My Wunderlich World

Ric O'Barry and The Cove

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 06:04:00 +0000

"A dolphin's smile is nature's greatest deception."

- Ric O'Barry/The Cove

For O'Barry, the struggle began in 1960, when he ventured to train Kathy, the dolphin, which starred in the movie Flipper. As he states it in the award winning full-length documentary, The Cove, he spent ten years creating a multimillionaire industry and the rest of his life-time trying to dismantle what he could have never imagined would've happened: dolphin slaughters. If not killed by man, a dolphin can actually commit suicide.

This documentary was exceptional in solving my ignorance on dolphin slaughtering/baby-dolphin-pillaging. It also informed me on how organizations and governments are willing to risk for a bucket of extra-cash: both from the active and the passive parties.

So now eating sea fish or any other fish for that matter will be quite difficult in seeing that you could be basically eating almost anything: like dolphins! Cash in exchange for a country intoxicated by Mercury: it's such a tragedy (dolphin meat is very high in mercury); and in the middle, the dolphin suffers the constant beat of the hammer.

If you are ignorant, like I was, about what dolphins endure, then you must see this documentary. Get informed and know the truth.

The mission: I truly admire what O'Barry's team did in Japan. The mission was a success and if it were not for their effort, some hundreds of dolphin and this documentary would've been impossible to set free/create.

Save a dolphin! There are many ways to become an activist in saving these amazing mammals; and that's another great reason why you should watch this very well-made movie: understand that other creatures are as smart as we humans are.

Check out the following pages to get to know the voice behind the struggle, the cry behind the deceptive-smile (#Tweet4Dolphins):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ric_O'Barry
http://www.dolphinproject.org/
http://www.thecovemovie.com/richardobarry.htm
https://www.facebook.com/RichardOBarry
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/33603915

Recommended Tweet:

The Cove: The voice behind the struggle, the cry behind the deceptive-smile #Tweet4Dolphins #RT http://shar.es/wVAtp

Nespresso Coffee Maker: Get up, get dressed, no time!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:33:00 +0000

Get up, get dressed, no time!--dash to the kitchen and look at the watch. Shit. Only 10 minutes left before rush hour retains you withing its chunk of metallic traffic.

You have your lovely Moka on one side, your AeroPress in the drawer, your FrenchPress looking at you from a distance, and your brand new lovely looking Nespresso machine just waiting to pop that shell full of coffee. 25 seconds to warm up, you lock and load--the machine drills its way through the capsule and squeezes 25 ml of espresso on your cup, ready within a minute's time.

Yep, in this case, Nespresso wins.

I own the above mentioned coffee machines and love my freshly brewed cup of coffee. Flavorwise, Nespresso cannot beat your freshly ground cup of coffee made with your AeroPress machine or your good old FrenchPress; but it will surely beat those machines when it comes to brewing time.

Nespresso solved my morning dashing experience, since now, within a minute, I have my coffee ready. I do love the assorted flavors. I wasn't much of a "decaffeinato" drinker. After seeing my relatives enjoy a decaf post-dinner, I have slowly warmed up to it.

In conclusion: Nespresso is a great addition to your coffee making machines since it taps into the world of brewing quickly and efficiently. I have to thank my cousin for granting me the opportunity of using this machine. He gave me it as a gift and I absolutely love it. You know who you are--thanks primo!

Double Star, by Robert Heinlein --The Great Lorenzo!--

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 02:48:00 +0000

"I regard them as prostitutes, not colleagues. Let me make myself clear. Does an author respect a ghost writer? Would you respect a painter who allowed another man to sign his work -- for money? Possible the spirit of the artist is foreign to you, sir, yet perhaps I may put it in terms germane to your own profession."

Lawrence Smith, also known as Lorenzo Smythe --The Great Lorenzo!-- is a very proud actor, and one of the best know in the Empire. He is asked to act in an interesting and well payed job, though details are lacking and gets tangled with his contractors/captors into acting on this important role. Smythe must impersonate an important politician who has been kidnapped.

