THE PINE TREES IN GYEONGJU, THE CAPITAL OF SILLA

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

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THE PINE TREES IN GYEONGJU, THE CAPITAL OF SILLA

In old times, Korea was divided into three kingdoms: one of them was Silla.
Later, Silla succeeded in unifying the three kingdoms.
When we arrived in Gyeongju, first of all we visited the three Royal Tombs in Bae-dong. They look like big mounds but inside there are wooden rooms framed with a solid stonework. The rooms have the kings’ body, their crowns, jewels and personal things. In the past, many tombs were excavated by graverobbers, but some of them are still intact.

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Almost all the pine trees in the forests surrounding the three Royal Tombs are twisted.
According to a Korean friend of mine, botanists have studied the phenomenon and come to the conclusion that the pine trees of Gyeongju had modified their DNA not to be cut down. At the time, if the trunk was straight pine wood was used to build houses and palaces; being twisted, the trees would be of no use. Is it true? Who knows! Trees are also living beings. It cannot be ruled out that they have psychic processes and survival instinct.
King Gyeongae was the last king of Silla. He was killed by the rebel army of Gyeonhwon while holding a banquet with his court. Apparently, the step from joy of life to death is short and sudden!
Ettore Grillo, author of these books:
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
– Travels of the Mind

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

WALKING IN ANTIGUA

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

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WALKING IN ANTIGUA

Traveling across the world, I have landed in the city of Antigua, in Guatemala.

Today, I took a walk to spy out the place. Soon, my attention was drawn to the many ruined churches. What happened? Although the places of worship had been built well and with good materials, they didn’t withstand the earthquakes. Here, the ground quakes quite often.

The city, which once was the capital of Guatemala, stands near three volcanoes: two inactive and one, called ‘Fuego’, still active. The plumes of smoke from its peak are really amazing.

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Some churches have been rebuilt in different areas. I entered one which is run by the Franciscan Friars. They assist the population in many ways.

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Someone told me that a lot of children with the harelips are born in Guatemala. Their parents take them to the hospital to have surgery, but sometimes they don’t return to the hospital to take their children back home. The Franciscan Friars help all those abandoned children.

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Keeping walking, I came across a quinceanera, a girl who has just turned fifteen. She was standing in the square wearing a long, shiny dress to celebrate her transition from childhood to womanhood. Today, a big party will be given for her. According to Latino tradition, she is now ready for marriage. She is a woman.

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– A Hidden Sicilian History

– The Vibrations of Words

– Travels of the Mind

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

THE FOG IN ARAMBOL

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

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THE FOG IN ARAMBOL

At dawn, I went to the beach for my usual jogging. It was a foggy day, and the sun seemed to be unwilling to rise.

As I jogged on the beach, I felt like running amid the clouds. It was as if maya (illusion) mixed reality with dream.

Then, I recalled an experience that happened to the Chinese master, Chuang-tzu.

“Last night,” he said, “I dreamed to be a butterfly. Now, I don’t know if I am a man who dreamed to be a butterfly or a butterfly that dreams to be a man.”

I sympathize with him. We cannot be sure if we are living a real life or we are dreaming.

Anyway, how about following the way our heart directs us? It cannot lead us astray.
Ettore Grillo, author of these books:
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
– Travels of the Mind
http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

USEFUL TIPS

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

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USEFUL TIPS

A few days ago, I heard of a Russian lady who was jogging on the beach of Arambol when about ten dogs surrounded her. One of them, which was a puppy, jumped up to her arm.

Probably, the puppy wanted to play with her, but it scratched her arm with its sharp canine teeth. She washed the very small wound with sea water and kept jogging. Later, the owner of the guesthouse advised her to go to the doctor.

It was a guy from Austria who told me what had happened. He knows India very well.

He also said that fifty thousand people die every year because of rabies in India. There are many healthy carrier dogs. They look healthy, like the puppy that bit the Russian lady, but they are rabid.

Actually, rabies is widespread in India. Whenever a street dog bites you or even scratches you with his teeth, don’t hesitate to run to the doctor for the full course of post bite injections: five shots.

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
– Travels of the Mind
http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

VEGETARIANS

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

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VEGETARIANS

During my first week in Peru, I happened to attend a meeting about vegetarian cooking. It was held at a vegan restaurant, not far from downtown Chiclayo.

The lecturer was a nutritionist who spoke only Spanish. Among other things, she emphasized the importance of two nutrients: spirulina and salvia Hispanica commonly known as chia.

Hung at the entrance of the restaurant was a board on which famous people were portrayed.

Richard Gere, Leonardo Di Caprio, Brad Pitt and all the others on the board are vegetarian, even Albert Einstein was a vegetarian.

As for me, I am not totally vegetarian, but I have reduced meat intake by ninety percent. My aim is to eliminate meat from my diet completely.

A meat-free diet is beneficial to health and shows love and respect for all living creatures.

Ettore Grillo author of these books:
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
-Travels of the Mind
http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

VITAMIN OF NATURE

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

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VITAMIN OF NATURE

In a few months I’ll be seventy years old, but unlike most people my age I don’t take any medicine. If it happens to me to catch a cold, I let it go naturally. I don’t like to take pills, antibiotics and so on to get over.

What do I do to keep fit? I take the vitamin of nature. It doesn’t cost anything, as it is a gift of God. If you want to be healthy as well, take care of yourself not to lack of the following natural vitamin: swimming in the ocean, jogging in the forest, breathing clean air, doing yoga or similar exercises in the nature whenever you can.

Ettore Grillo author of these books:
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
-Travels of the Mind
http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

CICADAS

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

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CICADAS

Whoever takes a walk in the woods during the summer months cannot avoid listening to the cicadas’ loud song. These insects are scattered almost all over the world, but not everybody knows how they do live.

Cicadas spend their lives underground for four, five and some species even seventeen years. Then, after such a long time spent in the darkness, they come to light, leave their nymphal status, take on wings, and start their very short winged life singing on the branches of the trees to allure their partner.

Sometimes, I compare my life to cicadas’. I have lived underground for a long time; much longer than a cicada! Then I came to light and started flying, and I am still flying from one continent to another, to spy out new countries, different cultures, and above all to find out what is the real essence of every living creature, human beings included.

Ettore Grillo author of these books:
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
-Travels of the Mind
http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo