Set off by bike in January 2015 from England to see the world.

Blog and details of my trip are on www.selfpropellingparticle.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/selfpropellingparticle/

YouTube channel (new): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiMqZiEL1zV7IXJg5X6MWiQ

Vegetarian for last 25 years, but that's not always easy away from home!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

The point of my trip is to see what life is like for people around the world, so I really want to spend time with local people in the places I visit and learn about their culture and lifestyle.

Also I want to communicate and share the experiences I gain from travelling, to help people understand that the world is not such a scary place!

Interests

Keen cyclist, hill-runner, mountaineer, swimmer and now traveller.
Avid reader of fiction and non-fiction.
Trying to learn to play the harmonica.
Trying to pick up languages in the countries I travel through.

• culture
• writing
• photography
• cooking
• vegetarian
• traveling
• blogging
• cycling
• mountaineering
• swimming
• languages
• adventure travel
• videography
• exploring
• vlogging

Music, Movies, and Books

Pretty eclectic musical tastes, but if I have to pick a few things:
(modern) Phantom Band, White Denim, TVOTR, Trembling Bells, Wave Pictures, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Dirty Projectors, Fleet Foxes, Nick Cave, Jack White, Angel Olsen, First Aid Kit, Vampire Weekend, Will Oldham, Conor Oberst, the Kills, Fiery Furnaces
(classic) Stevie Wonder, the Kinks, Bob Dylan, William Onyeabor, Gram Parsons, JJCale, Neil Young, Little Walter, Led Zep, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley, Cat Stevens, Maria Callas, Bert Jansch, Beethoven, Bach, Verdi, Duke Ellington

Films: Princess Bride, Grand Budapest Hotel, Big Lebowski, Blues Brothers, Withnail and I

Books / authors: everything by Kurt Vonnegut, Dostoevsky, Margaret Atwood, Alasdair Gray, Brene Brown, Mathieu Ricard's 'Happiness'. Currently enjoying John Steinbeck's Log from the Sea of Cortez.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I quit the rat race to see the world by bike - does that count?!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Experience and perspectives from the countries I have visited around the world.
Plus, practically speaking, I can cook, clean, mend things, build things etc.
I taught English as a second language for one year in South Korea - I can help you learn or practice your English!

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

South Korea, United Kingdom