Zentraveler on the ant philsophy!

Fair enough….. the ant can be bothersome at a picnic, but for the record, ants have the largest bodyweight on our planet.

In addition to their many types, sizes, and kinds… everyone of them works non-stop in order to have a good ant-life. And they don’t need motivational seminars, breathing exercises or some guru with a beard from a foreign place to get them working or motivated.

Each ant picks up its dna working orders upon birth and works non-stop until it has accumulated a large food supply and the ant family can live confortable. You think you are driven or highly motivated! I got news for you …you are nothing compared to an ant.

The ant will find a way. Trust me on this one. If there is a log in front they will go over the log. They will build a bridge over water. They will eat through a house and devour the entire jungle floor… one leaf at a time and that’s just a warm-up to the contribution they make to this earth.

Why not develop the ant philsophy! If you have the ant philsophy everything else is easy and coordinates with the energy of the universe.

So there you have it! With the brain the size of a pinhead the ant cannot be stopped to reach its destiny. Surely with your human large brain you can adopt the ant philsophy and acheive anything you want.

When mother and father ants read their bedtime stories they always end with never, never, never, give-up and you will reach your goals.

QUOTE: “Nobody in sight on the empty mountain but human voices are heard far off. Low sun slips deep in the forest and lights the green hanging moss.”
- Wang Wei (699-759)

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: Chocolate covered ants are a delicacy in the fast growing insect market.

THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: ANTS! Without ants we are nothing!

ZENTRAVELER SAYS: Adopt the ant philsophy to acheive any goal you want in the universe.

From here to Infinity is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on.

Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free?

Zentraveler on the Allmighty Apple!

Why make life so difficult! Why not just listen to your grandmother and eat an apple a day to keep the doctor away! Eve used the apple to entice Adam. Johnny Appleseed went across the United States seeding entire areas so that people could enjoy long healthy lives.

Apples come in many sizes and colors and have many different tastes and consistencies. Some have a hard crunch, others are soft like the Yellow Delicious and others defy the imagination. Just to eat an apple is refreshing and so nutritious for your body.

“Recent studies have suggested that the consumption of apples can help control weight gain, lower the risk of heart disease and fight cancer. Though most people think the flesh of the apple is the most delicious part, the skin is definitely the most nutritious.

The apple skin contains 4 milligrams of quercetin, an anti-oxident compound preventing oxygen molecules from damaging individual cells. This can prevent cell changes that can lead to cancer. A Finnish study concluded that men who had the highest intake of quercetin lowered their risk of heart disease by 20%. This compound has also been shown to inhibit the growth of tumors and keep cancer cells from spreading.

The insoluble fiber found in apples is responsible for a host of other benefits. The apple skin is considered roughage and is a great remedy for constipation. Insoluble fiber also helps the digestive tract run smoothly, helping to prevent diverticulosis, a condition which can lead to colon cancer. Another benefit of insoluble fiber is its “filling” effect, this being an effective appetite supressant.

Apples also contain soluble fiber, which has the opposite affect of insoluble fiber, forming a gel-like material in the digestive tract that can help lower cholesterol, as well as, the risk of stroke and heart disease. One of the soluble fibers found in apples is called pectin. Pectin reduces the amount of cholesterol produced in the liver, slows digestion and and the rise of blood sugar making it ideal for diabetes patients.

To get the maximum amount of benefit from your apple, be sure to choose a variety that browns easily, like Granny Smith. Finally, don’t substitute apple juice for an apples. Though it contains some iron and potassium, apple juice contains little of the beneficial compounds quertecin and fiber.” —essortment.com

You can do so many things with apples. You can make a delicious homemade Dutch apple pie. You can bake apples… add a little brown sugar and almost go to heaven they taste so good. You can go to a fancy restaurant and oder the Waldorf Salad… complete with nuts and apples, which leaves you feeling full without the calorie load so many of us put into our bodies each and every day.

You can drink apple cider, use apple vinegar, eat dried apples as a snack, eat apple turnovers, apple sauce, apple schnitzel, and even end up bobbing for apples at a party.

So there you have it! If you simply want to incorporate an apple a day for eating or to make snacks… it’s as easy as pie and your body will definitely thank you for adding one of the wonders of the world into your daily regimen.

QUOTE: “Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it (religion) should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual and a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description.”- Einstein

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: Apples are more powerful than Caffeine at helping to stay awake.

Whether Adam and Eve actually ate an apple may still be a big question for historians. Jewish history says the apple was really a fig! Whether the apple was a fig or not, the English word “apple” is an appropriate translation, because etymologically, the English word “apple” is a generic term including all fruits, berries, and nuts. For example, the Old English word for cucumbers is Cucumbers eorþæppla – literally, “earth-apples” or “earth fruit”. Thus, the forbidden fruit could have been an apple, fig, etrog fruit, banana, or even a cucumber – all these species would be covered by the English word “apple” in its traditional sense.

THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Apple seeds! Just think you could be another Johhnny Appleseed and start spreading the word!

ZENTRAVELER SAYS: Eat an apple a day to keep the doctor away!

From here to Infinity is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on.

Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free?

Zentraveler visits Ogtong Cave, Philippines!

