a fresh perspective

Recent guests Erin and Joaquin shared these great photos they took of their Paya experience!

Learn more about our naturism program. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

wifi hotspot

Kids from our local community of Diamond Rock will sometimes come to the public areas of the resort to access our Internet wifi connections on their mobile devices. We smile upon this as we know Internet access opens a whole new, fascinating world to them.

sunday lunch at the happy house

Yesterday Mom and Dad had Brooke, Fernando, and me over to their home for Sunday lunch. My niece Michelle and her boyfriend Andrés later joined us as well. We call my parents' home "The Happy House" because that's what it is. I hope this becomes a Sunday tradition!

Photos: Brooke and Fernando

my childhood hero

Growing up in the significantly isolated, WAY-off-the-beaten-track Roatan of the 1970s, one comic book that was intermittently available was "Kalimán - El Hombre Increíble." While I was in primary school, there was even a daily, after-school, half-hour radio show series that I didn't miss! Kalimán's signature spoken wisdom was, "Serenidad y paciencia, Solín, mucha paciencia..." (Serenity and patience, Solín, MUCH patience...) Kalimán would always say this to Solín (his young sidekick) in his calm, deep, resonant, masculine voice whenever they were in some difficult situation with an apparently tragic outcome. For example, they (and the girl) are all tied up and being slowly lowered into a pit of hungry crocodiles. Invariably, Kalimán would tap into his deep reservoir of wisdom, use his mystical powers and mind control, and execute some amazing sequence of actions that would rescue them from the life-threatening crisis a split second before the crocodiles took their first chomp. The next day at school, during recess, all us kids would ardently discuss the exciting adventures of our superhero the day before. Unfailingly, at least one of us would quote him, deepening our voice and slowing the cadence of our speech, "Serenidad y paciencia, Solín, mucha paciencia..." 

From Wikipedia:

Kalimán is also famous for the wise phrases he uses to teach his child companion Solín. Among these are the following: "There is no force on Earth greater than the human mind; he who masters the mind, masters everything." "Serenity and patience, much patience," and "There is always a way when we use our intelligence." "Fear is a bad advisor;" "Revenge is a poor consolation;" "There are no bad people in the world, but there are good people who let others do bad things." "Who risks not wins not." "Not even a leaf of a tree moves without the will of the Almighty." "The mind's eye sees farther." "Even the longest road starts with a single step." "Man is not born to be the slave of another; I am free and always will be." "Only the coward dies twice." "Freedom is the essence of life." "Love is the most powerful force in the universe." "Who brings peace opens any door." "Do not seek false paths, the truth is within you." "Life ends and begins with a vision of hope."

Kalimán was awesome, man!

sharing

Lots of sharing and 'helping others out' occurs at Paya Bay. This spirit of cooperation can be observed all of the time in the spectacular nature that surrounds us here. The photo above is "Exhibit A." The branches of this tree serve as sturdy and beautiful bases for non-parasitic bromeliads. Note also the brown termite tunnel running along the underside of this limb. The termite tunnels are a marvel of insect "civil engineering" themselves -- every single major branch of every single tree on the property has one. Termites never attack living plant tissue, but the moment a branch or twig dies, they don't waste a second converting it (directly or indirectly) into food for their colony, or into building materials for their infrastructure projects. In undisturbed nature, stored energy originating from the sun is always being harvested, converted, recycled, and used in very efficient ways. There is no waste. Something for us 'higher intelligence' beings to ponder.

Photo: Joanne and Matthew

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 over six billion people asked for these things for you?

- lessons from The Secret

toys for tots

Joni, a guest visiting Paya Bay Resort this week from Houston, TX, brought toys and some school supplies to give to the more disadvantaged kids in the local community. What a beautiful gesture!

show n tell

A guest shares photos from his diving experience. Part of the 'Magic of Paya Bay' is that guests usually become friends with other guests and the resort staff while staying here.