Walkway update

Finally we and our guests can walk all the way through the park on the 'raised walkway with drainage'.
Starting in 2014 I dug trenches every other week or so and filled them with stray PET bottles. That way the environment had less pollution and I had a raised walkway to keep our feet dry. Although it is not quit finished, still two more branches of the walkway are planned, I thought it's time to mention a full circle can be walked now.
Up till now I've extracted approximately 30,000 used PET bottles from environmental waste for a walkway of about 300 meters.

left of the bridge, newly constructed path

PET bottle still visible

Bridge Repair

In 2013 two friends helped us building bridges over the trenches. After 5 years of tropical weather, termites and mould had their way; all the wooden parts had to be replaced.
All 4 bridges are now in good condition again.

Kitten

Already there were 2 dogs and a cat emigrated from the Netherlands guarding the place. A month or so ago, we found a litter of kittens by the car, put there while we were having a drink at the Marina Domburg. The kittens were only 1 or 2 weeks old and it was impossible for us not to take them home.
Soon Boxel Boes Belanda will also be guarded against mice.

Airbnb

For a few months now the lodge is on Airbnb. Hopefully that's a great way to let me be found. Found by guests who like quiteness and nature, who want to enjoy their own park and who appreciate privacy.

Entrance to the park

As an entrance to the park for me and my guests, I used a power pole sawn in 2 to support the roof. Like the lodge, the roof is made of wooden shingles. I didn't know I had it in me, being a carpenter ;)
At last we had a destination for the bell and our house number plate.

If you look closely through the gate, you can see the lodge in the distance.

Lush park for a private stay

Quite some time has passed since the last entry. Especially the clear view of the lodge is somewhat altered. Seeds and small plants have grown into a lush park for you to walk through it and enjoy. It also adds to the feel of privacy.

Bixa

Palulu

Lodge for rent

First mentioned in a blog from 21 July 2012 the rental lodge is a completely wooden structure with a surface area of 35 m2, as is often found deep interior of Suriname. A difference is that this lodge is equipped with lights, electricity, water cooker, washing machine, refrigerator and WiFi.

The lodge can accommodate up to 4 people with two large double beds and a possibility for a hammock on the balcony. The bathroom is fully tiled and has a shower, sink and toilet. There is a spacious, open closet for clothes and luggage, a table with two chairs and of course a balcony to sit or lie in a hammock. The windows of mosquito nets are stretched around the entire lodge, letting in the wind and a cacophony of bird sounds.

Walkway

The idea came when I was visiting a couple of super amiable sailors. Next to their boat they had a floating island made ​​from plastic bottles. A fine example of recycling! 
In the rainy season, or after heavy tropical rainstorm, Boxel Boes Belanda can be rather wet. In order to keep our feet dry we have built a raised path, also made from PET bottles. In short it is to dig a trench, put the bottles in it, close the trench and finish it with sand and shells. Result: a raised walkway with drainage. 
The first 82 meters from the road to the lodge is now ready. Another 368m to go ...

Furry guardians

In Suriname, almost every dwelling has one or more dogs to guard it. And they are seen as such: watchdogs and no pets. 
The animal shelter in Paramaribo, opposite the zoo, takes in young stray dogs if there is room. And that was were we found our own furry guards. A black and a white one, both of pure Surinam breed. Lex and Herman.
They are guardians of bbb and friends to us and our guests.

Herman

Lex

Expedition Deboo, Kajana

Jurman Majokko and Henk Dinge who both built the lodge and main house, invited me to visit their hometown Deboo, near Kajana. An opportunity to test my idea of offering my guests an unique, culinary workshop within a small, remote Marron community. To actually take part in harvesting, preparing and cooking local dishes with local people.

Together with my 2 critical guests and Jurman as our host, we set out for a 5 day trip to Deboo. That's high up the Gran Rio, the river that feeds the Suriname river together with Pikin Rio. Deboo is one of the last Marron villages to be found that far south. After a spectacular boat trip up the Suriname river, we were welcomed in Deboo.

Decently dressed in pangis for women en kamiza for men we were introduced to practically all the inhabitants, starting of course with the Basya, the village representative.

After these formalities and a relaxed dip in the river, it was time to start the workshop under supervision of the marvelous sister of Henk.
Off to the vegetable garden, 30 minutes by boat, where we found and dug up by hand various tubers, like cassava. We also harvested some bananas (heavy!) and sugar canes. The men joining us went into the woods with axes and guns to clear space for future vegetable gardens and to hunt.

With machetes and a wooden cook fire we prepared the meals in the centrally located, open kitchen for everyone in Deboo. All the while the kids ran around or made their homework for school and women attended their embroideries.

