Ricky Haga

Ricky Haga

Current Mission: "the Five Excellent Pracitices of the Pilgrim - practice the arts of listening and attention, practice renewing yourself every day, practice meandering towards the center of every place, practice the ritual of reading sacred texts, practice gratitude"

Personal Designations

Meet for coffee or drink Vouched for26

Community Designations

CS Team Member Nomadic Ambassador
Contribution
United States
Arizona
Miami
Lat: 33.39917, Lon: -110.86806
Show nearby Couches (100 K)

General Information

Ricky Haga is a CS Nomadic Ambassador!
Ricky Haga has been vouched for
VERIFIED MEMBER Identity Checked, Location Pending more info
Couch availableCoffee or a drink
CouchSurf requests replied to92%
Ricky Haga is online right now!
member sinceAugust 8th, 2007
profile views2394
age29
genderMale
membernameAUTFIERSIS
occupationwhy do you ask exactly? cant think of a better question?
educationsometimes
grew up inphx & pdx
Direct Profile URL

Languages

  • English (United States)Expert
  • Spanish (Costa Rica)Intermediate

Groups I Belong To

Nepal 1000:1873
Why: ALWAYS wanted to go to nepal!
Kathmandu 3:0
Why: namascar!
Ambassador's Public 5706:10776Burning Man 3296:5100
Why: burning man ´08!! see you there!!
Active in 58 more groups.
Show them all

Couch Information


Couch picture

Couch Available: Coffee or a drink
Preferred Gender: Any

Im currently staying with my sister in Yongin, a city that seems to me to be a suburb of Seoul, South Korea. I will be here for a month or so and am very interested in meeting all couchsurfers in the area or that are passing through. I would love to explore South Korea with you or share what i have learned so far.


_________________________________________________________
8 ways you can protect the earth while traveling:
THINK GLOBALLY, BUY LOCALLY. Transporting food and other products long distances uses valuable energy resources and further pollutes the globe. Buying locally grown food helps in a very real way. Local foods are fresher and may use more sustainable farming methods. Buying local products is also a great way to experience the local culture and expand your experience. When traveling you may not know where to find local products, but your host likely will. Just ask! For more info see 100milediet.org.
TRAVEL WITH GREEN POWER. As a traveler, much of your energy use will be for transportation. Single-occupancy motor vehicles emit (literally) tons and tons of pollution and CO2. Traveling by bicycle, foot, animal, hitchhiking, raft, train or bus are all very environmentally friendly modes of travel. Cars and mopeds are significantly worse, while planes are worst of all (much of your ticket cost is for jet fuel). While maybe not as fast, more natural modes of travel are often cheaper, more scenic, and healthier for both you and the planet.
BUY NAKED FOOD. It is best to avoid styrofoam, plastic wrapping, plastic bags, cardboard boxes, etc. These often unnecessary packaging materials involve production and transportation wastes, in addition to the landfill build-up of their discarded contents. Buy from stores that offer products in bulk. Reuse your plastic bags or use a backpack/cloth bag instead; buy unwrapped, unprocessed food; avoid take-out junk food in-a-bag-in-a-bag-in-a-bag... Stop feeding the dumps!
BUY NATURAL FOOD. Organic food is a bit more expensive, but it reduces the use of pesticides and protects the environment's genetic patrimony by lowering the amount genetically modified pollen that might reach wild plants.
REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE. Recycling can be hard when traveling in countries where no recycling collection exists, though facilities might be available if you drop off the recyclables yourself. If none exists, reduce and reuse, for instance by buying a solid water bottle instead of disposable plastic ones. Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones. And always recycle any disposable batteries you've used.
DO NOT THROW WASTE ON THE GROUND. No matter the local attitude towards trash, don't litter. It is important to recognize that even organic materials (bread crusts, fruit seeds, vegetable skins) can be trash if enough people do it. There is also a chance that you will spread a nonnative species or encourage wild animals to start a dangerous feeding habit. And please don't spit your gum out so it embeds itself in the sidewalk!
BE INFORMED. Don't be afraid to ask locals important questions about environmental issues including, how or if one is supposed to sort recycling, where to find eco-friendly products, and what products or activities to avoid. Locals can tell you about things that you might never notice otherwise
PASS IT ON. Many people in this world are concerned about the environment but don't know what they can do, while others are not even aware of the issue. You can help by talking to people you meet about environmental issues and sharing ideas about how they too can help

Friends (117)