Nature really understands how to create something that keeps us earth dwellers in amazement. Imagine a resort located on the scenic Bantayan Island, Philippines that has it’s own cave with steps going down into the sparkling blue waters and the grounds decorated in flowers overlooking the bright blue sea.

If you have a bit of the explorer in you …you can invision yourself drifting into nowhere as your eyes look into the cavern of bright shinning waters. After making your way by swimming and stepping between stones you eventually reach the end and witness some light and a few bats flying overhead as if to dare you even more. The cave is sealed off to the mysteries of the underground and it makes you wonder what other cave systems could be imbedded in the earth’s maze.

The resort is already working on another cave system… so who knows what the future brings with the exploration of another underground system maybe leading directly to the ocean full of hidden treasures and new species of fish yet to be discovered.

Ogtong Cave is a complete resort reasonably priced for foreign travelers complete with jazzui rooms, wedding suites, and naturally designed lodges set in a picture perfect setting. The grounds abound with well manicured gardens, footpaths, and a sparkling bright swimming pool overlooking the sea.

As you stroll around the gardens you can also have lunch in a small tree house or dine in the fully equipped restaurant where the fish of the day is caught fresh daily (probably just in front of the resort by local fisherman) and served to perfection in an outdoors setting overlooking the Ogtong Cave Resort.

Different type of native birds are in outdoor cages with a rare Phillipino Oriole taking front stage. Also you can say hello to the billy goat and watch the newly added fish aquarium located in the main restaurant.

Bantayan Island is located about four and one half hours from Cebu City in the province of Cebu. You can either hire a taxi from the airport or take the direct bus from the north terminal for about 80 pesos to Hagnaya approximately three hours. Then take the ferry from Hagnaya for about 120 pesos one and half hours to Santa Fe, Bantayan Island.

Ogtong Cave resort is located just outside Santa Fe heading south towards Bantayan. Resort signs are well marked and you can drive or take a tricycle.

So there you have it…..a complete natural resort fit for a King or Queen at affordable prices. You can stay in a twin Seaview Villa with air and ref and TV for about $70.00 US per night. Why not make a reservation now and enjoy the luxury of a five star resort on a hidden island in the Philippines.

Ogtong Cave Resort:email for reservations!
info@stafebeach.com

QUOTE: “I explain to you matters Pertaining to enlightenment, But don’t try to keep Your mind on them. Just turn to the ocean Of your own essence And develop practical accord with its nature.” …..Yangshan

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: The average size of a newborn kangaroo is the size of a coffee bean.

THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Water! Water, Water, everywhere and not a drop to drink! You can start to save water by turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth. You can take a three minute military naval shower. Wet yourself, soap yourself, and then rinse. Just by doing those simple things you can help save millions of gallons of water.

ZENTRAVELER SAYS: Water is everything! Do your part to help conserve water and life. It’s critical to our survival!

From here to Infinity is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on.

Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free?

Zentraveler on the Zen Frog Garden!

There was a movie which said: “build it and they will come.” If you believe in destiny the house I rented in Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, Philippines came with a Zen garden and I learned the owners were Japanese and took care in the Feng Shui of the house and grounds. There are huge clay potteries set everywhere in all types of settings inside the lavender fenced estate. The house and garden is set within huge green coconut palm trees…and within these walls is the Zen Garden.

Every day I start out listening to Spanish music and then begin to water the Zen garden. It seems the plants like the Spanish music as well and won’t respond right unless I put on the Spanish cd. In fact the yellow flowers won’t open unless they hear the hot Spanish Flamingo music.

After a few days I noticed one frog on the edge of the Zen garden and then like an evening ritual more frogs started appearing like magic and began hopping around using the sidewalks as their play area.

Each day I began to notice more visitors into the Zen Frog Garden. The first new visitors were a pair of morning doves dusting themselves off on the dirt and then flew away. The following evening approximately 20 sparrows came into the Zen Frog Garden and ate small insects and really seemed to enjoy themselves as they manuvered througout the Zen Frog Garden.

The following morning I saw a huge single bumble bee gathering the nectar from a patch of bright purple flowers. The next day a single greenish hummingbird came into the garden for an exploration trip. That afternoon a large black butterfly with white wingtips hoovered over the pink flowers and then flew away so quick…. you couldn’t have caught a picture with your high-speed camera.

A rather large brownish bird swooped down from the sky and walked around the garden as if he owned it. Strutting around and opening his wings as if to say: “hey look at me!”

When I went out into the night there was a black, spiral legged feral cat, with a bobbed tail… just sitting there observing the nights activities. The following morning a two toned brown rooster, with beautiful black tail feathers, somehow squeezed through the fence, and marched around the garden… as if he was announcing to the world: “don’t even think of messing with me I am king of this roost”… he spread his wings, puffed his chest full of air, and let out a verbratto of Cock-a-Doodle-do.

One small dog wondered around as if he was looking for a new home. I could tell by his demeanor that the Zen Frog Garden suited him fine. He kept wandering and finally disappeared as mysterioisly as he appeared.

Not wanting to be left out a rather large brown moo cow came to the edge of the fence in the coconut grove, studied the Zen Frog Garden, and then let out a large moo, moo, moo, which within minutes a baby moo cow appeared from nowhere. They both stuck their heads over the fence and seemed mesmerized by the Zen Frog Garden. You could see the mother cow whispering a special cow code to her youngin— I wonder what the mother moo cow shared with her offspring.

