Villa Zapakara — Kampong Tour

The Kampong Tour is a sixty-minute guided tour through the world of Javanese-Surinamese culture. But don't expect glass cases and do-not-touch signs. Here you join in.

You find out how Javanese indentured labourers came to Suriname more than a century ago and brought with them a culture that has survived here as nowhere else in the world. You hear the difference between the Indonesian gamelan and the Surinamese version. You take part in the shadow theatre with the Kantjil stories. You make your own batik garland or a Javanese snack. You taste the strength of a jamu, a traditional herbal drink. You join in the Javanese line dance. And if you're brave, you have a go at Pencak Silat, the Javanese martial art.

All in one hour. All hands-on. All real.

Highlights

• Gamelan and shadow theatre
  Listen to the Surinamese gamelan and take part in the shadow theatre with the Kantjil stories
• Make it and taste it
  Make a batik garland, prepare Javanese snacks and drink jamu — you won't go home empty-handed
• Pencak Silat and line dance
  From martial art to dance, Javanese culture is more than food and music