Five Points - Paya Bay

Five Points - Paya Bay

This afternoon I took a photo of this amazing spot near Paya Bay's Bliss Beach where five of our nature trails converge. It reminds me of the famous Five Points subway station in Atlanta, Georgia, a city where I spent ten amazing years of my life. For those unfamiliar with Atlanta, Five Points is the CENTRAL station in downtown ATL where all the subway train lines come together. It's one of many Atlanta-Roatan connections at Paya Bay!

Five Points - Atlanta

photos from this morning's walk

The beauty one can enjoy on the nature trails at Paya Bay is so good for the soul.

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

punarhanma

Punarhanma, our newest trail at Paya Bay, is named after the sanskrit word for rebirth. It starts at the Ananda Yoga Pavilion, as it should. It is a spiritual, magical. mystical trail.

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

repairing the seaside trail

Now that the Buccaneer Landing platform has been completed, we are continuing the post-storm repair project by tackling the Seaside Trail, also damaged by last year's Polar Vortex winter storm. So far, about one third of this awesome shore-hugging walking path between Buccaneer and Secret Cove has been reconditioned. Its strong association with the good energy of the sea makes the Seaside Trail one of Paya Bay's most spiritually impactful features. I've found that it's impossible to walk this trail mindfully and not emerge from the experience spiritually transformed in a very positive way. Facing west, this trail's energy is particularly powerful right before and during the sunset hours. I'm thrilled we're getting the Seaside Trail completely back online!

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

photos of the day

The Trellis Tunnel. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

famous

The famous Zen Path. Only at Paya Bay!

seaside trail gets some love

This week, Paya Bay's Grounds Team completed a general repair and upgrading of the Seaside Trail that leads to Secret Cove. The trail is much more uniformly level and smooth now. The map below the photos highlights the area of the property where this maintenance work took place.

the sky trail

I went for a walk on the Sky Trail yesterday afternoon and took the photos that follow. The Sky Trail is the newest addition to the growing network of nature trails at Paya Bay. It was named "Sky" because it runs through the higher elevations of a rocky ridge that runs through our 22-acre property; as a result, it has several remarkable vistas of the sky, the ocean, the barrier reef, the beaches, the coves, and/or the green hills of Roatan island.

the sky trail

Views of the tropical vegetation and fascinating rock formations along the Sky Trail (this section of the trail is near the Ananda Pavilion). Some family friends call this part of the property "Daviland," as my low-impact, respectful approach to development is used throughout it. :) Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras. See the resort's map.

*The salt in the ambient air is starting to work its magic on my camera. Can you tell? Salty air is great for humans but not so much for hyper-sensitive electronics.

zen path highlighted

It was recently brought to my attention that Greg Benchwick, author of Lonely Planet's Honduras and the Bay Islands travel guide, highlighted Paya Bay's Zen Path on the author's page (p4) of the 2010 edition of the guide. Greg posed for a photo at the beginning of the path (above, upper right). He wrote:

On the Zen Path as always (after all, even Buddha had a little belly) on a secret trail at Paya Bay (p220) on Roatan. The trail leads to the island's only nude beach. I wore my clothes (tsk, tsk, not very Zenlike), taking the time to go for a quick swim on the pitch-perfect beach with my lovely wife.

The Zen Path was one of the first projects I spearheaded when I returned to Paya Bay four and a half years ago. Prior to being upgraded, it existed as an informal, largely undefined little track I spent countless hours exploring as a kid in the 1970s when my parents started acquiring the lands at Paya Bay. The path winds its way along the edge of a cliff with delightful views of the rocks below, the ocean, the reef, a forest of palms, and ultimately, the sacred beach. The upgrade of the path simply involved widening it and carefully defining it in certain areas using a very low-impact approach in order to keep the rustic innocence that means so much to me. It's very heart touching to see something that is such an intimate part of my personal history being spotlighted on the world stage. There is only one Zen Path! Just like there is only one Paya Bay!

Images: Lonely Planet 

the magic of paya

I know I'm biased as I have the good fortune of living here, but I must say there are few things better for the soul than a walk around Paya Bay on our network of nature trails and paths. This is particularly true if the walk is done an hour or so before sunset and one is practicing the spiritual lesson of being present. No matter what mood you are in at the beginning of the walk, at the end you're smiling from ear to ear and in the best spirits. The magic of Paya!

trail to ananda

The beautiful section of the Sky Trail leading to the Ananda Pavilion. The vegetation in this area of the property is so amazing.

Miguel Padilla and his construction team are currently building the stone stairs that lead from the Sky Trail up to the pavilion.

The new stairs from another perspective.

Fascinating tropical flora abounds. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

photo of the day

Stairs leading to Buccaneer Landing. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

Photo: Tammy and Charles McKay

the seaside trail

The Seaside Trail at Paya Bay Resort. These photos go out in honor of the Japanese people. May peace and serenity return to their lives.