Narrated in the first person, I was delighted to read the character development Smythe endured along the slender yet captivating novel. Heinlein has an avid nature to capture the essence of the moment, to elonquently describe a setting with few, precise words and make of it a master-piece. I enjoyed every page, turning them as the action developed and Lorenzo slowly changed, and changed, and became... a mature individual who never thought he could find profoundity in the "nasty" game of politics.

"Politics isn't a dirty game. But there are dirty players."

The Great Lorenzo, as he is known, is dramatically affected by the memory of his father, something that shows as the story develops, a trait you see even in the final stages of the plot.

"Before my revered father died he made me promise him three things: first, never to mix whisky with anything but water; second, always to ignore anonymous letters; and lastly, never to talk with a stranger who refuses to give his name."

As you arrive to the final portions of the book and you realize that it will soon finish, you can't quite picture who the book will end. But it ends with such delicacy, such intimate and well captured moments that the story is rendered from grand to epic. The way this book was finished is astonishing, with emotions that linger and reside with the long lasting tones of a great read. This is by far science fiction at its best.

Wall Street

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 May 2013 23:56:00 +0000

"Create instead of buying and selling what others do."

"When a man is staring into the abyss he finds his own character, and this prevents him from plunging into the abyss."

Great lines that took the movie to a deep philosophical level. In the end, a man might lose everything and it will all be fine, as long as he doesn't lose himself. Bud found his character in the end and fought to make things right. He paid the due price, and yes, he proved it to himself that there is justice in the world. A crook got another crook; but only one of them walked away with a clean slate and an honest smirk on the face. I only regret not watching this movie when I was younger.

The Remaining: Aftermath.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:08:00 +0000

From start to finish, this book is such a fun and action packed, well written, amazing-imagery, great descriptions book. After reading DJ Molles' first book, The Remaining, I had to continue, I could not stop reading, literally. Well, the moments when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about the character development, about Doc or Miller, Harper or Lee, just wondering what would ever become of them in such a morphed world where shit hit the fan and rubble, chaos, and FURY infected feral creatures are roaming the land, combing the woods in search of prey--or haunting a church--.

As I mentioned it on my previous review, DJ Molles does a fantastic job in describing the moment, in capturing its essence and giving it to you, the reader, in such a simple yet compelling way that you are immediately transported. Character development is one of this author's strengths and of course, the use of artillery is just fascinating. Can't wait to get to book 3.

Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchel

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:42:00 +0000

1. General Opinion:

Brilliant. Genius. Grand. Three words to define one of the greatest fiction works I've read this year. Amazingly narrated, the author has a distinct capacity to weave his readers with eloquence and yet, deliver messages of sufficient sustenance. The story unfolds in a crescendo-decrescendo fashion 6 stories, of which all are interlinked by at least 1 thread; each story pertaining its own lexicon and mode of narrating, which is not only a wild-most-amusing feat to conquer, but also generates within one whole-book a series of adventures that are restlessly interwoven.

2. Author's writing style:

This detail is perhaps what enthralled me the most from the novel, Cloud Atlas. Narrating 6 distinct stories is not easy, especially if you're threading them with less than 1 membranous filament; add to that feat the fact that each narrative has its own characteristic language, with it's own faults and pearls--as each story is narrated from a first-person's point of view and details are given in correspondence to each individual's capacity to see and appreciate the world. Each narrative has it's own set of exquisite words used throughout the work--splendid. This was, perhaps, what kept me turning page after page--I needed to see how the hell this author managed to weave such a novel, seamlessly. As a writer, I admire this particularity and congratulate the author on such a wonderful project. The undertaking must've been a laborious endeavor, yet very gratifying.

3. Transcending message:

The piece is marvelous at exploiting the weaknesses of man and of his will to power. As David Mitchell mentioned it in some portion of his book, there's some quoting of Nietzsche as the piece progresses. Man's egocentricity is by far the most criticized point of this book. Mitchell gloriously and skillfully portrays how egocentrism deteriorates man and ultimately, fails him as he acts against his fellow mates to attain power, love, wealth, etc.

