Team A

The annual Sakura Festival was being held in Palmerston North today, so our team took this chance to join the festivities.

When we arrived, we were treated to a festival of lovely colours, cherry blossom trees in full flower and people in beautiful traditional costumes.

We are most grateful to Denise of the Alla Vista Hotel, and David of the Avenue Motel, for generously accommodating our team last night in Palmerston North.

We started running from where we left off yesterday at Massey University. Almost immediately, we met with two children whom we had seen at a school yesterday – out for the day with their grandmother. They were so excited to introduce her to the Torch...

Soon we were faced with the Pahiatua Track, which led us towards the hills and up we went!

Along the way, Uddipan Brown found a few admirers who closely observed his every move...

A tough uphill run will always do you good, and you never tire of those long downhills, after which our route continued through beautiful pastures and charming villages.

At the end of our run, we met with Mayor Garry Daniell in Masterton.

Garry introduced us to Tony Governor, to whom was presented a World Harmony Run Torch-Bearer Award.

Tony works for Street Youth Ministries Trust. He works mostly with boys ages 6–15 using structured programs and activities designed to improve self-esteem and have a positive effect on their attitude and behaviour to help them at school, home and the community.

Garry then took us on a brief guided tour of the Aratoi Wairarapa Museum...

and then generously treated us all to our choice of coffee, tea or hot chocolate, complemented with lemon tart and fudge brownies at a local café. Garry obviously knows that the way to a runner's heart is through his stomach!

From here our entire team was invited to Stonehenge Aoteaora.

Here we listened captivated to Richard Hall, who with a mystical look in his eyes explained the positions of the stones and their relation to the stars and the sun.

Many, if not all of us, were alternately surprised, relieved or perplexed by Richard's revelation that our star signs are not what we thought they were! Present-day zodiac signs were determined about 2,000 years ago. Since then, due to the imprecise workings of our modern Western calendar, the star signs should have been adjusted roughly every 71 years and since they have not been, the star signs are now different to what they should be. Whoa!

As the afternoon shadows lengthened and the sun began to sink towards the distant hills, we found ourselves standing in the middle of Wairarapa's very own cosmic stone observatory.

The clear sky above us was becoming a deeper blue now, as the sun bid us farewell and dipped below the horizon. Jupiter appeared overhead and Venus in the west, both shining like the stars they share the night with. Tonight they were joined by our World Harmony Run lanterns which ascended from our hands, glowing and flying into the distance.

I wonder how many UFO sightings were reported tonight?

In the twilight we experimented with chanting and found the sound reverberating around us, amplified by the encircling stones. Now the universe began to emerge from the darkened sky above, beautifully displaying a full array of sparkling constellations which hinted at the mysteries of worlds beyond...

– Nigel Webber

Team B

The Bella Vista Hotel in Palmerston North kindly accommodated a troupe of World Harmony runners last night, and generously offered the use of their conference facilities to enable the whole team to enjoy meals together.

Olivia Burne, today's recipient of the World Harmony Run Torch-Bearer Award, is an up-and-coming Palmerston North athlete.

Olivia specialises in running 3,000 metres, 1,500 metres and cross-country races and has represented New Zealand in many international events. She was part of a New Zealand Secondary School Team that won Gold in Czech Republic in April this year. Our team was touched by her inner confidence, love of running and her open-hearted oneness with the World Harmony Run.

Stuart Schwartz from the Palmerston North Rotary Club nominated Olivia for the Torch-Bearer Award, and attended the presentation ceremony at Massey Gardens. The Rotary Club were struck by Olivia's passion for running, talent and can see a bright future ahead of her – she is a real inspiration and asset to Palmerston North City.

We all left with renewed inspiration for the day's running that lay ahead, culminating in the memorable visit to Stonehenge Aotearoa.

Our entire team is most grateful for the fine accommodation tonight at The Highwayman Motel in Masterton.

Thanks for a great night's sleep!

– Sophie Anderson

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Team Members:
Erika Pongracz, Gabor Horvath (both Hungary), Nigel Webber, Prachar Stegemann (both Australia), Rupashri Brown, Kallola Brown, Nipura Brown, Lauren Armstrong, Ujjwala Mettrick, Alan Myers-Daly, Niribili File, Brenda Marshall, Uddipan Brown, Budhsamudra Knox, (all New Zealand)

Gallery: See more images!

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