it's snowing in roatan!

Not really, but we're slowly covering the roofs of all buildings on Paya Bay's property with a special roof sealant/reflectant purported by its manufacturers to reflect 98% of the sun's heat energy. This rather expensive but eco-positive project should significantly reduce the energy needed to cool our buildings, along with our energy bills and their associated carbon footprint.

human rights

Derecho que no se defiende es derecho que se pierde.

- Latin American saying

Translation: A right not defended is a right that will be lost.

vriksasana

Special guest Julie from Los Angeles, California practices her Vriksasana (tree pose) after yesterday's yoga session at the Ananda Pavilion. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

happiness brings money

If you have "needing money" in your vibration, then you will keep attracting needing money. You have to find a way of being happy NOW, feeling good NOW, and being in joy NOW, without the money, because those great feelings are how you will feel with the money.

Money doesn't bring happiness - but happiness brings money.

- lessons from The Secret 

yoga gals

This past week was Paula Tursi's Mystical August Yoga Retreat at Paya Bay. Late Friday afternoon, a group of us went to La Sirena (an over-the-water bar and grill about 10 minutes from Paya) for the sunset and TGIF rum punches.

free pussy riot!

C'mon, Mr. Putin, do the right thing and free Pussy Riot. You are a respected world leader. More importantly, you represent the noble Russian people. Your historic role gives you a unique and critical opportunity to help lead humanity away from our shameful, misguided tradition of hate, fear, mistrust, bigotry, and repression. During the last several centuries -- and particularly the last one -- we witnessed the unspeakable horrors these poisonous concepts are capable of bringing into our reality.

Mr. Putin, please do your part to help coax the human collective unto a path of universal love, a worldwide focus on our commonalities instead of our differences, planet-wide implementation and respect for universal human rights, and -- ultimately -- achieving our species' stunning potential: Infinite Love, Infinite Good, Infinite Light, and Infinite Possibilities.

The whole world is watching, sir. It's your move. I've no doubt you'll step boldly in the direction of true justice for Pussy Riot. As we all learn on the playground in grade school, real men don't beat up women.

This little visit to my soapbox reminded me of the words of one of my favorite people:

There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.

- President Bill Clinton

Paraphrasing Mr. Clinton, "There is nothing wrong with humanity that cannot be cured by what is right with humanity."

a single soul

What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.

- Aristotle

so special!

A view of Bliss Beach from a new vista point that overlooks it. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

ask for everyone

When you ask for happiness and a beautiful life, ask not just for you, but for everyone. When you ask for something better, ask not just for you, but for everyone. By all means ask for abundance and health for you, but also ask for it to be given to everyone.

Can you imagine what would happen if six billion people asked for these things for you?

- lessons from The Secret 

delightful

Baskets of veggies continue to gently ripen in the afternoon sun in Paya's kitchen. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

quote of the day

I'll be honest with you, honey... I love Jesus, but I drink a little.

- Gladys, a frequent caller to the Ellen Show.

tropical beauties

Special guest Peter Van Aken shot these awesome photos. These beautiful flowers came into our lives by way of my maternal grandmother, Doris. Interestingly, lavender was one of her favorite scents.  Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

nearly complete!

Master Builder Miguel Padilla and his assistant Francisco Corrado take a break from the nearly completed construction of the Bliss Beach restrooms. These two gentlemen do amazing work!

The new facilities are looking very rustic and indigenous, fitting in nicely with the jungly landscape around them. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

look for the good in people

Trying to change someone is a waste of time. The very thought of changing someone is saying that they are not good enough as they are, and it is soaked with judgment and disapproval. That is not a thought of appreciation or love, and those thoughts will only bring separation between you and that person.

You must look for the good in people to have more of it appear. As you look only for the good things in a person, you will be amazed at what your new focus reveals.

- lessons from The Secret 

wow!

MAN! London and the U.K. really rocked these Olympics Games! Awesome job, Brits! Again, the Daily Mail has awesome photos of the Closing Ceremony!

Photos: Daily Mail

boom, boom!

A Garífuna beauty at the Tribal Beach Party. We're all Africans! Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

Photo: Lisa Bronkhorst

you flapped your wings

You flapped your wings that time, my friend! I've never seen you move that fast!

- Overheard

caribe point bight

A magnificent view of Caribe Point Bight, one of many gorgeous bays one can find on Roatan, one of the Bay Islands of Honduras in the Western Caribbean. I know I'm biased as a native Bay Islander, nonetheless, I'm convinced Roatan is one of the most beautiful places on this planet. Few come here and fail to fall in love with its lush tropical beauty and its smoldering, multi-ethnic, melting-pot culture.

from a to z

Lurlene and Paya Bay Staff,

Thank for sharing one of the most beautiful places we have ever been. Paya Bay is truly a gem of positive energy. (P.S. Zone 3 is my favorite ;)

- Tiffany Jones, M.A. Recent Paya Bay guest and author of Our Vacation Sex: From A - Z

alright then

Alright then...
I can't say 'no' twice.

- Overheard

mystical yoga retreat coming up!

Coming up in this astronomically significant August 2012, Paya Bay Resort is proudly hosting yoga master Paula Tursi of New York's Reflections Yoga for an energy-shifting yoga retreat. Being part of the Mayan civilization's geographic sphere of influence in pre-Columbian Central America, the island of Roatan is energetically well-located for this August 19 - 25, 2012 event. Grasp this off-the-beaten-track, mind-expanding immersion opportunity to improve your yoga practice and deepen your spiritual journey as you enjoy the idyllic beaches, crystalline Caribbean waters, colorful fish and coral reefs, verdant tropical environment, and happy black+brown+white island culture of our beautiful resort and the charming island of Roatan, Honduras. This mystical yoga experience can be booked directly through NYC's Reflections Yoga. More information.

Photos taken at Paya Bay's Ananda Pavilion during last year's Reflections Yoga event.

ernesto

Ernesto, whose center is currently 150 miles north of Roatan, has been upgraded to a category one hurricane. We are getting a steady downpour of rain from the storm's outer bands and occasional gusts of strong wind. The storm is forecasted to continue moving west toward the Yucatan Peninsula. Best wishes go out to our Belizean and Mexican neighbors.

Image: NOAA

love is the only way

The law of attraction cannot change anything in your life that you hate, because hate prevents the change from coming. Since the law is giving us exactly what we are putting out, when you hate something the law must continue to give you more of what you hate. You will not be able to move away from it. Love is the only way.

If you focus completely on the things you love, then you are on your way to a beautiful life.

- lessons from The Secret

yum, yum

Wencina, one of two stars in our food service department, proudly displays a spread of sides to accompany delicious beer-roasted chicken. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

the 'her' she wants to be

I love her! I love the 'her' she wants to be.

- Overheard

green bliss

The natural intensity and energy of Bliss Beach. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

better sooner

In living life, it's better sooner rather than later.

- Susan Jensen (a South African friend)