SURINAME
Bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Suriname is a country in the northeastern side of South America.
Up until 1975 Suriname was called Dutch Guiana or Netherlands Guiana as it was a dependency of the Netherlands.
The area was first discovered by, French, Spanish and English explorers in the beginning of the 16th century and it was the English settlers who founded the first colony in the country at Marshall's Creek, along the Suriname River. Later in the century, it became a Dutch colony.
For a decade after its independence, it saw military dictatorship and though democracy was re-instated in 1987, the military continued to wield power in the 1990s. The country saw an upturn in the economy during the 2000s, due to which the democratic government gained the favor and trust of the people.
Paramaribo is not only the capital of the country but also the only urban area in it.
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
Suriname is the smallest independent country in South America, with an area of only 163, 265 sq km. To the east of the country lies French Guiana and to its west lies Guyana. It shares its southeastern border with Brazil and its northern border is formed by the Atlantic coast. The northern part of the country consists of a lowland coastal area and the southern part consists of tropical rainforest.
Suriname has a very hot tropical climate owing to its close proximity to the equator; it lies 2 to 5 degrees north of the equator. From February to April it has a short dry season, which is the best time to visit the country; the rest of the year is mostly wet, hot and humid.
ECONOMY AND CURRENCY
The monetary unit employed by the country is the Surinamese Dollar (SRD). The major industry that supports the country’s economy is the bauxite industry, which accounts for more than 15% of its GDP. Other than that, it is the commerce sector on which the economy of Suriname is largely dependent and its trade partners include Netherlands, US, Canada and the Caribbean countries.
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
The population of the country is ethnically mixed as a consequence of the colonial plantation system of past centuries. Laborers were brought in from India, Indonesia, and elsewhere in Asia, after the abolition of slavery, so that today, more than half of Suriname’s people are of Asian ancestry. The rest of the population consists of Creoles, of mixed African and Europeans.
Since the country has such a large mix of several ethnic groups, the culture is very varied, with the different ethnic groups preserving and following their ethnic cultures as well as the local culture of the country as well.
The language of education, government, business and the media is Dutch, making it the official language of the country.
HOW TO REACH
Air
You can get there by air and the national airline is Suriname Airways. The airport Johan Adolf Pengel (PBM) (Paramaribo) is 45km (28 miles) south of the city and a coach meets all arrivals. Alternatively buses or taxis too are there.
Water
The main port in the country is Paramaribo and occasional commercial sailings from Mexico, New Orleans and Amsterdam with limited passenger accommodation are available. Additionally regular car ferry services too are operated across the Surinam River and Marowijne River from Albina to St Laurent de Maroni (French Guiana), from Southdrain (Surinam) to Moleson Creek (Guyana), and across the Corantijn River from Nieuw Nickerie to Springlands (Guyana).
TRAVEL DESTINATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Paramaribo, the 17th-century capital of Suriname, is graced with attractive British, Dutch, French and Spanish colonial architecture and the nearby restored Fort Zeelandia houses the Surinam Museum.
Other monuments to see in Paramaribo are the 19th-century Roman Catholic cathedral, made entirely of wood and the 17th-century synagogue, which too is entirely wooden.
The Independence Square and the Presidential Palace can be explored by strolling around them and when in Paramaribo also visit the lively waterfront districts of the capital.
If you are looking for a touch of beauty and a peaceful day, it would be ideal to visit the beautiful parks of Palmentuin and Cultuurtuin, though the latter is quite a distance from the city.
Colakreek, which is a recreation area 50km (32 miles) south of Paramaribo consisting of numerous creeks in the small savannah belt behind the coastal plains, is an unusual but very popular place to go swimming.
To get a taste of the Suriname past, sign up for a river boat tour to visit indigenous villages or picturesque old colonial plantations; one of the most popular trips is the five-day river tour of Kumalu and the Awarra Dam region.
At the Galibi Nature Reserve, which is accessible by boat only between February and July, you can watch the giant leatherback sea turtles laying their eggs.
Nearly 80% of the country is covered with tropical rainforest and the rainforest has a resident wildlife and at any point you are likely to sight any one of these: wild cats, tarantulas, howler monkeys, rare flowers and giant termite nests. As our urban expansions have separated us from the spectacular beauty of nature and its wild inhabitants, don’t miss the chance to get connected to nature by taking a guided ecotourism trip to Raleighvallen/Voltzberg Nature Park or Natuurpark Brownsberg (Brownsberg Nature Park).
If you are more daring and want to take a peek at the dangerous side of nature then you’ll have to take a boat trip into the swamps, where you can spy on crocodiles, anacondas and boa constrictors taking the sun, and mind the piranhas if you dare take a paddle!
Visit the remains of a 17th-century Jewish settlement at Jodensavanne (Jews' savannah), which include the ruins of one of the Western Hemisphere's first Jewish synagogues established 1639.
Shopping
Shop for and take back Maroon tribal woodcarvings, hand-carved and hand-painted trays and gourds, Amerindian bows and arrows, cotton hammocks, wicker and ceramic objects, gold and silver jewelry, Javanese bamboo and batik, as well as tobacco and liquor products, as souvenirs and holiday remembrances. There are some Chinese shops in the country which sell imported jade, silks, glass, dolls, needlework and wall decorations.
Nightlife
Paramaribo has several nightclubs often attached to a hotel, with live music and dancing. The city also has a number of discos and several cinemas, including a drive-in but it is best to stick to the hotels unless accompanied by locals who know the reputations of other nightspots, in particular those out of the town centre.
Cuisine
Surinam offers a vast variety of dishes including American, Chinese, Creole, European, Indian and Indonesian, owing to its diverse ethnic population. Paramaribo and Niew-Nickerie have some restaurants but in other parts you might not find many.
It would be a nice idea to sample the national delicacies when in the country and you can take your pick from a number of them like: rijsttafel, consisting of rice and a number of meat and vegetable side dishes, nasi goreng or Indonesian fried rice and bami goreng, Indonesian fried noodles. The Creole dishes include pom, which is ground tayer roots and poultry, pastei is a chicken pie with various vegetables and peanut soup. The popular Indian dishes, include roti, which is a dough pancake served with curried chicken and potatoes. The popular Chinese dishes, are chow-mein and chop suey. Moksi meti is a local dish consisting of various meats served on rice.
You would definitely need to wash down these flavors and for that try the national drinks as: The Indonesian Dawet, which is a coconut drink, Gemberbier a Creole ginger drink and Pilsener Parbo Bier a local beer.
GETTING AROUND
Air
From Paramaribo domestic flights are operated by Suriname Airways to towns in the interior. The airline also maintains a charter service and provides services from Paramaribo to the Nieuw Nickerie district.
Water
River transport is the least expensive and often the most efficient option when visiting the interiors of the country and some coastal areas.
Road
Suriname has a reasonable, largely paved, road network with a few potholes and there are bus services that connect the capital to most of the villages, however, buses tend to be very crowded and chaotic with loud music. Alternatively taxis and cars for hire can be got but since the taxis are not metered, the price should be settled at the start.
WHERE TO STAY
There are a number of modern hotels in Paramaribo with air conditioning, but advance booking is essential owing to the limited number of beds. Several small pensions and guest houses are there in the capital city but before beginning your journey you should check with the tourist office for further information. Outside of the capital there are a very limited number of restaurants and hotels, so travelers are advised to bring their own hammock and food.
There are a few furnished apartments with self-catering facilities that can be rented.
Resorts like Blaka Watra, Cola Kreek, Republiek and Zandery with picnic grounds and camping/bathing facilities, too are available.
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