So there you have it! Something so small as a Zen Garden can bring so much joy into this world to so many living creatures —-it really just demonstrates we are all connected to a magical universe and are really one.

QUOTE: “Zen Quotes by Langya Just think of the trees: they let the birds perch and fly, with no intention to call them when they come and no longing for their return when they fly away. If people’s hearts can be like the trees, they will not be off the Way.”

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: The water we drink is 3 billion years old.

THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Seeds! Save your seeds from the fruit you eat. Dry them and then begin to plant into small containers. One more transplant and you are days away from harvesting your own garden.

ZENTRAVELER SAYS: Build a Zen Garden and they will come.

From here to Infinity is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on.

Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free?

Zentraveler on Herbalife weight loss!

Perla's Herbalife Results

My friend Perla living in Bantayan Island, Philippines got involved with Herbalife five years ago and has made an amazing difference to the community. As a testomonial she herself lost over 35 pounds by simply using the Herbalife shakes as meal substitute and adding fresh bananas, mangos, and fruit on a daily basis.

Some days she only eats three shakes plus some peanuts and fresh fruit and vegetables. She also consumes 4 liters of mineral water every day. One liter when she wakes up and one liter just before going to bed. This addition of water washes the impurities and toxins out of the body and stimulates her immune system. She has not been to a doctor for four years and has her medical records to prove it.

Before Herbalife she was very sickly, had skin blemishes and her eyes and tummy were swollen. Now when she goes to a Herbalife convention they use her for a model since she has such beautiful skin and natural appearence.

She is the first to tell you anyone with desire can start small with Herbalife and grow their business just by telling people how to lose weight and improve their health. She wears several Herbalife buttons when she travels that says: Lose Weight Now Ask Me How and Work From Home Ask Me How!

In her small community she sells one Herbalife vitamin at a time and will mix a small shake for children and people who are too poor to purchase even one shake. She has testomonials from her entire family and her mission is to help anyone in need of good health and nutrition and keep all of her family healthy. She also helps with children who are suffering from extreme malnutrion.

One child was so skinny the doctor said there was no hope and dismissed her as just another case. Perla kept feeding the emaciated child the Dutch Chocolate Shake with bannana, pineapple, and mango. Within three months the child looked normal and the neighbors said it was a miracle.

The Herbalife Corporation is probably the best business to start from scratch (very little money) in the world and has enormous rewards for very hard workers.

Jealous people ask Perla who funded her for the Herbalife and she is the first to explain she funded herself and started using the product to improve her overall health. Since her involvement with Herbalife she has been able to travel to Singapore, Thailand, and various islands throughout the Philippines for training seminars, travel experiences and relaxation. (You should see Perla on a Tiger in Thailand)

So there you have it! If you are struggling to make ends meet… are not happy with your weight and want better health and nutrition the first step is to get involved with Herbalife. You can start with a small investment of 3500 pesos and then attend training seminars and work with a mentor supervisor to increase your sales. Or if you just want to be healthy and use Herbalife for your personal use …you can receive a large discount just by signing up for the Herbalife product.

As a reminder if you decided to open a hot dog stand in the United States it would probably cost you one hundred to three hundred thousand dollars and you would never have any residual income. You would also be responsible for your entire staff, all of the food preparation, health laws, taxes, rent and even percentage rent. You would have to be the majician Hudini himself ever to recoop your investment and ever make a profit. Most small businesses fail within the first three years of business.

Any folks living in the Bantayan Island area are encourgaged to contact Perla G. Illut directly for a personal conference and testomonial on how she was able to start a business on a shoestring and has been growing her business ever since.

We recently visited her Herbalife upline supervisor Flor Aton in Bogo and learned more about the product and the success stories of Herbalife folks springing up everywhere throughout the Philippines.

Perla & Flor Herbalife

For additional information or a personal consultation on the Herbalife product and business please Contact Perla at:

Perla G. Illut Herbalife International Independent Distributor Santa Fe, Bantayan Island
cellphone: Smart # 09194632919 Globe# 09052504899 Sun# 09222237864
E-Mail: pearl_illut@yahoo.com Telephone: 516-0598

In addition to her daily shakes she ads fiber, herbs, vitamins, and minerals from Herbalife. She uses a small easy to carry plastic pill box with five sections which she takes twice or three times per day. Without this organization the average person will be too lazy to open each bottle each time and will soon forget to take the recommended daily doses. Also it is important to get rid of most of your other supplements and stick with the proven Herbalife formula which is doctor and scientifically recognized to help with your weight and health problems.

Perla’s secret formula! Perla takes any of the three flavors chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla… ads fresh mineral water and fresh fruits in a blender and either serves cold from the frig or freezes the shakes for something that tastes better than icecream-is cool and refreshing, has no nasty additives… and is oh so good and healthy.

The kids line up at her house to get their daily treats… and you can hear them singing: “UH LA LA! ”

Fun with Herbalife

Perla’s Tip: If you follow the Herbalife program for at least six months you will see amazing results. The people who are successful using the Herbalife products begin to see amazing results within the first few months. However this is no miracle cure. Your body has been worn down by using life’s excesses like alcohol and cigarettes and the big killer stress.

