CURRENT MISSION

Chasing a setting sun.

ABOUT ME

Hi there! I'm Marty. I'm not traveling at the moment but I like meeting and helping those lucky ones who are. Check out my profile and send me a message. If I can help i will...

I grew up in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne in Australia. I've had an interest in travel since i was a kid, and got my first taste after high school on a trip through western Europe.

Then I spent a year after university working as an English teacher in rural Japan. I loved my little village and meet some wonderful people there. Hiking, kayaking, helping with the rice harvest and teaching the children were all great experiences.

I then washed up in Paris about a year ago without money, a job or a plan. As luck had it, while I was visiting an old friend at his workplace, someone called in sick and he asked me to cover the shift in the bar. It's been fun learning to argue about the price of coffee in French (Is this the Champs Elysees?)and I've really enjoyed getting to know Paris and more of Europe.

Now I'm back "home" with a great house with my Brother and a 9 to 5 job, trying to decide if the straight and narrow is for me.

Actually about me...Well, I'm not a great talker but I love listening, especially when someone is passionate and knowledgeable about thier subject. I'm a very poor speller.
I have a strong interest in history and love discovering the local history of places I visit.

I've studied Japanese and currently studying Spainish. Be happy if you can help me practice if you know any yourself.

PHILOSOPHY

Almost all religions and philosophys have the golden rule in common; for a happy life, treat others how you'd like to be treated. I think this is a good place to start from.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have joined couch surfing so that i can pay forward the kindness and hospitality that has been shown to me while i have been traveling and to meet, learn from, and enjoy the company of, my fellow humans.

Interests

My interests include but are not limited to:
Travel, surfing, history, having fun, playing Aussie rules footy, reading, hiking, music (listening to and making of), skateboarding, running, buying stuff I can't cook from the local Vietnamese markets, learning new cooking recipies and cleaning pans with burnt on food.

• dining
• cooking
• coffee
• running
• reading
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• kayaking
• surfing
• skateboarding
• teaching
• history
• religion

Music, Movies, and Books

I like non-fiction books best. Having said that that are heaps of great fiction books too. I'm always happy to get book recommendations. As of this update I'm reading America by Alistar Cooke, an account of the battle of Agincourt and the Little Prince.
Books I continually re-read include; Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy books, LotR books, Jarrod Diamond's Collapse & Guns, germs and steel.

I like heaps of music including Blues and Folk,especially ROCK!!, heavy rock and stoner rock. I enjoy pretty much anything though. I go out to gigs usually once or twice a week. There is so much good music in Melbourne. I'm loving the black keys, M.Ward, Radio Moscow and some good ol' fashioned country at the moment

Check out the stupid band my friends and I put together. A condition of being in the band is that you can't know how to play music...you've been warned...
http://www.myspace.com/themoistcontrollers

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Japan, United Kingdom

•