17/04: It’s a gloomy day today. We’re on our way to Atjonie, with Dick's mom and uncle, where we will catch a boat to Apiapaati. On the boat, we experience the “rain” in rainforest, as it has been pouring for over three and a half hours straight as shown in the first video below. Drenched, we arrive on Apiapaati, having just enough time to place all our baggage in the main hut before another rainfall. Hours later, we collect in the main hut for a warm meal, and discuss the events of tomorrow. Late that night, we leave the island to collect some data in the forest.
18/04: Waking up early in the morning, we head out to the other side of the river, to collect data again on the same transect. After breakfast, we leave for Bendekonde to head up to the Ananasberg to collect cassava to make cassava bread back in the village. This was a successful and fun afternoon. Going to the Tapa Watra, we got to relax a little from rasping and smashing the cassava. That night we went into the forest again to collect the data for our research.
19/04: It was the grand day of the Gran dan. After having visited the village again and taken a look at Djumu, one of the health centres along the Suriname river, we passed through the village Godo to get on a boat there to Gran Dan. The river was too high for us to jump in, with the exception of Dick and Peto of course as shown in the second movie below! The parents present were at first not sure whether or not is was safe to tube down the rapids, but after one passed by on the airhead, everyone wanted to go. Jeanne was definitely the bravest mother out there! Jeanne and Floris were having a nice brother/sister moment as well as they found themselves a nice place under a little waterfall to sit down and relax with a beautiful view of the rapids. Back on Apiapaati, everyone was exhausted and ready to get into their sweatpants and a comfortable hoodie.
20/04: The day of departure has come for us once again. Everyone woke up early to see the beautiful sunrise above the Suriname river. Fortunately, this meant that we weren’t going to have to face bad weather again, and were able to enjoy the boat trip a little more to Atjonie. Back in Paramaribo, we thanked everyone, especially the parents, for the awesome participation on each day. I believe the Gran Dan has been the highlight for most.
18/04: Waking up early in the morning, we head out to the other side of the river, to collect data again on the same transect. After breakfast, we leave for Bendekonde to head up to the Ananasberg to collect cassava to make cassava bread back in the village. This was a successful and fun afternoon. Going to the Tapa Watra, we got to relax a little from rasping and smashing the cassava. That night we went into the forest again to collect the data for our research.
19/04: It was the grand day of the Gran dan. After having visited the village again and taken a look at Djumu, one of the health centres along the Suriname river, we passed through the village Godo to get on a boat there to Gran Dan. The river was too high for us to jump in, with the exception of Dick and Peto of course as shown in the second movie below! The parents present were at first not sure whether or not is was safe to tube down the rapids, but after one passed by on the airhead, everyone wanted to go. Jeanne was definitely the bravest mother out there! Jeanne and Floris were having a nice brother/sister moment as well as they found themselves a nice place under a little waterfall to sit down and relax with a beautiful view of the rapids. Back on Apiapaati, everyone was exhausted and ready to get into their sweatpants and a comfortable hoodie.
20/04: The day of departure has come for us once again. Everyone woke up early to see the beautiful sunrise above the Suriname river. Fortunately, this meant that we weren’t going to have to face bad weather again, and were able to enjoy the boat trip a little more to Atjonie. Back in Paramaribo, we thanked everyone, especially the parents, for the awesome participation on each day. I believe the Gran Dan has been the highlight for most.