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Beni's Christmas Palace In Suriname

 Beni's Christmas Palace In Suriname Just like in the photo above this text, I am okay but I am not completely okay. I feel awful on the inside and for a long time it was difficult to find the motivation to return to blogging.  Tomorrow's Christmas, so I mustered all of my strength to at least finish another episode. I've been gone for a while because as usual, life got hectic. But this time in a bad way! As you guys know a while ago I started a company in Suriname. Most of my days were spent creating Story Time episodes, working, doing social work or going along to get a taste of the field.  When we go to clients, sometimes I get to see awesome places. Or in between on our journeys we tend to make pitstops. This Story Time episode is supposed to be about my visit to Beni's Christmas palace. But let me tell you about what happened after that first. Just so you can understand how my Christmas spirit, transformed in the energy of mourning. People see the good, but I'l...

History Tour At Plantation Frederiksdorp

History Tour At plantation Frederiksdorp

" Shachem Lieuw at Plantation Frederiksdorp in Commewijne with police house 6 in the background politiewoning 6"



Hello my dearest Story Time friends, I am back with more travel adventures! This time I am writing to you about a hotel and resort located in Commewijne. Of course this isn't any ordinary hotel! Plantage Frederiksdorp ( Plantage means plantation in English) has a dark history! Suriname used to be a colony that the Dutch, Britisch, Portuguese and French fought over for a long time. We were a lucrative colony! Suriname had coffee, cocoa, sugar and cotton plantations that exported their products to the Europeans. Because of the plantation businesses sprouting through out this South American country, a lot of African slaves were imported by the West Indian Company. Taken away from their homes against their will they were placed on the auction blocks for the rich Surinamese plantation owners to bid on. Suriname was known as one of the countries with the cruelest slave masters! The dutch didn't play around with their torture games. Plantation Frederiksdorp, was one of those companies back in the day. Now the place has turned into a hotel and resort that highlights the history of Suriname. It took the Dutch extra long to abolish slavery in Suriname. That's why most of the slaves ran away from their plantations and fled to the the neighboring Guyana's in search of freedom! Of course some of them just ran and hid in the depths of the Amazon rainforest. There the jungle became their new home as they lost their old ones. Some of these tribes went to Sipaliwini, Marowijne and other areas of the country. From their new villages they would strategize, and build new lives for their people. The indigenous who were previously enslaved by the Europeans, helped them and thought them how to survive in this tropical jungle. Some of them even melted their villages. Others like Boni, Jolicoeur and Baron led attacks to free their brothers and sisters from the slave masters. They plundered the plantations and tried to free as many slaves as possible. When you visit plantation Frederiksdorp you get the opportunity to hear the stories of these Surinamese heroes. On the resort grounds they offer a Boni trail tour dedicated to the life of this Maroon leader who fought for the freedom of each slave till his last breath.Throughout the Surinamese history there were many tactics implemented by the Dutch and the West Indian Company to ensure that the plantation masters their property was protected from Maroon attacks, Foreign infiltration and greedy pirates that sailed like hungry vultures above our coast line. Until in 1863 finally, the slavery was abolished. Although by law the slaves weren't allowed to taste freedom from the plantation life just yet! They had to work for 10 more years on the plantations before they were allowed to leave. That's when the Netherlands began experimenting with immigrants from Indonesia, India, and China. Eventually they even began experimenting with farmers from their own countries. But none of them could stand the Surinamese climate and produce the same results as the slaves who were tortured and treated as stock. Most of these Immigrants were brought under false promises of riches to Suriname. They were told that we were like the land of Honey and Milk for the poor. Of course when they arrived here , it was a different reality. Even the immigrants were poorly treated and cruelly punished by the plantation owners. Frederiksdorp is one of the plantations that has had both slaves and immigrants. The tour guide who did the history tour around the plantation with us explained to us what life was like back then for the Frederiksdorp inhabitants. The slaves had to cook sugar in the giant sugar pots that can be found at the entrance of plantation Frederiksdorp. If they burned the sugar, it turned into caramel. Back then Caramel had no value for the slave owners, so they'd harshly punish the slaves for their mistakes. Sometimes they would even cook them in the caramel until their bodies turned into coal. Afterwards the corpses were thrown in the nearby river or creek. Later the plantation turned into a prison for immigrants. In one cell they'd prop as many immigrants as possible and gave them 1 bucket to urinate in and to relieve themselves. This bucked was cleaned once every 7 days.  There is a lot of things that you can learn from the History Tour at Plantation Frederiksdorp in Suriname. This tour is offered for free three times a day when you visit Plantation Frederiksdorp. I'd certainly recommend it if you want to better understand the dark history of Suriname. Most of the plantation buildings are restored and renovated to be exactly like the old model. The old buildings that you see on the hotel grounds are the same buildings that belonged to the slave masters. The hotel decided to keep the burn mark of the plantation as their logo. I understand that they want to preserve history, but to me it's a creepy thought to keep the mark they'd burn into the skin of slaves as your company's logo. But overall the free history tour at Plantage Frederiksdorp in Commewijne was educative. I got to learn the story behind the sights that we see. Of course I have a lot more content coming up for you guys, so make sure to follow or subscribe to my Story Time blog! Pray for me that my Surinamese Internet provider cooperates and allows me to share more of the awesome content I made for you soon! Of course I had to make a vlog of my visit to Plantage Frederiksdorp in Commewijne and the history tour that we went on. It's a fun trip to do, that's only takes 10 minuets with the boat across the Commewijne river from Marienburg. In the future I'll try to add some English subtitles onto the video for you guys since my tour guide was speaking Dutch. Creating content and making Story Time takes a lot of work behind the scenes. That's why I keep hinting that I got many stories more to share. 😅I appreciate all the support on my content, as that motivates me to keep making and sharing awesome stories with my Story Time tribe!💓 So don't forget to subscribe when you see that U.F.O. pop onto your screen! 👽👾🛸Can't wait to zap my new adventures straight into your inbox.  Are you planning your own trip soon? Check out Expedia, they offer amazing deals to make your travel dreams come true! As an affiliate partner I earn a commision when you purchase through this link. But don't let that stop you from booking your dream vacation! Enjoy my vlog guys, and until our next Story Time adventure together.📹💓


"Story Time logo in history tour at plantage Frederiksdorp in Commewijne episode"


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