Easy going, curious person. Like to travel to expand my mind, broaden my world.

Live in the US mostly but have travelled to 45 or 50 countries. I love to meet and see for myself how people around the world live. Live and let live tends to be my philosophy. Turn off the TV and “unsubscribe” from the 24-hr news cycle are also good ideas.

I went to Africa to see the wonders of ancient Egypt and the beautiful wildlife of Kenya. In Thailand, started in Chiang Mai (loved it - also because of my very first CS host) and then made my way south to the beautiful islands in the Gulf. Then it was Malaysia (KL, Penang, and Melaka). After frenetic Singapore came peaceful Bali. What a beautiful place. Hosted my first CS gathering in Ubud, Bali. And celebrated my birthday. 25 CSers showed up! Finally Kowloon and Hong Kong to end that particular trip.

2nd part of that amazing personal journey of discovery and growth then commenced. New countries were explored: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Tibet (life-changing experience really), Nepal.

Then explored Eastern Europe a bit (Serbia and Ukraine) and Russia (lovely couchsurfers here).

Next and final part of the journey saw me on a cruise of the Yasawa Islands of Fiji, then Hong Kong, Macau, a bit of mainland China again (Dongguan), and finally the Philippines at the very end. The tarsier monkey was the highlight in Bohol!

All in all....21 months....18 countries. Couchsurfed in some capacity in each one!

But that was years ago. Now I'm on a new spate of travel.....

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Went dormant for a while. Back. CS soothed a burning itch during a spate a travel (18 countries) some time ago. Itch is back.

Meet people to reduce misconceptions and prejudices. Take the "middle way".

Interests

Buddhist temples and monasteries, multiculti places/events/ideas, warm, aquamarine waters, scuba diving, hiking, trying new cuisines, film, digital photography, meeting open minded and curious people. I like words and languages. Writing is a persistent, though sporadic, hobby.

• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• cuisine
• exploring new places

Music, Movies, and Books

Midnight in Paris, The Descendants, Sapiens (book), Homo Deus (book), Love Actually, Blade Runner, Sideways, Lost in Translation, LOTR, Dirty Pretty Things, Children of Men, Master and Commander, The English Patient, Wedding Crashers, Gladiator, V for Vendetta, Scent of a Woman, The Truman Show, Luck by Chance (Bollywood), The Artist.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Sprinkle a bit of black pepper and a pinch of salt onto freshly squeezed OJ. My beloved dad’s recipe. Try it. Improves the perfect. ;)

The starriest sky from atop Mauna Kea mountain on the Big Island of Hawaii. I was above the clouds and looking up at the Milky Way feeling the cold breeze in my face. Bungy jumped in Phuket from 50 meters off a crane. It was one of the most frightening things I've ever done. Also one of the most enervating. In Bali, came close to two giant manta rays while scuba diving in pristine waters. Came within 2 meters of a big mola mola in Nusa Penida! (The Balinese deemed me blessed.) Spent the night freezing at Everest Base Camp in a tent and then woke up to a clear morning view of nature's boldest achievement.

Teach, Learn, Share

“Open heart, open mind will often and mostly serve you right in the world.” —Me

"In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists." --Eric Hoffer

"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning." --Louis L'Amour

"When faced with adversity, be thankful for such opportunities come by not so often."
--Dharma Master Cheng Yen

"Between ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there lies a field....I'll meet you there." --Rumi

"Everything beautiful is cracked; that's how the light gets in." --Leonard Cohen

"There are years that ask questions and years that answer." --Zora Neale Hurston

"The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long." --Eldon Tyrel ("Blade Runner")

"Heaven wheels above you, displaying to you her eternal glories, and yet your eyes are on the ground." --Dante Alighieri

What I Can Share with Hosts

Respect, cleanliness, stories, experience, dinner at a good restaurant (on me).

Live and let live. Nearly 7 billion of us and just one Earth. The middle way is the best.

I'm low-maintenance and conscientious. Have had great CS experiences in Chiang Mai, Phuket, KL, Melaka, Singapore, Bali, Hong Kong, Luang Prabang, Siem Reap, Saigon, China, Tibet, Nepal, Serbia, Russia, Philippines, and Hong Kong. Also Fiji. Have also made many friends along the way.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, England, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Laos, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Portugal, Russian Federation, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Indonesia, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand, United States

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