We have now settled into a beautiful traditional Vietnamese style bungalow with our new born son LucaJay and are ready to start hosting again after a long break from cs during pregnancy and moving house. I work as a teacher usually a few hours in the morning and night with my afternoons free however my partner is a stay home mother so can assist our surfers when I'm not home. I also work as a dj at the weekends so we can party together if i have a gig during your stay.
We are always occupied with our baby but live a relaxed life and are looking to host couples rather than singles as we prefer surfers who are independent and who can enjoy each others company should we be too busy to spend time with you. Singles are welcome also depending on your profile. We are more than willing to give you advice and show you around and go out for dinner if we have time but that's not always possible. We like clean, organized, respectful, artistic, confident, mature, fun and knowledgeable people with a passion for sharing experiences and life and also we are using cs to help build our babies confidence with new people so we absolutely love people who are playful and warm spirited. If you want to sit around during your whole stay then please find alternative accommodation. We don't expect gifts however should you wish to bring something, my mini bar is always in need of cold beers or a bottle of something a little stronger or a small souvenir for the house from your country would also be welcomed. Leaving unused books for other surfers is also much appreciated and im sure our son wouldn't mind a small treat. We also love tea or ground coffee as i make a fresh pot every morning for myself and guests.
We are foodaholics and enjoy evenings at home cooking with our guests in a fabulously stocked kitchen. My wife can show you how to cook some local vietnamese food and we would love to learn from you also. We love dining out with surfers and share one of the best palettes for Vietnamese food in the city. This is food heaven. If you are avid cooks then you will find this house a real joy. Your more than welcome to use our pantry however be respectful and replace what you use frequently should we run out and we expect you to always clean your pots and plates. There are plenty of delicious options for vegetarians however for meat eaters its like Christmas everyday and makes my hosting a little easier.
We have a dart board, poker table and chips, uno and jenga plus xbox 360 and ps3 for entertainment. I also have a vast collection of movies, music and a few books for those much needed days of recharging tired feet. During my free time i often play video games,learn my saxophone or guitar, read books or watch tv and don't like to be disturbed but if you are our guests you are welcome to do as you please with respect of course.
If you are musicians, GREAT. We have a keyboard, saxophone, guitar and turntables and are both djs and enjoy mixing and listening to music or having a jam when we can. We like noise when we bring the noise otherwise this house is very peaceful except in the morning when Luca likes to sing with the birds..(earplugs and eye mask recommended if you are a light sleeper.) If you are impatient and don't like the sound of a babies then a hostel is more suited to you. We hope to give you a family experience and with that comes chaos occasionally. Its all good fun.
We also have super fast wifi but we prefer guests to use it for surfing the net, sending emails etc rather than downloading big files or streaming on the net. I personally use the internet all day.
We live 5 minutes walk from an excellent open air Vietnamese market that sells cheap fresh vegetables, fruit, seafood and meat. It's way more fresh than the supermarket. We have a small shop next to our house that sells beer, soda etc and also a 24 hour convenient store round the corner that sells snacks, candy etc. Western type foods can be bought from the supermarket which is a 10 minute taxi ride or i can always take you on the bike or pick up some things if you give me a shopping list.
We live in Binh Thanh district on the border of District 1 which is the center of the city. You can walk to the zoo in 10 mins and war museum in about 30 mins or a taxi to the center and nightlife takes 10 mins and costs 3 dollars. It will cost about 7 dollars from the airport and take about 30 mins.
Things to do in or around Saigon
1. Visit Ben Thanh Indoor Market during the day to buy souvenirs or night for the outdoor restaurants.
2. Dam Sen waterpark for a day of water slides and swimming.
3. War Museum
4. The Zoo
5. Visit Chu Chi Tunnels (2 hours drive by bus or tour)
6. Join us for lunch or dinner and learn why Vietnamese food is quickly becoming one of the most popular and diverse cuisines in the world.
7. Chill by a nice pool 5 mins drive from our house in a beautiful park surrounding.
8. Bar hop cheap around the back packer area or go for something more exclusive such as a bar on the 40th floor of a skyscraper, vietnam's night life is ever growing fast and so are the prices..
9. Enjoy an array of body, foot and head massages, hot medicine baths and heated stones for an aching back.
10. Walk in the many parks around the city.
BUDGET...
I would recommend you plan to have about $10 a day each for a budget for food etc (some days you will spend less or no money). If we go out to a nice restaurant the price usually works out around $25 each for 4 people at a middle class restaurant. We can go cheaper for about $10 each. On a night out i would recommend $50 for drinks which would see you nicely around town, something to eat and get you pleasantly drunk. We prefer our guests to be easy with money rather than stuck to a tight budget and unable to go out. I don't see the point in traveling if you stay home all day to save money, its boring. Unfortunately cs is being used for all the wrong reasons but not in this house.