I will quote how Mitchell wonderfully portrays man's demise through the search for power and lust for possession:

"The will to power, the backbone of human nature. The threat of violence, the fear of violence, or actual violence, is the instrument of this dreadful will. You can see the will to power in bedrooms, kitchens, factories, unions and the borders of states. Listen to this and remember it. The nation state is merely human nature inflated to monstrous proportions."

Beautifully written. Powerfully expressed.

4. In conclusion:

I cannot say much about the plot--it's so well cross-linked that it's impossible for me to tell you a summary of what goes on in this mind-bending story. As a writer, I have been both entertained and educated by Mitchell's creation, especially from the vast amount of vocabulary I have learnt and in his mind-blasting mode of creating metaphors.

5. The Movie?

Oh, yes, I forgot to mention the movie is coming out soon and that's why I read the book so quickly. As I read it, I wasn't quite sure how this book would be put into one whole piece. It'll be a surprise to see how the directors/actors pull this one off!

The Magicians, by Lev Grossman

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 May 2013 01:07:00 +0000

The Magicians by Lev Grossman.

A book review by Paul A. Wunderlich

This book has many traits of a fantasy novel. I enjoyed every passing word, and do not mistake me, I liked it. There are a few things that sometimes took me out of context, but as a whole, the novel is very memorable. 5/5 stars.

1.) The very vivid poetic, heroic, and entrancing language used by Grossman is amazing as an experimental tone, but once you get to the real fantasy, to the fairy-tale world, the language gets you out of context once in a while. Some have argued that the realistic language makes the world a bit more believable, which is anyway unnecessary. If you buy a book of fantasy you expect to be warped to the non-tangible world of things that you've dreamed about and imagined. Crude language renders the warp robust and coarse, full of seams but definitely enjoyable. At the same time this language made me enjoy the story page after page; I had a lot of fun with its unnatural and almost unpredictable way of expressing imagery.

2.) Honk! Honk!: To morph and transmute into another being is quite fascinating in this book. The way sensations and senses are described entrapped me in a world were it was plausible. I could easily grasp the reality through the eyes of another animal. Grossman's descriptions of life through another animal's fur was gripping.

3.) The great quest of Quentin Coldwater is amazing. I enjoyed very much the character development and each and every one of them had a quality worth exploring.

4.) The fairy-tale world is much too similar with Narnia and Alice in Wonderland, which made me recognize it immediately and resonated well with me.

5.) Well written and excellent use of language. Grossman really makes good use of language and in part, it's what kept me going until the end. If not entranced by the fantasy realm I was surely pulled in by the many metaphors and surprisingly and almost random language Grossman used. I found this skill fascinating.

Follow this amazing artist:
Twitter: @leverus
Facebook: Lev Grossman

Dan Bigley: A tragic yet triumphant story--Beyond the Bear--.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:07:00 +0000

In 2003, Dan Bigley was blinded and severely mauled by a grizzly bear. He hardly withstood the damage to tell his story, but even more so, a great challenge would soon rise, the challenge to overcome blindness.

I was deeply impacted and moved by this man's story. I can only imagine what it would be to live without vision. Dan Bigley shares with us his experience in an amazing story he tells after defeating the many obstacles we can only imagine he encountered after such a devastating attack by a grizzly bear.

His book is called: "Beyond the Bear: How I Learned to Live and Love Again after being Blinded by a Bear" (Link to Amazon.com)

This is the book description (from Amazon.com)

"A 25-year-old backcountry wanderer, a man happiest exploring wild places with his dog, Dan Bigley woke up one midsummer morning to a day full of promise. Before it was over, after a stellar day of salmon fishing along Alaska’s Kenai and Russian rivers, a grizzly came tearing around a corner in the trail. Dan barely had time for “bear charging” to register before it had him on the ground, altering his life forever.

“Upper nose, eyes, forehead anatomy unrecognizable,” as the medevac report put it.

