MARY BALDASANO / Special to the PVT Malana Ashlie, Ph.D, shares her Honduran odyssey with an attentive audience. Advertisement

Pahrump may not be thought of as a place where holistic or homeopathic medicine or spiritual healing is pursued. However, Oscar Reconco, owner of Ancient Secrets, would be the first to say otherwise. Recently, his business hosted a visit by Malana Ashlie, a certified naturopath and holistic healer who also serves as an interfaith minister and ceremony leader and travels frequently to speak at workshops and seminars.

Ashlie resides with her husband in El Porvenir, Honduras, after having moved there in 2006 from Hawaii. Her visit to Pahrump was for a book signing of her new title, "Gringos in Paradise: Our Honduras Odyssey." Ashlie met Reconco in Sedona, Ariz., during a seminar for metaphysical science. Reconco then invited Ashlie to visit Pahrump and share her experience about Honduras as well as offer her book.

"We wanted to be close to family, but not too close," said Ashlie, "and we didn't want to lose a tropical lifestyle as we had in Hawaii." The Ashlies moved from Hawaii when new construction threatened their lifestyle. The mountains and rain forest of Honduras met their needs, she said, adding, "Crime is virtually nonexistent, there are not guards at stores to prevent theft, hurricanes are rare, no activity since 'Mitch,' and insurance is not required."

Ashlie also said, "School and local buses are those resold from the states. In each town there are a lot of businesses such as garment factories, cigar shops, coffee, shipping, tourism, bananas, lumber and more."

A newcomer may experience an emotional "roller coaster ride," she said, but it lessens with time. Also, there was no television or phone service until late 2006 and early 2007 -- even now reception is still sporadic.

Until you receive residency, you must leave the country every 120 days. Apparently there are two forms of government in Honduras: fast and slow. The official government is slow to operate and some say a little dishonest. The underground government, however, is fast and can meet any need.

Many Americans tend to live in improved areas and don't always interact with the indigenous residents. Ashlie advised that she and her husband prefer to "live among the locals. You can't get to know people unless you live around them and interact with them."

Ashlie also mentioned that "animals run free and can be seen walking around town and up and down the road. Everything is shared, even with the animals."

Health and dental care are excellent. Drugs are limited and medical people are required to speak both English and Spanish. An international debit card can be obtained as well. The cost of access for TV and Internet is $36. It seems that retired Americans can live like kings and queens in Honduras, even on a small pension.

Ashlie states that she is an empathic as well as a naturopath. An empathic is one who can understand the state of another's emotional state. A naturopath is able to adjust to any environment without hesitation. The Ashlies have a spiritual connection to all things natural, she said, and thereby feel they can understand all things.

Like millions of others, the Ashlies hope to find financial freedom, personal fulfillment and peace in Honduras..

Life isn't perfect, however, as Reconco admits. "There are many natural things that can harm you," he said. "So be aware of everything."