Unordinary WanderLust
An exploration of anything tropical, from blue lagoons and crocodiles to margaritas in the shade of palm trees.
Paradiste – the Religion de Paradise
Paradiste.com is the home of “The Religion of Paradise” – a bold, irreverent celebration of tropical living, freedom, and living life on your own terms.
Embracing the philosophy that paradise is not just a destination but a state of mind, Paradiste.com combines vibrant storytelling, captivating imagery, and unconventional wisdom to inspire a lifestyle rooted in passion, adventure, and tropical sunshine.
At Paradiste.com, you’ll discover the Paradiste World Map – an evolving guide to the most stunning tropical destinations, curated with the spirit of escapism and exploration. Dive into the world of The Palm Tree Express, a coffee-table digital book celebrating the tenets of paradise.
Paradiste.com is a movement to redefine paradise for the modern soul. Join the tribe and embrace a paradise way of life.
Celebrate Life With a Thousand Caribbean Sunrises
Watching the sunrise out of the Caribbean Sea is something that anyone on Earth can do—and should! People often spend up to $100k to climb Everest, which nowadays is basically the world’s highest toilet. You need to be fit, and you need to tolerate long lines for your momentary visit to the peak.
There is no way to aptly describe what I have witnessed in over 1,000 sunrises, but I can tell you what I felt and thought. The beauty is like the aroma of your favorite meal: it tantalizes and assures you that you are experiencing something special.
The intricate and endless colors, constantly changing, create a passageway to a place you believe is there—a tropical paradise so perfect it envelops you or takes you in its arms to assure you everything is going to be okay.
What you see is rare, but what you feel is profound. And it happens every day. You can be 4 years old or 105; you can be rich or poor. It doesn’t matter. I have watched birds stare at a sunrise from a perch, and I have seen dogs stop in their tracks to watch a Caribbean sunrise.
It is impossible to think negatively in the moment. It is a celebration of being alive and understanding your insignificant place in the cosmos. It is the Religion of Paradise.
Action is Courage in the Face of Challenge.
Action builds courage by showing us what we’re capable of if we try. Without it, our true potential is never uncovered or understood. Like setting out on the open sea, we encounter our initial reluctance, but suddenly, it is too late to back out. As we move forward, confidence replaces doubt, and courage begins to gently flood our souls.
The act of facing the wild—whether it’s a new challenge, a risky decision, or an uncharted journey—allows courage to manifest through our actions. The more we push, the braver we become. We realize that we don’t always need to attain the Blue Ribbon to be a winner; the victory is daring to try.
True Tequila Secrets from Mexico
There is a tequila secret down south in this part of Mexico. This secret is only whispered late at night on a deserted beach.
Let’s listen in now…
“Ohhh, Pedro, I don’t have a bathing suit, and I am afraid of the sharks at night.”
Pedro whispers, “Senorita, that is not a problem. I assure you. It is a secret here that those who swim naked after drinking tequila will not be bitten by the sharks. The sharks hate it. It is true on my mother’s soul, I swear.”
The naïve Senorita asks, “Is that true Pedro?”
“Well, love, I know the tequila part is, but I am not one hundred percent sure about the no-no to bikinis. But the way I think of it, why take a chance, Senorita?”
“Hehehe, okay, Pedro, hand me the tequila and turn your back to me so I can undress.”
Pedro turns his back on the lovely Senorita, and while twisting his thin, black mustache, he replies, “Si, Senorita, I will not turn around, I promise.“
(An excerpt from my envisioned biography tentatively entitled, “Stuff Men Say To Get Laid.”)
Coconut: The Ultimate Tropical Travelers
Coconuts do many amazing things, but if you ask their neighbors about them, you’ll always get the same answer: “They’re quiet, keep to themselves, don’t go out much, and keep their area clean. They don’t go to seed or flower all over the place.” But when a coconut decides to go out, it knows no boundaries or borders; it’s on a mission to conquer the world’s tropical shores.
These tropical drifters can sustain a voyage of up to two years across the world’s oceans. They hitch a ride on major currents, floating as far as 8,000 kilometers to reach a sandy beach to put down roots. The secrets of how they navigate through all the chaos and open seas are currently beyond the scope of modern science.
Not just any beach, though—coconuts miraculously land only on tropical beaches, where conditions are perfect for a single coconut to grow into a tree that produces up to 10,000 coconuts.
You will notice in this photo the bend on the frond in the harvester’s left hand, which is because he was flapping the fronds to emulate flight. Cirque du Soleil has nothing on this man, as he is working without a net or a rope. Keep that in mind next time you buy a coconut.
A Song Without Music
Pain in paradise is a song without music. Her delicate smile radiated across the sand and far out to sea, reflecting the sun’s glow like a mirror. Through all her pain, she fought to protect the hope of her innocence: to survive. Her core was courage, and her aura transcended love. When you looked at her, you felt more than you could ever see. Her smile was her mask of invincibility — often surfacing even in her darkest moments of despair.
Absorbing the beauty into her heart, she strolled along the seashore, tracing the steps of the spirits’ shadows that walked before her — a barefoot angel barely making footprints in the sand. Wavering in the wind, palm trees whispered that everything was going to be okay — their fronds delicately dancing as the seagulls happily sang their songs.
No matter how beautiful a person or place may appear, terrible things can still happen. A Song Without Music (full story) was written in honor of the suicidal women who have crossed my path. Heartbreak and tragedy can strike anywhere, and anyone.
A life Without Travel is Like Love Without Sex
Music, love, and mystery will draw you around the world. They invite you, but only your passion and courage can take you there.
There are endless reasons to travel, but the only one that counts is yours. You can travel for a day, or even an hour, or you can travel for a lifetime. It is a difficult thing to define.
You can travel to the same place or a new place. You can plan it, or you can just go. It can be voluntary or necessary, but every journey counts. Each journey teaches you something and is rewarding in some way, even the difficult ones.
Travel is often overlooked, but it is only shunned by those who never experience it. Don’t fall prisoner to your hometown.
A life without travel is like food without spice or love without sex.
Getting Ready for Takeoff to a Magical New World
There is nothing quite like boarding the plane that will take you to paradise. It’s like a magical dragon or something. They bolt that door shut, and when they open it again, you have arrived in a new world. It is truly amazing, and you wonder why you waited so long.
Come fly with us, and someday—sooner than you expect—you too will make the flight.
There are other ways to get to paradise, but something about flying up above the clouds and imagining what awaits you when you come back down to earth is perfect. You feel like you conquered something indefinable, but so very real.
Adios Cold Places, it’s Sandals & Boardshorts From Now On
It all started in a cold place. But don’t get me wrong, cold places can be extremely beautiful, you just need to be dressed for it. I love the tropical lifestyle, but my roots are in snow and ice. I met a man once from Australia; the heat was his nemesis, so you never know how it works. I am not exactly the “Man from Snowy River, ” but I know the area. The parka and moonboots are gone, I call it smart downsizing. From now on, it’s sandals and boardshorts for me. Planes are amazing – you can completely change your life by sitting in one for a while. I recommend you do it.
I think this image is from the last millennium in Whistler, British Columbia. I used to enjoy getting up early, drinking some coffee while sampling some of the local indoor harvest, and going out in search of bears to photograph. I stumbled onto this plane setting, and it is one of my all-time favorite images. The bear cub was one of three, and its gigantic mother tolerated me. Granted, I gave her and her babies the respect they deserved.
