.5 meters thick. On that, they deposited large amounts of topsoil, and have planted trees, flowers, grass and vegetables. Frequent rain keeps the island green, augmented when necessary by water from the river. They have built an open cabin on the island, where they can host friends or relax. They have electricity supplied by a solar panel and stored in a battery, collect rain for water, and enjoy all the comforts of land life, while their boat is tied to the island as their kitchen, and sleeping quarters. (And the whole thing rocks gently when a ship goes by in the river.)

Photos of the island under construction and showing some of the bottles and fishnet through the greenery.

The island today, floating in the Suriname River.  Wilhelm is anchored in the right background.

New England College Town? No, It is Suriname

Suriname is the place that the Dutch received from the British in exchange for New Amsterdam (New York City), in 1667.  This photo shows  small part of the capitol city, but most of the country is undeveloped and very different.

All visiting yachts must anchor about 25 miles up the Suriname River, a large muddy river where small ferries take people back and forth. The sign announces national elections on May 25.
Song bird competitions are a favorite sport, and men carry their favorite birds with them. (Better than pit bulls or cock fights, observes Natalie)

Suriname and tolerance

Suriname's population is a melange of races and religions.  It seems to take pride in its ethnic and religious tolerance, indicated here by a mosque and a Jewish temple, located side by side in the capitol city.