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.