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World map
Map of friends
Michelle LaporteMichelle Laporte
27, Female
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Friends since July 2007
"meet in Nicaragua on an island with an isthmus"
Friendship Type: Best Friend
I vouched for Ricky Haga
Met in person   Traveled30+  
Jill+Alice = Jalice May Jill+Alice = Jalice May
29, Female
Yongin, Gyeonggi-do
South Korea
Friends since October 1980
"We were raised together."
Friendship Type: Best Friend
I vouched for Ricky Haga
Met in person   Traveled10  
MINGUSKAHNMINGUSKAHN
29, Male
North Little Rock, Arkansas
United States
Friends since August 1998
"Roommate from college"
Friendship Type: Close Friend
Met in person   Surfed14  
KIKIELECTRIQUE KIKIELECTRIQUE
29, Female
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Canada
Friends since August 2008
"Roller coaster of emotions at Couchsurfing camp Burning Man )'( 2008!"
Friendship Type: Close Friend
I vouched for Ricky Haga
Met in person   Traveled7  
Caylee HooverCaylee Hoover
29, Several people
Phoenix, Arizona
United States
Friends since September 1995
"We've been friends since high school. "
Friendship Type: Best Friend
Met in person   Hosted10   Traveled2  
CHELLE XCHELLE X
27, Female
Portland, Oregon
United States
Friends since October 2008
"I'm a Pocket Earth resident, and Ricky's roomie, former coworker, and member of the Ricky Haga Superfriend Fanclub "
Friendship Type: Good Friend
Met in person  
Lauren David Lauren David
26, Female
Berkeley, California
United States
Friends since August 2008
"burned together"
Friendship Type: CouchSurfing Friend
Met in person  
Sarah MilesSarah Miles
23, Female
Seattle, Washington
United States
Friends since July 2008
"Met up in Payson for some chatting and cleaning"
Friendship Type: Friend
Met in person  
Amy GintherAmy Ginther
26, Female
Seoul, Seoul
South Korea
Friends since January 2010
"we met in seoul and then in nepal!"
Friendship Type: Friend
Met in person   Traveled4  
shaz Shah shaz Shah
29, Male
Prince George, British Columbia
Canada
Friends since August 2008
"burning man and traveled together"
Friendship Type: Close Friend
I vouched for Ricky Haga
Met in person   Traveled15  
107 more friends
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Personal Description


Visitor Map


sun stained and life drenched. future dweller, isthmus seeker, soul searcher, introverted extrovert. aspiring vagabond, blocked artist, couchsurfer. optimistic realist. wanderer, pilgrim, nomad. wearer of a patchwork spirituality. avid reader, dice and card geek, gardener in a past life. aries with a taurus moon and libra rising, red electric earth, willow tree, monkey, INFJ.

How I Participate in CS

So far ive been lucky enough to host -

Stuart from San Fran
Carrie from New York when she first arrived in Oregon
Paul from New Jersey, on his way back from Hawaii
Xavier from Canada
Sarah and Chris from Seattle
Kiki and Fish on their way to Burning Man

Interests

i enjoy looking at the "returned books" shelf in a bookstore or library and imaging the person that was looking at them. hugging of course. getting lost is wonderful.

Philosophy

"looking deeply" means observing something or someone with so much concentration that the distinction between observer and observed disappears. the result is insight into the true nature of the object. when we look into the heart of a flower we see clouds, sunshine, minerals, time, the earth, and everything else in the cosmos with it. without clouds, there would be no rain, and there would be no flower. without time the flower could not bloom. in fact, the flower is made of entirely non-flower elements; it has no independent, individual existence. it "inter-is" with everything else in the universe. when we see the nature of interbeing, barriers between ourselves and others are dissolved, and peace, love and understanding are possible. whenever there is understanding, compassion is born.
-Thich Nhat Hanh

THE CYCLE OF CYNICISM

1. Finding out about a problem
2. Wanting to do something to help
3. Not seeing how you can help
4. Not doing anything about it
5. Feeling sad, powerless, angry
6. Deciding that nothing can be done
7. Begin shutting down
8. Wanting to know less about problems in general
Repeat until apathy results

THE CYCLE OF HOPE

1. Taking personal responsibility for being a good person
2. Creating a vision of a better world based on your values
3. Seeking out quality information about the world's problems
4. Discovering practical options for action
5. Acting in line with your values
6. Realize that you cant do everything but you can do something!
Repeat until better world results

Music, Movies, Books


chuck close
egon schiele
gustav klimt
robert rauschenberg
wayne thiebaud

One Amazing Thing I've Seen or Done

1/07 - lived in sandalo costa rica as an english teacher. though i think i learned more from those kids than they did from me. got to see all sorts of amazing animals, and learned so much about myself.
8/07 - hiked the corcovado national park in costa rica. one of the scariest moments of my life trying to cross the river.. if you go too close to the ocean there are bull sharks and if you go too far upriver there are crocodiles. when we arrived it was an hour past low tide and it had been raining for hours... we crossed with our packs above our heads, the water up to our chests and just prayed...
11/07 - climbed, attuned with, chirripo' - the tallest mountain in costa rica. made it to the summit just as the sun rose, basked in the joy of a feat accomplished and just breathed in the frigid air.. and felt ALIVE..
12/08 - floated on the moon... ok, learned to scuba dive in honduras! i saw sea turtles in the water! but i missed the sea horse, arrgghh!
1/08 - camped on an island off of the coast of venezuela with couchsurfers! id been to meetings before but this was different, the setting with the water so clear you could see 50' to the bottom, the company so diverse and friendly... if i hadnt already been hooked i would have been then...
3/08 - lived in guargualla, a village in the mountains near riobamba ecuador for a few weeks, once again under the guise of an english teacher. they were so welcoming, so inspiring and i will never forget guargualla!
5/08 - bolivia! the salar de uyuni is perhaps the most interesting place i have ever been or ever will be. and i never knew so many stars existed!
8/08 - i went home! couchsurfing camp at burning man. i cant explain it. if youve been there you have an inkling...
10/08 - i began working for greenpeace! the 3 communities in which i have found the best quality&quantity of hugs - couchsurfing, burning man greenpeace. "STOP CUTTING DOWN OUR TREES!"
3/09 - participated in the capitol climate action! 2500 people risking arrest to send a message to the united states government that we need to be OFF of coal!

Opinion on the CouchSurfing.org Project

has been fantastic. this community is amazing and im sure non-couchsurfing travelers that i meet get annoyed with me because i talk about it all the time! but i cant help it, invariably any story about my travels will begin with or somehow involve couchsurfing! and i think as i go forward, any story in my life will too!