We also run a bike rental business and can rent you a bike for a day for just $5 if we have one free during your stay. This is very convenient for our guests to enjoy the city by bike which really is a must for all visitors to Vietnam. We don't allow guests to take the bike outside the city, please take note.
We have a water machine and our water is delivered. It costs around 3 dollars for 40 liters and is always nice if our guests contribute a little as it goes fast when we host.
My partner is Vietnamese and although she is happy to host isn't as open and as confident as me so please all we ask is for you to be friendly, talkative and helpful around the house. Shes a little shy at first but if your friendly she will warm to you quickly. Also she is always free to take you out with Luca whilst im working. If you like shopping she will love you.
I know that's a lot to digest but as an experienced surfer i prefer my guests to be aware of whats expected before they arrive as its uncomfortable to have to tell you once your here.
Make sure now to check our cs calender for availability on the dates requested.
If you are happy with all mentioned then please send me a personal couch request and quote the word NONLOCALITY in the title. This will confirm you have read our couch information and will most likely guarantee you a place in our amazing humble abode. Its my way of filtering out the dedicated surfers from the hundreds of requests i receive everyday. Then all that's left to do is enjoy your stay and embrace yourself for mother Nam. You won't be disappointed.
If your new to cs then please check out my top ten tips on how to be a good surfer.
Eric Smiley 109, Male Seattle, Washington United States Friends since February 2007 "Talked on phone" Friendship Type: Haven't met yet (link request is not recommended)
Justin Barker 30, Male San Francisco, California United States Friends since October 2011 "Saigon! Amazing Saigon!" Friendship Type: Good Friend 6
Kit ROGERS 26, Female Sydney, New South Wales Australia Friends since April 2006 "CS-my adopted big brother now :-) ha ha" Friendship Type: Best Friend
Michael Gunnuscio 25, Male Boston, Massachusetts United States Friends since September 2006 "Hosted him in SLC over New Years!" Friendship Type: Best Friend I vouched for DJ AJAM 7
Adrian Montfort 28, Male Mexico City, Distrito Federal Mexico Friends since September 2006 "he is much more than a soulbrothe, he is the man!!" Friendship Type: CouchSurfing Friend I vouched for DJ AJAM 10
Ciro Rendas 31, Male Guangzhou, Guangdong China Friends since June 2008 "Peru is ours for the taking!" Friendship Type: Best Friend I vouched for DJ AJAM 18
Eddy Ervin Eltermann 33, Male Tubarao, Santa Catarina Brazil Friends since January 2009 "I invited him to a CS Meeting and then he stayed at my place" Friendship Type: CouchSurfing Friend I vouched for DJ AJAM 11
Sadira Delgado 38, Female Summerville, South Carolina United States Friends since October 2007 "my guest at my home" Friendship Type: Close Friend I vouched for DJ AJAM 20
Rebecca STEVENSON 30, Female Bolton, Manchester England Friends since October 2003 "through friends in bolton and having lots of parties!" Friendship Type: Best Friend
Bibí Euse 25, Female Sabaneta, Antioquia Colombia Friends since August 2007 "I was his host number 62" Friendship Type: Best Friend I vouched for DJ AJAM 2318
Unique, Zolaesque, Atomic, Amiable, Ancestral, Ancient, Spiritual Stargazer, Standout, Caring, Unforgettable, Inspiring, Intelligent yet simple minded, Spontaneous, Adventurous, Psychedelic yet sane but one who embraces insanity as genius, yes I'm crazy which is no more than misled curiosity often landing me in trouble with those who only see with the eyes, big and loud who likes to sing with a crowd and if u don't like to play then please step out of my way, don't judge just appreciate an artist in bloom, oh and i give amazing cuddles especially in June. I am also very clean and tidy (an organized environment is an organized mind). If you host me i will leave everything as it was on arrival, i love to cook tasty mouthwatering delights so expect to have dinner ready if you come home from a busy day at work, i don't like to sit around wasting time (unless i'm shattered from years of traveling or there's a new series of Sopranos on tv.) so if you have any jobs need doing i don't mind helping out..I love sharing stories over late night conversations and good wines in the splendor of a quintessential surrounding.I hope to think i will be a memory lovingly remembered than willingly forgotten.
I will love you as much as you love me. Not You or I, only We.
How I Participate in CS
I spent 1000 days of my life surfing over 100 couches in the Las Americas. I helped create new cs communities in each place i visited or strengthened existing communities by helping city ambassadors to organize grand meetings, contacting respectable media sources to attend the event and help capture a wider audience for the growth and expansion of cs around the world.
I am now living and teaching in Saigon and recently became a proud father. I plan to finish my book about my 1000 day couchsurfing the world at some point that not only highlights the places i visited but more importantly the people, and help discover and highlight the unique connection amongst this network we are part of, which in these days of war and terror still offers to open our doors to a stranger, offer them food and a drink and a warm place to stay.
I also work as a volunteer DJ for cs events, I've created a voluntary cs DJ agency, feel free to contact me if you want to be involved. Hopefully in the future we will have djs all around the world in every city on call for any upcoming cs parties THAT NEEDS MUSIC!!
I also have a great attitude towards cs, i embrace its philosophy to the max and respect what it stands for and I'm always searching for ways to make it better. I suggested the idea of creating an International Couchsurfing Day celebrating the birth of cs in every city around the world, finally its been made official as June 12th the day the cs website went online. 2008 will see the first of many celebrations to come!
I still plan to finish my global trip to surf the world someday with my family however i have recently found a new love for teaching in the schools of Saigon with an urge to give back to the world all the beautiful energy and insights she has given me on my journey so far. Surrounding myself with the innocence of joy and happiness is a blessing i cherish after such a hectic trip of a lifetime. I'm a new man, with a rekindled flame for ambition and the passion to help others beyond my own needs. Saigon will be my base for the next decade of my life at least as i nurture my son into an adult and ready him for the adventure of a lifetime.
Its time to reflect and share my space with you. Welcome.
I also love Djing, Break dancing, playing the saxophone under a full moon, magic tricks, late nights over beer split tables and crazy parties in random places, filming short Movie's for cs, Movie's and books, jumping into water with a hangover, new experiences, traveling obviously, seeking out the metaphors that have not yet been discovered, writing, writing and did i mention writing, love it, like crawling into bed with a loved one at night and calling in sick at work the next day to stay wrapped together, hand on keyboard, face to monitor, coffee to lips, the power to switch off when ever i GOD DAM please!
Philosophy
* Give to the world what u wish to take
* Every negative has a positive.
* Step back, take a breather and reflect on what your about to say. The words you speak define you.
* Jealously will destroy u and only make me stronger.
* Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But Today is a gift, that's why its called the Present.
* Believe in your dream and it will no longer be a dream.
* Follow your heart and your head will follow.
* Smile always.
* Open your arms to everything and everyone at least once before making a judgment.
I'm open minded and respect anything that inspires and travels through you enough to awaken the mind and soul..
Books - Anything arguing history cause most of its a big lie, the great children stories such as Enid Blytons Folk Of The Faraway Tree, The Wishing Chair, Tolkien, Bukoski, Chuck Palahniuks Collection, Ishmael, The Beach, Mr Nice, Marching Powder, Damage Done Siddhartha, Orwell,Celestine Prophercy, Alchemist, PerFume, Fingerprints of the Gods and anything else that stops you from doing everything else cause you can't put it down.
Currently Reading -
Economic Hitman - John Perkins
Recent reads -
Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts
Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut
The South American Diaries - John Hopkins
Thus Spake Zarathustra - Nietzsche
Life Of Pi - Yann Martel
The Warrior Of The Light - Paulo Coelho
David Blaine Biography
Fifth Mountain - Paulo Coelho
In Patagonia - Bruce Chatwin
Are you experienced - William Sutcliffe (Amazing)
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel García Márquez
The Time Travelers Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
The Dice Man - Luke Rhinehart
Films (I live for Movies) These are a must for any collection (im still building my knowledge of world cinema as i travel so please excuse me if I´ve missed any crackers, email me with the titles please)
Argentina - Kamchatka, Valentin, El Polaquito, Nine Queens, Cautiva, El Hijo De La Novia, Motorcycle Diaries.
