I left the comfort of my home and the safety of my corporate job to travel the world in November 2013. Though I am not a full-time traveler (yet), I have spent the last few years traveling far and wide across India, and I have also visited countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Solomon Islands. I usually like to volunteer as an English Language Teacher. But, I also love taking holidays just to explore different cultures and places. I also love creating art pieces out of empty bottles and painting mandalas.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I feel Couchsurfing is a great way for travelers to meet local hosts and get to explore traditions and places that only a local would be aware of. It also makes for great stories and memories.

Interests

Apart from my love for travel, I am also a certified TEFL Teacher (Teach English as a Foreign Language).

I also enjoy painting or creating crafts out of waste materials, especially empty glass bottles. I enjoy painting mandalas and find it extremely calming.

Reading and writing (mostly about my experiences) also keep me occupied and grounded most of the time.

• culture
• writing
• books
• dining
• cooking
• walking
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• blogging
• survival
• volunteering
• solo travel

Music, Movies, and Books

Music - I love Sufi and a bit of Bollywood. But, I have been obsessing over Jazz for the past couple of years so my playlist is a weird mix of all three.

Movies - Though I enjoy superhero movies at times, I have to say my favorites always include travel stories. Into the Wild, Motorcycle Diaries, Under the Tuscan Sun, Everest, The Bucket List are some of my favorites.

Books - Not sure where to begin because I am a bibliophile. And, to name a favorite among the thousands I have read seems cruel, but if I had to, I would pick Into the Wild (yes, again), Eat, Pray, Love

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Ha! It's easy - decided to take Solo Travel as a woman - an Indian Woman!

Teach, Learn, Share

There is a lot to learn, but I have learnt a lot many things from being on road. I always were open-minded, travel has broadened the scope even more. It has made me (more) independent, a better planner, (more) outgoing, and highly optimistic. There is no (internal) pain or grief that travel can't cure. It has also taught me to accept and adjust into new cultures and lifestyles of the different people I meet. I am now more straight-forward in talking about my thought, opinions, and feelings and likeweise I am more open to what others have to say.

What I Can Share with Hosts

+ An insight into the Indian Culture & lifestyle
+ Tips and tricks of survival in India if host plans to travel to India anytime soon
+ Maybe cook a nice Indian meal once during my stay, if allowed
+ Any sort of domestic help (sensible)

All of the above depends though on how comfortable we are with each other - the host and I.

Countries I’ve Visited

Indonesia, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Viet Nam