Another part in preparing food is the grinding of seed like maripo (pics below), to extract the oil for cooking, or to extract the rice from the padi. I'll never eat rice again without thinking of the blisters on my hands.

For meat we brought along chicken from the city of Paramaribo, but we also had some delicious fish, freshly caught. And one evening we prepared a 'boskip' (forest chicken (?)), hunted by one of the men and presented by Jurman.

Doing the dishes and dragging water from the river to the kitchen is unfortunately also part of the workshop. Luckily that work is combined with swimming and playing with the kids in the river. That's also the place to start the day fresh and to cool down from a hard days work.

In all, the idea of a cooking workshop with Marrons deep within the jungle, turned out to be a delicious, educational and physical experience. What's more, the warmth we received from the villagers of Deboo from the start, especially the women, was a complete surprise. The presents we gave were answered with special gifts made for us. Thank you Deboo!

Now it's time to manage and translate this workshop in Deboo into a unique tour for the guests of Boxel Boes Belanda they will never forget.

First guests

Up until we moved to Suriname we were members of the Dutch Motor Club Pink Spirit, just as Hennie and Josje still are. These girls already had a longtime wish to visit Suriname. Hearing from our plans they decided to spend their holidays in Boxel Boes Belanda. We were thrilled: our first guests!
There was one condition from their part though. "We'll only visit you, if you have something to do for us during our stay at your botanical garden. We want to make ourselves usefull." As there are only one thousand things to do in BBB, it took quite some time to come up with something suitable. Building bridges!
And that's what they did. In 2 weeks time four minimal-design bridges were built from scratch. They were great and very enthusiastic. They just kept on going even during the hottest part of the days.

 The lodge was well received and as the all around windows are made from mosquito screens only, the cacophony of bird songs woke them every morning for a fresh start.

Josje and Hennie

Good for them, they also had some true holiday trips planned. Like bird watching in Bigi Pan, a boat trip from Kwamalasumutu and a visit to the Indians in Palumeu. Read all about it in their blog 'Hennie en Josje in Suriname' (Dutch).

Enter the master house

Digging the first hole was in February 2013. Followed by the first stone laid in April 2013. And finally, my first night spent in the master house was September 2013. Finished!

Well, almost. The kitchen needs gas, lights are missing in the carport and all clothes are still lying around, waiting for furniture.

Satelite image updated

Google updates their images of Suriname frequently! The last one was from December 2012. Now the main house is also visible. From the details of this image, it looks like it's taken in September 2013. Let me show you a chronological overview.

pre 2011

terraforming, 2011

lodge, 2012

main house, 2013

Rise of the master house

Jurman and his guys building the master house are now finished with the outside. They have done an outstanding job on both speed and quality of building as far as I can judge it. The progress I pictured every day from the same position and angle to create a short movie.

Even though our custom and taste differ, they were always happy to adjust their building to please me. The huge roof and its sharp angle was something new for them. Also my preference to use the backside of laths (schrootjes) or my pleads to cover up the 'beautiful' relief on the concrete columns earned me some laughs. They blame it all on me being a bakra (i.e. white man).

Living in the lodge

Later on the wooden lodge will be available for guests, but for now it is our home in Suriname.

With the water pump installed for sanitation and a queen sized bed, it is a comfortable stay. In daytime cool wind blows across the wide balcony as I watch the guys building the master house. At night it offers me a place to read, watch tv and update this blog in the midst of the sounds of crickets and frogs.

Transport

Offering transport for building materials, I had to have a functional vehicle. Suggested by Dick, I purchased a pick-up. One that would also give me a real feel of being adventurous.

It looks rough and rugged, but do not be intimidated as it is only the image I always dreamed of being.

Start building the master house

It is already a couple of months for me in the tropics and a lot of things have happened. My stay started with the inevitable red tape procedures involving visa, insurance and drivers licence  I was told that bureaucracy in Suriname is quite taxing. So I came prepared with a novel to read for the days of queuing,  changing desks and waiting.

That done, it was time for the next episode: building the master house. The choice of the contractor was actually already made when the lodge was built last year: Henk Dingé. Families in Suriname can be fairly large and every member has his specialty  The nephew of the brother (?) of Henk appeared to be experienced in building houses made of stone and concrete. His name? Jurman Majoko. And what work team he has!

Jurman, Frank, Rino, Jones and Etienne

The guys, all Saramacans from upriver, deliver hard workmanship every day. Whether rain or sunshine they keep on going in the humid heat from 8 in the morning till 6 in the afternoon.
Directed by Jurman, I shop for all the materials they need, transport it or get it be delivered. That way I keep up with the progress and it also offers me knowledge in building a house.

First lodge built

During the Christmas dinner with famely and friends we discovered that Google had made a new satellite photo of Boxelparaweg 22b.
The lodge is in place!