Jodensavanne, Suriname
In the Wilderness
Yesterday, when three of us arrived at the major Suriname
Airport, the official looked at my legal name which is Vis, with its origins in
the Netherlands. Because Dutch is the official
language here, the official burst into a big smile. "So you're a Vis?" he asked.
I responded, "Yes, I'm a fish. I love the water."
He chuckled.
Santosh, who is an anthropology/archaeology student, took us
to these amazing black-water springs.
Here I proved I was a fish, as my name translates. Nearby, Santosh took us to Jodensavanne where
there are ruins of an old Portuguese Jewish settlement which was settled in the
1600s. There, near the Suriname River,
in a nation that boasts the largest forest cover on the globe, there are
remains of a synagogue, as well as burial sites for the Jews in one area, and
sites for the slaves they secured, both African and local natives, in another.
One sad story about the jungle, in general, is the poaching
of Jaguars which has become a major import for China, especially their
jaws. Forest protection is a huge
concern for some, but unfortunately, less for others. Other wildlife in this tree haven are
anacondas, ocelots, monkeys and armadillos.
From the forest and animal habitat, we drove back to the
temple ashram in Paramaribo. One person
who has been writing me, Taromutti, was aspiring for diksha, so I
obliged and gave her the name Archana Murti.
She is a dedicated woman who busies herself in temple activities. A nice crowd came to see her take this
spiritual step. https://www.facebook.com/331620403707785/videos/178860533493693/
May the Source be with you!
2 km
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