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Accepting Guests

  • 100% response rate
  • Last login about 20 hours ago

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Overview

  • 154 references 103 Confirmed & Positive
  • Ambassador
  • Fluent in English; learning French, Spanish
  • 43, Male
  • Member since 2009
  • Clinical Massage Therapist
  • Masters degree
  • No hometown listed
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

I'm a slow traveller; keep heading back and deeper to the lands/cultures that intrigue me. Not among the 'explorers' bothered about the number of borders crossed.

Not everyone is a travelling person and it's perfectly alright to be as such, but this has become the pseudo-pretentious activity for our generation so many are constantly under pressure to push themselves to it.

'Tourists don't know where they have been; travellers don't know where they're going.' ~ P. Theroux

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I don't mind hosting those whose primary interest is free accommodation (been there!) but a 100% copy-paste request is just not the way. So if you are about to request a couch, make sure you have read mine and paid attention to yours.

Over the years this community has attracted too many who login periodically on this platform just to 'take' with no intention to pay it forward. This has led several pioneer members to cease hosting. I'm still hanging by as every now and then I keep on meeting exceptional people through this network which transforms into lifelong friendships.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Not sure if it carries any weight coming from me but I would say that CS is designed for people like me. I (generally) travel independently, not into formalities and admire the journey instead of wondering around for destination. But yes...I do get lost, quite frequently ;)

Although always hosting, I'm more known among London/Surrey CSers for organising free hikes, travels and rock climbing trips through my established group called 'Guildford Hikers' (events can be looked up on fb and IG).

Interests

  • yoga
  • massage therapy
  • chess
  • cricket
  • rock climbing
  • swimming
  • physics
  • squash

Music, Movies, and Books

MOVIES: Good Will Hunting, Her, Crash, Contact, Legends of the Fall, Finding Nemo, Butterfly Effect, Maverick, A Beautiful Mind, Dogville, Scent of a Woman and many more.

MUSIC: A Morrissette, Norah Jones, B Dylan, B Marley, Damien Rice, Massive Attack, Bryan Adams, Pink Floyd, REM and several more.

BOOKS: I'm quite into literature (fiction only though); we can discuss that in person.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I once left my laundry hanging outside for 2 and a half months. On my return from holiday they were frozen and crispy. They were only allowed in after another week when Sun came out.
To my utmost disappointment no secret lover stole my pants.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm a licensed and insured therapist (clinica/sports massages) and a very keen Yogi too. If time permits, happy to teach/practice.
I get consulted all the time about various pains, exercise, stretches, nutritions and posture related issues.
I have trained several friends for rock climbing & it's always been a pleasure.

What I Can Share with Hosts

The joy of giving without expecting anything in return; yes!
At least that's what I think of CS; a 'pay it forward' community, rather then 'give it back'.
Many of the guests bring some things to their hosts but let's not embarrass ourselves in this section by demanding or creating expectations.
You can perhaps already sense that I don't like this section ;) so I shall finish it with a quote from the wiser;

'All you have shall some day be given; therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors.' ~ Gibran

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Wales

Old School Badges

  • 27 Vouches
  • Pioneer Badge

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