Locations Traveled

TRAVELED: Austria, Bolivia, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Ireland (Republic of), Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela
LIVED: Costa Rica, United States
WANTS TO GO: Algeria, Belize, Canada, Croatia, Guatemala, Poland
IS GOING TO: India, Japan, Nepal

References

 
     Leave a Reference >>    
John Agnieszka
From John Agnieszka
 Galway, Ireland (Republic of)
 Mar 19
Met in person Friend,  
Positive

I met Rick, then I felt like going all the back to the feckin Himalayas and climbin a mountain, this guy is the tits!

Achyut Malakar
From Achyut Malakar
 Kathmandu, Nepal
 Mar 17
Met in person Traveled 2 days 
Positive

Personally I am Very Lucky person to met Ricky in chitwan at my friends Weeding party and have good fun for that time. Ricky is very good and kind cooperative person i found by my self. i wish him have sucees every step of his life in future.

CHIANGHC
From CHIANGHC
 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
 Mar 14
Met in person Friend, Traveled 4 days 
Positive

A friendly, helpful guy and is nice to talk with. Thanks to his organizing the CS gathering in Kathmandu, we had a greate time get to know other CS members.

ARIANE & BRUNO
From ARIANE & BRUNO
 Grenoble, France
 Mar 8
Met in person Friend, Traveled 4 days 
Positive

Meeting Ricky was synonymous with positive vibrations! He is imaginative and has lots of great initiatives. He even set up a CS meeting in Kathmandu while traveling. Thanks to him, one can access the true and beautiful spirit of couchsurfing! Thanks dude!

Aaron Reuben
From Aaron Reuben
 Kathmandu, Nepal
 Mar 5
Met in person Close Friend, Traveled 30 days 
Positive

Ricky is a delight! Great to travel with, always ready for an adventure, full of good stories.

Daniel Molloy 
From Daniel Molloy
 East Greenwich, United States
 Mar 3
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Traveled 2 days 
Positive

Ricky is a not just travelling, he is on a pilgrimage--keenly seeking more insight into spirituality and taking his mission seriously (which isn't to say he is not trying to have a real good time along the way!). His passion and self-awareness are two qualities I admire about Ricky, and his laid-back, confident, and enthusiastic attitude is infectious. If you can host him on his journey or travel alongside him (as I hope to do again in India or Nepal!), you certainly will be glad you did. It was a joy to get to know you, man.

Amy Ginther
From Amy Ginther
 Seoul, South Korea
 Mar 2
Met in person Friend, Traveled 4 days 
Positive

ricky will inspire you and make any travelling experience more fun, more felt, and more memorable. i could go on about him, but it's as simple as that. he's awesome.

Tomomichi Ono
From Tomomichi Ono
 Yokohama, Japan
 Feb 22
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 2 days  
Positive

Ricky is generous and really fun to talk with. He is thinking about environment of the earth very seriously. He is sincere.
Everyone can enjoy talking with him.

Chako Nagumo- John LaDue
From Chako Nagumo- John LaDue
 Kamakura, Japan
 Feb 22
Met in person Friend, Hosted 1 days  
Positive

Ricky is a great guy, had a lot of fun hanging out with him, has a real passion for couch surfing and learned a lot more about the CS community through our talks. Totally chill and he taught my roommate English before dinner, and was very patient with him too. Come by again anytime Rickatrivia

YUTaKaTron ! mighty :D
From YUTaKaTron ! mighty :D
 Tokyo, Japan
 Feb 21
Met in person Friend, Hosted 1 days  
Positive

Rick was a cool , easy going, giant backpack shoudering gent. who had fun,
eating some okonomiyaki /monja. and some other fun walking around tokyo. He told me of his ventures and making me miss just grabbing my pack and walking out right now~!.... A positive guy with positive vibes m~an~ :D

WIMPIE
From WIMPIE
 Kyoto, Japan
 Feb 17
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 3 days  
Positive

Ricky is a very interesting guy, an explorer, committed with mother earth, I had a great time and deep conversation about life and so many things. I took him to Kiyumizura and Gion, and we join me and my friends for a dancing club, we have so much fun!. I wish the best, may the force be with you!. You will definitaly learn a lot from him. Buen peregrinaje. Abrazo grande, Lissy,

Mary Reid 
From Mary Reid
 Busan, South Korea
 Feb 9
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 2 days  
Positive

Ricky was a fantastic surfer. I couldn't ask for more. He dealt fine with the state of my apartment considering I had just recently got back from Thailand and my things were thrown all about :)
He's a trooper too - came out for a relatively calm Sunday night on the town and easily mingled with a bunch of my friends, and then I find out he's getting over a bad cold :)
I am kind of boring on the weeknights because of my work schedule, but we still managed to get some fun in and have some great conversations!! Hopefully see you in Australia next winter :D

Joel and Azure Wilson
From Joel and Azure Wilson
 Gwangju, South Korea
 Jan 9
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 1 days  
Positive

Ricky had a wealth of experience and knowledge- we were only disappointed we couldn't siphon more of it during his brief stay with us. Definitely a great guest and a trailblazing traveler.

Young Hwa La
From Young Hwa La
 Tampere, Finland
 Jan 1
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

He is really easy to close:)
kind and warm and nice;)

Chris Lum
From Chris Lum
 Seattle, United States
 Sep 29, 2009
Met in person Friend, Surfed 1 days  
Positive

Ricky is so calming and nice to be around, it's hard to describe. Even though it was my first time meeting him it almost felt like i'd known him for a long time and i felt very comfortable and at ease around him. I enjoyed our conversations about past travels. Ricky seems to be very spiritually aware and has a natural ability to read people and put them at ease. Definitely glad i was able to meet you, Ricky and I look forward to seeing you again in the future! Thanks for hosting Sarah, Me, and River!

