A small monument showing very innocent Indian village people bare feet with all their belongings in a little potli brought to this far away land, far away from their culture, far away from almost every thing they knew..... as indentured labors. (this monument is near the historic center of the capitol city of Paramaribo. The government of Suriname and city of Paramaribo has done a good job in showing this part of its history.
This country is so small on the north side of large South American continent that you may almost miss it on the map. It is now a economically middle class small country (with several pockets of poverty). This country has huge social, health, crime and economic problem due to Alcohol. The Alcohol was also one of the many things European colonizers used to subjugate the natives, Indians, Africans and other indentured labors and slaves.==========================================================
Coming to Suriname (border town of Albina) from the country of French Guiana (border town of
St. Laurent) by small wooden motor boat. (about 15 minutes ride.)
Alcohol ads and shops start right from the starting point. Alcohol is a major problem in Suriname
in African communities as well as Indian communities. And a major reason for lots of crime problem there.
A shared taxi ride from the border town of Albina to the Capitol city of Paramaribo. Some of the roads
through the nice green forest are paved and some are not paved.
Pass thru small or large isolated farm houses on the way to Paramaribo.
Then you see this famous bridge over the Suriname river that goes in to the City of Paramaribo.
Huge traffic. Bumper to bumper. Stop and go. As you can see it is single lane in each direction.
Just before this famous Suriname bridge, a total surprise. I see large statues of Hindu gods Shankar/Shiva,
Hanuman and many other gods / goddeses. This stop and go traffic gave me chance to see this amazing site.
If there were no traffic jam I might have missed it in a fast moving shared taxi. ,
And this sign of Tulsie Manes Tirath Ghaat. Just amazing. What some of these innocent village indentured slave laborers have done in this far far away land.
Then over this bridge crossing the river in to the town of Paramaribo.
Near the downtown, one section is very Dutch looking. It was a British colony from 1650 to
1667. Then it was Dutch colony from 1667 to 1799. Then it was again a British colony from 1799 to 1816. Then again a Dutch colony from 1816 till 1954 when self-government was formed and then full independence in 1975.
Crowded downtown near typical dutch wooden buildings.
Many Dutch banks in the city.
Vegetable market with many Indian, African, Indonesian owned shops.
Bars and restaurants; Lots of alcohol problem in the city.
Market selling lots of medicinal herbs and plants.
This was an interesting Indian restaurant Roop-Ram Roti restaurant in the downtown area of Paramaribo.
2 Sabjis, hot sauce chatni and Roti stuffed with daal. Nice. The regulation seem to require restaurants to put a piece of plastic sheet on the plate under the food. Not very good for the environment or the health !
A mosque and a Dutch synagauge next to each other.
There is one McDonald near upscale downtown selling bugers, fries and soft serve with
lots of promotional pictures and its Ronald McDonald clown.
The Dutch Fort Zeelandia near the Historic part of the Paramaribo.
Walls and building in Dutch Fort Zeelandia.
Showing the history of Indian Indentured labors in Suriname. From small villages in India to this far away land.
Yes, innocent and bare feet. But many of them are now fairly nice middle class farmers, shop owners, bus drivers, restaurant owners, vegetable sellers, barbers etc. etc.
This was one of the very few where I saw the Hindi in Devnagri script. Their spoken Hindi is mix of Bihari Hindi and mix of other local languages there.
Vishnu Mandir outside the Paramaribo downtown map area (about 15 minutes or so bus ride.)
This area and street is called Koningstraat.
Langar hall for special occasions and festivals right behind the temple.
Small Chinese community with businesses, restaurants and small super markets.
Many rice farms on the way from Paramaribo to the border town of Nieuw Nickerie
Nickerie town - Large hardware store of Baboelal
Nickerie town - One of few Indian style clothing and saree store.
Nickerie town - In a market area, pooja store, music store, apartment etc on the upper floors.
Nickerie town - In the center of a town a park and this administration and business building and old cannon guns on display in the park.
