Oli Syed's Photo

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  • Last login almost 3 years ago

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Overview

  • 13 references 9 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English, French, Urdu
  • 42, Male
  • Member since 2011
  • Information design & Wayfinding
  • MA Information Design
  • No hometown listed
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

To travel as much as possible and learn from positive people all over the world in a search of being a better human being.

ABOUT ME

Every day of the year,
every second of the day.
I grow and I evolve!
But I grow younger, I evolve saner.
The best way to know me -
is to grow with me.

I'm a lover of wisdom,
wisdom of Socrates and Plato,
wisdom of David o Solomon,
wisdom of Jaffer o Gaber,
Oh! does that make me a philosopher?
or maybe a scientist? a religionist?
a seeker of truth? knowledge? belief or justification?

I seek the nature of being and existence?
the nature of change -
that happens in space and time?
I wonder, what is my scope of knowledge?
what is knowledge by the way?
how do I know what I know?
why do I know what I know?
"but I know that I know nothing".

I'm a nomad - I belong nowhere yet I belong everywhere.
I am a citizen of this world - I ought to explore,
I Load the ship and set out.
"If travel is searching, and home what's been found - I'm not stopping".

On my way,
I come across cultures, religions, casts, and nations.
I learn from them - what I think is good to learn,
I nurture myself and adapt to them.
I teach them - what I think is good for them,
I might leave a lasting impression on them.

I think! I meditate! I re-think,
and I question this world and I question the way we live our lives.
I'm a skeptic, an agnostic - theist agnostic?
I am a rebel; I do not follow what I have been told to follow.
But, I respect the traditions,
I learn from them to evolve and proceed.

I am not your typical guy - or maybe I am!
You be the judge.
But I don't like labels, I am me, I am myself.
I am my own unique identity, free of tags and labels.

This is how I exist. I just exist.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I try to help people in whatever way I could; by offering a place to stay in my little apartment, making them feel at home in a strange city, engaging with them in a conversation that stimulate our minds over a cup of coffee/tea or cooking them up a delicious meal. In short, I like to make this CS experience of ours a pleasant surprise where we share and take away something that we never even thought of - something new and something meaningful.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My very first visit to Vermont was an amazing experience. It was also my first couchsurfing experience and it was more than amazing. My host was great and I discovered a lot of new places in Vermont. Sipping coffee in Montpelier while talking to strangers was a great experience. I have had similar experience in Pakistan before, when I visited the Kalam and Swat valleys back in 2001 :) Here in Montréal, I once in a while invite couchsurfers to converse with them over a cup of coffee. It's been a great experience so far and I am looking forward to have many more :)

Interests

You would mostly see me talking about history or religions, philosophy or geopolitics, theology or science fiction, metaphysics or cuisine, language or etymology, architecture or urban design. I'm a wayfinding geek; yes that little curved 'L' on a corner sign interest me as much as talking about maps and cartography.

  • books
  • architecture
  • design
  • cooking
  • coffee
  • meditation
  • traveling
  • cartography
  • divinity
  • etymology
  • geopolitics
  • history
  • philosophy
  • religion
  • science

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm a slow reader but I like biographies to read and documentaries to watch. History, travel, nature.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Sleeping in a tent while on a safari in Serengeti and Ngorongoro and hearing a pride of lions hunting buffaloes at night.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd teach you why French and English books have a different text orientation on their bound edge.

I'd like to learn from you something you are passionate about.

I'd share with you my travel stories over a lovely cup of Kenyan or Ceylan tea.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A place to stay, a hearty home cooked meal, an open heart, a stimulating conversation and a cup of tea.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, San Marino, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Pakistan, United Kingdom

Old School Badges

  • 4 Vouches
  • Pioneer Badge

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