it's "cold" in roatan!

Google says it's currently 72 degrees (22 C) in Roatan. An Arctic cold front (largely defanged by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico) has been sliding across the Gulf of Honduras the past 48 hours. After some stormy weather, a gentle, cold rain is now falling outside. Note that the forecasted high for tomorrow is a mere 78 degrees (26 C). I've experienced it getting as cold as 65 degrees (18 C) here in the Bay Islands, but this is our more typical winter chill. After the front moves through, we'll get glorious, sunny beach weather again. Winter in the Caribbean!

Map: NOAA

couldn’t be more out of touch

When Trump was elected, I only hoped that the President Trump would be different that the campaigner Trump. That the xenophobic, misogynistic and narcissistic rhetoric would be replaced with a more humble and measured approach to leading our country. I was wrong. And the Muslim ban is just the latest example of someone who couldn’t be more out of touch with our country and the right way to move forward.

- Michael Bradley, U.S. men’s national soccer team captain

beautiful bliss

A mid-Winter study in the beauty of Bliss Beach.

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

video: daddy yankee: shaky shaky

The delicious energy and smoldering sensuality of Latin America.

my new world leader in action

The admirable Mr. Trudeau. A man I think we can all get behind. #newworldleader

funny (not so funny) stuff

community meeting

This evening Paya Bay hosted a meeting of community leaders and activists from the two largest villages of Roatan's East End: Diamond Rock and Camp Bay. Laura Bodden, our senior community leader/activist, chaired the meeting. In mid-2016, the Honduran central government approved funding for the paving of the East End road (a mere 12 kilometers, the only remaining unpaved section of the island's main road). The road work is supposed to commence any moment now as the rainy season winds down. Funding for this key infrastructure project had already been approved a few years ago, only to later be redirected by corrupt politicians in Tegucigalpa looking out for their own personal interests, instead of the interests of the Bay Islanders. We Roatan East Enders are determined to not let such a travesty happen again. The consensus is that we must pressure our local government authorities and politicians to ensure the road paving project becomes a reality this time around. It was awesome to see many new, young community activists attend and participate. We're fired up! Ready to go!

Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

Map: Google Earth

yoga messiah

Tania Rozsypalova, the East End's amazing new "yoga messiah," continues to do beautiful work with the local Diamond Rock kids, introducing them to yoga and finding ways to enrich their life experiences. Great work, Tania!

Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

Photos: Tania Rozsypalova

the internet is so funny!

"Melania giving Michelle Her Speech Back." Hilarious! ROFLMAO!

Mrs. Obama's facial expression says it all!

Priceless.

photo of the day

Captured this one this evening in Paya's dining room with my phone's camera.

internet comment of the day

You Russians, imbued with that ageless totalitarian mentality that mistakenly believes that Americans and Westerners in General are "Soft" and will not fight for causes that they consider vital to their survival or the preservation of their freedoms . That is, of course the same logic and consequently, the same MISTAKE that Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese militarist under Hideki Tojo thought when they initiated war against the West along with all their succeeding dictators of the post-war era including Saddam Hussein who made that same exact mistaken assumption during the First Gulf War.

I think that the West proved through it's Victory against the Axis forces in the West and it's successful containment of the Soviet Communist threat in spite of Russian provocations and aggression during the 45 years of the Cold war that the ANY attempt to use violence and force against it will result in consequences that ANY aggressor could not bear to suffer.

I'm of the old school of Deterrence. Just like it was practiced during to last Cold War. You Russians only respect one thing and one thing only. STRENGTH. You respect strength and despise weakness. Whatever the reason for that is not important. What is important is that in order for the PEACE to be preserved there must be RESPECT and the only way to get that from you Russians is to have superior strategic power. Not parity, but superiority then the peace will be preserved.

PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH first, last and always

- KREMTROLLINSECTSPRAY, commenting on the Washington Post article "European leaders shocked as Trump slams NATO and E.U., raising fears of transatlantic split"

wow! wow! WOW!

Roger and Mila, special guests from Australia, discover the new misting station, part of the new Payaná Nature Spa project. Undoubtedly, these are two of the most awesome photos I've ever taken, particularly the top one. The Magic of Paya!

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.