Until then, one thing after another had fallen into place in Dan’s life. He had a job he loved taking troubled kids on outdoor excursions. He had just bought a cabin high in the Chugach Mountains with a view that went on forever. He was newly in love. After a year of being intrigued by a woman named Amber, they had just spent their first night together. All of this was shattered by the mauling that nearly killed him, that left him blind and disfigured.

Facing paralyzing pain and inconceivable loss, Dan was in no shape to be in a relationship. He and Amber let each other go. Five surgeries later, partway into his long healing journey, they found their way back to each other. The couple’s unforgettable story is one of courage, tenacious will, and the power of love to lead the way out of darkness. Dan Bigley’s triumph over tragedy is a testament to the ability of the human spirit to overcome physical and emotional devastation, to choose not just to live, but to live fully."

I would also like to invite you to the section in Reddit where he is answering questions about his blindness. You will be amazed to read about life from another perspective, full of vivid imagery and memories that define reality:

"Every sunset stems from the most vivid sunsets in my memory. Every ocean as beautiful as the most beautiful of my memory. Every car has no dents or rust, and they will always appear in my mind as they did in 2003 even 20 years from now. My wife will always appear 23 to me as this was the last time I saw her." (From Reddit) -- Dan Bigley.

The Stolen Kingdom, by Ross Rosenfeld

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:43:00 +0000

Moving forward with the long list of books to be reviewed, I was faced with a title that had been intriguing me since the moment I was given a copy of it.

Reading the book late at night, I ate about 10% in one sitting, which isn't much, but still I can tell you, it's a damn good read.

The narrative is sweet, soft, silky--the author uses big words and a fancy classical language, which fascinates me. In spite of his usage of big words, it never feels like a heavy heap of lines; the read is fluid and contagious; you just feel impulsed to delve more and more into the story.

The introduction is very compelling. It's a story told from generation to generation, and now, it seems that we will become the story teller. I'm having a blast with this read, and as soon as I'm finished, I'll review it thoroughly. Congratulations to Ross Rosenfeld for a great book. With 28 reviews in Amazon, it's already moving up the ranks.

Micro Story: Sorrow within the Creek.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:27:00 +0000

The creek had dried, the sun was too hot and its rays much too profound in thought. It all began when the the air was dry and the leaves were dying. The toads prayed and prayed, but the water eluded their words of deep, deep sorrow. Thus, the months went by and slowly, the creek began to dry and to die, and now it remains, mourning, lonely and without hope. Only sorrow remains within the Creek.

Three ways to get a great e-book at a low cost. Check it out!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:50:00 +0000

Themes you'll find in Despondency:

- The importance of finding Self and protecting it from disintegration.

- Integrity: a road to happiness.

- How egoism benefits us all in the short and long run.

There are now 3 ways you can get a copy of Despondency:

1. Download it for free in Smashwords.

2. Download it for free or read it for free in Goodreads, and

3. Buy it for just $0.99

Micro-story: Post-Apocalypse

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:23:00 +0000

My goal: To capture the essence of the moment.
The vector: A poetic, vivid-imagery micro-story.
Did I succeed? Let me know in the comments section below.

It was swift enough to lose myself within the maze, the race of thoughts that splattered my soul into single burning units of flame. After the war, all I remember is her name. Her face is an amorphous shadow, a flicker of light, a wisp of air that dwindles with the passing of time. Loneliness never had such a face, such daunting presence within me, until now. Creeping shadows engulf me and I am nevermore.

An Empowering quote by Ayn Rand.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:09:00 +0000

“In the name of the best within you, do not sacrifice this world to those who are its worst. In the name of the values that keep you alive, do not let your vision of man be distorted by the ugly, the cowardly, the mindless in those who have never achieved his title. Do not lose your knowledge that man's proper estate is an upright posture, an intransigent mind and a step that travels unlimited roads. Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it's yours.” | Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand.

Maternowski Delivers an Outstanding Sequel: Exmortus Vol. 2, Temples Diabolic.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 01:41:00 +0000

In the first book we left off with Ash and Steed, Simon and Ziggy at the Abby, where they are being once again chased for the mysterious key that Ash holds: The Prayer of Nemesis.

In this sequel Ash and his former group separate, given the harsh circumstances. Added to the pile of chaos, Ash has a heart beating for a love that no one really knows exists, except for Ash and possibly Steed. Ash is dissuaded from his company by his Heart's Desire, that girl who with one single word conquered his heart.

In this book we are given a whole new perspective of Ashley Xavier's evolution as a young man. The narrative concentrates mainly on the mental/psychological changes that are slowly transmuting our main character. Through adversity and being chased by a demonic reptilian-man called Ludwig, Ash slowly morphs into a warrior, of a spectrum we can only predict.

Again, character development is one of this Saga's strengths, a quality Maternowski dominates skilfully.

Imaginative and creative, this book's action is impressive, as it is unpredictable and delightful.

Inspirational Forces: Ryan KP and Anthony Hicks, Freedom.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 01:45:00 +0000

It was late one night while enjoying a cup of tea and sifting through the internet that I found myself seeking for inspirational music. As mentioned in the previous post, I usually write with music in the background to "suppress" unwanted thoughts, clearing the airway so that preferred thoughts may take-off.

Whether by accident or by some subconscious lure, I clicked on the name of a song that popped-up in my YouTube feed: Freedom (KP Spiritual Dub Remix) [Ryan KP &; Anthony Hicks Feat. Moein S - Freedom (KP Spiritual Dub Remix)]. That particular day I was very much interested in listening to Dubstep music, which pressed my mind even further to click on such a title.

*You can also buy their music in Amazon*

I found myself watching a very well made video, but the music, wow, I was speechless. With such a cadence, such profound tones and melodic, melancholic-happiness, I was instantly warped into a maze of proliferating thoughts. I pushed onwards and delved into the world of thought, of unity, of boundless expansion and found myself traveling through the timeless world of memories.

I had to know, I had to see a face; I was eager to know who created such music, with such power to invite one to delve into hidden depths.

The artists are named Ryan KP and Anthony Hicks (video by Dillon Pearce). This is the song that ignited the creation of this post:

Check out this artist's page, I'm sure you'll appreciate his work:

Ryan KP

The amazing video takes place in Melbourne, Australia and was created by the amazing Dillon Pearce (Media).

The music combined with the video makes me imagine a world, a jungle, a city full of hidden difficulties which must be overcome. This isn't much different from real life, as surely, most of us do live in city full of wild civilized humans. The video also shows us the artistic side of Melbourne. Great music, great video. Absolutely recommended.

Ashley Wallbridge: The Inner Me.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 22:19:00 +0000

Music is definitely a route to find a stream of wealthy thoughts, relaxation, and creativity. Self-Discovery is indeed a powerful tool, even more so when ancillary methods can provide you with channels of tranquility and ease.

Usually I listen to music to enter a focused state of mind. When I'm writing, I usually have a set of thoughts going on in the back of my head, and these are sometimes not related to my writing. So what I do to "guide them" and use those thoughts in my favor is to put on pair of headphones and listen to a specific type of music; one that relates the most to the topic, scenery, and character I'm writing about.

During the writing of Despondency, I frequently listened to Ashley Wallbridge's music, specifically the album titled "The Inner Me".

I bought the album upon reading the title, and I was very thrilled to find that the music truly did invite you to delve into one's self. There is one song I particularly liked to listen to while in "creative mode". It's called Ibiza. This is perhaps my favorite song of the album:

I really enjoy when artists help one another indirectly. From one end, Ashley's music promotes my creations and helps me organize my thoughts; in the other hand, I'm sure many books have inspired artists around the world to create amazing pieces of art.

The Internet's Sanctuary. Enjoy a moment of Calm.com.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 02:41:00 +0000

The day has crumbled into pieces, shattered glass floats in your mind as you race to get into the Tube, the bus, or your car. You race through traffic and the red lights hinder your progress. A madman drives by your side and almost smashes into you. You scream out in anger and lash out at him in your mind, killing him with a baseball bat. You read a message in your mobile that says "Not gonna be home for dinner. Running late, Love!" and you squash the break with you foot upon seeing the police man pull you over. SHIT, you think, as you begin to disintegrate as you slowly boil with stress.

STOP.

BE CALM.

BREATHE...

You serf the internet searching for solitude, calmness, and serenity. You stumble upon a link, calm.com. You enter and you click on START.

You slowly begin to enter a state integration, shifting from stressful thoughts to the unanimity of your soul. You pull yourself from the external world and slowly, gently, begin to be lured by a vortex-like phenomenon into your soul's machinery of calmness.

You have entered the Internet's Sanctuary: calm.com.

Find yourself. Be serene, and above all, opt in to the road of self-discovery, the route towards happiness, towards integrity. Read about self-discovery, travel the world of self-exploration to find yourself. Be surrounded by silence, by solitude. Be yourself.

Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged. Part III, Chapter IV.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 01:26:00 +0000

Another great source of inspiration was Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged". Today I visited the University where I studied, here in Guatemala: Universidad Francisco Marroquín.

Talking to the dean, Giancarlo Ibargüen, was refreshing: finding someone who thinks like you, and fights for the same cause is literally empowering. Giancarlo had the mental-spark to take me to a beautiful bronze sculpture--UFM's pride--, the Atlas; and just below it, I was able to delve into one of Ayn Rand's passages from Atlas Shrugged, which captivated my soul upon reading it--once again--.

UFM's Atlas. Beautiful!

"Despondency's" main topic is individualism, as it is with all my works, including "El Lóbrego Pastor", my masterpiece in Spanish.

The above-mentioned titles explore the philosophical world of how an individual can obtain enlightenment through self-discovery; of how an individual can find his sole source of contentment by delving into himself. In the end, the struggle for integrity is a great one, a battle that must be one by none other than yourself.

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. A journey to discover Self.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 02:02:00 +0000

It feels good to remember one's inspirational forces, to go back to one's origins, to where one felt emotions that eventually blossomed into a flower composed of words and paragraphs.

One of the books that inspired me to create "Despondency: The Story of a Defeated Man", was Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse. I would like to share with you a passage I came across yesterday while reading the novel on my Kindle:

"And where was Atman to be found, where did He reside, where did His eternal heart beat, where else but in one's own self, in its innermost part, in its indestructible part, which everyone has in himself? But where, where was this self, this innermost part, this ultimate part? It was not flesh and bone, it was neither thought nor consciousness, thus the wisest ones taught. So, where, where was it? To reach this place, the self, myself, the Atman, there was another way, which was worthwhile looking for? Alas, and nobody showed this way, nobody knew it, not the father, and not the teachers and wise men, not the hole sacrificial songs! They knew everything, the Brahmans and their holy books, they knew everything, they had taken care of everything and of more than everything, the creation of the world, the origin of speech, of food, of inhaling, of exhaling, the arrangement of the senses, the acts of the gods, they knew infinitely much--but was it valuable to know all of this, not knowing that one and only thing, the most important thing, the solely important thing?"

- Herman Hesse, Siddhartha

I find this passage amazing and very inspiring. It moved me so that long ago, when the creation of "Despondency" was being forged in the hearth of my thoughts, it slowly infused into my writing and thus, the creation of a novel that explores the origin of self began to bloom.

Find Happiness Through Self-Discovery: The Universe Within

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 02:57:00 +0000

Gazing into the stars is a passion many of us share, an activity even children find captivating. The soul seems to be caressed by the distant, scintillating light of the stars, that comes tainted with deep memories from the far reaches of the universe. Galaxies blaze abroad and beyond, and meaning is sought in every wincing light floating in the unknown. It was during any other night that I felt lured by the stars, lured to begin writing the adventure of a man, sad and lost, who found himself through self-discovery.

The curious thing is that, as deep and unknown as the universe might be, so are we, who hold a scintillating universe within, full of truth, full of hidden depths.

