CURRENT MISSION

I'm a passionate traveller and get on the road whenever I can. That's meant mainly domestic travel for the past few years, but now I'm off on an extended trip through Canada, the US and Central America - yay!

ABOUT ME

I'm a fun, upbeat person who loves meeting people and learning new things. I'm pretty inquisitive, and can find a point of interest in most things, which makes sense given I'm a journalist. My main passion is travel, be it domestic or international, and I've spent a lot of time hopping across continents. I guess I'm an active, outdoorsy type who loves to pull on the hiking boots, but equally enjoys exploring the heart of the world's cities.

PHILOSOPHY

My philosophy is to enjoy life to the full, be as happy as you can, be open to new experiences and take the opportunities that come your way.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've just started couchsurfing, and am inspired by all the couchsurfers I've already met, who are extremely positive about the project. I wrote a feature article on couchsurfing for the Sunday Times Magazine (STM) in Perth, and met hosts, surfers and coordinators. They've all given it two thumbs up, so now it's my turn to try it!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

So far the only cs experiences I've had are impromptu ones; I was hitch hiking in Corsica, France and a lovely elderly couple who gave me a lift offered to have me stay. Their holiday home was a gorgeous stone cottage near a sparkling river with mountains as its backdrop, and I loved every second. I then stayed with them in Brussels, many months later. We still keep in touch. I've met friends of friends over lunch, and they've offered me a bed. One gave me the key to her place in Paris and I had it all to myself. I'm always humbled and amazed by people's trust and generosity.

Interests

Anything outdoors; hiking, horse riding, walking, picnicing... I love live music, hole-in-the-wall bars and cafes... I'm a bit of a foodie, can't resist a great dish or good wine... I love adventure, being spontaneous and leaving plans open for opportunities to arise.

• arts
• wine
• walking
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• live music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• journalism
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

* I've just read Cloud Street by Tim Winton, it was fantastic. I'm also a big fan of Bill Bryson.
* I've just been at the North by North East music festival in Toronto, and saw some incredible bands there - I didn't know Canadians were such talented musos!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Mountain bike riding down the 'world's most dangerous road' in Bolivia was a highlight; trekking through the Amazon, 18 hours north of La Paz, was even better.

Teach, Learn, Share

I recently learnt that the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto is free on Wednesday's after 6pm. Go, it's awesome.

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