Italian - Gomorra, La Vita E Bella
English -Slumdog Millionaire, Dr Strangelove, Following, Control, Death at a Funeral, All James Bonds, This is England, Atonement, Eastern Promises, Cashback, Dead Mans Shoes, American Werewolf In London, A Clockwork Orange, Amazing Grace, Lord of the rings (trilogy), Time Bandits, Life Of Brian, Holy Grail, Labyrinth, Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Hot Fuzz, Lawrence Of Arabia
USA - District 9, North by Northwest, 12 Angry Men, The Hurt Locker, Up, Doubt, Milk, The Wrestler, The Visitor, Broken Flowers, Human Nature, Frost/Nixon, Harold and Maude, Burn After Reading, Martian Child, The Notebook, The Graduate, Into the wild, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Squid And The Whale, Pay it forward, American Beauty, Of Mice and Men, Zeitgeist, No Country for old men, Matrix, Good Morning Vietnam, Psycho, Little Children, The Champ, Jacobs Ladder, ET, Goonies, Sling Blade, Colour Purple, Schindler´s List, Go, Rounders, Good Will Hunting, Scarface, Heat, Serpico, Scent Of A Woman, The Fly 1 & 2,Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, October Sky, Adaptation, PS I Love You, Robocop, Terminator, Gone With The Wind, Casanova, Citizen Cane, A Bronx Tale, Shawshank Redemption, Forrest Gump, Nightmare On Elm Street Collection, The Thing, Se7en, Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind, Apocalypse Now, Godfather (trilogy), Officer And A Gentleman, Memento, Breakdance, Beatstreet, Flashdance, Footloose, Ferris Buellers day off, Jerry Maguire, Deja Vu, Die Hard 1 & 2, Platoon, Star Wars (first trilogy), Indiana Jones trilogy, Aliens trilogy, Fight Club, Pulp Fiction, True Romance, Four Rooms, Reservoir Dogs, Explorers, Top Gun, Untamed Heart, The Dark Crystal, Half Baked, Blue Lagoon, The Doors, The Rules Of Attraction, Saving Private Ryan, Cigarettes And Alcohol, 300, Hamburger Hill, Born on the 4th of July, Casualties Of War
Scottish - Braveheart, Trainspotting
Irish - The Wind That Shakes The Barley
Denmark - Dancer In The Dark
Hungarian - Kontroll
German - The Lives Of Others, Edukators
French - The Diving Bell and Butterfly, Science of Sleep, L'Appartment, Amelie, The Chorus, Leon, Perfume
Romanian - 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days
Columbian - La Vendedorade De Rosa, Maria Full Of Grace, The Colombian dream, Buscando a Miguel
South Korean - Sympathy for Mr Vengence, Oldboy, Lady Vengence, I'm a Cyborg But Thats Okay., Chaser, Thirst (bakjwi)
Japan - Violent Cop, Seventh Samurai, Hidden Fortress, Boiling Point, Sonatine
Hong Kong - Enter The Dragon, Fist Of Fury, Game Of Death
Brazil - Tropa De Elite, City Of God, Blindness, Central Do Brazil, Carandiru.
Ecuador - Ratas, Ratones, Rateros, Que Tal Lejos
Mexico - Amores Peros, Y Tu Mama Tambien
Uruguay - Whiskey, El Bano Del Papa
you get the idea.
Tv Series
Sopranos, Shameless, Entourage, True Blood, Heroes,Fringe, 24, Equalizer, Benny Hill, CSI Las Vegas, Lost,Chris Everett, Two Ronnies, Only Fools and Horses (OMG), Dexter, House, Greys Anatomy, Weeds, Scrubs, From the Earth to the Moon, Rome, Terminator, Band of Brothers, Friends, Twin Peaks, A- Team, Streethawk, Supergran, Nightrider, Fall Guy, Dukes of Hazard, TJ Hooker, Baywatch (study of masturbation), Airwolf, Red Dwarf, Blackadder, My Name Is Earl, Monty Python, Prison Break, First Born, Sex And The City, Twilight Zone, V, Quantum Leap, Michael Palin, David Attenborough - Planet Earth
Music - I LOVE MUSIC, almost anything goes in my book, the more the merrier.
Jazz and live music by heart
I play the alto Saxophone, my Granddad was an excellent Jazz singer and also my mum used to sing in the 70's whilst my cousin Matt Schofield plays the electric Guitar, he's set to become the next Eric Clapton, one of the best of his generation and voted top ten blues musician of all time.
I dj House, Electro, Techno, Breaks and Minimal, R n B, Hiphop, Jungle, West Coast, Tribal and Broken Beats.
I love to bust some moves on the dance floor to original break dance music and classic 80's, like Depeche Mode, Joy Division, New Order, Phil Collins,
Beatles, Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Doors, Bob Marley, Jimmy Hendrix, Oasis, Incubus, Cranberries, and on and on
I also have a great love for chill out music, Cafe Del mar especially.
I try to listen to all types of music available and love to collect music from cs members as i travel, i'd be very interested in swapping music with you so have some recommendations ready please, i'm open to all.
Country and Western should be banned and anyone who can play the washboard kicks ass.
Types of People I enjoy
Inspiring, creative, energetic, Honest, Respectful, Amusing, Friendly, Loving Souls who bring more to life than a simple Hello and Goodbye..
My heroes are my Parents, Jim Morrison, Bruce Lee, Bill Hicks, Yoda, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Tony Soprano, Hank Moody, Anthony Bourdain, Robert Bauval, Dr House and me!
i especially enjoy people who take the time to read profiles, if your requesting a couch, writing to meet me for a coffee please quote the term
I can teach u the basics of Djing and playing the saxophone. I can give u some tips on playing poker to win, haha. I can share my poetry with u. I can help you learn how to edit video using Adobe premier pro, or simply show u how to laugh when your down and smile when your up!!
If you wanna go deep, lets discuss Quantum Physics, other dimensions, what is reality, philosophy, i can even persuade you to follow your dreams.
One Amazing Thing I've Seen or Done
Sold everything i own including my house to couch surf the world. Djied in front of 17000 at Brighton Beach, Took my niece for her 14 birthday into the Pyramids of Egypt, Watched my cat walk through snow for the first time..Traveled more than 1000 days. Became a father which tops them all.
Opinion on the CouchSurfing.org Project
Cool idea, a website with some real use without demanding anything from the user, couldn't have thought of a better idea myself..
This summary is not a replacement for reading references; it's a quick summary to help you get started. At a glance, you can see how many references a member has, and how many of them are positive, neutral, and negative.
In the second line, you'll see how many references came from people who hosted this member, surfed with them, and traveled with them. These numbers won't always add up to the total: some references are not categorized, and some may be categorized as more than one thing.
When viewing this summary, don't jump to conclusions! Things that are negative for one person may be positive for another, and vice versa. It's important to read references carefully and evaluate what that information means to you.
He is the best English teacher iv ever known, and also a super hilarious man! i'm sure you'll like him on the very first meet. lately i discovered that his reputation for DJ-ing is no kidding! i heard him playing in a big concert and i went totally overwhelming! hope to see you again teacher :D
What more can I say about the legend? Adam is a legend not only he is super cool. But he seems like a superman since he is doing so many things and still find time to make the CS community in Saigon fun. Few CSers I know is as dedicated to making CS fun and safe. He is also a super cool fella to just about everyone who likes to have fun. I look forward to chilling with him in Saigon, or anywhere in the world, again.
From Justin Barker San Francisco, United States Nov 30, 2011
Positive
This man and his family is amazing. Adam is one of those people I must have met in a past life! There was this instant and magnetic connection that just warmed my heart. Staying with Adam, Lucca and Nhien in Saigon was by far one of the coolest CSer experiences I have had. I felt like a family member and there is no question I am coming back to watch this family grow. If you need some love and some laughs connect with Adam and the fam. They Truly special! Their generosity and openness are inspiring! Cám ơn! Cám ơn! Cám ơn!
Surfed at Adam, Nhien, and baby Luca's place in HCMC and it was a blast. They live in a beautiful Vietnamese house that's walking distance to everything in town. Adam took us out to a fancy restaurant (Brad & Angelina had been there the previous day) and ordered just the right things - one of the best meals we've had anywhere. He also managed to get us into an invite only gig that he was DJ'ing at and we got to see a side of HCMC you normally don't get to see.
Oh and Luca - ever smiling and inquistive. Just pick him up from his roller, tickle him and you've made a friend a for life.
Thank you so much for the wonderful stay and hope to see the three of you in India in the not too distant future.
Adam is a wacky and inspiring person full of life and energy...
From JAZMIN.MUSIC Culver City, United States May 10, 2011
Positive
Adam was a great host, especially since I wasn't in the highest of energy levels due to a heat rash I got in Cambodia. He was very helpful and welcoming. His roommates were nice as well. Good luck in your new adventures as a dad :)
From Stefan Sperzel Frankfurt am Main, Germany Mar 26, 2011
So this guy is a big deal with CS as anyone who reads his profile can clearly see. To add my own input I will say meeting him is an amazing experience and shows you how truly amazing CS can be for those who really get involved and motivates myself to do more. Meeting him at his house he immediately made me feel like a long lost brother and welcomed to me the party he was having. If you go to HCMC, you have to try to meet up with him, you will not regret it.
Adam is all around fun guy! From poker, to house parties, to clubs he is always the life of the party! Although, times have changed and now that he is a proud father. The party might have slowed down... Congrats again to you Adam!
Lo conoci en una reunion de CS, y fue increible conocer a alguien en Vietnam donde se pueda hablar de lo rico de Ecuador. Una grata experiencia definitivamente
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