To delve deep within the caverns of our soul is to come closer to ourselves; which in turn, may yield a mirthful smile. The road to self is a road seldom traveled, and yet, those who have gone deep into the wells of the 'self' have come back, purified by the loss and the gain of truths and lies, hidden within.

Take the chisel and hack away the unessential; sculpt yourself and find your sole source of contentment. I took the main character of "Despondency" through this arduous process, slowly morphing him into something much greater than his former self.

Earth Lodge: One of Guatemala's Best Places to Lodge In

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:25:00 +0000

While holding a beer in one hand, and my laptop in the other, I couldn't help myself but to linger on the horizon and delve into passing thoughts. Like the clouds, I felt as if flying over the volcanoes, and it was right then when several chapters of Despondency began to flow in my mind.

During the night at Earth Lodge, after imagining lovely scenery, I plowed the fields of my mind's eye and began to spread the crops of thought over the blank space of a Microsoft Word document. Slowly, the main character, Trister Trännermann, began to live within me.

If solitude or inspiration is what you wish to find, then this is definitely one of the places where you may do such a thing. Earth Lodge, like Antigua, invites one to think and linger over thoughts of philosophical significance.

Check out their site:

http://www.earthlodgeguatemala.com/

Trip Advisor: Vacation and Leisure at Antigua, Guatemala. A lovely Colonial City.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:25:00 +0000

Trip Advisor regards Antigua, Guatemala as one of the loveliest colonial cities in Central America.

Quote:

Antigua Guatamala is known as the best-preserved Spanish colonial city in Central America. Stroll the cobblestone streets, lounge with the locals in Central Park on sunny afternoons or hike up one of the volcanoes overlooking the city for amazing views. -Trip Advisor

The truth is that even us, the locals, have a great time visiting this colonial city. As a Guatemalan, I assure that every time I go I just wish I lived in Antigua.

It is here where it all began, where I became inspired by the ruins and the cobbled-stone streets. This place is full of mirth, and yet, it holds in its memories remnants from the past, both scary and passionate.

A destroyed city, that in spite of being a ruin, it somehow grows in you, making you fall in love with this place, to think about it, linger with its many visions. If you ever walk around at night, you may just get haunted by ghosts and many other spirits that lurk this ruined city.

I found inspiration while sitting in a Coffee Bar, just outside the Central Park. Visitors buying goods, children playing around, and that constant, ever present sentiment of solitude and deep cavernous walls holding distant memories, were some of the pearls that inspired the origins of Despondency.

Despondency: The Story of a Defeated Man

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:23:00 +0000

Introducing a new novel,

Despondency: The Story of a Defeated Man

by Paul A. Wunderlich, edited by Zach Hunt.

This is the story of a man who has been in an eternal struggle, using eternal lightly, since he is only 59 years old. In spite of his age, he is very unhappy, since happiness is merely a concept he has never felt or understood.

This story takes place in the lovely colonial city of Antigua, Guatemala. It has many fiction elements, like Mayans and vivid dreams, and also contains philosophical passages, some like Herman Hesse´s creations (i.e. Siddhartha). If you like action and adventure with a good-feel and a deep meaning, then this is an eBook you may find enjoyable.

The book description is the following:

Trister Trännermann, a fifty-nine year old man, travels the world in search of happiness. He finds nothing but regret as the unforgiving shadow of his past relentlessly haunted him. He ends up in Antigua, Guatemala, where he finally decides to settle down for good in an attempt to evade his demise.

As he seeks to dismantle his misery, he dreams about a Mayan warrior who stabs him to death, and he sees a woman whom he's barely seen before. Upon waking, Trister seeks her counsel in order to understand why she, of all people, appeared in his dream. He wrestles with self-doubt as she taps into the ruins of his shattered soul where she comprehends that he has been mangled by more than merely self-rejection. He fears he will never find happiness and will die as a nomad, ever wandering the world in search of something he can hardly define.

Check it out by clicking on this link.