''Rebellious dreamer with a Peter Pan like personality and enthusiasm of Home Alone (the movie) guy'' is one of the most accurate labels I've ever gotten. Hey, it's me, Romano, the adventurous, energetic guy coming from the sunniest spot in Europe, island of Hvar.
Currently on my gap year. UPDATE; it’s been five now (blame it on covid).

Having grown up on the island, it played a huge role in shaping me who I am today. However, once i grew up the small mediterranean island perhaps became too small for me, and i felt the need to escape into a big world. Occasionally, the big world gets too big, so sometimes i find myself running back to the small island. And ever since, that’s been my life; feels like i live trapped somewhere in between, as i don’t belong anywhere anymore, just because I belong(ed) everywhere, if it makes sense.

I love being by the water or in the water. Just take me to the beach, that’s where i feel the most “at home” at. Or to a “rave”, festival… That’s my love language.
My friends say I'm “ecstasy in a person”, “extroverted extrovert”, open-minded, optimistic, emphatic, sometimes way too adventurous, ''crazy'' (in a good way, hopefully) and talkative. I suppose they're right, you tell me once we get to meet.

If I would have to list some of my hobbies, photography, videography, dancing, partying and swimming would make the list for sure. When it comes to food, I’m not that picky, I like all kinds of food, but my favourite cuisine must be mediterranean (seafood and vegetables). And japanese (obsessed with onigiri) And banana bread.

Oh, and one time Taylor Swift invited me over to her house and the other time... I was Owen Wilson's double for a movie. And danced with Henry Golding.

IG: romanomalecic

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Travelling is my huge passion and I think that there's really nothing more authentic than an actual local taking you around the town to all of his favourite places while telling you the stories you cannot find on the internet or the ones you won't hear from your guide.

Interests

• writing
• photography
• acting
• dancing
• running
• partying
• clubbing
• raves
• traveling
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• swimming
• hitchhiking
• nature
• adventures
• techno
• adrenaline

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm really not that into reading books, not a huge fan of the movies either, but I like to watch some ocassionally especially if it's Home Alone, Mamma Mia, Harry Potter (Gryffindor here) or “One Day (my all time favourite). Or anything Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway.

When it comes to TV shows, my favourite without a doubt is ''Friends''. Honestly, i don’t remember how many times i rewatched that show. Such a classic.

I listen to a variety of music genres, but I absolutely love house and techno … and groove, disco, blues, a bit of alternative/rock and some old school as well as some pop music. But honestly, Taylor Swift is my favourite genre, not even kidding.
(Taylor Swift, Lorde, Abba, Queen, Frank Ocean, Fred Again, Disclosure, Kygo, Peggy Gou, Avicii, George Ezra, Vance Joy, Post Malone, Khalid, Cigarettes After Sex, Hozier, The 1975, Disclosure, Swedish House Mafia, OneRepublic, Imagine Dragons, Coldplay, Bon Iver, Lana Del Rey, The National, The Lumineers are some of my favourites.)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

BUILT A SCHOOL IN TANZANIA
When I bought a one-way ticket to Tanzania a week before departure, went with no plan at all cause I really had no time to plan, I just wanted to leave because I wanted to escape the European lockdown, and then... I spent the whole year there volunteering. I was teaching English and started the fundraising with no expectations at all, but eventually, with the help of kind people I raised enough to build a new school in Arusha. Once it was built, a year later, i returned back home.

HITCHHIKED A SAILBOAT ACROSS THE INDIAN OCEAN
When i found myself with no money but eager to keep travelling and somehow make it to the other continent, I spent months in ports looking for someone who’d be willing to take me across the ocean. And i did. Unfortunately a captain who later on, once we found ourselves in the middle of the ocean, middle of nowhere, turned out to be schizophrenic with multiple personalities. But 4000 miles and 32 days later, despite the broken steering, we made it to the land, Thailand and SURVIVED.

WILD-CAMPED ALONG AND HITCHIKED ALL OF THE RING ROAD, ICELAND
Back in October, 2022 me and my cousin Anja decided to do the ring road on a budget. Hitchiking along while sleeping in a tent trying to catch a glimpse of northern lights. Long story short, we not only survived the freezing cold and hurricane, but made it in one piece and saw the polar lights.

CYCLED FROM THE SOUTH OF JAPAN TO TOKYO ON A PINK BROKEN BIKE
Well, i did make it to Japan, but to the very south, 1700km away from Tokyo. I didn’t have enough money for the train or a flight, so while doing some babysitting in exchange for the accommodation, i found this bike that was barely functional. I repaired it, painted it pink, and 21 days and 1700km later, made it to Tokyo.

DROVE HA GIANG LOOP IN VIETNAM
Never have i ever ridden a manual motorbike before, the one with the gear, but there’s first time for everything. I guess It was the most dangerous mountainous loop for me. I’ve done a wheelie and almost went down the hill, and my bike somehow caught fire, and i had to hide from police… but i did it. survived.

USA ROADTRIP
Having made few friends along the way, we all decided to rent a campervan and go on a road trip around USA for a few months. We also made it to Hawaii where we did ''stairway to heaven''. Later on to Alaska as it's been a dream of ours and ultimately to NYC where we ended up being homeless for Christmas and New Year, but at least we saw ball drop at Times Square (kinda cliche, right?)

HITCHHIKED TO BALI
There’s so much more to Indonesia than just Bali… Having landed in Jakarta, i just decided to get out on that road and see where it takes me. It took me to the most beautiful waterfall i’ve ever seen, majestic volcanoes, stunning beaches… and eventually to Bali.

INTERRAIL
Having returned from USA, I was lucky enough to win a free interrail pass and travel around Europe for the next 2 months. We were pretty homeless, but at least i wasn’t on my own, and it was summer. Wouldn’t change a thing.

TAYLOR SWIFT INVITED ME OVER TO HER HOUSE
Ask Taylor Swift. She’s gonna tell you the story. Or i might do once we meet.

HITCHHIKING/WILD CAMPING ALONG CROATIAN COAST BACK IN 2020
When covid hit, there was nowhere to go to, and not much money to spend, so I decided to explore my own country on a budget.

Teach, Learn, Share

I could teach you the basics of Croatian language, how to pilot a boat or even how to swim in case you don't know. Or i could take you to a party, just tell me what your musical preferences are like.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A place to stay at. And my time. I think it’s the most valuable thing to share, as it’s something we can never get back.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Croatia, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Tanzania, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam