I am a retired backpacker, a businessman who will have reached 100 countries when I get to Russia for the World Cup. I have lived in Ireland, New Zeland, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Nicaragua. I have been traveling the world for 24 years. I love all the different people, music, art, architecture, sports and nature that each country has to offer those willing to seek out the great gifts that belong to every culture. I have done overland trips camping in Africa, South America, China and Pakistan. The rest of the time, I have been an independent traveler meeting various people along the way. I have also worked in several hostels, taught English at a castle outside of Budapest, done gardening and landscaping. Many of the people that I have traveled with, I have then visited in their own countries. I am extremely easy going with a laid back personality. I don't require much in the way of accommodation and I am comfortable in just about any situation. I have hundreds of stories about traveling, always wear a smile on my face and love to make people laugh with funny anecdotes and stories. I have lived a blessed life and feel incredibly fortunate to have spent so much of it, having lots of fun.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have found that when you meet people in different countries and have some type of personal interaction it adds so much to the experience that is why I try to spend a long time in places that I really like whether it be the jungle, desert, mountains or beaches. Meeting people is the greatest way to add to the traveling experience and also to get all the inside information about the best places to go, things to do and also places to avoid, which sometimes is just as important as places to see. locals always have that knowledge and can show or direct you to wonderful spots that tourists never get to visit. Some of my most wonderful experiences have been through mutual friends that have recommended people to stay with in their home countries. This has happened on several occasions in various parts of the world. Meeting people is what makes traveling fascinating for me and what I love about being a nomad around the world.

Interests

I started my career as a tennis professional, built seven companies and then retired early to travel the world, which has been my addiction for the past 24 years. I love living in different cultures even though I only speak English but I have found that it isn't too difficult to communicate using your hands, drawing or making noises to show people what you like. Now there is Google translator that has made my life much easier. I love art, music, theater, sports, camping, fishing and anything to do with nature. The three best hours of my life have been swimming with a wild dolphin in Egypt, visiting the mountain gorillas in the Congo and playing golf with the kangaroos at Anglesee in Australia. I love all kinds of food and find trying different cuisines has been an exhilirating experience. I love art and accomplished two dreams of mine last year to visit the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain

Music, Movies, and Books

I love all types of music from classical, big bands, crooners like Frank Sinatra, rock in roll, country, and music from different countries around the world. I like movies but don't get to watch many do to always moving around the world. I love most books as long as they are fast moving. I studied English Literature and creative writing at University.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I started a school with another American in Sihanoukville, Cambodia that was a tremendous experience. We started it for 30 children and within a couple of months had 250 children enrolled. It was wonderful.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love learning and sharing with people around the globe and I find that having a friend in another country expands your knowledge of the place and you get to do all the things that tourists never know about and that is what really excites me besides meeting the family and friends of the people I am visiting

What I Can Share with Hosts

So many wonderful and crazy stories about traveling the world.

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Kenya, Pakistan

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cambodia, Colombia, Ecuador, Georgia, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Peru, Thailand