dramatic

One of Paya Bay's new hamaca stations takes form atop its very privileged location. Note the emphasis on using construction solutions that are harmonious with the surrounding nature. I have a feeling this one will be a guest favorite.

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

ok

payarazzi

Special guests Dan and Jeanette of Ohio enjoy the evening Caribbean breeze on the main deck. This week they celebrate 35 years of sharing life together! Cheers, friends! It only gets better! Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

burns it all clean

Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host.
But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.

– Maya Angelou

If you haven't discovered the cleansing power of anger, now may be a good time. Believe it or not, it's OK to be angry! It's even OK to be fucking angry!

sweet

For you, Mom. I sure hope you've had an extra-special, love-filled, soul-energizing Mother's Month. I love you so much, Lurlene Editha Cooper Tatum de McNab! You taught me that we are all children of Infinite Love, Infinite Intelligence, Infinite Hope, Infinite Patience, and Infinite Possibilities. I'm convinced you are one of God's (the Universe's) most perfect and brilliant creations! I am deeply humbled by the good fortune of having you as my Amazing Mamá.

video: a zen experience

The canal through the mangrove forest that separates Roatan island from the island of Helene is an amazing natural wonder.

the more you can give, the more you will bring

Every single day, no matter who you meet in the day - friends, family, work colleagues, strangers - give joy to them. Give a smile or a compliment or kind words or kind actions, but give joy! Do your best to make sure that every single person you meet has a better day because they saw you. This might sound like it is not connected with you and your life, but believe me it is inseparably connected through cosmic law.

As you give joy to every person you meet, you bring joy to YOU. The more you can give joy to others, the more you will bring the joy back to you.

- lessons from The Secret

cherry on the sunday

Yesterday, a group of island friends and Paya Bay "gruends" (guests who've become friends) accompanied me on a boat trip to Helene. Geologically, the Helene land mass is simply a continuation of eastern Roatan. However, it's considered a separate island since a deep, wide canal through the mangrove forest separates it from its significantly larger Bay Islands neighbor to the west. Part of our trip took us through the clear, serene waters of this pristine, beautiful, intriguing waterway. (Island legends claim the canal was built using slave labor by 17th and 18th Century pirates to use as an emergency escape route should the English or Spanish navies drop in for a surprise raid. Certainly one of the gazillion possibilities.)

Our Sunday base camp was set up at Rocky Point, Helene where much-loved American friends have recently built vacation homes. There is excellent snorkeling to be enjoyed in the crystal-clear waters off this southwest corner of Helene. (Click images to enlarge).

Next we took a long, leisurely walk into Helene's surprisingly large town for some cultural adventure. Friend Layle, from Sidney, Australia and a teacher, was fascinated by the infrastructure of the town's kindergarten. Charlie, her puppy, rests under her chair.

We concluded our long sightseeing jaunt with a stop at a local bar. Friend Garry (of South Africa and - importantly - London) and Ms. Layle watch the Sunday afternoon Helene bar scene unfolding before them with guarded fascination as they take it all in.

Pressed by nature's call, Layle decided to try the bar's traditional over-the-sea island outhouse. Realizing our Aussie 'trust fund babe' was about to enter a whole new level of expanded reality, I was overwhelmed by the need to capture this momentous event as it unfolded!

"Oh! It's a pig pen!" Here she marvels at the above-the-sea pig pen at the beginning of the long, wood plank bridge leading out to the rest facility.

She realizes the narrow bridge also serves as an island sobriety test: Don't fall in the "interesting" water between the pig pen and the outhouse, and you pass. You may keep drinking!

It was a breezy experience I'm sure she won't soon forget. Afterwards she said to me with a hushed voice so as to not offend anyone, "Davinci, it goes straight into the sea!" I replied, "Well yeah! Did you see any fish? That's the best part!" I love it when First World friends have mind-bending, reality-shattering Third World experiences!