Ashlee Fisher
From Ashlee Fisher
 Seattle, United States
 Sep 9, 2009
Met in person Best Friend, Surfed 2 days  
Positive

His energy and perspective is a refreshing reminder of openness and love. He lives for himself by giving love and knowledge to the hearts of mankind. We will be long friends! See you soon!

Chris - Cross
From Chris - Cross
 Auckland, New Zealand
 Apr 26, 2009
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Dude Ricky worked for Greenpeace in Portland at the time I met him in DC. He loves his travels, the environment, and a good brew.

Cant wait to surf, host, and travel with you in the near future yo-

Xavier Gauthier 
From Xavier Gauthier
 Montreal, Canada
 Jan 6, 2009
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Surfed 1 days  
Positive

Staying with Ricky and his roommates was a wonderful experience. So nice, great conversations, great friends. Everything you could expect a great couchsurfing experience, and more!

Carrie Callahan
From Carrie Callahan
 Jamaica Plain, United States
 Dec 28, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Surfed 1 days  
Positive

I surfed Ricky's couch in Portland- he was an excellent host... He and his friends made me feel right at home- the energy that he and all his friends have is amazing and genuine- and most importantly contagious! It was a great virgin couch-surfing experience:)

paul perezz
From paul perezz
 Metuchen, United States
 Dec 22, 2008
Met in person Friend, Surfed 1 days  
Positive

Ricky was kind of enough to let me stay for a night, even though I came through really late. Ricky is a really good guy and full of the cs spirit.

CHELLE X
From CHELLE X
 Portland, United States
 Dec 16, 2008
Met in person Good Friend,  
Positive

Ricky was my introduction to the world and concept of couhsurfing. We live together with a few other people, and it's been a excellent experience. I enjoy and trust him very much- he's always honest, open, and communicative. A friend of his is a friend of mine. I can't wait to host couchsurfers! Please go through his profile if you are interested in surfing with us! :-)

Ari Shapiro 
From Ari Shapiro
 Chicago, United States
 Nov 28, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Surfed 1 days Traveled 2 days 
Positive

Met on Wladi's horseback trip to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador. Everyone sleeping next to each other to conserve body heat in the freezing cold house. Sorry for taking so long to write a reference

Bryce Bray
From Bryce Bray
 Milwaukee, United States
 Oct 11, 2008
Only met online  

He has a lot of CSing experience. I was told that he could be of much help for others going through Latin America.

Scott Dolin
From Scott Dolin
 Gaillimh, Ireland (Republic of)
 Sep 17, 2008
Met in person Friend, Traveled 13 days 
Positive

Ricky is a really fun guy to hang out with, whether it's on the ground or god know how high up a redwood. He has a brilliant outlook on life and is possibly one of the most genuine people you could meet. I hope we get a chance to meet again (and finish zelda!) if not, I wish you the best for the rest...

James Humphrey
From James Humphrey
 Arcata, United States
 Sep 13, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 2 days  
Positive

Ricky and company we're without a doubt some of our best couchsurfers. They fit right in, and made my week fun. In fact, they made me want to skip work so we could all hang out more. I would gladly have them back absolutely any time.

shaz Shah 
From shaz Shah
 Prince George, Canada
 Sep 12, 2008
Met in person Close Friend, Traveled 15 days 
Positive

Sweet, kind, charming, gentle and passionate are just a few words that describe this fellow. We met in a duststorm one day and we instantly bonded.
He's an easy going travel companion and a great conversationalist. If Ricky ever comes across your path, give him a great big hug for me!

Brook Yates 
From Brook Yates
 Deer Park, United States
 Sep 12, 2008
Met in person Friend, Traveled 7 days 
Positive

What a gem - he is a breathe of fresh air. He has a gentle and kind spirit always willing to lend a hand or an ear. I seem him as a strong, steady and consistent rock that would be there for his friends no matter what. It was a treat to arrive to camp nearly the same time. I hope that he comes back next year to Burning Man!

Lea Witkowski
From Lea Witkowski
 New Orleans, United States
 Sep 11, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

ricky is interesting and insightful. he was well interesting to talk to after burning man (and, yes, ricky, you convinced me :)) i hope to meet up with him again. he is worth more than one or two chats!

FRASABA 
From FRASABA
 Pescara, Italy
 Sep 10, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Traveled 1 days 
Positive

I've met Ricky in San Francisco while we we were hosted by the same host. He is an easy going guy, a travel expert and a very interesting person to talk with. He has been also extremely kind and helpful providing me with many tips about SF. A great CS member to meet!

NOMAD POET 
From NOMAD POET
 Black Rock City, United States
 Sep 8, 2008
Met in person Friend,  
Positive

I always feel that you can tell a lot about a person from their hugs. I didn´t get to spend near enough time with Ricky but his hugs always felt fully attentive and utterly present and I look forward to seeing him back at home! To the adventures we will have! Dusty hugz, my friend!

Daphne Gabrieli 
From Daphne Gabrieli
 Eugene, United States
 Sep 7, 2008
Met in person Good Friend, Hosted 1 days Traveled 6 days 
Positive

Ricky is an all-around good guy. He was the first person, when I arrived to our 170-person camp, to offer a hand with my unruly set-up. I liked being Ricky's tent neighbor and hope he'll stay in touch!

Oh, and I forgot to mention that Ricky and his friends later stopped by and couchsurfed over here. They were the perfect guests, of course.

