ICT Europe Director Wangpo Thetong and DawaTsering, president of the Tibetan community Netherlands, had called on their supporters to bicycle to the Dam Square to come and join me on a bicycle tour of the city centre.
I was curious to see how many Tibetans would show up. There were quite a few: over 20.
Public support for Tibet
ICT had for all large Tibetan flags brought along. After these were attached to all the bikes, we pulled with much waving through the city. This was quite intense at times. There was a very strong wind and the flags sometimes blew the wrong way, like in the face of cyclists. Or the flagpoles broke off....
Along the way, many passers-by thumb in the air. Tibetans enjoy a lot of sympathy here.
Group photo in front of Rijksmuseum
On the spacious Museum Square we took a break. A Tibetan man had a large cooler on his luggage rack and gave everyone a bottle of water. A woman gifted me a tasty bag of butter tea out that she had made especially for me. How sweet and generous these people are!
Meanwhile, some flagged bikes were simply knocked over by the wind.
After 15 minutes we drove on until we reached the Nieuwmarktplein, where the procession disbanded after first taking a group photo.
What a special experience was this! I am very grateful to DawaTsering and ICT Europe director Wangpo Tethong for this initiative.
Thuk ye che
16 September: Opening the door at Diamondway Buddhist Centre in Tallinn The centre's meditation sessions are open
