CURRENT MISSION

Explore somewhere new every day

ABOUT ME

While I actually enjoy the routine of working life, I decided last year that it was time for me to take a chance, pack up and see the world after talking about it for so long. So here I am, leaving everything I know behind me to experience as much of the world as I can, while I still can!

PHILOSOPHY

Understanding. I feel that if you disagree with someone, you should try and understand their point of view before you pass judgement. If people stop and think before making opinions and taking sides then the world will be a better place.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

It started in Beijing. Neither of us had surfed before and all we had were some directions to an apartment building complex. My partner-in-crime and I looked lost with our huge backpacks strapped to us and someone came up to us."Are you Australian" he asked"well... yes... ?!?" I replied - wondering if my nationality was tatooed somewhere on me"Oh, are you looking for Echo""ahh.. yes actually".. how does this guy know our CS host?". I just came from their apartment. Just walk through there, it is the building on the left and I'll call to let them know you are here". Since then it has been nothing but awesome experiences, and after all the people I met last year I knew that when I came back I would be hosting people myself. So usually I wait for the odd 'last minute couch' request to come through and try and help people like me - those travellers who are free spirited and make decisions on a whim!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Every host I have had have been wonderful, generous and caring people. As a traveller you expect nothing, and these people gave everything in the form of their hospitality and kindness. Now I'm home I am trying to return the favour. Anyone who stays with me should expect to be welcomed into my life my life: whether is it going out for drinks on a Friday night, long cafe breakfasts on the weekend, a trip to the art gallery, a home cooked meal with my family or perhaps a little bit of swing dancing.

Interests

Photography! It is big part of my life and these travels are my attempt at improving my skills and getting some wonderful images in the process.

I love discovering little cafes hidden in side streets, rummaging thru flea markets, meeting locals in each city, hiking up mountains, reading a good book, watching the world pass by on a train or bus, a simple meal with friends, making new friends, 'one drink' that turns into many, well constructed arguments, getting distracted.

• arts
• books
• photography
• dancing
• swing dancing
• wine
• drinking
• reading
• hiking
• mountains

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Drinking wine while watching the moon rise over the Parthenon from the rooftop of a Couchsurfer's apartment in Athens; sharing Iftah dinner with a Muslim family in Pakistan; nightclubbing in Siberia; horse riding through the desert in Giza, Cairo; going to an underground art show in Warsaw; multicultural hotpot dinner in Beijing; watching Moscow react to the very sad 2010 metro bombings; my parents joining CouchSurfing and accepting travellers with open arms; last minute CS request and Thanksgiving dinner in NYC - all of these done with people I would never have met without Couchsurfing!

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, United States

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