Dirk in his element

Phil and Frits discussing plans for research and education on Tonka Island

Kelly reviewing the day's list of plants by lantern light

Frits demonstrates how to make a thatched roof

Phil makes friends with a peccary


Home Sweet Hut


This frigid waterfall was a refreshing reprieve from the tropical heat


Plants thirst for light - not water - deep in the rainforest. A opening like this is a lush oasis on a forest floor that is less vegetated under the full canopy.




Howler monkeys are more often heard than seen. We were fortunate to have this troupe of about 15 individuals pass right over head with little regard for our cameras.

Frits van Troon gathering a medicinal liana

Trip to Afobaka

Typical fruit stand



Kelly, Frits, and Phil



Henk - Director of the Rainforest Medical Foundation
Lenny and another guide / boatman behind Hank

Rainforest along the Suriname River

Phil listening to Medicine Man Mike with Fredo interpreting

Kelly studying medicinal plants in Dr. Hanny van de Lande's Garden

A view from Brownsburg

Out and About

Hi all!
Sorry it is so long between posts. Internet access here is sparse and slow. But, we have gotten a lot accomplished since the last time I wrote you.
We have completed our workshop. The teachers seem to have taken to the concept very well. They were very enthusiastic. We are now working with the director of the teacher's college and with a woman who helps design the national curriculum about a follow-up workshop and about trying to include Investigating Environmental Issues in the school system here.
This past weekend we visited the village of Nickerie. It's in northeastern Suriname. We talked with a few classes of teachers about our workshop and about our research: how the people of Suriname use and value their local plant knowledge.
Since then, we have been in Domburg--Dirk's home village. It's very peaceful, very quiet, and right on the edge of the bush. So, we have been able to talk with many people, including the local medicine man. We have been travelling to nearby markets and villages to conduct interviews, and we have been hiking and looking for wildlife. Yesterday, we biked to Jakin, about 10 kilometers away, and spoke with several people. In the evening we biked back to the bush and saw a whole troop of monkeys! Very cool.
I'm sorry I cannot really condense 2 weeks into a few paragraphs - but this is at least a summary and some highlights. This weekend, we will be back in the jungle with Frits van Troon, a very well-known botanist and shaman. I am very excited about it; he is very wise and very kind.
I hope everything is going well for all of you. Hope to talk with you soon. Peace,
Kelly

Domburg

Odi fa waka

We are in the village of Domburg now and spending lots of time traveling by bikes to interview some wise elders. Yesterday, Kelly and I biked about 10 kilometers to the village of Jakin. The morning ride wasn't too bad, and we obtained some useful data while in the village. However, we weren't too bright and biked backed around 2 p.m. in the heat of the day when everyone else is taking their siesta. That was draining, but we survived. I saw my first green viper while biking on a path near dark last evening. My first instinct to jump off the bike, catch the snake, and "then" identify it was overridden (fortunately) by Kelly's better sense and a sharp, "Phil, what are doing? You're in the tropics and don't know anything about what crawls here! For goodness sakes, stay on your bike!!" Some people just take away all my fun. The access to computers and the sluggish speed of the internet has not improved; therefore, I cannot post any pictures yet.

We will be in the interior again in about a day working with Frits von Troon. He's invited us to come help because the government of Holland has sent 15-20 Dutch teenagers (born to Maroon parents that moved to Holland) to discover their roots. So, Kelly and I are joining this group of kids, a TV crew, and probably some government folks to head into the bush. I think Frits wants us to help them with plant I.D. and keep them from wandering into some dangerous situation. I guess Frits still has a bit to learn about me, eh? :-) I may be out of touch till next week. Hope all is well with everyone. I look forward to sharing pictures and stories. Take care!

Phil
August 2