the sharpest tool

I actually am the sharpest tool in the shed.

- overheard

the great state of gratitude

When you exist in the great state of gratitude, you become a person who only wants to give. You become so grateful that it takes over your life, and you can't find enough opportunities in a day to give. You give joy, you give love, you give money, you give appreciation, you give compliments, and you give kindness. You give the best of yourself in your job, in your relationships, and to strangers.

You will know when you have really found true gratitude, because you will become a giver. One who is truly grateful cannot be anything else.

- lessons from The Secret

my only c

Photo of LSU Professor Emeritus, Dr. John Davidson (1925-2002). Dr. Davidson gave me a C in Finance 3201 (Business Law) in the fall of 1991. It's the only C I ever received during my 18-year academic career. I'll never forget this wise gentleman... how he challenged me, and all that he taught me.

by being shared

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

- Gautama Buddha

why it's called "bliss beach"

One of the most beautiful beaches (and the only clothing optional one) on Central America's Caribbean shores. Heaven.

YOU deserve this... You really do!  Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

from within

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

- Gautama Buddha

girls of paya

The fitness benefits of yoga can be noticed in many female forms here at Paya.

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

google earth: paya bay resort

The twenty-two acre peninsula that comprises Paya Bay Resort as seen using Google Earth. The Internet map service recently updated its satellite images of eastern Roatan, upgrading the data to circa 2010. It's now possible to get a quasi-"street view" of many locations on the eastern half of the island. Amazing!

photo of the day

A tropical bird visits the Ananda Yoga Pavilion. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

luckier you get

The harder you work the luckier you get.

- Gary Player, South African golfer

the black iguana

The Black Iguana Beach Lounge as viewed from clothing-optional Bliss Beach. We're aiming for mid-June, 2013 to launch this beautiful new venue. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

I know I must believe it

There are two kinds of people:
Those who say, "I will believe it when I see it."
And those who say, "To see it, I know I must believe it."

- lessons from The Secret 

new mid-week aa flights begin june 12

Starting June 12, American Airlines will add non-stop Wednesday service to its flight schedule from Miami (MIA) to Roatan International Airport (RTB). The airline currently only offers non-stop Saturday service to the island from its Miami hub.

Source: Proceso Digital [Spanish]

what if

cherries

Lisa continues to harvest plump, juicy, colorful, sun-ripened cherry tomatoes from Paya's organic herb and vegetable garden. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

someone rises up

There really can be no peace without justice. There can be no justice without truth. And there can be no truth, unless someone rises up to tell you the truth.

- Louis Farrakhan

island cowboys

Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

fruit flies, bananas

Time flies like the wind...
...fruit flies like bananas.

- a favorite quote of Shorty Bronkhorst (a very special South African man)

big val

Probably one of the oldest trees on the island, Big Val is located a few meters off the main road in the community of Diamond Rock in Roatan's lush, verdant East End. My friend Lisa is from a region of South Africa that lacks huge trees. She's always impressed by these tropical behemoths, this gnarly one in particular.

Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

así es la vaina

sneak preview: the black iguana

The Black Iguana Beach Lounge at Bliss Beach (a.k.a. the Bibl - pronounced "Bib-UHL") continues to manifest itself beautifully.

The view from The Black Iguana is... 

how shall we say?...

how about...

...F**king Fantastic! Paya  Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

a single word

All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.

- Winston Churchill

green iguana

This afternoon Lisa spotted this large male green iguana in a sea almond tree. It's wonderful that these beautiful animals have a refuge at Paya Bay where they mature undisturbed to reproductive age.

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

nothing is big or small

Most people can manifest the small things quickly. This is because they do not have any resistance around the small things, and because they don't think thoughts that contradict them. When it comes to the bigger things, however, people often emit thoughts of doubt or worry that contradict those bigger things. This is the only difference in terms of the time it takes for something to manifest.

Nothing is big or small for the Universe.

- lessons from The Secret 

the mangrove canals

A tour of the mangrove canals in the Oak Ridge/Jonesville area on Roatan's south shore (about 15 minutes from Paya) is a fun, interesting adventure that can be arranged through Paya Bay Resort.

desiderata : a child of the universe

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

indigenous

An indigenous-styled sculpture near the showers on Bliss Beach. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

Photo credit: Odeta Vaitkunas

landing in paradise

A special guest shared this interesting series of photos of her arrival flight's approach to Roatan's international airport (airport code RTB). The first two images after the map give a bird's eye view of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (the MBRS). This world-famous reef rings the entirety of our 30-mile-long island, along with multiple adjacent sister islands and cays that together comprise the enchanting Bay Islands of Honduras. Having its "official" genesis in the crystal-clear Caribbean depths north of Cancún; continuing spectacularly southward through Mexican, Belizean and Guatemalan waters; cutting sharply eastward and thoroughly embracing the Bay Islands archipelago; and then gently ending in the shallow waters of the fishing banks near the Honduro-Nicaraguan sea border, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is the second largest, more-or-less continuous, tropical reef structure on the planet.

 The last photo shows the "waterfront skyline" of charming Coxen Hole (yes, it is twistedly pronounced cocks-in-hole!), Roatan's main town.

Photo credits: Odeta Vaitkunas

overheard

I believe in moderation in all things...
...including moderation.

- overheard

photo of the day

The Garífunas perform on the main deck. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

believe

The things that come most quickly into your life are the things that you BELIEVE in the most. You can only bring to you what you BELIEVE, so you must BELIEVE to receive what you want.

- lessons from The Secret

welcome to paya!

Photos from today's wine and cheese welcome reception at the Ananda pavilion. This event is always a great welcome for our guests as they begin a week of adventure at Paya Bay!

 Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.