Hello couchsurfers!

I'm Indian, but perhaps by name and skin colour only. I was born in Pune, India, and was shipped off to Jakarta within a couple of months. Have been living here in Indonesia from that time until I turned 18. Did 3 years of college in Pune from mid 2011- mid 2014 and am back home now in Jakarta, where I'm travelling full time while discovering my affinity for adventure bit by bit.

Indonesia runs through my veins. I've lived here my entire life. Merah dan putih, I scream Indonesia! This country has made me the person I am today, and I am forever indebted to it. No matter how much I give back to this place, I will never be able to repay this beautiful country for what it has done for me.

Don't get me wrong. I am very proud of India and what it has achieved. But I have never been able to see and experience India like I am doing so Indonesia. Not yet at least. India is certainly on the cards.

I've lost 35kg of fat in about 6 months time. True story. And I love to share :)

My friends say that I have a very genuine smile and my eyes gleam with honesty and affection, although I beg to differ and sometimes feel that I look like a rapist in some of my pictures. I can talk and share but prefer to listen and learn from people more than anything else. People, I feel are some of the best creations on the planet and I love to listen to what they have to talk about.
I enjoy people being themselves. I can safely say that I am the last person on the planet who is going to judge you for anything, because one, I am nobody to judge you for the things you have done or do, and two, I've been in some pretty sticky situations myself. Hence, abolish thy fear and come forth. We drink, celebrate and enjoy the time spent in each other's valuable company.

I like to laugh and make others laugh too. I take the whole laugh for 15 minutes a day for a healthier, longer and happier life shit very seriously. I can also do this percussion beat with my fingers that no one has managed to imitate yet, despite their most valiant efforts.

Some other things about me include:
- Thumb war champion
- Arm wrestling! (But I never win)
- Am ticklish, but will never admit it
- Can open beer bottles with my teeth

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Whether I'm at work or travelling, going to different places has become a way of life for me and more often than not prefer to live within a budget and not get ahead of myself. Meeting new people has become a massive part of my life. I love people and experiencing different things. Getting a glimpse into the life of another person through sharing experiences is something I value so much. Learning something new from someone else is something I hold very dear. Couchsurfing is a fantastic platform to realize the very things I'm talking about.
And of course, goes without saying, I get to save the money I would otherwise spend on accommodation and travel more with it.

Interests

Travel (Adventure is life. Out there, in the world known and unknown, is what I call home. Meeting new people and immersing myself into different cultures and experiences, beaches and surfing, climbing mountains and volcanoes)

Exploring my potential for adrenalin.

Hiking, Trekking, Long distances (Have climbed 9 volcanoes across the island of Java and one off the coast of Sumatra in the last 4 months. Have also walked between cities a few times)

Sports (I play a lot. Jack of all trades, master of none types. Probably Cricket, if I had to pick my best sport. Love to play it, but can't watch it all the time. It gets a little zzzzzzz....) Also play badminton, table tennis, volleyball, football and many other sports. It's my thing. Can swim as well.

Fitness, high voltage endurance activities (It's all about pushing your body to the limit.

Music. I play the guitar (a little bit). Not a very good dancer, but I listen to a LOT of music, from all over the world.

Talking. I make my living out of this.

Listening. Far more rewarding than talking.

Food. I love food. And drinks too. And I'm vegetarian. Not the extreme kinds though. And it does not bother me one bit even if you're eating live flesh in front of me.

Doing new things is a part of who I am. I thrive on adventure and love to live life on the edge.

I can also talk things like business, stocks and the stuff that you normally never bring out of the workplace with you. I like to believe I have a brain that works.

• culture
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• vegetarian
• fitness
• drinking
• shopping
• politics
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• hiking
• surfing
• sports
• wrestling
• cricket
• rock climbing
• soccer
• tennis
• volleyball
• swimming
• table tennis
• badminton
• business
• geography
• history
• languages
• religion
• beaches
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I listen to a lot of songs without realizing who the artist is and often I need to listen to a particular before I can say, YES, I've heard that one before. Haha
There are times when I listen to a lot of electronic music ranging from Dubstep, house, edm and even psychedelic trance music, and then there are days when I listen to some classics like the beatles, guns n roses, metallica maybe, led zepellin, green day. I also listen to hip-hop, rnb, soul, jazz, blues, reggae and a lot of shit I can't really classify, but can sing along and enjoy the goosebumps the song gives me. Listen to "E papa waiari" by this band called 'Fiji'. Also "Gamelan Revival" by Beats Antique.

Movies: Love movies which keep you on the edge of your seat. I enjoy watching horror movies. Love the law and order, detective, and crime shows as well as movies portraying acts of defiance, bravery and all around badass. Argo , Defiance (MUST WATCH), Captain Phillips, Shutter Island are some of my favourites. If you haven't seen them, watch it. Now.

Books: I do read a lot, but I don't really read novels and fiction all that much. I prefer reading blogs, newspapers, anything else really.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Became the vice-Captain of the Indonesian National Cricket team in 2011

Climbed 2 active volcanoes (both around 3000m elevation above sea level) in a span of 24 hours in Central Java. Did the same thing again just to make sure it wasn't fluke the first time around.

Burnt 2000 calories in exactly 1 hour. It may not be the most amazing thing, but I don't know a lot of people around me who have done the same, and I thought it was pretty awesome that I managed the same.

Some amazing things I've seen:

Blue coloured Lava at Ijen
Mount Semeru (East Java) erupting in front of my eyes
Stunning polynesian landscape as we drove along the coast of Western Samoa
Skrillex going crazy at the Djakarta Warehouse Project. That's the day i really started listening to dubstep.
One of the most beautiful, overwhelming sunsets at Seminyak beach, in Bali

Tons of other things that you would probably know more about once we talk.

Teach, Learn, Share

I speak fluent English, Hindi and Indonesian. Take your pick! Would be happy to teach any of the above mentioned languages.

Am learning Spanish from time to time as and when I get the opportunity. Have made significant progress after a certain friend of mine from Argentina obliged. Would love to continue doing the same.

I also play a lot of sports and strive to keep fit. Would love to teach cricket and can talk fitness and sports at length without end.

Can share music.

I try and keep myself informed. Whether it's current affairs, history, geography, politics, religion, sports, entertainment, whatever. I take pride in knowing what I know and learning what I can.

Immersing myself into culture is how I like to go about my travelling. I am always looking to learn more about people, their ways of life and getting under the skin of any culture.. The more I know, the larger my appetite becomes for learning.

Am ready always, 100% of the time to learn something new. Even if it is something like opening a bottle of beer with my left nipple.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Wikipedia like information and how to go about things when they travel the respective countries that represent me: Indonesia and India. This is for the day when my hosts would travel these particular countries. I'm like a one stop shop for all you need to know before you travel to a certain place, be it a day, or a year. Then it is up to you to make your trip as spontaneous as possible armed with good knowledge of a certain place.

Music and travel stories.

No need to look for the bottle openers when I'm around.

I'm a pretty well connected person. I have some fantastic friends from all over the world and can always refer my host to them for the future if need arises.

I can cook, and I'm not bad at it.

Happiness and high levels of energy!!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Samoa, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, India, Indonesia