I am Varun, a long-term slow traveler. I travel for knowledge and connections. I am a travel writer (https://medium.com/@vusuchday) and photographer (https://www.instagram.com/thirdworldstoryteller/) specializing in remote locations, climate change, indigenous cultures, conflict zones, and wildlife.

I have traveled to 5 continents and 49 countries. I spent one year in South America, six months in Central America, three months in the Balkans, three months in West Africa, two months in Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, and Jordan, and one month in Indonesia. I speak 7.5 languages.

I have contributed stories to The New York Times, BBC, Travel + Leisure, Outlook Traveler, The Wire, Tripoto, and All India Radio.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Travel is more about people than places. People make places. I wish to meet locals to learn about their lives and cultures. I like hearing and sharing stories. Couchsurfing is an ideal medium to meet locals. Couchsurfing is the real United Nations.

Interests

Indigenous Cultures
Climate Change
War Zones
Wildlife
Sports - Football, cricket (I can teach), tennis, badminton, volleyball
Reading
Cooking

• culture
• folklore
• cooking
• cocktails
• reading
• traveling
• hiking
• camping
• sports
• soccer
• agriculture

Music, Movies, and Books

Music - Indian, Folk, Latino, Country
Movies - Shawshank Redemption, 12 Angry Men, Nightcrawler
Books - Long list, mostly non fiction

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spent one year travelling across South America. It was the best year of my life. For two months, I hitchhiked 8,000 km in Patagonia and camped each night. I have countless stories and priceless memories to share.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach
- How to make money by freelancing
- How to earn on the road both (without internet)
- Cooking
- Winemaking and beer brewing

I would love to learn
- Dancing
- Singing
- Art and craft

Share and hear
- Stories and experiences

What I Can Share with Hosts

Travel stories and experiences.
My experiences of the different cultures I encountered during my travels.
Climate change research. Natural farming research.
I love cooking, so I can share some culinary delights from different regions.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Gambia, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Northern Ireland, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Western Sahara

Countries I’ve Lived In

India