Perla is the first to tell you if you follow the program for at least six months your whole life will change for the better, The ones who quit the program too early without giving Herbalife a chance are the big losers. Perla stands buy to guide you on a personal evaluation and exact formula to acheive excellent health. If you continue with the Herbalife products you will look and feel younger and younger.

Rewards with Herbalife

“When we are young, we lost our health to gain wealth. When we are old, we lost wealth to gain back our health.”

“CHANGE YOUR LIFE WITH HERBALIFE.”

Perla Ogtong Cave

QUOTE: We take refuge in pride because we are afraid to tell the truth to ourselves. …..(Kakuzo Okakura)

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: Rafflesia arnoldii: this parasitic plant develops the world’s largest bloom that can grow over three feet across. The flower is a fleshy color, with spots that make it look like a teenager’s acne-ridden skin. It smells bad and has a hole in the center that holds six or seven quarts of water. The plant has no leaves, stems, or roots.

THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: You take for granted that ALL you own can disappear in a matter of seconds… Leaving you with ONLY the things you chose to save that mattered most… Usually all of that will fit in two hands.

ZENTRAVELER SAYS: It’s all in zee attitude. If you have a lousy attitude begin today to be happy. Each day that you are happy or make somone else happy will spin around the world like a miracle windstorm and effect millions. Pledge to yourself that from this day forward I choose to be happy… and like a miracle you will be.

From here to Infinity is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on.

Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free?

Zentraveler on Negros Island, Philippines!

As there are only 7107 Islands in the Philippines Zentraveler will have to take it up a notch if he is to visit every island. The wonderful thing about living in the Philippines is travel is very inexpensive… especially if you have the time.

My intention was to travel from Bantayan town by ferry to Capiz and then bus to Bacolod City and then back to Dumaguete … and maybe even add Bohol. As weather can always be a factor, after three false starts when the ferries weren’t running, I finally took a ferry to Cebu City where I flew to Bacolod for about $28.00 US

I stayed at the 11th street Pension House for 250 pesos, which is five dollars us. It had a nice courtyard and a restuarant and was just a few pesos by jeepney fron the center of town. After cruising around the town square In Bacolod City (known as the city of smiles) I photographed an ancient church…the twin towered San Sebastian Cathederal and then headed to the waters edge by tricycle to a wonderful seafood reataurant named BayBay!

You could see your seafood in live aquariums and have them grill it fresh for your lunch. The item that is a bit different is the live eels swimming around just waiting to get on the menu! The vista was quite stunning as you watched the local fishing pump-boats weave back and forth between their fishnets taking in the daily harvest.

I had the grilled fish filet with vegetable rice and a cold San Miguel Pilsen beer and took the opportunity to take many photos… as I had to reminmd myself I was in Asia and could hardly believe my eyes.

Walking back I discovered their city’s neo-classical Provincial Capitol which I was told was mirrowed on our own Whitehouse in the US.
The rather large park directly in front of the Capitol has a small lake full of colorful tialapa fish. The kids and families were enjoying the park as they ate, ran, and screamed at some of the animal characters on the lakeside. It’s sometimes these simple street scenes that keep us traveling and yearning for more.

The following morning I headed toward Dumaguete by bus and was told it was about a seven hour destination. We traveled through miles and miles of sugarcane fields, past some rather large fish farms, and then headed through the mountains, which were covered with coconut palms.

As this is the rainy season, the rains started to pour in buckets and I even wondered how the bus driver could see well enough to drive. Then I started to see some animals crossing the road and wondered if we were in some kind of a sunami and maybe I better get ready to run myself. After looking at the side streets with more than three feet of water running, and the rain and wind getting worse, I was beginning to look for my options.

At that point the bus came to a halt and the engine actually stalled. Then we got a report that a small house washed onto the main road and we had to wait until it was cleared.

At the eleventh hour on the bus and driving through a complete brownout with only tiny little candles shinning through the jungle houses we arrived in Dumaguete, where the streets were running wild with water and no hotels available.

Then as if a miracle I got a wonderful room (the last in Dumaguete I was told) at the Coco Grande Hotel complete with hot shower, marble bathroom and luxurious bedroom. I then went down to the piano bar and into the restaurant where I ate fresh grilled fish dinner with garlic potatoes. As Buddah would tell you there is always a silver lining if you look hard enough!

The following morning I took a ferry to the Island of Siguijor, where I stayed at the Swiss Stars lodge, which was very nice and had it’s own restaurant. From there I took a small van and arrived at San Juan where they have several excellent beach resorts. As the rain was still following me and I was rain-restrained… I took a photo of the local church and the ferry landing and headed back to Dumaguete by jet-boat ferry.

After checking into the Bethel Hotel on the far side of the promenade (can’t miss it… it is the tallest building along the waterfront), I was able to visit several good restaurants and also treat myself to the best massages in the world. I signed up for one hour for 200 pessos about 4 dollars us… and they asked me if I wanted the combination Swedish-Chinese massage and of course I said yes.

After working me over-nonstop for fifty minutes the female massuese grabbed my legs and twisted them into my body like a pretzel and then rocked me back and forth and ended up walking on my back with her bare feet.

