CURRENT MISSION

To seize the opportunity to explore fully what it means to be a human being.

ABOUT ME

"You are only young once, and if you work it right, once is enough." -Joe E. Lewis

"Duc seizes the opportunity to explore fully what it means to be a human being." -Claire A. Gendler

"Duc Pham brings to this earth the most incredible ambition to teach others (and to perfect the art himself) to live life adventurously and fully. Through the years. Day by day. And by the moment. If only everyone had a Duc Pham in their life." -Heather Pollock, February 2006

I am constantly reinventing myself. I want to read all the books in the world. I want to experience all the places in the world. I want to taste the finest wines and sweetest fruits. I want to create the images and share the stories that change the way people think and that last forever. I want it all.

Then: Studied at Berkeley. Traveled the world. Lived in France. Played drums and percussion.

2004 - 2006: Photographed all three weeks of the 2004 Tour de France, the 2004 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, and Sundance Film Festival 2005. Traversed and photographed 14,000 miles of the United States, including stays in LA, DC, VA, NC, Florida, GA, Texas, Louisiana, IN, IL, MO, SD, WY, MT, WA, and Burning Man 2005. Sundance Film Festival, Vietnam, SXSW Festival in Austin, World Cup Soccer Tournament and Love Parade in Germany, Festival Internacional de Benicassim in Spain, Edinburgh Fringe and International Film Festivals in Scotland, International Photojournalism Festival in France.

Now: Starting my photography and writing business. Writing, editing, and publishing the books that will change the way people think and behave. Printing my photographs. Shaping the future of America in the classroom. Saving the environment. Perpetuating chaos. Loving life. And soon--making music again.

Later: US Book Tour, South America, from bottom to top, on a bicycle. Carnaval in Brazil. Cuba. Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Frankfurt Book Fair. Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. Perhaps Shanghai, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia. Starting my own record label. Writing, directing, shooting, producing, and distributing films.

PHILOSOPHY

Live life to the fullest. Don't let anything stop you.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I spread the word, I meet with Couchsurfers when I travel the world, and I often stay with/host others when possible.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've mostly surfed couches on the Hospitality Club (www.hospitalityclub.org). Look me up there: ducbieupham.

Interests

People. Life. Possibilities.

• arts
• writing
• books
• photography
• festivals
• mardi gras
• running of the bulls
• film festivals
• environment
• dining
• running
• clubbing
• movies
• traveling
• music
• drums
• hunting
• soccer
• olympics
• world cup
• tour de france
• business
• hitchhiking
• budget travel

Music, Movies, and Books

I LOVE film, music, and books. Here are some of my favorites:

Films: Hors de Prix, Journey From the Fall, Reprise (from Norway), Air Guitar Nation, No End In Sight, American Blackout, Who Killed the Electric Car, Beyond Beats and Rhymes, Word Wars, Riding Giants, Super Size Me, Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain (or US version Amelie), Pulp Fiction, L'Auberge Espagnole, Shawshank Redemption, My Flesh and Blood, Swingers, American Beauty, Round Midnight, Scarface, Casablanca

Music: Joe Pass, Herbie Hancock Trio, Silversun Pickups, R. Kelly, The Mars Volta, Jack Johnson, Coldplay, Susana Baca, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, No Doubt, Miss Ficel, DJ Illoom, Maroon 5, "Earth, Wind, and Fire", Tower of Power, Kanye West, Edith Piaf, DJ TIESTO, Jill Scott, Jamie Cullum, Nellie McKay, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Outkast, Linkin Park, Jason Mraz, Salsa, Jazz, House, Drum and Bass, Dave Matthews Band, Marching Band, Drum Corps International, French and American Rap/Hip-Hop/R&B, Soul, Gustav Mahler, Sergei Rachmaninov, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cubanismo!, Dany Brillant, Trance, Norah Jones, BassDrumBen, Cal Band, Ella Fitzgerald, Musiq Soulchild, Oldies, Edo Maajka, and more...

Books: 'On Writing Well', 'Retire Young Retire Rich', 'Roadtrip Nation', 'The Devil Wears Prada', 'Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel', Anything by Ernest Hemingway (esp. 'A Moveable Feast'), 'Thanks for Coming!' by Jim Haynes, 'The Giving Tree', 'Tuesdays with Morrie'

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I followed and photographed the 2004 Tour de France bicycle race all around France, Belgium, and Switzerland everyday for three weeks while spending less than 4 Euros/day on food, lodging, and transportation.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've dabbled quite a bit in rock-bottom budget travel. Couchsurfing and Hospitality Club have helped minimize lodging costs. I've also practiced cheap/free methods of travel like hitchhiking. I'd be happy to help others stretch their travel dollars and maximize their travel adventures. :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Macedonia, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, United States

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