For the sheer fun of it, several of us piled into the local tuk-tuk taxi for a comical ride back to the Rocky Point area. We spent the rest of the afternoon swimming, snorkeling, and hanging with our American friends (and awesome Rocky Point hosts) Giovanna, Doug, and Ajian.

The Helene Experience was very interesting, exciting, and fun. Lots of unexpected twists! I've decided to start offering it as an optional snorkeling and adventure day tour from Paya Bay.

Map image above courtesy of Google Earth.

no one to dance with

Wonkette is pressing back hard! The wonkerati is fired up! Sample snark from this post:

"Shut up BITCH. If it weren't for gay people you fat chicks would have no one to dance with."

"Where the fuck is this church, in a Walmart?"

"Can anyone explain why fervent evangelism isn't considered a mental disorder?"

- Wonkette

what are these boys up to now?

Today I captured Paya Bay's Grounds Team as they worked on a new seaside project. These three guys have been doing amazing work together the last few weeks. Hard work. It's obvious to me that despite the level of difficulty they put lots of heart into their efforts. It shows in the quality of the results.

Glayson, Cesar (Team Leader), and Eric.

Glayson, one of the most honorable, well-intentioned young men on the island.

Eric. This kid's politeness and can-do attitude warm the heart.

What are they up to at the foot of the cliff? It has to do with the new hamaca stations, but the details are a secret (for now).

quote of the day

All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring.
We must never, ever be boring.

- Chuck Palahniuk

honoring unconditional love

Today, Paya Bay's Grounds Team completed the base work of a very special vista spot. (Gracias equipo!) This spot was chosen several months back to recognize and honor the life, light, energy, and love of an incredible woman. As promised, this one is for you, Mamita! Thank you for your beautiful spirit, Ms. Linda Compton. I will love you eternally.

Two glasses of wine, because... Linda! She'd not be happy otherwise.

The beautiful view from Vista Linda.

Some memorials have 'eternal flames.' I think my Atlanta/Miami friends would agree with me that in Linda's case, an 'eternal glass of wine' would be the most appropriate gesture. Mamita, I'm sure you would agree! (Only the best vintages available, of course, because -- sweetheart -- we're FABULOUS!)

mamita

During the first days of January of this year, my much-loved friend Linda Compton of Atlanta, Georgia transcended.

I met Linda in Atlanta through my soul brother Kevin Hernandez, soon after he and I became friends (mid-90's... Lord!). Linda had been Kevin's 'second mom' pretty much since he was a kid, and soon after our introduction (and after she thoroughly sized me up) she took me under her loving "momma wings" as well. For a close circle of us Atlanta friends Linda was our "Mamita," an amazing maternal presence of love, warmth, emotional support, and good humor in our lives. One awesome memory I have of Mamita is how happy she ALWAYS was to see me. She invariably greeted me with her huge, beautiful smile and sparkling eyes; a warm, tight, loving hug; and some variation of, "Daaaavvvvviiiiii! Mi'jo! I love you so much, Davi!"

Towards the end of her physical presence on this plane of consciousness, Linda's medical picture became very complicated and challenging. While she was still of sharp and lucid mind, however, I informed her I would build a special place to celebrate her life and her love here at Paya Bay. I even sent her pictures of the spot I had chosen. Having visited Paya Bay years back while still in good health, Linda surprised me by accurately recognizing the view from the selected spot. She said, "Davi, I'm just a regular person... I can't believe you would do something like this for me." Of course, knowing Linda as well as I did, I knew what she was really thinking: "Oh my gawd! Fabulous! I'm going to have my own little place at Paya Bay! Break out the vodka, bitches! Let's celebrate!" This happy, decadent, brash, unfiltered, effervescent spontaneity was but one of Ms. Linda's multiple charms, and one of many reasons she was loved so much.

Some of us Atlanta and Miami soul friends sharing beautiful moments together (circa 2003?).

