and then your whole world changes

Isn't it great to know that you cannot control your world from the outside? To try and control things on the outside feels impossible because it would take so much work, and in fact it is impossible according to the law of attraction.

To change your world all you have to do is manage your thoughts and feelings on the inside of you, and then your whole world changes.

- lessons from The Secret 

the grotto

In one of my previous posts I mentioned a "secret" project Paya's Grounds Team was working on. Time to reveal the full 411. While working on one of the new hamaca stations, the team discovered this cool grotto at the bottom of one of the cliffs. While it only goes about nine feet into the cliffside, once past the narrow entrance, two adults can comfortably sit inside (with much space to spare). It's a great spot for a photo, to meditate, commune with the sea, have a deep conversation, and/or enjoy a medicinal spliff. The guys built a rustic access to it. In the photos that follow, Sharlett, Paya's sweet, engaging bartender, checks out the cavern for the first time.

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

famous

The famous Zen Path. Only at Paya Bay!

quote of the day

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

One of my heroes.

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.