Stuart Matthews 
From Stuart Matthews
 San Francisco, United States
 Sep 7, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 4 days  
Positive

Ricky was one chill dude. Like he said he needed some time to unwind so I think we were a good fit. We hung out some but we also did our own thing. Ricky very much made himself at home which I really like - it means less stress for me and it also feels like a more comfortable living situation, with someone else cooking, cleaning and going grocery shopping. I really hope Ricky and I can surf or travel together again some day.

IRISHPOLYGLOT
From IRISHPOLYGLOT
 Bangkok, Thailand
 Sep 5, 2008
Met in person Friend, Traveled 7 days 
Positive

Ricky was such a great co-burner!! He accompanied me and helped me on various random missions and was always great to chat to. Despite the superficial nature of the crazy week at Burning Man I could see that he is someone I would consider a true friend in the "default world". Hopefully our paths will cross again somewhere... preferably where it's less dusty :P

Cabrobrother 
From Cabrobrother
 Lisle, United States
 Sep 4, 2008
Met in person Friend, Traveled 6 days 
Positive

My experience with Ricky was phenomenal! Ricky was one of the best people we met at Burning Man. We hope to see him soon again. Our couch will always be available in Rio and Chicago.

Best regards,
Adriano and Eloah

Lauren David 
From Lauren David
 Berkeley, United States
 Sep 4, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

An amazing hugger and full of radiant energy, Ricky always seems to be right there. A quiet spirit filled with positive vibes. We shared good laughter and plenty of hugs while roaming on the playa.

KIKIELECTRIQUE 
From KIKIELECTRIQUE
 Saskatoon, Canada
 Sep 4, 2008
Met in person Close Friend, Traveled 7 days 
Positive

Ricky is an extraordinary friend. Meeting him in the desert, in an unfortunate stressful day for me, was a blessing. He was there, behind the bar, with me, serving drinks to party people and he managed to help me get better, made me dance, laugh, breathe normally. I thank him for that. All through the week, in those extreme dust storms and emotional moments, he was there, as a friend for me to cheer me up, to hug me, to just hang out. I am grateful to life I met him and was able to share those wonderful moments in his company. Through magical walks in the sun on the Playa with some of the CS camp crew or dust storms in an RV with Swiss German friends, he was there for me and I owe him the world. For what he did for me in the desert, how he went out of his way to help me heal and be comfortable, he is worth a detour, anytime. Open your house to him if he travels in your part of the world, you will get to know a precious man! Please Ricky, come and visit me in Saskatoon, anytime!

Robbie Johnston 
From Robbie Johnston
 Donegal, Ireland (Republic of)
 Sep 3, 2008
Met in person Good Friend,  
Positive

We shared a lot of laughs together at Burning Man 08. And after becoming really close I know that the playa is not the last time we will see each other. I love this guy. A genuine giver, sharer, connecter, smiler. Just a really really great guy. Much love. Pint of Guinness waiting for you here by the way. Hurry up and come get it. Come to Ireland already bro, why not!

Caleb Edgar 
From Caleb Edgar
 Portland, United States
 Sep 2, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Ricky is a fun, thoughtful cat I met and ran amok with at burning man with the couchsurfers this year. A great guy and good company.

 
From "GHOSTRIDER"
 Black Rock City, United States
 Aug 20, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Traveled 13 days 
Positive

I brought his bike to BM)'(08. We rode around in circles. I ate dust from two dust storms, AND ENJOYED IT. I did ride my bike,..right into Ricky's bike on a Sunday afternoon ride on the Playa! I also drove him from San Fran to Portland being the Designated driver while Scott from Ireland, and Ricky enjoyed different wineries along the way over three days. We had a blast!

Klaire Rueckert 
From Klaire Rueckert
 Seattle, United States
 Aug 11, 2008
Met in person Friend,  
Positive

Ricky is awesome. He's very calming and has an obviously loving soul... what's not to like? Always ready to lend a helping hand, as well. My home will always be open to Ricky should he need good times.. or a couch... or a hug... in Seattle. Hope to see him again before Bm 09!

Chet&Monica
From Chet&Monica
 Tucson, United States
 Aug 1, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Such a cool guy. Well traveled, kind, genuine, and sweet. I really enjoyed our conversations and hope to see Ricky again soon.

Shasta Bross 
From Shasta Bross
 Denver, United States
 Jul 29, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 1 days  
Positive

I promised Ricky a hike on Sat. and even though we got lost (I drove up I-70 instead of I-25) and went to Nederland instead of Rocky Mnt Natl Park, he was very understanding. We had a great time talking about religion. He's a really gentle, thoughtful, gracious guy and I wish him the very best in life! I would host him again in a minute.

Yves Perrin
From Yves Perrin
 Tucson, United States
 Jul 28, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

He is a positive and genuine person. He described his travels throughout south america and now I want to travel there! He is an awesome person!

Jon Cordoba 
From Jon Cordoba
 Tempe, United States
 Jul 28, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

I met Ricky in passing at the Phoenix Loft Party and to my surprise again in Denver at the Protos gathering. Ricky is down to earth and great to talk to. Ricky contributes to CS with passion and I look forward to hanging out with him in Globe in a couple weeks.

Zac Leach 
From Zac Leach
 Richland, United States
 Jul 28, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Ricky is a great ambassador in the community. I look forward to crossing paths in Miami.