After that I took my camera and photographed the town square set admidst several old churches and then headed down the promenade to finish the evening’s photo sights.

Dumaguete is famous for it’s several universities including: Silliman University, founded in 1901 by Protestant missionaires and features American-era architecture and many colleges. Dumaguete is regarded as one of the best places for an x-pat to retire since the city has everything you need, is relatively safe and inexpensive, and has good medical service… including a modern hospital.

I had dinner at the Italiana Restaurant, which serves excellent authentic Italian food with homemade Spinach Lasanga. The following day I discovered Coco Amigos where many x-pats hang-out and enjoyed their oven fresh baked nachos. One x-pat from England, who has a motorscotter rental service, told me he lives in a two bedroom townhouse for 7000 pesos per month— which is roughly $150.00 US.

That night I boarded the night ferry, which had it’s own sleeper accomodations, and took exactly eight hours to reach Cebu City… at a cost of 240 pesos, which is about three dollars us. I Knew it wasn’t the Queen Elizabeth, but where else in the world can you take an oceanliner cruise for three dollars. As I walked off the gangplank I somehow felt like royalty and am anxious to return to Negros Island for more adventure and travel..

So there you have it for a whirlwind quick trip I enjoyed visiting Negros Island and plan to return to take in some of the other man-made and natural attractions.

QUOTE: “This is my child, this is my wealth”: such thoughts are the preoccupations of fools. If we are unable to own even ourselves, why make such claims?” —–Buddha

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: The fur of the Binturong, also known as the “Asian Bear Cat,” smells like popcorn. The scent is believed to come from a gland located near the tail.

THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Seacology preserves coral reefs by entering into “win-win” agreements with island villagers, providing them with something tangible they request in exchange for establishing a coral reef reserve. Seacology is devoting the following project to the readers of 50 Simple Things®. For a total of just US$33,000, 50 Simple Things® readers can save a coral reef and the dugongs and turtles that live there while improving the quality of life of the local villagers. Seacology Island Projects seacology.org

ZENTRAVELER SAYS: Lay out a monthly budget in order to keep your finances simple and so you don’t get into the overspend mode. Save a little save a lot!

From here to Infinity is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on.

Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free?

so

Zentraveler on Nirvana!

Nirvana

Where is this place Nirvana? Is it a place to reach for? Is it a city worth visiting? Is it a state of mind? Is it an illusion? Is it a catchy phrase for religious seekers or is it something we need to be aware of?

When people are asked what are you searching for?.. they often often answer Nirvana? Can you purchase Nirvana on Ebay? Can you live a great life by always using levels of consciousness that are benefical to the entire world? Can you acheive Nirvana simply by meditating?

These are some of the questions that people have had over the years trying to grab and hold onto something as illusive as Nirvana. First of all the great Buddah would tell you never try to hold on to anything. The best you can do is to let go and practice some of the ancient rituals that would allow you to reach the state of Nirvana. Clear your mind of earthy cravings and you are on your way to a state of Nirvana. Don’t look for anthing outside of yourself… Nirvana remains inside and it’s up to you to find Nirvana.

In most cases it is our ego craving that keeps us away from Nirvana and keeps us in a perpetual state of anger, craving, wanting, sensual desires, and our almighty ego that would arm wrestle you to the ground if it found out you are trying to drop your ego motivated lifestyle. The ego will fight you tooth and nail to keep its illustrous position in your life and add to the entire suffering syndrome that most of us humans fall under.

NIRVANA

“This, truly, is the Peace, this is the Highest, namely the end of
all formations, the forsaking of every substratum of rebirth, the
fading away of craving: detachment, extinction-Nirvana.

Enraptured with lust, enraged with anger, blinded by delusion,
overwhelmed, with mind ensnared, man aims at his own ruin, at
others’ ruin, at the ruin of both parties, and he experiences mental
pain and grief. But, if lust, anger, and delusion are given up, man
aims neither at his own ruin, nor at others’ ruin, nor at the ruin
of both parties, and he experiences no mental pain and grief. Thus
is Nirvana immediate, visible in this life, inviting, attractive,
and comprehensible to the wise.

The extinction of greed, the extinction of anger, the extinction
of delusion: this, indeed, is called Nirvana.

And for a disciple thus freed, in whose heart dwells peace, there is
nothing to be added to what has been done, and naught more remains for him to do. Just as a rock of one solid mass remains unshaken by the wind, even so, neither forms, nor sounds, nor odors, nor tastes, nor contacts of any kind, neither the desired, nor the undesired, can cause such an one to waver. Steadfast is his mind, gained is deliverance.

And he who has considered all the contrasts on this earth, and is no
more disturbed by anything whatever in the world, the Peaceful One,
freed from rage, from sorrow, and from longing, he has passed beyond
birth and decay and has reached Nirvana!” adapted from sacred-texts.com

So there you have it! According to ancient texts anyone can reach Nirvana simply by living a life free of ego-attachment and searching within.

QUOTE: “I reached in experience the Nirvana which is unborn, unrivalled, secure from attachment, undecaying and unstained. This condition is indeed reached by me which is deep, difficult to see, difficult to understand, tranquil, excellent, beyond the reach of mere logic, subtle, and to be realized only by the wise.” —Buddah

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: How to cast a powerful spell? Casting a spell may sound like witchcraft to you but that’s just because of the TV show “Bewitched!” In reality, a spell is any blessing or curse. To put this into context, in India, the Sanscrit for spell is “MANTRA.”

