next report   May 10 - 13   Monterey Beautiful Ocean fish   Luckily we found a small side road that parallelled Highway 68 just past where it changed from freeway to highway for the beginning of our walk on Wednesday, May 10. We didnÕt need any more trouble with CHiPs. We bagan the day by saying goodbye to our Salinas housing, St. PaulÕs Episcopal Church, with plans to move into our new digs, the Unitarian Universalist Church in Monteray, that evening. Walking went great as usualÐexcept that we were slowed down by the TV guys from Channel 48 who were stopping us for interviews and asking us to walk slowly for the camera. It was a small sacrifice for the great coverage. Once we finished that day we drove a few minutes from our stopping point and arrived at the Unitarian church. It is a very beautiful building set in an even more beautiful wooded area. They basically gave us free-reign of the building, which was really wonderful because we all got a chance to spread out and sleep in separate rooms. People slept everywhere from the downstairs office and classrooms to the sanctuary and the nursery. The Gyuto Monks fed us again that night, whipping up a batch of wonderful momos and force feeding us as Tibetans always do. It doesnÕt matter if you are full or if youÕve had a dozen of the delightful little meat-filled dumplings, theyÕll make you eat a few more. Thanks guys.   Thursday we made our way into Monterey and then flowed along the seaside. We even walked along the famous Cannery Row. The measurements on the days walk were a bit short so we extended the route at the last minute and wound our way through a bit more of Pacific Grove. Along the route were incredible purple flowers blooming like a carpet along stretching out all around. We saw sea otters, sea lions and even deer along the way. Again that evening dinner was prepared for us.   Ginine came blowing into the kitchen at the church and made a simple request: "I just need everyone to stay out of here for the next hour or so." The food was incredible. We were very full and very happy. Thank you. Friday was another day off from walking. The day began with Pema Lhundup and Yishe Topden doing a radio interview on the local National Public Radio Station. Several of us sat and listen intently. The interview went extremely well, with questions ranging from detailing Chinese prison conditions to how many pairs of shoes Yishe had.   We had two programs: one at Pacific Grove Middle School and another at the Monterey Pennisula College. When we arrived at the school around noon, most of the kids were outside eating lunch. As to be expected we created a bit of a frenzyÐmonastic people in robes, hippies with signs and 12-year-olds, you can imagine. After eating our sack lunches, sponsored by our new friends Rich and Candy, talking with the kids and handing out a lot of stickers and brochures we went into the school auditorium. Two classes of about 25-30 kids each came in one after another and listened to Pema, Yishe and Ani Pelmo tell their stories. Their history teacher did an excellent job of summarizing the stories as they were being told and asking questions to fill in the gaps. Then we went to Rich and CandyÕs to relax and then eat pizza (boy it was nice to eat some good olÕ American food) before going to our evening program. We did another joint gig with the producers of TibetÕs Stolen Child, the new Panchen Lama video. Congressman Sam Farr came and gave a talk to kick off the evening. He publicly announced that he would be voting against the permenant trade status for China. Pema, Yishe and Ani spoke again and then the movie screening followed. Afterwards Robin Garthwait, one of the filmÕs producers, and Tsewang Khangsar conducted a question and answer session. Again our merchandise and donation box were popular. Thank you MPC.   Saturday we walked along 17-Mile Drive, this is a story worth its own separate report. (click here for report)   Susanne was our dinner host that evening, cooking us a wonderful mix of food, she was also the lunch host on 17-Mile. Thank you Susanne. I donÕt think we bought much food while in Monterey/Carmel. Between Rich and Candy, Susanne, Ginine and the Gyuto Monks, just about every breakfast, lunch and dinner were covered. Thank you for the wonderful donations.
		March 2000 Home | How To Help | Walk Schedule | Co-Sponsors International Tibet Independence Movement PO Box 592 Fishers, Indiana 46038-0592 United States e-mail: rangzen@aol.com HOME Why Independence? | Why is Tibet Important? | What Can I Do? | Archive Links | Important Addresses | Merchandise | E-Mail Asian Map