CURRENT MISSION

Live. Eat. Drink. Travel. Repeat.

ABOUT ME

Without sounding awfully pretentious (hopefully!!) I think I'm a pretty good-natured, laid-back and open-minded sort of guy. If you know MBTI, I scored as an INFP. I am somewhat reserved (at times), but I quickly warm up after a couple of pints or a joint. Guaranteed!!

I'm a mixed heritage kid (3/4 Chinese and 1/4 Welsh) with Peranakan ancestry. Don't know what Peranakan is? Google it up or ask me when you see me. I did my Bachelors in the US and Masters in Japan. Being both born and bred in Penang I call this island home. I currently work for an NPO that aims to create more liveable cities.

京都には2年間住んでいて少し日本語を話すことができます。よろしくお願いします。

PHILOSOPHY
Mono no aware to wabi-sabi
Memento mori and carpe diem, baby
A hedonistic vampire
Rebel against the empire
Slow it down, roll a die,
Drink up, breathe in,
Just suck it all in,
Live and let live
Less to take, more to give
The bare necessities of life

Por que estou no Couchsurfing?

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hosting: Due to the occasionally hectic and frequently erratic nature of my job it is quite difficult for me to host regularly. If I am able to, I will most likely host on weekends.

Drinking: However, I make up for my lack of hosting by meeting up over a cuppa joe or tea, or (and even better) cheap beer at a local watering den, a real hole in the wall called Antarabangsa Enterprise. It's an informal Penang institution with plenty of character, cheer, and camaraderie! It looks pretty dodgy but it is very hard to beat a can of beer for RM4 anywhere in Malaysia. Trust me, I've looked.

Eating and wandering: Whenever possible I love to show surfers around places to eat, see, eat, hike and eat, drink and eat, and eat, and eat.. and eat.. and eat.. Our food culture (or gluttony) is all-consuming. It is inescapable. Resistance is futile. So, sit back, relax, and gobble it all up. Do expect your experience (and waistline) to expand generously.

Surfing: From my experience both working and hosting, I have to be considerate and respect the schedule, commitments, and responsibilities of my host. I should also make myself useful, like cleaning up after myself and not being a royal entitled pain in the ass. (Because, you know, I'm not your dad/babysitter - Unless a spanking is in order!!) Also, it would be much appreciated if you do read my profile before sending a request. I'd like to know that you are interested in more than just freeloading.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

So far it has been a fun and interesting learning experience meeting people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. My expectations, views, and stereotypes of various cultures, thoughts and personalities are sometimes dispelled and yes, sometimes even reinforced but it's the sharing of the learning and experience that counts and I try to have my eyes and mind wide open and suck it all in.

Interesses

I have a passion for traveling and photography. I am equally happy to walk and cycle in the streets of the city or along coastal paths, swimming in cool clear waters, chilling at the beach, chasing waterfalls and hiking lonely misty mountains. I appreciate good reads, films, and tunes. I can't say no to ice-cold beer and snacking on tasty spicy grubs. I also enjoy learning bits and pieces of foreign languages and hearty laughs. Currently, messing around with the uke and having a bit of a go at gardening!

• wildlife
• writing
• books
• photography
• board games
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• film

Músicas, Filmes e Livros

Overall it's a diverse and eclectic mix but also pretty downright geeky. Drawn to science fiction/high fantasy improbable stuff including Jedis, bounty hunters, druids, dungeons & dragons, and more normal everyday stuff like hawks, wolves, foxes, ninjas and rangers.

Movies:
Some all-time favourites include: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, the Matrix, Inception, the Lord of the Rings, Into the Wild, the Motorcycle Diaries, In the Loop, Grand Hotel Budapest, Midnight in Paris, Trainspotting, Lost in Translation, L'Auberge Espagnole, Qu'est-ce qu'on a fait au Bon Dieu, Chungking Express, To Live, Hidden Fortress, Rashomon, The Shikisoku Generation, One Million Yen Girl, the Fantastic Mr. Fox, Princess Mononoke, the Isle of Dogs.

Music:
I listen to a little bit of everything, from Howlin' Wolf to MC Chris but it is usually an awesome mix of electronic, indie and rock. David Bowie's 'Heroes', and the Rolling Stones' 'Wild Horses' are mainstays in my playlist. Others that continue to play a part in my life include: New Order, the Smiths, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Deftones, Rage Against the Machine, Oasis, Radiohead, Jose Gonzalez, Thievery Corporation, M83, the XX.

Books:
Mainly sci-fi/fantasy and fiction. Favourites include: "the Beach" by Alex Garland, "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac, "the Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho, "the Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman, "Down and Out in Paris and London" by George Orwell, "the Thrawn Trilogy" by Timothy Zahn, "the Belgariad" by David Eddings, "the Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien, "Wolf Totem" by Jiang Rou, "After Dark" by Haruki Murakami

Uma Coisa Incrível que Eu Fiz

I've had some personally amazing experiences in:

Penang
Slept on a pier over the sea under the stars with thunder and lightning swelling in the distance. It was sublime.

the United States
Took a very, very long drive from Minnesota to Louisiana to celebrate and drink copious amounts of hurricane cocktails to usher in the New Year at the French Quarters of New Orleans. This was, followed by an extended trip (through snowstorms including two flat tyres) that took us to the Smithsonians in Washington DC and getting high at the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh.

Japan
Hiked Fuji-san via the pilgrimage trail from shrine to peak.
Cycled for three days around Japan's largest lake - Biwako
Saw a fox playing in the snow in the middle of picturesque Shirakawa village, and at that moment, I was totally captivated and smitten by nature's magic.

Ensine, Aprenda, Compartilhe

I can teach: English, Malay, Penang Hokkien

I occasionally write and shoot for a local magazine called the Penang Monthly, and would like to improve my writing and photography. So any tips will be appreciated.

Though I have eventually conceded to overwhelming evidence and undeniable fact that I am neither artistically, linguistically nor musically gifted, I would still like to learn how to:
1) Read, write and speak Chinese, Welsh, Japanese, French, Italian, Mongolian, Persian, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese
2) Play musical instruments like the guitar, ukulele, darabuka/tompak, morin khuur, ryuteki, mukkuri, sanshin
3) Permaculture
4) Surf

Big freakin' chance! Yes, but I remain undaunted, I'm quite the dreamer. If you're a patient teacher I would be willing to learn.

I can share with you food and drinks; books, films and music; stories and experiences; and a comfy bed; and maybe event a joint or two. :D

O Que Posso Compartilhar com Anfitriões

I can help with chores (e.g. washing dishes, gardening, etc) -- and I suppose I can.. cook something? ;)

Países que Visitei

Australia, Cambodia, China, England, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam, Wales

Países em que Morei

England, Japan, Malaysia, United States