As a host, because I like meeting new people, like the idea of helping people on their travels like others have helped me, and also because accommodation in Australia is so expensive. As a traveller, because it is a great way to meet people, see places you might not otherwise see, and engage with different cultures and environments in a way that would be difficult through conventional or traditional modes.

Books; Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula Le Guin, Hunger - Knut Hamsun , The Alchemist - Paulo Coelo Haiku by Basho, T.S Eliot, Frank O'Hara and that one poem by Auden. There are far too many to list. I love literature, poetry, and philosophy. Music; Neil Young, Arcade Fire, Queen, Nujabes, Slowdive, Jon Hopkins, Bicep, Otis Taylor, Massive Attack, Dirtwire, White Stripes, Moby, Depeche Mode, Burial, Folamour, Father John Misty, Jeff Buckley. Again, the list just goes on and on. Films; Current Favourite Film - In the Mood for Love by Wong Kar-wai. Anything by Denis Villeneuve is a good place to start. I like subtitled films/TV Shows, like Studio Ghibli, Scandinavian Crime shows, Korean Horror, and anything a bit wacky.