Hofi Mango 20141211 012 smallOn 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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  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_001Our track through Hofi Mango
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_003The restored old sugar mill
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_006The grave of Willem van Uytrecht
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_009The grave
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_015Flower of a Tuna-like cactus
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_017Large mango trees give the hofi its name
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_018Remnants of a dead Tuna cactus
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_021Nice flowers everywhere
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_025A small grasshopper in the flower of the Hibiscus phoenicius
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_027Very lush vegetation in the hofi
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_028Very large Mango trees; look at the size of the people
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_034
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_036Also here several mushrooms
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_037
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_040Fungi on the trunk of a tree
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_041
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_045Strange wall; straight section with two curved ends
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_046
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_047Spider at the underside of a rock
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_050Tiny flowers
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_052Hetty inspecting the mill on the well
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_054Time for a break
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_062
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_064
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_065
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_068Barba di Yonkuman with two yonkuman beneath it
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_075Another mango tree
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_077Tiny insect in a small flower
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_082
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_084This tree had a good defense mechanism
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_087Small caterpillar on my hand
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_090Kareljan thanks Dirk with a gift
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_093A special coin found in the asphalt lake
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_100Also Eddy has a gift for Dirk
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_104
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_105François hands over the gift from the group
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_107The book about the Mediator
  • Hofi_Mango_20141211_109Dirk's farewell speech