~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi! Hola! Hej! Dzien' dobry! Ni hao! Bonjour! Hallo! Goddag! Mirëdita! Ahalan! Zdrasti! Hei! Namaste! Shalom! Ciao! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm Phil, a spontaneous, experimental, open-minded guy from Melbourne who loves to travel the world, meet new people and learn about different cultures. When I travel I'd like to think I'm a traveler not a tourist. Meeting fun people and having off-the-beaten-track experiences is key! The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What makes a good couchsurfer? I believe a good couchsurfer is someone who sees washing that's fallen down and picks it up, sees something that needs help with and offers help without being asked :) I have made some life-long friendships and really hope to continue doing so in the future. Each day brings with it a new surprise of meeting new couchsurfers, catching up with old ones and sharing in the CS spirit. Someone who is pretty self-sufficient, loves a chat and sharing a meal, cooking, eating cheese and drinking wine. I strongly believe that couchsurfing is a cultural exchange, a time to get to know each other, share meals, share stories, share our love of life, love, music and travel and at the end of the experience, walk away with a friendship, something we can come back to in years to come. If you love checking out the little hole in the wall bars, music venues, galleries, cafes and restaurants in Melbourne, you're going to be staying in the right place. Mention rainbow in your request!

I won't be travelling anytime soon because I've been busy with work, I am trying to return the favour to the CS community for all the people that looked after me overseas. Born and lived in Melbourne all my life (except for a period of intense travel overseas on my motorbike). Visitors help me see my own city with new eyes. You are welcome to stay depending on - 1. If we are busy or not. 2. If you are genuinely interested to learn and experience what it's like living in Melbourne and not just after free accommodation. Our home is more suitable for visitors who are interested in people, staying with a family and seeing what normal life is like in the suburbs of Melbourne. We are very near the train station.

I am father of three, and a traveler by heart. Left my homeland to make Australia my adopted homeland, so that I can travel and see the world. It's been 10 years, and I am stuck up in a suburban family home here in Melbourne. All I do is read about the world, look at maps and plan on my head. I read travel books, blogs and watch videos of places around the world to quench my thirst for travel. However, I've never lost my passion for travel. I know, that day will come. I want to know many people, many cultures, many languages, many cuisines, many stories! I've always been interested in history and geography, languages and cultures. I have a dream of waking up in Berlin one day and walk down the Spree river all by myself. Walking along the streets of Sarajevo, Nördlingen (Germany), picturesque Dubrovnik (Croatia) or Trondheim in the far north (Norway). Strolling around in the Plaza de San Francisco in Sevilla (Seville), Spain and listening to some street singers playing flamenco music! Walking the Camino De Santiago - the long walk from Sain-Jean-Pied-De-Port, France to Santiago De Compostela through Northers Spanish towns of Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos, León, and Sarria. Living like a local in Cali, Colombia or Concepción, Chile. Walking the desert track from Okongwati to Orupembe, Namibia. But alas, life is short! I have hosted people from about 20 countries only, out of the possible 200. From Asia, I had guests from Japan, China, Thailand, Malaysia and Russia. Well, whether Russia is in Asia or in Europe is a debatable subject after all. Most of it's geographical sprawl is located in the traditional landmass of Asia, although most of it's population live in the European part, that is, west of the Caucasus Mountains and the Ural Mountains. I've hosted people from the American continents - Canada, USA, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia. Most people on my guest list are from Europe - UK, Poland, Hungary, Germany, France, Spain, Finland, Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy. I haven't yet had the opportunity to host someone from Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, The Pacific Islands (Micronesia/Polynesia/Melanesia) or Mexico/Central America/The Caribbean Islands. Couchsurfers come in all shapes and sizes - and I appreciate them all. Some would like to engage with us and interact with us, hang out with us and ask for tips/info, which is welcome. Some would like to keep that engagement minimum while they enjoy their trip here in Melbourne, and we appreciate that too. However, communication is the key. Please do communicate what do you expect and what do you not, so there's no misunderstanding. Please do remember that Couchsurfing is a community, not Airbnb or free hostels. There are two set of expectations to be met - one is yours and one is ours.

Back in 2019 i travelled across Europe several times for nearly 11 months! What sent me home a month earlier than planned was the COVID-19 outbreak... :-( While i still work online - teaching English and translating, I also help those with chronic pain by using the OldPain2Go method... If you are a parent with young children I can tell you about SleepTalk for Children so you can boost their confidence and set them up life of happiness and growing self-esteem... If you want to know more feel free to ask any questions :-) Also - perhaps I'd still like to teach someone to make ice cream and help them start a business! If you'd like a recipe from someone that has 8 medals (including a Gold) from the Royal Sydney Dairy Show send me a message! Where am I going? Not sure if I ever stop traveling, but I'm considering an intentional community with focus on social issues or environmental sustainability, as I have an interest in natural building and Tiny Houses. Soon I might be trying to crowdfund for a community owned Tiny House trailer park..! But I can converse on any topic - just throw it at me!