Alex  Kelly
From Alex Kelly
 New York, United States
 Jul 27, 2008
Met in person Friend,  
Positive

Wow. I admire everything that I know about Ricky so far - his sense of adventure, his compassion towards strangers and his amazing conversation skills. I will always remember talking about religion at Pete's Kitchen with our new friend, driving the 'white monster' through the Denver streets and talking about wine on the highway. I look forward to meeting up again and more good conversation (and adventure!).

Carlos Medina
From Carlos Medina
 Guayaquil, Ecuador
 Jul 27, 2008
Met in person Close Friend, Surfed 3 days Traveled 3 days 
Positive

we met in Puyo and we were working putting new trees in the rainforest
I traveled with a friend of mine and he was traveling with his new girl friend.

Camelia Castro
From Camelia Castro
 Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
 Jul 26, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

It was nice meeting you in Tucson, keep traveling!

Larry Streech 
From Larry Streech
 Phoenix, United States
 Jul 25, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Ricky was easy to talk with and I was glad to meet him in person after our banter online. Great stories about his latest travels and I hope to be able to pick his brain about South and Central America the next time we meet up. I hope to hang out a lot more at cs events in the future.

Susan Gallegos 
From Susan Gallegos
 Tucson, United States
 Jul 24, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

I had a great time talking with Ricky at the potluck. He is enthusiastic and has had really interesting experiences teaching in Costa Rica. He is a wonderful asset to CS. Hope you get that teaching job!

BRUCE_N_Arizona 
From BRUCE_N_Arizona
 Tucson, United States
 Jul 23, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Ricky, seems to be very knowledgable about travel, carry's a great conversation and has many stories to tell you! :-)

DANIELLE A.K.A. RED 
From DANIELLE A.K.A. RED
 Phoenix, United States
 Jul 19, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

It was great to meet Ricky at the loft party. Good times and interesting conversations. Hope to see you at more local events...even if you have to drive quite a ways for them.

Sarah Miles
From Sarah Miles
 Seattle, United States
 Jul 17, 2008
Met in person Friend,  
Positive

Rick is a breath of fresh air among the pines! He's extremely knowledgeable, patient, and just darn nice to be around. Most certainly someone you would want to befriend.

Tracy & Jan 
From Tracy & Jan
 Phoenix, United States
 Jul 14, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Ricky was an excellent guest. Definitely someone to know being new. Very generous with his time and sharing the ins and outs of surfing. I only wish I had had more time to talk to him at the party. Next party i guess. Thanks for coming many people enjoyed your company. Especially Jan and I.

Kathleen Larson 
From Kathleen Larson
 Phoenix, United States
 Jul 14, 2008
Met in person Acquaintance,  
Positive

I met Ricky at a CS party. He has be a couchsurfer for a while and has great experiences. He was very helpful to me and a number of other "newbies". He could be a calendar boy for couchsurfing. I'll look forward to getting to know Ricky better at future events. Even though we talked briefly, I would certainly feel comfortable recommending him as a host or a surfer.

Brian G. 
From Brian G.
 Phoenix, United States
 Jul 12, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

I was happy to have met Ricky during our time at a "loft" party in Phoenix, I wish Ricky was a full-time educator in the Valley or closeby so we can all benefit from his experiences and knowledge. Welcome to the group and hopefully your distance will not keep you away from the great meet-ups happening in the Valley. I got nothing but good feelings after meeting Ricky...

Silke Walleser
From Silke Walleser
 Geneva, Switzerland
 Jun 12, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

It was great having a chat to Ricky at CS meeting in La Paz. Muy bueno chico and interesting CS- and general travel stories!

Cecilia Gonzalez 
From Cecilia Gonzalez
 Mesa, United States
 Jun 11, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

He is a good CS member. He was very helpful to give me some info about my future living place. He was back for our biggest CS meeting in La Paz and brought his charming presence and energy. C u in august at AZ!

Ciro Rendas 
From Ciro Rendas
 Lisbon, Portugal
 Jun 7, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Had a cool time with Ricky in La Paz in a crazy CS night! We exchanged messages some months before and finally got to meet up in Bolivia. Chill guy, and hope our paths cross again before Burning Man!

Liesje
From Liesje
 Buenos Aires, Argentina
 Jun 5, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

We met by chance in Peru and then we met again by chance in Bolivia... Next time you're around warn me because I don't want to miss the chance to meet again :-)
Michelle and Ricky are such friendly people, totally into CS and with a lot of interesting travel stories!

Stephan Zindel
From Stephan Zindel
 Zuchwil, Switzerland
 Jun 4, 2008
Met in person Friend, Traveled 10 days 
Positive

had some interesting philosophical discussions under the starsky of bolivia... cool guy!

Robert Parham 
From Robert Parham
 Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
 Jun 1, 2008
Met in person Friend, Traveled 6 days 
Positive

I travelled with Ricky in bolivia for about a week. a great guy, we had lots of fun and laughs together. beware him when playing cards, though, the guy is deadly swift :)

Tom Weiss 
From Tom Weiss
 Be'er Sheva, Israel
 May 27, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

ricky seems to b the kind of person that the more u talk to, the more interesting it gets. i hope to have the oportunity to find out to what extent, or in other words, i hope to meet u again, in your words, somewhere someday.

Matias Gallardo 
From Matias Gallardo
 London, United Kingdom
 May 26, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 5 days  
Positive

Rick and Michelle are one of the best hosting experiences i had, they are really cool chill people.

Gert Schoubben 
From Gert Schoubben
 Leuven, Belgium
 May 26, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

I met Ricky (with his girlfriend) in a guest house in Cuenca where they spent a few nights. We had a long, funny and interesting chat on one of the evenings. Ricky and his girlfriend are really nice people. Hope to see you again sometime.

