Nickie and Lisa's Traveblogue

Talmage (Ukiah), California - City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

This is a buddhist monastery. It's a gentle place where all living things are considered family and visitors are asked not to harm so much as a fly or mosquito out of respect for life. Diet is vegetarian or vegan. Quiet and serenity prevail here and street signs bear such names as Compassion Way, Generosity Way, Proper Thought, and Proper Speech. Just a lovely place! More than one hundred monks and nuns live here and there are ceremonies, meditation, and chanting throughout the day. There is a Buddhist university, seniors' home, and vegetarian restaurant here. Alas, we came too late in the day to enjoy the restaurant, which we've heard is a culinary delight not to be missed.

A white peacock greeted us at the door to the temple. We never even knew they exist! I've since learned that this is a rare but naturally occurring color variation of the blue variety. They have blue eyes and are not albinos. They shed their beautiful long trains in late summer, so we've missed his display for this year. To see one in full display, click here or here.

Front and back of the temple. The number 10000 is normally used figuratively to denote infinity. In the case of this temple, however, it is also meant literally. There are 10000 buddhas in this temple. The gold figurines you see lining the walls on all four sides are all buddhas.

Mixed peafowl

"Teaching and protecting all nations"

Leggett, California - Avenue of the Giants - drive-thru tree

This is when Nickie began to worry that I would continue taking her south over another border.

California - Avenue of the Giants - Myers Flat

o/~ ...If the log rolls over we will all be dead... o/~

Shrine Drive-Thru Tree

Placards read:

Age 5000 years - - Height 275 feet
Diameter 21 feet - - Circumference 64 feet

Notice that this tree is hollow and 3/4 of the wood is dead. However, 1/4 of the tree refuses to die. The limbs on the tree are evidence of the living material still within. Higher up, a double top reaches toward the sky. The tree itself continues to grow and produce cones. It is a prime example of the hardy redwood species.