Hotel Paramuru Paramaribo

... had covered everything under tarpaulins. We saw the most amazing things being loaded on these small boats, including a double bed and a large wardrobe! This is because the river is the only form of transport into most of Suriname's interior, where only a small proportion of the country's half a million inhabitants live.

We were engaged in conversation by one of the young men waiting under the canopy, a dreadlocked guy in a woolly hat. “When in France speak ...

... by side. We cannot help noticing though that there is no sign at all of the original inhabitants of the country, the Amerindians. After the struggle to speak French it is great to to speak Dutch, it almost feels like being in Amsterdam. People are very friendly and laid back, it is fine to go out after dark and it all feels quite safe.

We have been here six days now and have walked and cycled all over the place, including an old ...

... crowds in the street by mid-morning drinking and dancing and partying to the local music, much of it quite good. Lyrics are all in taki-taki. Then there's the Chinese again. Somewhere sometime along the way they brought their fireworks with them, not elaborate sky-high displays mind you, but reams and reams of firecracker 'rounds', ready to unroll and be set off like gunfire in Palestine, leaving burnt red paper and a few near-deafened ears in ...

... luggage was on a seat. The driver said he told her when they loaded that she would have to pay extra, she said he didn't. I had asked someone at the ferry terminal who much we would pay from there to Gtown, and was told G$2000 (USD$10). Later I asked someone else and they told me G$1500 and I confirmed this with the man behind me. So I figured it was likely G$1500 without luggage on the seat and I should pay G$500 for a thrid share of the extra seat. I ...

... de tent af door er "soldaatje" met elkaar te spelen. Ze zitten ieder achter een pc en spelen samen een spel waarin ze elkaar tegenkomen op het beeldscherm en beschieten. De pc´s hebben geen geluid maar daar zorgen de kinderen dan zelf wel voor. De snelheid laat sterk te wensen, skypen is er niet bij, maar wij kunnen er wel onze mail checken. Schroefas (deel 12) Op de scheepswerf krijgen we fantastische hulp om de schroefas eindelijk in het midden te krijgen want de doorvoer ...

... were keen on letting me onto their bus. After a heated discussion between two drivers one agreed to take me on, and I clambered on to take my place on a makeshift seat. We headed off down the brick-red tracks that cut a swathe through the jungle until we came out into the pancake flat agricultural belt of the Surinamese coast. We picked up speed as the heat of the day bore down, heading east along pothole flecked ...

... worms, all the while filled with hope that we can be a positive influence for healthy, sustainable development in this beautiful country. Peace Corps is in its eleventh year in Suriname. To date over 250 volunteers have served in here. We have collectively assisted over 124,000 Surinamese citizens and organizations; we have lived in over 86 of the communities that make up this diverse nation. I've learned a lot about myself, my abilities, and my limitations the world, this ...

... of the delapitating grand old mansions that still line the Waterkant and the core of the old inner city, which, by the way is a world heritage site. Many of these little houses are now part of Maroon encampments in the city. Some of them are delapitated shacks with tin sheeting additions to protect from the rains. Many, however, while obviously poor have somehow maintained a certain charm, with their gabled roofs and shuttered windows. I find them an endearing part of the Suriname scene.

... of my time has been spent coaching them in assessing and revising their own expectations and coming to terms with what is real here in Suriname. Our proposal is still in limbo with UNDP and Jess and Sherilyn have been continuing to network and compile the data that is identified as one of the deliverables should the project be accepted. They've both let go a lot. My other work has been with Brenda following up on work that was done on a strategic plan with the lead ...

... when he arrived he cranked up his stereo and put on a DVD of dancing and we all danced outside their hut. This village is a women's community and that is typical of Maroon communities today. The men come and go to work in the bush. Going to the bush generally means working for one of the small and illegal mining operations run by Surinamese. The men pay the owner of the equipment for the gold they find and then take it to "Foto" which is what they call Parimaribo to sell ...