Andy Dahl
From Andy Dahl
 New Orleans, United States
 May 26, 2008
Met in person Good Friend,  
Positive

ricky dedicated many free hours helping me with an art project with kids in bolivia. the kids nor i will ever forget your addition to the experience!

Franziska Hoffmann
From Franziska Hoffmann
 Magdeburg, Germany
 May 26, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

We just met a short time in La Paz, but he seems to be an interesting and open-hearted person (who sleeps little, haha). Wish you the best!

Harry Kuong 
From Harry Kuong
 Cusco, Peru
 May 15, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Ricky and Michelle convoqued surfers in Cusco and I was really pleased to be there. Very gentle and nice persons. We had a good time together despite they were exhausted.

Louise Razzagone 
From Louise Razzagone
 Jersey City, United States
 May 12, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Super helpful with my plans for CR, Ricky and his girlfriend were really funny and positive people to conversate with! Fue un gran placer para conocerles :)

Michelle Williams 
From Michelle Williams
 Crested Butte, United States
 May 4, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Met at a Cs gathering in Cuenca. Had some good conversations and I hope to meet him and Michelle again some time

Gisele Rio 
From Gisele Rio
 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 May 4, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

I met Ricky a CS meeting at the Irish Pub, in Cuzco, Peru. That was a special day, because I was coming back from Machu Picchu and I was dying to meet CSers! He is a very nice guy, someone you like to have around and have an interesting conversation. Hope we meet again.

Anny Lefebvre 
From Anny Lefebvre
 Montreal, Canada
 May 2, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Surfed 2 days  
Positive

I spend my last day in Lima with them. We share the room! It's a really nice couple and great person. They are smily, curious and peaceful, very interesting persons!

Joel Angulo
From Joel Angulo
 Lima, Peru
 May 1, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 2 days Surfed 2 days  
Positive

puedo decir que Ricky Haga es una excelente persona, muy amable y muy chevere, lastima no haber tenido mas tiempo para pasarla con ellos, pero me ha encantado conocerlos y compartir algunas experiencias y conversaciones, gracias por todo Ricky y espero verlos de nuevo por lima,y se los recomiendo es muy buena persona.

Roy Aguilar León
From Roy Aguilar León
 Quito, Ecuador
 Apr 29, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

:) Ricky is a very nice fellow :D I meet him when he was traveling with Michelle, they both are happy souls who spread the best energy. I wish I could have had more time to talk to him, anyway it was enough to realize he is a good person. :D Hope to see them again, world is not that big :D and not need to mention that you'll always be welcome in my house. Cheers!

MERCEDES_Ps
From MERCEDES_Ps
 Quito, Ecuador
 Apr 11, 2008
Met in person Friend,  
Positive

Ricky es un chico super simpatico, tiene un español excelente, es interesante, muy sencillo y amable.
Fue un gusto hospedarles en mi casa a ti y a Michelle!
Suerte con sus viajes!!

Karina Rocha Galecio
From Karina Rocha Galecio
 Babahoyo, Ecuador
 Apr 5, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Surfed 3 days  
Positive

raton, raton.... jeje, nice guy, good talker, good walker, as himself said "giddy" jaja, nice to meet you, good luck in Peru an Bolivia pal

Javier Cañizares
From Javier Cañizares
 Guayaquil, Ecuador
 Apr 5, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Traveled 2 days 
Positive

Hey Ricky.. Hasta que te encontré jeje..
Excelente compañero en el recorrido dentro de la selva.. Siempre junto a Michelle jeje.. Buena pareja.

Benjamin Huybs
From Benjamin Huybs
 Beringen, Belgium
 Apr 3, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Traveled 3 days 
Positive

Cool guy, maybe we meet again in bolivia or peru

Wladimir Ortiz
From Wladimir Ortiz
 Riobamba, Ecuador
 Apr 1, 2008
Met in person Good Friend, Hosted 10 days Traveled 5 days 
Positive

Ricky and Michelle are a two MOST KNOW couple.. they are down to earth, real simple and enjoyable, they are interested in this world just as much as i am.. we need more people like you guys..
Ps. thanks for understanding the contribution!
You both are welcome to come back anytime you want..

Wlady

Evi Vanoppen
From Evi Vanoppen
 Herk-de-Stad, Belgium
 Mar 27, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Traveled 3 days 
Positive

Ricky is a very down-to-earth guy with some nice travel experiences/stories. We met him on a horseback trip around the Chimboraza volcano in Ecuador. Enjoy your future travels!

JAIME NUNEZ 
From JAIME NUNEZ
 Quito, Ecuador
 Mar 14, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 2 days  
Positive

He was in our home in Quito. He is an agreeable person . He likes to help to everybody. He speaks spanish very well. Welcome always. Chevere man

Mauricio Mellan
From Mauricio Mellan
 Bogota, Colombia
 Mar 11, 2008
Met in person Friend, Hosted 6 days  
Positive

Ricky es una persona, muy agradable con quien compartimos muchas charlas y buenos momentos mientras estuvo con Michelle en Bogotá, y llegamos a ser amigos fácilmente. El siempre está dispuesto a conocer, aprender y colaborar. Amigo... seguro que nos volveremos a encontrar pronto en el camino.

Daniel Estevez
From Daniel Estevez
 Ibarra, Ecuador
 Mar 7, 2008
Met in person Friend, Hosted 3 days  
Positive

Ricky es muy buena gente... si si si...muy divertido ...Ricky y Michelle son muy buena pareja... si si si... ah Ricky le gustan los perros... espero volver a encontrarnos pronto....

