“Travel is not a reward for working-it is an education for living”
I am a well educated (masters), travelled (backpacked 170+ countries), business owner (www.echucagardens.com) with many diverse interests.

Born and raised in the outback of Australia, the isolation equipped me with many diversified practical skills and a sense to excel. Raised with 4 siblings, our parents instilled a respect for people, environment and the value of everything.

I identify as being gay, pescatarian/vegetarian and often a nudist at home. Naturalism is about liberation from social classes, cultural differences, gender roles and an acceptance that all bodies come in different shapes and sizes. Having stated this, I also accept and respect all comfort levels as a host or guest and behave accordingly.

Whilst English is my spoken language, I do have an “international language” - music. Piano playing has taken me to many parts of the world. If we meet, I would be delighted to give a private recital.

I would consider myself very versatile and always encouraged my students to at least try - anything less and they would never know their full potential.

I am a very fit, healthy 66 year old, much of this from my lifestyle choices. I am pescatarian (many reasons for this choice), exercise a lot (cycling/swimming) and do not consume alcohol, smoke or any drugs. It is my choice to refrain just as it is anyone's choice to partake.

Travelling has always been central to my life principally to learn and experience the wonderful different cultures of the world. To this end, staying with cs hosts gives an immersive experience, not offered by hotels. It is the simple things - like cooking with your host, shopping, walks, long in depth discussions etc. For this reason, I try and stay a minimum of at least 2-3 nights. I reciprocate with inviting visitors to my country where I live in a rural area, adjoining state forest. From my balcony I can see kangaroos, koalas and the occasional emu.

I am fully conscious of just how fortunate I am to be an Australian and have the opportunity to travel so much (5 months each year).
Social justice issues (local and international) are very important for me and I eschew overt materialism for a fairer society. Indeed, some of my happiest years was when all I owned could fit into a backpack.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have a passion to meet and learn of different cultures and peoples beyond the typical tourist "tick box". This of course takes time and relaxed settings - often people's homes over shared meals. Over the years I have visited many of the tourist "hot spots", but now more interested in getting to know more about a country's history, geography, food, culture etc...from locals!

Interests

My interests are many and varied - writing(4 books published), reading, music (play piano professionally), art (different mediums), gardening, permaculture, building (physically built most of my own home and business), teaching....and let's not forget learning as well.
My greatest passion though will always be to travel, and meet other travelers.

• arts
• culture
• writing
• books
• education
• environment
• vegetarian
• exercise
• gardening
• reading
• traveling
• painting
• music
• piano
• cycling
• backpacking
• swimming
• chemistry
• teaching
• geography
• history
• mathematics
• science
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

I like most music, although draw the line at heavy metal and rap! Movies tend to be those which portray a factual historical event or places I have visited. As for books, I read widely but again err on the educational side. i.e. fact over fiction

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hmmmmm.....one? In the 80's, (when I was 25) I drove on my own all the way from Australia to the UK, in a 1960's Landrover from the farm. It took me just over 12 months to complete 32,000kms and 23 countries, including much of Asia/ Iran/Iraq/Afghanistan/Middle East etc - sadly, when the world was a much safer place than it is now. I have recently returned from a similar 1 year trip of the African continent.

Teach, Learn, Share

As said at the outset - I have lived life to the full, and will continue to do so. Viewing the profiles on this site, I am fully aware of not being your typical cohort (based on age, philosophy, sexuality etc) but I believe I do have a lot of experience to share. I am also the inveterate learner of your culture. It is a 2 way process.

What I Can Share with Hosts

If you want to know more about different cultures, I will give an honest appraisal through my many and varied experiences. Perhaps you are planning to travel more in the future and would like advice/suggestions? At the same time though, I want to learn more about your country as well, so this can also be passed on to future hosts and other travelers.

If I do send you a request to meet and/or host me, please have the manners to at least reply, even if in the negative. I just don't get it with all the profiles on here with "0 %" response.

Countries I’ve Visited

Afghanistan, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Czech Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Martinique, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Northern Ireland, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin (French part), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Scotland, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sint Maarten (Dutch part), Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands, British, Virgin Islands, U.S., Wales, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Denmark, Ghana, Japan, Thailand, United Kingdom