This part used to be a bit more detailed, and since I am an old school nostalgic, I'll stick to the original headers

CURRENT MISSION

Developing a community center near Phnom Penh, Cambodia together with my partner Aga. Embracing the curse of being over 30, being called sir and having even less time than money to travel.

ABOUT ME

I wrote this somewhere between 2007 and 2011

I am most happy when I am on the road. Probably because the goals are easy (where to sleep, what to eat, what to visit) and the constant change of environment keeps my mind sharp. At the moment I am doing all kinds of jobs to pay rent and trying to save up for some more time on the road. I have a hard time growing up, since it seems to mean you have to do all kinds of serious stuff, because "that's life". I prefer life to be a string of good things, with some bad stuff happening occasionally. I am easygoing, which practically means I don't like to hurry, not to get somewhere, not when I am somewhere. I am flexible, which on the hand means I can cope quite well with stuff that I don't like and on the other hand that I don't need the certainty of a plan to fall back on. Also I am an expert in overestimating my own abilities, especially when it comes to putting down semi-philosophical descriptions of myself.

UPDATE 2016
Five years down the road, I can say my life looks quite different. I have found places I can settle down and be happy, without feeling an urge to travel. I still like it, but there is no need to keep moving, just to avoid having to think about your life and what you want or not want and talking to fellow hippies over and over again. I guess it helps that we have a bit more concrete goals now, since we have at least ideas about what we like and want.

PHILOSOPHY
2007-2011
Live my life consciously, recognizing happiness when it's there, try not to be going somewhere all the time but look around and wonder about the places I am in. I wonder if I live my life for more reasons than just the genetic code that tells me to do anything to live. It's not the question why I live my life, but while I am here now, what do I do. Why does God create a man, that invents a theory called evolution? Why does evolution creates a man that needs a God? Why do dogs always seem to know I am scared? Wouldn't life be easier if we were like cows and just eat grass all day, not getting bored at all and not having other cows in their community ask them for their personal philosophy? What on earth would they answer to that question? Why is a rainbow a bow?

2016
Wonder a bit less about the above, discuss less about it too. Still trying to live life consciously and not only embrace happiness when it accidentally hits you, but know that it is your right and duty to feel it, regardless of your upbringing, mistakes made, times you've been hurt or have hurt. Two important quotes:

"Sing like no one is listening.
Love like you’ve never been hurt.
Dance like nobody’s watching,
and live like it’s heaven on earth. "
Mark Twain

"Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words."
Franciscus of Asissi

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I surfed quite a bit in various places in the world over the last ten years, met different members and will always try to help someone out in any way I can.

Edit 2016: Still valid, but have less time and prefer to have few valuable experiences than many rushed or less memorable ones, so forgive me if I don't answer or reject requests. Nothing personal, but we gotta make choices. And I'm not very digital minded :)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Couchsurfing has been nothing but a success for me, I can honestly say I haven't met anyone I disliked, and most of the time people have been very hospitable, generous and open minded. I also believe the spirit behind couchsurfing (sharing culture, food, a bed, our souls and minds) can provide an infinitely more important, deeper and more valuable experience than any marketing-savvy, pro profit company, designed to monetize those very values, can ever come up with.

Interests

I like hiking, but this is a hard thing to do in Phnom Penh. I enjoy having honest conversations about whatever is on people's mind, without social fears if people will accept what you think/feel. I like to hang out with kids, seeing the world through their eyes and enjoy the big playground that we all share. I am trying to learn guitar, with the limitations of a free capitalist smartphone app, since I can't afford a teacher. I also waste plenty of time calculating how much custard would fit in my room, thinking about how I'd react if I would find my room being filled up with custard.

• fishing
• hiking
• sports
• social work
• hitchhiking
• playing guitar
• children
• honest conversation
• handy man stuff

Music, Movies, and Books

- the matrix
- the shawshank redemption
- tin cup
- la vita e bella
- scarface
- the office
- forrest gump
- the big lebowski
- filantropica
- fightclub
- rainman
- jiskefet
-

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

a moon rainbow
a guy jogging in my street slower than I normally sit
comet shower in the Sahara
endless road trips in New Zealand, where every turn puts you in another fairy tale
trout fishing in the Arthur river, Milford track, NZ

Teach, Learn, Share

Always open to learn anything I don't know yet, not so much languages. Interested to learn whatever is important in the life of a guest or host.

I can share the experience I've gained living in New Zealand, Cambodia, Ireland around the world and the challenges you might face if you plan such a thing. Aga and I have traveled a lot, throughout poor and rich countries, with various budgets and we'll always be happy to provide tips how to learn and experience the most (not just travel the cheapest way)

What I Can Share with Hosts

Experience living and working in various countries around the world (Ireland, Cambodia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Poland).
Couchsurfing veteran predating airbnb times :)
Working in a developing country.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Laos, Luxembourg, Myanmar, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cambodia, Ireland, New Zealand