CURRENT MISSION

Me: to glow in the dark
Estelita: to have a happy home and for us to grow old together

ABOUT ME
I studied psychology and comparative religions at university. I worked for 22 years as a chef as well as 7 years as saucier apprentice and cook. I devoted my latter years to "become enlightened".
I have Studied Sufism, the Kabala, the old and new testaments and the Koran. I practiced Buddhism for over 20 years and still meditate almost daily. I read Tao Te Ching daily and try to live my life according to these same principles.
Estelita likes to be busy! She loves to cook and do handicrafts around the house... She is a great dancer.

PHILOSOPHY
Estelita believes Jesus loves everyone equally. Rich, poor, black, white, man, woman,powerful or weak. Jesus loves everyone equally. Estelita treats others as she wants to be treated.

I am in favor of peace and opposed to famine.
There is more to freedom than having enough money to travel and being allowed to vote every couple of years.
Truth makes you free. Truth is enlightenment. All beliefs are false.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I want to share my experiences with people who are interested in travel. I like to learn about other peoples cultures and their countries, and their ideas about reality and spirituality. Hosting on Couch Surfing is a good way for a Buddhist to earn merit through practicing loving kindness and generosity. Estelita and I use couch surfing as a way of meeting people with similar interests. We want to spend time with our guests. POTENTIAL GUESTS MUST READ THIS PROFILE AND DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH US. WE ARE NOT A FREE HOTEL. PLEASE INDICATE IN YOUR REQUEST THAT YOU HAVE READ THE PROFILE. WE DO NOT ACCEPT GUESTS WHO HAVE NOT READ THE PROFILE.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have visited with couch hosts and I have always enjoyed the experience. Now that I have settled down, and stopped my travels, I have been able to host surfers and this is also fun and interesting.

Interests

I am interested in freedom and reality. I like to talk about these things. I like reading about physics and the scientific study of reality as well as mystic texts and concepts and the metaphysical study of reality and personal freedom. I am especially interested in Spirituality but also, I like modern and impressionist art, especially painting, classical, latin and jazz music as well as some rock and blues. Anything to do with food or cooking.

I like to play cribbage, Estelita likes rummy. Estelita loves to watch movies, I like professional basketball. We like to walk on the nature trails. Estelita likes riding horses. We are both hobby cooks and love to cook with our guests.

• arts
• salsa dancing
• dining
• cooking
• meditation
• gardening
• reading
• traveling
• music
• jazz
• backpacking
• buddhist
• physics
• psychology
• religion
• rivers
• natural medicine
• nature walks
• salsa music
• symphony
• non duality

Music, Movies, and Books

Writers: Lao Tzu, Jed McKenna, Gurdjieff and Ouspenski, J Krishnamurti, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Umberto Eco, Eckhardt Tolle, Brian Greene, Thich Nhat Hahn, Miguel Ruiz, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Hermann Hesse, Kurt Vonegutte Jr. Tom Robbins, Isabel Allende...

Music: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Manu Chou, Maná , Mozart, Chaikovski, Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, Oscar deLeon, Celia Cruz, Hector Lavo

Books: Dancing Wu Li Masters, Chaos: Making a new Science , The Field, 4 Agreements, In search of the Miraculous, The Power of Now, Beelzebub's tales to his grandson

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Traveled with a 12 kilo backpack for 8 years continuously. Visited all the continents.

As a chef, I have served banquets of 11,000 plates (5 courses for 2,200 guests) in 90 minutes.

Estelita's whole life has been amazing. You will have to ask her about it. She is reluctant to talk about herself, but once you get her going...

Teach, Learn, Share

I like to share my travel experiences and I like to share my ideas about reality and actuality and enlightenment.
I used to teach cooking classes in California and Colorado.
I used to teach Breath Meditation (Shamatha) classes and lead group meditations at Vilcabamba Meditation Center twice a week for almost 4 years.
We can take some nature walks together. We can show you around our little town. Introduce you to some of the locals.

What I Can Share with Hosts

As a guest I like to cook at least once or twice for my host(s), provided it is not an inconvenience for my host.
I have a lot of interesting, funny, amazing stories about traveling the world for 8 years with a small (12Kg) backpack, no phone, no musical device, no computer, no camera and no fear.
I can show and tell host how to meditate if they wish.
I like to talk about reality and actuality and their relation with truth.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ecuador, United States

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