Surprised? We speak mantras and cast spells all day long. We do so in our sleep and in dreams. The only difference between a Master or Wizard (same word once again) is that Wizards cast spells intentionally. The rest of humanity wastes their CHI or Qi or Ki and what little Spirit or Energy (again, Qi means Spirit means Energy) they have left, gets cast in a destructive spell.

So, the first step to learning how to cast a powerful POSITIVE spell is to have mastery over your mantras. Master your words. To do this, for the next 30 days, reverse all your critical expressions into positive matras or spells. Some examples are:

I am an idiot, I’m soo stupid, I’m no good with names, I’m no good with math, You are a ass —-, You are a ———–, F— You,
You suck at —–.

Turn them into: I am a wizard, I am so perceptive, I’m remember names perfectly, I am a numbers guy / girl, You are a considerate person, You are a —-, Bless you, and you excell at:————

Try this for 30 days. Then you may be ready to learn some Mantras. Or Powerful Spells. The first step to changing reality with your words, is to be able to change your words. …..meditation-energy.blogspot.com

THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Good Karma! Afterall you wouldn’t want to return as a fire ant or a comodo-dragon would you? I went to ebay and couldn’t find a Karma cleaner, but as we evolve through the techno-age who knows what lies ahead. And if you don’t have much good karma to save it’s never too late to start building some good Karma Credits. Why not tell every single person you see today how much you appreciate them and while you are on a karma roll, why not feed at least one hungry person…..your Karma bank will start compounding the credits like 150 deriviatives out.

ZENTRAVELER SAYS: Yes grasshopper Nirvana is possible even in this lifetime. Better hurry before our earth burns and the oceans dry up.

From here to Infinity is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on.

Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free?

Zentraveler on the Mango fruit!

MANGO

We have all seen these delicious looking fruits showing up everywhere in the fruit markets and they are indeed delicious to eat… mix into pancakes, add to a mango shake or a mango smoothie. I am currently residing on Bantayan Island in the Philippines where Mangos grow abundantly throughout the island and have learned to incorporate these kings of fruit into my daily diet.

“One of the most delicious and most fattening fruits, mango is truly called the ‘King of Fruits’. A tropical fruit, it comes in as many as 1000 different varieties, each of them totally delectable. Though native to Southern and Southeast Asia, the fruit is now also grown in Central and South America, Africa and the Arabian Peninsula also. Apart from being high in calories, mangoes are also rich in a large number of nutrients and hold great nutritional value. Infact, they have been known to have positive effects in case of a number of ailments. Included in this blog are numerous health and nutrition benefits of eating mangoes.

Nutritional Value of Mango
One medium sized mango comprises of:
Calories – 107
Protein – 0.84 g
Carbohydrate – 28 g
Total Fat – 0.45 g
Fiber – 3 g
Vitamin A – 6425 IU
Vitamin C – 45.7mg
Magnesium – 18 mg
Potassium – 300 mg
Calcium – 20 g
Cholesterol – 0 g
Saturated fat – 0 g
Traces of manganese, selenium, iron, sodium and phosphorus

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Eating Mangoes: The Mango, being high in calories and carbohydrates, is good for those who are trying to gain weight. The phenolic compound found in mangoes has been found to have powerful antioxidant and anticancer properties. Being high in iron, mango is said to be very good for pregnant women as well as for people suffering from anemia. Mango is believed to be effective in relieving clogged pores of the skin.

The vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin E and selenium present in mangoes provide protection against heart disease. Mangoes have been found to be quite helpful in treating acidity and poor digestion. It is being said that the Vitamin E present in mango helps hormonal system function more efficiently and thus, boosts sex life. The anti-inflammatory properties of mango might help alleviate asthma symptoms. Other Benefits Mango has been found to be beneficial for people suffering from the following ailments: Bacterial Infections, Constipation, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Eye Disorders, Hair Loss, Heat Stroke, Leucorrhea, Liver Disorders, Menstrual Disorders, Morning Sickness, Piles, Prickly Heat, Scurvy, Sinusitis, Spleen Enlargement, and Vaginitis …..adapted from lifestyle.iloveindia.com

Mangoes would be a great item for anyone to use as a daily or weekly fruit.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Individuals wishing to use supplements or alternative medicine therapies should consult with their doctor beforehand.

QUOTE: “Whatever is material shape, past, future, present, subjective or objective, gross or subtle, mean or excellent, whether it is far or near — all material shape should be seen by perfect intuitive wisdom as it really is: “This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.” Whatever is feeling, whatever is perception, whatever are habitual tendencies, whatever is consciousness, past, future, present, subjective or objective, gross or subtle, mean or excellent, whether it is far or near — all should be seen by perfect intuitive wisdom as it really is: “This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.” Zen Quotes by Buddha Gautama (born 563 B.C.)

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: Earth is the only planet NOT named after God.

THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Photos: From a millennial perspective, photography is an art form in its infancy.

