I am a 66 year old, well educated, financially secure single gay guy who has definitely lived life to the full (motto - "everyone dies, but not everyone lives!").

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. An incredibly intelligent grandmother saw potential in me in particular and encouraged to strive for goals. My first published book (history) was started when I was 12 years old (in the Guinness Book of Records). At the same time I started playing piano professionally and continued with my art.

During my late teenage years, I was often referred to as "renaissance man", later being offered 2 scholarships upon matriculation, one in the arts, the other science. I graduated with degrees in education (chemistry/maths) and now have my own business in hospitality/tourism. You are invited to view my business website - www.echucagardens.com

I would consider myself a very versatile, not easily defined guy (friends have tried-but given up!). I am just as adept with a drop saw as sewing machine, nail gun as artist paint brush, drinking tea at the Ritz or chai in a Delhi street stall, playing piano or sky diving, teaching science/maths or cooking classes. During my teaching career, I always encouraged my students to at least try - anything less and they would never know their full potential.

Some may even question why I have indicated my sexuality on this site. Personally, being gay is no more an issue to me than also being left handed. However, I am also aware that not everyone shares the same view and the last thing I would want to do is make people feel uncomfortable in their home (host) or mine (guest). I would rather be upfront and honest. At home I am also a nudist when possible. Other nudists are welcome to join me but also respect those who do not share this lifestyle.

I am a very fit, healthy 66 year old, much of this from my lifestyle choices. I am vegetarian (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.

Once people get to know me, I have an extremely witty sense of humor and able to laugh at myself. Political correctness slides as the true outback Australian larrikinism comes out of me. You have been warned!

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). Nonetheless, I still follow a quote (amongst others) from the Mahatma Ghandi - "live simply so others can simply live". I also believe that if you have something in excess, but not prepared to share it with others, then you don't deserve to have it in the first place! Social justice issues (local and international) are very important for me. I eschew overt materialism for a fairer society. Indeed, some of my happiest years was when all I owned could fit into a backpack. Each time I set out to travel with the philosophy "the world is round, so keep on traveling and you eventually get home again. It is not the destination though, nor the end, but the people you meet and what you learn along the way that is most important."

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. To this end, over the past 40 years I have now visited over 170 countries around the world and lived in 5 continents.

• 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.

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. If you want to learn about different places and cultures in the world in a lived historical sense, then I can guarantee you will find my company educational, maybe even inspiring. At the same time, having been a teacher for many years, I am also the inveterate learner of your culture. It is a 2 way process.

I welcome visitors to my home but under a proviso - for security reasons you must be verified! (phone, address etc).

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