When Daniel, an architect from Amsterdam, booked his ticket to Paramaribo, he was seeking inspiration. The blend of Dutch colonial architecture and tropical vibrancy had intrigued him for years. What he didn’t expect was to find inspiration not in the buildings, but in a chance encounter that would stay with him long after the trip.
On his first evening in the city, Daniel strolled along Waterkant, Paramaribo’s riverside promenade. The golden hour cast a warm glow over the Suriname River, and the air buzzed with energy from food stalls and laughter. As Daniel ordered a plate of fried plantains drizzled with peanut sauce, a woman standing nearby smiled and said, “Good choice. That’s the best one here.”
Her name was Tara, a local artist of mixed Indian and Javanese heritage. What began as a conversation about food quickly turned into an animated discussion about their favorite cities, art, and Suriname’s unique blend of cultures. “Let me show you the real Paramaribo,” she offered, as the night deepened and the city lights twinkled along the river.
Their first stop the next day was Independence Square, where Tara explained the city’s colonial past. Standing in front of the stately Presidential Palace, Daniel admired how the Dutch influence merged with the tropical surroundings. Tara then guided him to Keizerstraat, where the Arya Dewaker Hindu Temple stood proudly beside the Neveh Shalom Synagogue. “This street is Paramaribo in a nutshell,” Tara said. “So many cultures, side by side, in perfect harmony.”
Lunch was at a bustling Javanese warung (street café), where Tara introduced Daniel to her favorite dish, soto ayam, a fragrant chicken soup filled with spices and rice noodles. As Daniel savored the flavors, Tara shared stories about her family—her grandmother’s journey from Java, her father’s roots in India, and how Suriname’s diversity had shaped her own identity.
That evening, Tara took Daniel to Torarica Resort for dinner by the pool. They feasted on bami and grilled shrimp, the soft notes of live music creating a romantic atmosphere. “Do you always show strangers around?” Daniel teased, and Tara laughed. “Only the ones who seem lost but open,” she replied.
On their last day together, Tara brought Daniel to Peperpot Nature Park, a lush expanse of forest where they walked shaded trails and spotted parrots and monkeys. As they stood on a wooden bridge, overlooking a quiet creek, Tara turned to Daniel. “You came looking for inspiration,” she said. “Did you find it?”
Daniel smiled. “Yes,” he replied, though he wasn’t thinking of the architecture anymore.
Their final stop was a small rum shop near Fort Zeelandia, where they toasted with glasses of Borgoe rum. Tara explained how rum shops had always been a part of Surinamese culture—a place for laughter, connection, and sometimes even love. As Daniel raised his glass, he knew that his time in Paramaribo had been about more than just history or culture. It had been about Tara and the unexpected spark that had turned his trip into something extraordinary.
