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Before a slave woman ran away into jungle from an eighteenth-century Suriname sugar plantation, she wove rice into her hair so that she would have something to plant. Under her breasts and her skirts she hid a piece of cloth, a kitchen knife, some thread or a spoon -anything of practical use that she could successfully carry away into an unknown new life fraught with uncertainty and danger. (Photo above: Miss Alida 2003 is Joan Dogojo.)

This was a time referred to by historians as "the golden age of Suriname" because of wealth exported in form of sugar, coffee, cotton, tobacco and timber. Plantation life under Dutch colonial rule was hideous for black men, women, and children. The Dutch were such cruel slave masters that, to keep their own slaves inline, American planters threatened them with sale to a Dutchman. Slaves who fled into jungle were known as Maroons, from French word marronage, or runaway.

Slavery was abolished in Suriname in 1863. Today, on July 1, descendents of these Maroons celebrate their independence. This day of dancing, eating, parading and dressing in traditional koto, is called Keti Koti, from Sranan Tongo words for "cut chains".

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If you're looking for a getaway, an island is always a great place to start. On rural islands, there is a thing that I call "island time." I'm sure someone else coined that phrase, but it basically means that frantic pace of city gets left behind as soon as you step onto ferry. In Friday Harbor, Washington on San Juan Island, it's a little harder to sense island time because Friday Harbor is touristier than other places in San Juan archipelago. There's even a movie theater and a shopping district.

But if you want best of both worlds -- a bit of island time while still having things to do when rusticity and quiet get to be too much for you, then Friday's Historic Inn (built in1891) might be a good place to start. It's quiet and tranquil while still being only two blocks from ferry terminal and next door to restaurants and shops.

The owners have menus from all local restaurants and can point you to best restaurant for your mood or diet. Since I was on a high protein diet that week, they sent me to a place called Back Door Kitchen, which not only had wonderful food, but helped me figure out what I could order and how I could swap things around on their menu to get a nice meal without too many carbs for same price.