On Thursday December 11, 2014 we visited Hofi Mango for a second time. The first time in April 2011 was made possible by Dirk who got permission from the people that live here; this time we visited for two reasons; we hoped to find the indigo tanks of Santa Cruz and we celebrated the last hike of Dirk. He is moving back to The Netherlands by the end of this month.
At 8 AM the gate was opened for us and we parked our cars next to the sugar mill. Some of us got a short tour through the restored sugar mill. After a short while we started our search for the indigo tanks. They are supposed to be downwind from the plantation house and in the neighborhood of water. So we went in Westerly direction where a number of roi's can be found on the Werbata map.
Because of the rain season the nature is very lush. We stayed mainly on paths so the hike was not very difficult. In the area where we hoped to find the indigo tanks we didn't find anything. We continued our hike through and sometimes next to a roi where we especially looked at the bottom part of the slope. Indigo tanks need a bit of a slope because the water has to flow from the top tank (rotting tank) into the middle tank (beating tank) and then, at the end of the process, into the small bottom tank (catch tank). But also there no traces of an indigo tank. At one place we found a wall, not the normal straight wall that was used to separate areas or as a border between plantations, but a small wall with a straight section and on both ends a curved section. But no plaster on any of the sides, just stacked rocks. It is unclear to us what this structure is used for.
After a while we decided to go back to the area where a few wells are indicated on the map. A very nice area with a lot of trees, mango trees, coconut trees, Barba di yonkuman and also some Kapok trees. And high grass next to the roi.
We found a well that was not marked on the map and Hetty decided to inspect the mill that is used to pump up the water. The others took the traditional apple break. After I ate my apple I decided to go looking for the well that is indicated on the map. I didn't find it at the indicated spot. Apparently the map is off in this area and the well with the mill is the one that is marked on the map.
We continued our hike in the direction of the Seru Warawara but decided after a short while to save that area for a third visit. We went back to the sugar mill where we enjoyed the drinks and snacks that Dirk had prepared for us. After a few speeches and presents this last hike with Dirk came to an end. We all wish him the best in The Netherlands and expect him to join us on his vacations to Curaçao.
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Our track through Hofi Mango
The restored old sugar mill
The grave of Willem van Uytrecht
The grave
Flower of a Tuna-like cactus
Large mango trees give the hofi its name
Remnants of a dead Tuna cactus
Nice flowers everywhere
A small grasshopper in the flower of the Hibiscus phoenicius
Very lush vegetation in the hofi
Very large Mango trees; look at the size of the people
Also here several mushrooms
Fungi on the trunk of a tree
Strange wall; straight section with two curved ends
Spider at the underside of a rock
Tiny flowers
Hetty inspecting the mill on the well
Time for a break
Barba di Yonkuman with two yonkuman beneath it
Another mango tree
Tiny insect in a small flower
This tree had a good defense mechanism
Small caterpillar on my hand
Kareljan thanks Dirk with a gift
A special coin found in the asphalt lake
Also Eddy has a gift for Dirk
François hands over the gift from the group
The book about the Mediator
Dirk's farewell speech