In 1839, two processes for capturing images and transferring them to a medium evolved. The Daguerreotype, named after Louis Jacques Daguerre, created a “unique, unduplicatable, laterally reversed monochromatic picture on a metal plate,” as described by Naomi Rosenblum in “A World History of Photography” (Abbeville Press). The other process produced a reversed image on paper that was then placed in contact with a chemically treated surface, exposed to sunlight, which resulted in a picture with a normal image. This process was named a Talbotype after its inventor, William Henry Fox Talbot.

The European and American culture of the 19th century had a craving for greater representations of reality. This appetite had roots in Renaissance painting and increased with developments in science and industry. Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the electromagnetic telegraph, was an early publicist and experimenter with the daguerreotype. His work with scientist John William Draper spread the knowledge of this early art, teaching famed Civil War photographer Matthew Brady.

Today, millions of photographic images are produced everyday. The age old aphorism “seeing is believing,” if written today, would include the addendum “but confirmed with a photo.” Every photo is but a fool’s image of ourselves, but it is good to recognize the fool within us. … credit… fiftythingsworthsaving website.

ZENTRAVELER SAYS: Eat a mango a day to improve your health! Plus they are so so tasty!

From here to Infinity is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on.

Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free?

Zentraveler Bantayan Island, Philippines

It’s been said that if you have “Island Fever” you may be incurable. Why not visit the country that has over 7100 islands where you can travel until the cows come home and you still haven’t even touched the hundreds and thousands of discoveries that ARE JUST WAITING FOR THAT ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT.

After arriving in Manila for some dental work I visited an Internet Cafe and learned from the original Bantayan Island website (wowBantayan.com) owned and operated by Paul James about an island in the north of Cebu providence that was laid back, peaceful, had many white sand beaches, and had very reasonable accommodations … and best of all not very touristy by any standards.

When you visit Bantayan Island you can find Paul James working on various photography projects at the Hard kock Kafe. He has valuable information on his website and will be glad to chat with you on any subject. Click on his website to find weather updates and questions and answers on Bantayan Island. It’s invaluable information and will save you many steps by researching his website… plus he’s a great fellow to learn to know.

To reach Bantayan Island you simply take the bus from the north bus terminal in Cebu City going to Hagnaya for 80 pesos about three hours… then take a ferry to Bantayan Island a little more than an hour for 120 pesos and you can begin to see the palm trees outline the resorts as you come into the port of Santa Fe.

As a landmark on the north side of the pier is the Santa Fe Resort with it’s main building and restaurant and individual beach huts. From the pier you can take a tricycle for about 25 pesos per person and head along the beach toward the center of Santa Fe town which revolves around a central market and a street with several places to stay including the Hard Kock Kafe. If you want beach resorts directly on the beach you have many choices which include: Tristans, The Marlin Beach Resort, Kota Beach Resort, Budyong Resort, Yooneek Resort. Ogtong Cave Resort and if you head north of the pier you can stay at The Ticketyboo Resort and the Saint Bernard.

If you want a longer stay or like the comfort of an airconditioned room you should check into the Sante Fe SeaView Apartelle with seaviews located on the main road in Santa Fe and owned and operated by a Filipiino couple Mr. and Mrs. E Ybanez. From this location it’s just a short walk to the beach, the central market and the restaurants.

You have an excellent choice of restaurants which include The Blue run by a Swedish x-pat Andy, D’Jungle run by Robert German x-pat, The Rock Cafe run by Swedish x-pat Henry and the Yooneek bar located directly on the beach… and a good place to end the day by sipping a cold beer and watching the incredible sunsets.

If this isn’t Jimmy Buffet enough and you can either swim out to The Floating Bar located just off Yooneek Beach or be rowed out like royalty and spend the afternoon taking in the sun and splashing into the water for a cooling dip. And just maybe you may discover this is your own country and all you need is your flag of choice.

There is also the newly opened Moby Dick run by John US -xpat which serves excellent oven baked pizzas, The Oasis which has excellent Portuguese food and a new restaurant run by Belgium-French owner Dennis named Zenith. As you stroll up the street past the two churches you will come to a Restaurant named Balikbayan which has excellent decor with fresh flowers, birds, native rocks, and a live fish aquarium not to mention a nice local menu.

There are also many local eateries where you can grab a fast-food hamburger, barbecued chicken, fried bananas and one local restaurant that stands out named Arjaymay operated by Jerry Tan that serves fresh seafood grilled to perfection and comes with a healthy salad all for about 200 pesos or 4 us dollars. Located just across from the central market.

Bantayan island offers the tourist good swimming on white sand beaches, excursions to other islands, motor scooter rental …where you can tour the entire island in one day by going south to Bantayan City and then heading north to Madridejos where you can shortcut back to Santa Fe.

The island is vibrant with many festivals, schools, and church activities. It also exports crabs from Madridejos, and is nicknamed the egg basket of the Philippines because of all the chicken farms located throughout the island. If you are not used to hearing the rooster crow: “cock-a-doodle-do” your senses will be stirred at sunrise from almost every point on the island.

It is an excellent island to meet new travelers and foreign x-pats and is easy to get around either by walking, using the tricycles or for a longer trip you can use the motorized tricycles. A German has a resort near Bantayan City called Maia’s, which he carved out of the coral and would be worth a visit.

