Ever wondered about living around trees in an open place surrounded by water? Well, then you’ve got to meet this man who built himself a green island.
Richart Sowa, 63, built his own floating paradise by using 150,000 recycled bottles. It took him seven years to achieve this goal. He calls it Joyxee Island.
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/573f089cfb7785051db1a25f_719039199.jpg)
The island rests in Isla Mujeres Bay near Cancun city in Mexico.
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/573f089cfb7785051db1a25f_559034790.jpg)
The place has a three-storey house with two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom.
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/573f089cfb7785051db1a25f_768607610.jpg)
The house also has an internet connection, a rain collection equipment, solar panels for electricity, two ponds, a solar-powered waterfall, a small connecting river, a wave-powered washing machine and a jacuzzi among other interesting features.
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/573f089cfb7785051db1a25f_203006989.jpg)
Sowa began constructing it in 2007, two years after his first floating island attempt, Spiral Island, was destroyed by Hurricane Emily.
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/573f089cfb7785051db1a25f_542835091.jpg)
And he continues to improve it by adding additional features and adding more water bottles to the base.
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/573f089cfb7785051db1a25f_234056632.jpg)
He makes a living from music and art and showing visitors around his private island in exchange for donations.
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/573f089cfb7785051db1a25f_176884642.jpg)
And lives there with former model Jodi Bowlin. They have a pet dog as well.
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/573f089cfb7785051db1a25f_567479331.jpg)
“Living on my own floating island has been my dream for over two decades. I would recommend this way of life to anybody,” Richart Sowa said to Gazette Live.
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/573f089cfb7785051db1a25f_528118243.jpg)
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