Carlos Miranda
From Carlos Miranda
 Cartagena, Colombia
 Feb 10, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

great guy! hope see him some day again

Alexandra Torres
From Alexandra Torres
 Cumana, Venezuela
 Jan 31, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Surfed 2 days Traveled 2 days 
Positive

Ricky es una persona muy noble y simpatico, buen compañero de viaje... Suerte y un gran abrazo!

Ana Armenta 
From Ana Armenta
 Caracas, Venezuela
 Jan 30, 2008
Met in person Friend, Traveled 2 days 
Positive

Acampamos juntos Ricky es muy buena vibra y muy chistoso xD ademas de muy conversador. Besitos!

Videlva Fariñas
From Videlva Fariñas
 Merida, Venezuela
 Jan 30, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

holaaaaa riki!!!, bueno que puedo decir de ti la pasamos cool en cumaná! contigo y michelle!eres una persona genial igual q michelle! gracias por venir a conocer nuestro país! espero q nos veamos algun dia otra vez! te quiero muchote!

bsos y abrazos para ti y michelle

Josmary Fariñas
From Josmary Fariñas
 Maturin, Venezuela
 Jan 30, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Traveled 2 days 
Positive

Muy buena persona, simpatico, comunicativo, acampamos en Mochima en un encuentro de couchsurfers!! Nos divertimos mucho! Saludos Ricky!! Espero te vaya muy bien en tu vida! Cuidate!!

J-G-O
From J-G-O
 Vienna, Austria
 Jan 30, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Traveled 2 days 
Positive

nice guy traveling South America with his girlfriend. Maybe see them in Colombia!

José Acevedo
From José Acevedo
 Anaco, Venezuela
 Jan 29, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Traveled 2 days 
Positive

is very nice person , we met in national park Mochima. really interesting speak with him.I hope to see you again some day.

Aarón Pérez
From Aarón Pérez
 Cumana, Venezuela
 Jan 29, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 4 days  
Positive

Ricky llegó a la casa con su novia Michelle y fue un excelente inquilino. Compartió con la familia y fue todo el tiempo muy educado. Es una gran persona y bueno será bienvenido a la casa SIEMPRE!

Ricardos 
From Ricardos
 Caracas, Venezuela
 Jan 29, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Traveled 2 days 
Positive

Ricky impressed me with his fantastic spanish and his great attitude, always willing to participate with the group. He got along perfectly with averybody, and proved to be super tolerant, as he was super cool when we wake him up at the middle of the night to ask him for the last drop of alcohol he had in his tent =) hahaha, sorry for this =)

Ricky me impresionó con su español tan bueno y su aun mejor actitud, siempre dispuesto a participar con todo el grupo. La verdad se llevó bien con todo el mundo, y además resultó ser super tolerante, cuando lo despertamos a mitad de la noche para pedirle la última gota de alcohol que tenía en su carpa! jajajaja... me disculpo por eso =)

Milagros Moncada
From Milagros Moncada
 Caracas, Venezuela
 Jan 29, 2008
Met in person Good Friend, Traveled 1 days 
Positive

Ricky es muy amigableeee!, el y su chika son muy lindos, trankilos y sencillos! y bueno gracias por la sangria! =)

Pura vida!

José Ignacio
From José Ignacio
 Caracas, Venezuela
 Jan 29, 2008
Met in person Good Friend,  
Positive

Una persona demasiado panita. Fuimos al primer viaje a la playa del grupo Cs Venezuela y el pana era de lo más amigable y sociable.

Luis Fernando Yegres
From Luis Fernando Yegres
 Cumana, Venezuela
 Jan 29, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Traveled 2 days 
Positive

acampamos en mochima. de verdad que fue un gran viaje. gracias por la sangría mi pana! =)

Ricardo Henríquez
From Ricardo Henríquez
 Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
 Jan 22, 2008
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

great guy , very interesting to talk to. He and his gf michelle are just great.

MINGUSKAHN
From MINGUSKAHN
 North Little Rock, United States
 Dec 6, 2007
Met in person Close Friend, Surfed 14 days  
Positive

I basically surprised Ricky with a visit in Costa Rica; Michelle and him were totally cool to hang out with. Even a sloth came down the tree for them...that's pretty impressive

Efraín Guerrero
From Efraín Guerrero
 San Jose, Costa Rica
 Nov 26, 2007
Met in person Friend, Hosted 2 days  
Positive

Ricky is great guy, he was two days in my house. He is really friendly and interesting.

Jill+Alice = Jalice May 
From Jill+Alice = Jalice May
 Yongin, South Korea
 Nov 1, 2007
Met in person Best Friend, Traveled 10 days 
Positive

Truly one of the most open-minded, tolerant, friendly people on the planet. He never stops seeking to understand the world and he has wisely choosen to seek that understanding through interacting with others. He's generous and fun. And he has a great smart-ass sense of humor too.

Michelle Laporte
From Michelle Laporte
 Toronto, Canada
 Oct 1, 2007
Met in person Best Friend, Traveled 30 days 
Positive

Ricky is one of my favourite people in the world! He is an extrembly caring, fun, and loving individual. We are travelling South America together in 2008. Anyone would be lucky to surf or host Ricky!

SARAHJOY 
From SARAHJOY
 San Juan, Costa Rica
 Sep 30, 2007
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 2 days  
Positive

Ricky and Michelle were wonderful guests! We really enjoyed talking and getting to know them. Julio and I are honored to have been Ricky's first CS hosts! I only wish I'd had more time to chat the second night but I was running around helping out at the grand opening of the Kashmir Cocktail Lounge!!

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