MEETING NATURE, MEETING MEN

Bhaktimarga Swami
2 days ago
2 min read

Wednesday, January 21st, 2026

Coronie, Suriname

Hiking westbound beyond municipal lights on the road through jungle was risky, but Glen and I took that chance, but it was Shantipriya who had the idea to drive his van at walking pace with headlights on in case we would run into predators. It was the first time in my marathon walking years (which is 30 this year) that I had my support guy right behind me. During this period, the rain came. Glen and I pulled out our umbrellas and undeterred, forged ahead. We made it to a landmark, the Saramacca Doorsek Bridge over the mighty Coppename Rivier. There, we caught a beautiful breeze. And over that brug (bridge) it becomes even more defined as jungle. Suriname enjoys 93% tree cover, which is a world record for a nation. Monkeys, birds, lizards are abundant everywhere.

We did spot one man, Howard. He was chopping down grasses with a sickle. His shirt caught all of his upper body sweat. He stopped for a moment. We chatted. His hand was protected from blisters by the aid of a tattered mitt. We fist bumped instead of shaking hands.

“My name is Howard.”

“What are you doing?”

“Cutting grass for my cows. I have fifty.”

Howard touched my heart with his innocence and sincerity. They don’t make honest working labourers like this anymore, I thought, as I was reminded of my farm days before being a monk.

I also met another motorist. He sees me every day walking along as his business dictates his daily route. “Hare Krishna” he said.

In Paramaribo, ISKCON, I conducted a “Tales from Trails with a bonfire behind me. I didn’t think a fire was necessary. It’s already too hot.