Ms. Linda Compton of Atlanta. I love you so much, Mamita! Thank you for your beautiful, genuine, soul-nourishing, unconditional love. My love for you is bottomless and eternal.

video: the last human on earth

The last human? What a mind-challenging concept! Superb cinematography. Watch in fullscreen if possible.

bromeliaceae

Bromeliads (a.k.a. 'air plants') naturally abound in the jungly areas of Paya Bay's property. The photos that follow were taken from the Sky Trail.

Yep... It's paradise.

quote of the day

I'm the one that's got to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to.

- Jimi Hendrix

like arteries*

The beautiful, intricate, red limbs of the gumba limba trees (Bursera simaruba) can be closely admired and appreciated in The Heart of Paya (a wonderful rest stop on the Paya Trail). As my friend Lisa noted this past weekend, the smooth, shiny, vermillion limbs and branches of these hardy tropical trees are the 'arteries and veins' that surround and nourish the Heart of Paya. It's the perfect analogy. For several reasons, one does get the sensation of being inside an actual 'heart' while enjoying this natural space. I love it! Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

*Thanks, Lisa!

luckovich

LOL! Mike is my ideological (and twisted sense of humor) twin. Cartoon courtesy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

time to fornicate or somethin'

Another great Wonkette post! Some sample snark from the Wonkerati:

"Is there an island or something where all the Bible-obsessed can go and mutually masturbate and leave the rest of us alone?"

"Thanks for reminding me that if heaven is filled with assholes like this I'd rather spend eternity in hell. Time to fornicate or somethin'."

"I predict that this guy gets caught hustling in an airport bathroom, faster than you can say 'rentboy.'"

- Wonkette

ab fab memories

Last night my friend Lisa and I were reminiscing about our favorite lines from the 1990's hit British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous. Here's one of my favorite exchanges:

Mother: Oh, I must be getting that disease old people get.
Eddie: Alzheimer's
Mother: No, no. It's when you can't remember anything.
Eddie: ALZHEIMER'S!
Mother: No, that's not it. It starts with an A.

the canals

Trippy, surreal mangrove canals connect several island communities on eastern Roatan. A 'water taxi' tour of these canals and the seaside towns is a great little adventure.

Photo: Daria and Zenona

gearing up for a rocking 2013!

Paya Bay Resort's 2013 calendar has been published on our Web site! Our naturist friends will note that it's a very green calendar! Our most naturist year ever! Click here to view next year's Paya Calendar.

Remember, you can get 2012 prices by booking your 2013 naturist getaway now, placing a space-holding deposit, and then paying your full balance before midnight on Dec. 31, 2012.

The 2013 seed has been planted... C'mon naturist community, let's make Roatan 2013 rock!

If not now, when? If not us, who?

what we're up to

All of us busy little bees here at Paya Bay are in 'crunch mode' right now. Work continues to progress on the Bliss Beach Bar & Eco Lounge project (BB-BAËL?). The completion date has been set for November, 2012. At this precise moment a large amount of planning, resources, and energy are being directed toward completing the restrooms that will serve this new "OMG!" beachside facility.

As always, everything we build at Paya 3.0 is built to the highest standards and with utmost respect for existing nature. As can be observed in the center photo, the site for the restrooms structure was chosen because it is equidistant between two gorgeous, mature tropical trees. The goal was to minimize any human impact on either tree. When Mother Nature is happy, we know we're on the right track.

the rarest thing

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

- Oscar Wilde

photo of the day

Holding a star in the palm of her hand. The "magic of Paya" is ever present at the Ananda Pavilion. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

Photo: Daria and Zenona

only two ways

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

- Albert Einstein

mello sunday

The payarazzi captured scenes of a mellow Sunday afternoon at Paya...

Photos taken at Bliss Beach and the Ananda Pavilion. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

photo of the day

Water cascades down the cliff side into the plunge pool. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.