In my almost three years in Suriname, I was finally able to set foot in the Paramaribo Zoo which is only a few minutes away from my house. My place is near the center, so it will take a 5-minute taxi ride and a 7 SRD (1 US) fare.
The Paramaribo Zoo was officially opened in 1972 and was founded by Prime Minister Johan Adolf Pengel in 1966. It was recently renovated and you can see newly built pathways and beautiful landscapes. There are on-going constructions in some areas, but you can just roam around.
Oh my… I know I’ve been a few weeks delayed with my monthly post, but as promised, here is Niko’s 10th month photoshoot.
Because of the Aquaman hype last December, I decided to go with it for Niko’s 10th month birthday theme. I was a little confused about which costume to make: Aquaman’s official gold and green costume or the topless one. Of course, I went with the easiest one. 😛
It’s the time of the year again when the Greenheart trees in Suriname turn to yellow and shower their petals on the ground, making it a bed of flowers. This happens usually around August to November, a sign that the dry season has come.
I welcomed June with a full tummy and an extra weight. Ugh. My week started with two birthdays, two anniversary celebrations and one we-dont-have-salary-yet-so-we-are-going-to-cook-lechon kind of party! The last one is funny because it’s true! It’s one of the best thing I like being Filipino. Even if we don’t have any money, we still find a reason and a way to celebrate and bond with friends. 😀
JUNE 1: WADE’S BIRTHDAY AT SCHOOL
We celebrated it in his school along with his classmates. I made a separate post about it here since it’s Nikolaj’s first children’s party.
JUNE 2: THE LECHON PARTY
A combination of Wade’s birthday, Cailey’s 13th month birthday, Angelica&James’ anniversary and Ella&John’s anniversary. And yes, we didn’t have salary yet, but we were able to eat lechon!
Star of the night
JUNE 3: RADJIN’S BIRTHDAY
This is not a Filipino party, but some of the visitors are Filipinos. 😀 This is the first time I attended a Hindustan birthday celebration. They have this tradition of popping three balloons filled with confetti on top of the celebrant’s head.
JUNE 6: ANGELICA AND JAMES’ ANNIVERSARY
Also called as the Papancit party with lechon paksiw. Filipinos always know how to make use of the leftover lechon. 😉
JUNE 7: ELLA AND JOHN’S ANNIVERSARY
A.K.A. the Batchoy party. We need to find a way to make use of the leftover lechon!
I just hope it’s easy to lose the weight I gained this week. 😛
LOCATION: Hoek Bindastraat 69, Paramaribo, Suriname OPENING HOURS: Monday to Thursday, 7:00 am to 12:00 am; Friday and Saturday, 7:00 am to 2:00 am; Sunday, 4:00 pm to 12:00 am CONTACT NO: +597 530490
LOCATION: Lalla Rookh Weg 22a, Paramaribo, Suriname OPENING HOURS: Tuesday to Thursday, 8:00 am to 11:00 pm; Friday & Saturday, 8:00 am to 12:00 am; Sunday, 9:00 am to 11:00 pm
Holi Phagwa also known as the Festival of Colors is celebrated every March in Suriname. It marks the victory of good over evil. It is a celebration where people (friends or strangers alike) smeared each other with different colors as a sign of love and belongingness.
In other Hindu tradition, it is a day for leaving the past and conflicts behind. It also signifies the coming of the new season, Spring, and people symbolized it as a start of a new beginning.
Keti Koti is a Sranantongo word that means “the chains are broken” or “the chains are cut”. It marks the end of slavery in Suriname from the Netherlands in July 1, 1863.
Keti Koti became a national holiday and is celebrated every July 1 in Suriname, Dutch Antilles and in major Dutch cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
