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 ...

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).

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

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.

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!

Finished?

This week our first lodge was finished! That is what Henk Dingé, the constructor, told me over the telephone anyway.
All shingles laid, sanitation installed, electricity wired and wood varnished. All we need now is water, electricity and occupation. Pictures of the lodge are promised and posted here the moment we receive them.
Regarding the situation in the Netherlands, we have applied for a long time stay visa from 2013 onward at the Consulate of Suriname. We certainly hope that the authorities in Suriname favor us, but an answer could take up to 3 months. An excellent exercise in patience.
Here rules is the clock, over there they have the time.

Lodge

Part of the BoxelBoesBelanda project is to incorporate a lodge or 2 into the garden. Recommendations from trustworthy people let us to the lodges Mets had built in Awarradam. The carpenter of these lodges is Henk Dingé, who lives in Pokigron (Atjoni). Just before we had to go back to cold, hectic Holland, we made up a 'contract'. On a notepad (you remember, pen, paper) we put down a signature committing ourselves to finance and built the lodge.

Jack, Stanley, Henk

Two months later at the end of July (actually, yesterday), I received the first picture of the lodge in the making from Erik.

The roof of the lodge is made up of shingles from the Walaba tree. Few people know how to make such a beautiful wooden roofing. Definitely a craft and Henk is rightfully proud to be that craftsman.
Actually, he is in the process of starting up his own carpentry firm. The trouble he goes through to keep us up to date, the fastness with which he collects all the materials and of course the magnificent result, we can not but recommend this man.