There is only one ATM machine which is located at Allied Bank near the Bantayan City town square and takes about 30 minutes on tricycle for about 25 pesos. While in Bantayan City you can visit the wet market and bring back the highly prized Lapu Lapu fish and have any number of restaurants fix it the way you like it.

So there you have it… an island of friendly people where you can live like a king on a modest budget and if you are not careful …you like so many x-pats from before might just call Bantayan Island your home.

QUOTE: “Not to be bound by rules, but to be creating one’s own rules–this is the kind of life which Zen is trying to have us live.”
- D. T. Suzuki

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: A father Emperor penguin withstands the Antarctic cold for 60 days or more to protect his eggs, which he keeps on his feet, covered with a feathered flap. During this entire time he doesn’t eat a thing. Most father penguins lose about 25 pounds while they wait for their babies to hatch. Afterward, they feed the chicks a special liquid from their throats. When the mother penguins return to care for the young, the fathers go to sea to eat and rest.

THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Penguins! They is so cute little fellows in tuxedos. Dig in your wallet and begin help saving the planet. It will come back a thousand fold.

ZENTRAVELER SAYS: This is the year to either volunteer your time or loosen your wallet. What are you waiting for—grasshopper?

From here to Infinity is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! and on and on and on.

Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free?

Zentraveler on Miracle Vegetable Moringa!

Just when you thought there was nothing more out there in the health industry I was walking past a storefront in Bantayan, Philippines when I saw a poster in the window describing the benefits of Moringa!

The storefront was closed but a young man saw me looking and asked if I wanted to buy something. I indicated I would like to know a bit more about the Moringa plant. Just then a smiling person showed up and started telling me about the many benefits of Moringa. It’s name in the Philippines is Malunggay. He went to say that: “Malunggay is called ” The Miracle Vegetable” because it is not only a food, it is also a medicine.

He then volunteered he was a doctor of medicine and also a practicing surgeon. He uses the plant in capsule form and prefers the root but also recommends Moniga leaves as well depending on your indivudal situation. With the Moringa Leaves capsules they help with detoxification, enchances skin health, normalizes blood sugar, strengthens immune system, normalizes blood pressure, vision improvement, improves wound healing, reduces wrinkles/age lines improves digestion, and increases energy. Is also an appetite suppresant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-fungal, antioxidant, anti-ulcer, anti-depressant, anti-cholesterol.The moringa root capsules are a circulatory tonic, nervous debility, intermittent fever, spleen enlarger, skin infections, kidney stone, rheumatism, purgative, and delirium. Is also used to treat diabetes, lumbago, asthma, hysteria, drowsy, fatty liver, cough, epilepsy, and gout.

As an anti-oxidant components of Moringa Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B (Choline) Vitamin B1(thiamin), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B3(niacin), Vitamin B6, alanine, Alpha -Carotene, Beta -sitosterol, Caffeoylquinic, Acid, Campesterol, Carotenoids, Chlorophyll, Chrommium, Delta 5 Avenasterol, Delta 7 Avenasterol, Glutathione, Histidine, Indole Acetic Acid, Indoleacetonitrile, Kaempferal, Leucine, Lutein, Methionine, Myristic-Acid, Palmitic Acid, Prolamine, Proline, Quercetin, Rutin, Selenium, Threonine, Tryp-tophan, Xanthins, Xanthophyll, Zeatin, Zeaxanthin, and Zinc.

Antii-inflammatory components of moringa include: Vitamin A, Vitamin B1(thjiamin), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Arginine, Beta-sitosterol, Caffeoylquinic, Acid, Calcium, Chlorophyll, Copper, Cystine, Omega 3, Omega 6, Omega 9, Fiber, Glutathione, Histidine, Indole Acetic Acid, Indolacetonitrile, Isoleucine, Kaempferal, Leucine, Magnesium, Oleic-Acid, Phenylalanine, Potasium, Quercetin, Rutin, Selenium, Stigmasterol, Sulphur, Tryptotphan, Tyrosine, Zeatin and Zinc.

So their you have it a Miracle Vegetable that contains the chemistry compotents of the earths pharmacy. I can say only after taking the capsules for only three days I could tell a difference in my energy level and defintely felt better on my overall health.

As an experiment I am going to get rid of all of my other vitamins and only use both the Moringa root and the Moringa leaf capsules.
Not only is this a new beginning—but think how simple it will be to take only two capsules and feel like you are covering all of your bases.

The above was adapted from DR Lydia M. Marero, and has a hold harmless clause as the health effects upon taking these capsules. It is always advised to consult with your physician before undertaking a new regimen in herbs and vitamins.

QUOTE:”Not to be bound by rules, but to be creating one’s own rules–this is the kind of life which Zen is trying to have us live.”
- D. T. Suzuki

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW:Banana plants are the largest plants on earth without a woody stem. They are actually giant herbs of the same family as lilies, orchids and palms.

THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Corals in the Ocean! Just like timber, disappearing animals and plants our corals are being destroyed by an alarming rate. Maybe it’s time to become pro-active and either help by volunteering or giving some cash to help save our planet. It’s never to late to start!

ZENTRAVELER SAYS: Take Miracle Vegetable Moringa to supplement your daily intake.

From here to Infinity is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! and on and on and on.

Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free?