It's called the Jin Shan Ling section and special permits have to be obtained from the Chinese government. The group hiked about 10 miles a day through a very rural, isolated area. "You can see for miles and miles," says Barringer. And, about the wall, "You can't believe how vast it is--like a dragon or snake weaving itself through the countryside."

The Great Wall is one of the few manmade phenomena visible from outer space. Seeing something so vastly monumental, that took two centuries to build, (1368­1644) puts your own life in perspective, Barringer says.

His own spiritual awakening came a few years earlier, after a trip to Africa where he saw the devastation AIDS had wrought. Now AIDS is hitting China hard, which is why that country was this year's amfAR focus. Each participant in the trek had to raise at least $10,000. His group's total was $270,000.

UPDATE ON LT. COLONEL: Close friends of Willy Buhl, such as Jay and Caroline Slivkoff and Matt Wool, say he's inundated with emails because he's got 1,000 men under his command and their families go through him to check on their servicemen and women. That is why the colonel's address won't be posted here.

He knows that prayers and thoughts are being lovingly sent his way and for now that's enough, Caroline says. Instead, she suggests waiting until he gets home and then have a karaoke party for him. "Willy spent this past New Year's at our house, and no one could pry the microphone away from him. His singing is what everyone remembers from our party," she adds.

In another Buhl update, Willy graduated from Branham High School, not LGHS.

WOMEN'S ALLIANCE: Silicon Valley Women's Alliance set sail at the LG Opera House with its inaugural event, "A Night at the Opera." The mission of the group is to use its power for the betterment of women engaged in public policy. The group will meet periodically, hold leadership events and advocate for women's issues.

Some 150 people attended, mainly politicos such as Zoe Lofgren, Rebecca Cohn and Elaine Alquist. Linda Williams, CEO of Planned Parenthood, won a Speak Truth to Power award. Posthumous founder awards went to Kathy McCarthy and Madge Overhouse.

Representing Los Gatos were Barbara Spector, Sandy Decker, Debra Figone and Joe Pirzynski. Michele Detwiller of Opera San Jose, accompanied by pianist Melissa Lin, performed arias.

SIMPLE SPANISH FOR MEDICOS: Here's a book for health-care providers who treat Spanish-speaking people but don't know any Spanish themselves. It's Medical Spanish: The Instant Survival Guide, and is co-written by Los Gatan Susan Lister. The questions in the book are worded so that a yes or no answer is required.

Lister teaches a class called Spanish for Health Care Providers at De Anza College and also teaches at hospitals and clinics. Her co-author is Cynthia J. Walker, who directs an educational program at Stanford and was a student of Lister's. The website is http://us.elsevierhealth.com/product.jsp?isbn=0750674946. This is its fourth edition.

RANDOM KINDNESS: Laura Bajuk, director of the LG Museums, reports that after all the hoopla of celebrating the phenomenal success of the Historic Homes tour, docent Betty Wilson's car died before she could head home. While Wilson waited for AAA, which in this case took hours, several folks came to her assistance.

One museum neighbor who works for USF stood with her, repeatedly calling the auto association on her cell phone. Other neighbors Steve and Judy Glickman, walking by, offered coffee. It was a long wait--nearly three hours, notes Bajuk.

SEEING STARS: Both museums in Los Gatos are decorated for the holidays with hundreds of stars handmade by Elke Groves of the LG Art Association. The stars are for sale and $1 of each sale goes to the museum. The proliferation of stars and white lights has a magical effect, say onlookers.

In other LGAA news the group handed out grants at its holiday party from money raised through Art Fest: $500 to Jennifer Selden, producer of Festival Theatre Ensemble; $1,000 to Diana Pleasant for the Theater Improvement Project; and $1,000 to Al Slutman for the Museums of Los Gatos.

Also, $2,000 was awarded to Scott Downs of the LGHS art department and accepted by student Melanie Matsuo, whose artwork had been part of the Art Fest.

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