For the first time on this incredible voyage we had the opportunity to regroup, and breathe this morning, instead of rushing out of the hotel at 5 or 6a.m. like we normally do. We were grateful for the moment and happy to meet up with our new found dear friend Mike Watson, Deputy Director of Sports and self-defense trainer for the Suriname police force. (He is a fifth degree black belt in Karate). While Salil worked on the website, Ketan, Homagni and I (Jitavrata) went with Mike to scope out the course and run a few errands.

Although the morning began slowly, today’s event was a huge success. The Minister of Education Mr. Edwin Wolf, (right) as well as the President of the Cabinet, Mr. Otto Spong, (left) officially welcomed the World Harmony Run to Suriname. The world Harmony Run was a two part event with a 5 km fun run/walk for the public, and 17 km relay run with police cadets.

After several inspiring speeches the Minister of Education took the World Harmony Run torch and lit the permanent huge torch in the Paramaribor's Independence Square and then handed me the torch. I passed it to a representative of the Suriname Police force who then proceeded to sprint down the street, closely followed by myself. I was drawing on every ounce of energy I had just to keep up with him.

The marching band brings some real dynamism to the event.

While I headed off with the torch and the police force on the 17 km route, a fantastic marching band began the 5 km fun run with enthusiastic playing and dancing. Ketan, and the Mr. Otto Spong, President of the Cabinet, walked the entire 5 km side by side enjoying each others company.

The event was a great success and we are extremely grateful to Mike Watson and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports as well as the countless organizations that helped make the event possible like the JCI (Ray Jong A Lock, President, Rinette Telting-Djokarto, Vice-President), the Suriname Athletic Federation (Lucia P Sijp, President, and our first Surinamese contact), and R. Bansradj of the Arya Dewaker as well as the Universalist Peace Organization.

We would like to express our gratitude to the Hotel Kransapolsky for hosting us during our most memorable stay here in Surname.

Also, many thanks to Zeeland Coffee Beanery for scrumptious lunches for each day of our stay in Suriname.

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