Why Panamá?

Sunrise in Puerto Lindo, Panamá


I am always on the lookout for ways to sustain my wanderlust. A few months back, I received an email from a lodge owner who found my ad on the ecotropical resort site, and we began to communicate. She owns a house with two guest rooms in Panamá, on the Caribbean Coast. Click for Panama Adventures. Annie bought her tropical getaway five years ago.

Her property is located in the Portobelo National EcoParque, where both rainforest and marine life are protected. Annie lives on the banks of a river and a short walk from the fishing village of Puerto Lindo, population 300. It is truly tropical rainforest with five species of monkeys, over 900 species of birds, including toucans, parrots, and quetzals. There is an interesting array of animal species due to Panamá´s unique location between North and South America. Its rich history is evidenced by the remains of forts and cannons, churches and cultural traditions. The coast from Portobelo to beyond Puerto Lindo is famous for its protected bays and inlets, used by boaters since pirate times. Some of the visible history dates to the early 1500's. Today the bays are dotted with pricey yachts flying flags of many countries. The area is a jumping off point for hitchhiking sailors bound for South America. Panamá's north coast is a beautiful and interesting little corner of the world, and although it has a long wet rainy season, it is not in hurricane alley.

Annie has been alternately working in the States and on her property every few months to reach her goal of opening a guest house and setting up snorkeling, kayaking and fishing excursions. She thought she was ready to open this year, on her autumn visit. We talked about me going to "resort sit", once she opened for business and then had to go back to her US job to earn more money for continued improvements. She would like to build palapas and acquire more water sports equipment. One of the tricks of operating a guest lodge in the tropics is that once you open those doors and take the first reservation, set up online services with tour operators, etc., those doors need to remain open. It's smart for Annie to line someone up to stay there, continue to check the bookings, and receive the guests who have made reservations for periods during her absence.

Pablo and I had an attack of wanderlust and had Panamá on the brain, since we didn't make it that far on our previous Central American excursion. It seemed like serendipity that Annie would contact me out of the blue. I wanted to go there on a scouting mission and meet Annie, see the area, and see if it would be feasible to plan for three month stays. She invited us to come as her guests and check it out. And so we did.

The Resort Sitter

So you want to know about Panamá. It was an interesting journey worthy of a few separate posts. But first you have to endure this story… Last summer Pablo and I traveled to Central America. We explored parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. We’d really hoped to make it to Panamá, but it would have made for an extremely long drive home. We’ve had Panamá on the brain since we didn’t get there last year.

Backing up further, after I lost Jim I took creative writing classes. I’d discovered that the only creativity I managed during his ordeal was writing. One online writing assignment was to make a list of ten things I would like to do with my life if there were no obstacles, a soul searching assignment. On that list of impossible things I considered quitting my job, selling my house, moving to a foreign country, and, get this, becoming a RESORT SITTER. As I worked with these ideas, I came to believe they were possibilities.

For my adventurous wanderlust the most interesting tropical resorts and lodges are owned and operated by individuaIs. After years of work in the vacation industry, I know that owners can never get away from their paradise businesses once the doors are opened. Although these places often have a self-managing staff, the customers feel more secure if there is an English speaking person around. I’ve managed small resorts and dive operations in remote areas, and felt that with the help of the internet maybe I could make my idea happen. It seemed somewhat obscure, I admit, but it was something that I was uniquely qualified to do….temporarily manage small resorts so that owners could take an elusive getaway.

I found this Eco Tropical Resort Website and corresponded with the owner. With my ad she opened the classified section of her website. The same day Lise posted my ad I received an email from an eco-lodge in the mountains of Bali. Linda and Norm own a three bungalow resort on Mt. Batukaru. They ‘d not been away from Indonesia for over five years and wanted to spend Christmas with family in New Zealand. Linda said she couldn’t pay me a wage, but she would offer me food and lodging for nearly a month before their trip if I oversaw things in her absence.


I couldn’t have asked for a better place to reenter the universe. With the help of my friend Jude, who donated air miles to my cause, I made it to Bali for my first two month resort sitting job. As usual, I didn't properly plan financially for the return to Kona. But I flew off to Bali in my typical no looking back, forge ahead style.


Linda, the owner/manager, and I hit it off great and spent hours chatting. She took me down to the beach and showed me where to shop, and up country into Ubud town to introduce me around. By the time the family left for vacation, I knew Bali pretty well. I felt like I could entertain the guests as well as be informative. And I really I enjoyed the guests. It was a magical place and only magical people find their way there.


I lived and wrote in this bungalow for a month....shear heaven.

The pathway to the lodge from the road is a beautiful though long walk through cocoa and coffee trees, beautiful flowers, a vanilla patch, and interesting birds and reptiles.

This is a shot of the Balinese style table in the main community building. Sometimes we played a game there, or we ate there on pillows crosslegged. Mini-Meow (or Meowie, not sure) poses for a tranquil photo.

Katja and Reto, from Switzerland, were guests I still keep in touch with. We had some excellent dinners, hilarious conversations, and fantastic bug and flower photo sessions.


Ok, maybe I returned to Kona flat broke, sick with a flu I picked up in the Seoul airport or after a week of partying a little in Kuta Beach like an idiot….ya gotta do what ya gotta do sometimes. But for me it was a success. I realized my dream. And that made me think I could realize the rest of them. I found a job, my friend Lynne came from Alaska to stay with me as well as help with expenses, and then I dreamt one night about returning to Mexico.

At a Balinese funeral I couldn't help but share some betel nut with the adorable woman below. Every time she saw me after this occasion, she shared some of her "chew" with me. It was not the tastiest of South Pacific treats, but definitely one of the more unique flavors.