CURRENT MISSION

to explore and experience the long, ever changing, mystical, bumpy road of life, with many skips and jumps

ABOUT ME

I'm just about to leave Bandung (visited lots of volcanoes with local hiking groups and locals!)

now to Yogyakarta....!!
to hike, swim, camp, see all the wonderful temples and hopefully share some magical experiences with some great people!!!

I've been in Singapore (so now need to go the sea and mountains!!!)
THere I was exploring the city and going to art events and places. I really enjoy visiting all the temples and learning about Chinese, Indian and Malay communities here, as well as the culture when all these cultures are all beautifully blended of course!

I love walking through the streets in to explore the culture, architecture, markets, smells and sights, try every thing at least once, wander through the nooks and crannies and meet lots of friendly locals and ex-pats too.

I really enjoy going to music events, festivals, art events, comedy, any events I'm always keen. I volunteer when I can with some doing hosting, MC, raffle selling or at least holler and cheer or clap politey... come join me any time!

I also volunteer whan possible with local environment, urban gardening, wildlife groups - sso I contact hosts on workaway, helpx, woofing too.

I really enjoy going to Couchsurfing events and I've hosted a bunch also in SIngapore - Queen of Tarts picnic, Indian food nights, gallery Friday frenzy crawls.....

I love swimming and snorkeling so I'm always up for a beach trip. Walks too, so Henderson's Waves I'm very keen to explore, and haven't yet!

As I was saying I've joined help exchange and workaway also as a way to meet local people and different places, and a different side of life than you would otherwise see.

before traveling I was working for an environment Not For Profit in Ireland trying to be a Mary Poppins but often feeling more like Krusty the Clown! Great job but teaching small armies of teenagers :-/ wasn't my life's dream, maybe maybe if I could grow several mouths, ears and arms... really inspiring job but 30+ teenagers, one small classroom...

Before coming to Singapore I was in Malaysia and Lombok in Indonesia. Before then I was in Australia helping to run a conservation organisation (very small one!)planting back some of the forest that was cleared for farming, helping run a small environment information centre, showing volunteers 'the ropes', in the end hosting over 50 volunteers - some days it felt like Big Brother wandered onto the set of Lost but it was great. I met many great people and many 'crazies' good and well way less good!

So I enjoy exploring, having adventures, meeting people, learning about different cultures, different lives and stories... in the city in forests, beaches - everywhere and anywhere.... and when I can doing conservation/environment volunteering!

PHILOSOPHY

One from Thailand - 'never try never know'
If I'm feeling apprehensive about doing something / going somewhere I try to think 'ok really what's the worst that can happen, really?!?'
I try to give thanks (to who/what-ever) when a good experience happens (sometimes I ay forget or take the experience for granted!) and when they go squiggle/pear shaped - ok well @ least I've got all my limbs and main senses in tact.. (ok that could be a fall-out from living in 'croc country'!)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm new to CS so very excited to come and meet other CS at the many great events CSers lovingly organise!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I'm still a little new to CS!

I have been staying with lots of different people and places through volunteer websites

Interests

wow interests.... I try to be open and everything and anything (that's TRY ;-) ) and I think of the mantra I heard lots in Thailand 'never try, never know' and to take deep breaths and think 'well what's the worst very worst that can possibly happen, really, and what are the chances of that/those happening...ok....' I did draw the line at shaving head hair off (I know how long it takes to come back!) and cycling a bike with no handlebars (Ive bad sense of balance and falling on cement, well done that lots before so well not such a new experience!)

Given that I'm in South East Asia Ive begun to explore and experience what I can of the amazing brew of cultures, art, music, creeds, smells, food that can often be found even on the same street!! I've gone to ghost month ceremonies, lion and dragon dances, a malay and indian weddings and funderals.... always so happy to see any ceremonies and celebrations (well less so when its a funderal)

Ok if I was to 'shop list' interests some would be, art, live music, architecture, of course meeting lots of different people from different places, different faces and swamping stories, journeys....and eating delicious food who doesn't!I wish I could say making delicious food, but sadly no, why can't the food make itself, it would taste lots better than anything Id cook!But Im more than happy to chop, stir, badysit stoves...

Water and jumping into it! Swimming, snorkeling, sailing (total beginner!), even being in the rain (if IF there is some way to dry off! One day Ill try kite surfing

The environment, conservation, gardening Ive been trying to get better at growing trees and food... but I really enjoy planting seeds and hopefully watching them grow-up (thats if they grow)!

Ive been learning some astronomy (not predicting the future or if you will meet the person of your dreams this/next month..) but the shapes and patterns of the stars in the constellations and the stories of the different constellations. Im starting to read about the different constellations of different cultures too all before watches, calendars, the 9 o clock weather forecast...

• animals
• wildlife
• arts
• culture
• architecture
• festivals
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• indian food
• picnic
• running
• walking
• flying
• gardening
• shopping
• traveling
• socializing
• drawing
• music
• live music
• cycling
• hiking
• kite surfing
• camping
• surfing
• snorkeling
• sailing
• swimming
• astronomy
• volunteering
• beaches
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Books - I enjoy reading books on culture, events, books that can tell you something you didn't know before you read the book (well I guess all books can do that..)
At the moment I'm reading 'Inside of a Dog' about umm well dogs and dog behavior (I grew up with dogs) and 'Ghosts of Empire' about the legacy of the British empire (ok I'm from Ireland... so we are currently experiencing that legacy and there's chapters on places I'd hope one day to visit...)
I've been reading too a book on Chinese medicine...

I've a big soft spot for Jazz, blues and ok have to admit 60s, 70s, 80s and wow 90s music - but Ill listen to anything (ok almost anything...)

Movies - would have to admit for some reason I don't watch movies very often but enjoy watching them... soft spots for black comedies (e.g. Hot Fuzz and even True Lies (ok a bit more gray than black) even gave me the odd chuckle), any movie that makes you sit up and think about life the universe...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

It would be lots of little events - really can't think of any BIG event...
Having the privilege to snorkel lots (given where I was living) seeing new marine critters and their funny antics.
Watching a meteor shower in a place with not so many lights...
Hand rearing some orphan animals, watching them grow-up and fly/swim for first time...
Seeing some of the places where I was helping to tree plant slowly turn from grass paddocks into little forests gave me lots of hope...

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach...
It sort of was my past life...
I worked and volunteered with environment NGOs and groups so basic gardening, vvverrryy basic botany...
Basic astronomy (a little challenging in Singapore :-0 but there is an observatory with planet viewings on Fridays!)

Learn..
So much if you are happy to take time out to share and teach whatever it may be I'd be more than happy to learn..

Share...
If your up for exploring, adventures.. always more fun to share together the experiences.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Latvia, Malaysia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia