Hippie Paradise

Woke up pretty early - it seems that daylight is becoming my alarm clock over here. I was convinced it was about 9 when I got up but it was only 7. SInce it wasn't too hot I decided to go for a run - and it was fantastic. The first proper one that i've had in the country where I wasn't choked down by fumes, heat and humidity. Chang Mai was better than Bangkok but this was almost pleasant. Still very hot and humid compard to home but there are long, quiet stretches of road through jungle, villages and farms. It feels a little bit like Rocky IV (the next world war) where I'm running through beautiful landscape with all the locals stopping their honest labour to watch me (except they're typically not stoppingwhat they're doing and i'm not being trailled by KGB agents). I went 45m out and then back (took me 50, not a good sign), which was a lot longer than i've done in the cities but the saruman level was a lot lower because of the much better conditions. I'd say it was only about 2.5 sarumans, 3 tops. It would be nice to be able to just do a training montage and have it all be over but unfortunately i'm not in a movie (at least I don't think I am). Got back with very sore nipples (the nylon has a habit of chafing them) but felt very good nonetheless. Also had a very nice breakfast with real bread (none of the sweetened stuff) which was very welcome. Had a bit of a wander through town, it's quite dead today, I think it's because it's a Sunday but it could just be that this is the way to the town is. It's very pretty and there seems to be quite a large Muslim population (quite a few women are wearing full burkhas), which might be why the ISraelis are trying to take over.
Also bumped into Avatal again at one of the local cafes and had a very nice chat - politics came up and it was very interesting to get an Israeli side of the situation. Very lucky that it's this Israeli that I met and not some of the others i've bumped into over the years. Apparently they have a very bad reputation in Thailand, there ar some shops that just won't serve Israelis, they don't want the business. Avatal presumes it's because of the behaviour of some of them, I haven't witnessed too much of it. A few load and annoying people in bars but that every nationality seems to have those types. One of the reasons they cause so much trouble, according to Avatal, is because most of them have just come out of two or three year service.in the army and I have to say that that makes a lot of sense. I remember when one of my friends came out of the army reserve he and his army friends were awful when they were out socialising. ALso, there's nothing worse than a sailor on shore leave. So I suppose it's not surprising, if not excusable, that the young Israelis have such a bad rep.
Apparently there's a very nice waterfall about 9k out of town so I might run out there in the morning. A lot of the things to do here are a little bit far out so i will probably have to hire a bike again. There are lots of signs saying that motorbikes are severe health hazards in this town, which is surprising as it seems a lot safer to ride around here than it is some of the major cities. Perhaps people just aren't as carful here as they are in town. I've tried out some of the mountain bikes here but they're just not built for my collosal frame - also, after last time in Ayathaya, i'm tempted not to get back on a bike again until I have padded lycra between me and the seat (which wouldn't look in place in this town).