CURRENT MISSION

I don't know much about flying but, sometimes, I feel as if I have these little wings on my feet.

ABOUT ME

You would have to be half mad to dream me up.

PHILOSOPHY

“Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.
Alice: I don't much care where.
The Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.
Alice: ...So long as I get somewhere.
The Cheshire Cat: Oh, you're sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

I know not where I am going and I know not where I'm from, I believe that the present is the only time worth living for. So pursue your passions without the burden of yesterday or the fear of tomorrow.

What is life but a dream?

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I was introduced to couch surfing by my travel companion while travelling in Europe. I was not a couch surfer then. I got to understand people and places in their different realities. People that lead similar lives and, yet interpreting them in vastly different ways. I hope that I will be able to work alongside during your daily routine and sharing your slice of life.

When I am back in Singapore, I make you, a traveller, feel welcomed and give you a place to rest your tired feet like so many of my hosts has done for me before and experience my story. I still travel quite often, although no longer for extended periods. If we are going on a trip together, all I can say is that we will have adventures that will pass into legend.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

The world will be a happier place if everyone I have met so far were like people in this couch surfing community! The kindness of strangers never fail to impress me.

I believe in the theory of social reciprocity or ‘Eye for an eye’. This refers to responding to a positive action with another positive action, rewarding kind actions. As a social construct, reciprocity means that in response to friendly actions, people are frequently much nicer and much more cooperative to one another.

Here's the thing, Reciprocity can be generalized (Nowak & Sigmund, 2005; Fowler & Christakis, 2010) and does not require the same two individuals ever to meet again. The notion of paying it forward is one that has long captured the attention of luminaries such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Benjamin Franklin. Be it for a boost in social image (Bshary & Grutter, 2006) or be the recipient of help in the future.

People are more willing to help a stranger after they were helped than if they had not received help before (Rutte & Taborsky, 2007). Although the multiplier for generosity is smaller and less replicated than greed (Gray, Ward, & Norton, 2012), we must not give up. Working together, we can increase the incidences or true generosity and encourage others to do the same. We have something going on here, doing good and getting better!

Interests

Travel
"We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls" - Anais Nin. I love seeking new places and engaging in new activities and talking to new people. Taking in different cultures and understanding all the secrets in the world. Life is so diverse and ought to be appreciated and celebrated which can be done through better understanding. I believe and all of us have something to learn from one another.

Singapore is an island city lacking in all the pretty natural wonders of the world so I love exploring a great outdoors! I also love wondering the small streets and discovering hidden corners being a part of an everyday event.

The Human Condition
I am a social scientist by training so I am interested in why people do the things they do. How we can make the world a better place. I travel to talk to people and be fascinated by new ideas and have they are derived. Maybe we will be able to solve the world's ills someday not too far away.

Forestry, aquatic and animal life
I grew up with my parents constantly reminding me to respect the forests and trees. Because of that, I am currently in the forestry industry fighting to provide sustainable materials and using wood-related products economically and sustainably. I also like interacting and conversing with animals because I believe they do understand us somehow.

Fashion and art
I like dressing up especially with a bunch of like-minded individuals. I think that not letting others dictate what we wear is empowering and encouraged personal acceptance and diversity. I currently love Blackmilk and Jane Marple. I am also greatly influenced by the likes Monet, van Gogh, Salvador Dalí­ and René Magritte. I sometimes paint during my free time.

Sports and Activities
I have been playing Judo for about the last 13 years while I was still in school. I might not put up a good fight now but I love talking about it nonetheless. I also love outdoor activities such diving, rafting and trekking.

• animals
• cats
• arts
• fashion
• flying
• traveling
• eating out
• painting
• outdoor activities
• surfing
• scuba diving
• sports
• forestry
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Coldplay, Nirvana, Scala & Kolacny Brothers, Owl City, Muse, Hilchryme, Green Day, Jason Mraz, Pricilla Ann. I listen to different kinds of music depending largerly on my lifestyle and mood. Currently, I have a soft spot for Beautiful Love by The Afters and 99 Red Balloons by Nena.Movies:The Land Before Time, Finding Nemo, Saw, Borat, 50 First Dates, Forest Gump, 5cm Per Second, Dawn of the dead , Edward Scissorhands, Howls Moving Castle. I love zombie films.Books: The Little Prince, The Giving Tree, The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night Time, Tuesdays with Morrie, The Melancholy of Oyster Boy, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland,His Dark Materials Trilogy , Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Shopaholic Series.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A split second imagery of a rocky plateau on which lonesome wind turbines are perched upon whirling quietly along to the rhythm of the wind. The surrounding valley was dark and still providing a startling contrast while the sun lights up the wind turbine's quiet elegance with all its shinning glory. Douro Valley, Portugal.

Other stuff: Missing the last train on a subzero night and being picked up accidentally by my host's friend, riding a horse by the cliffs as a whale did a breach, gliding side by side with a whale shark and making an instant connection, discovering the old man by the coffeeshop is actually a lieutenant colonel in the air force etc...

Teach, Learn, Share

- discover ways for a more equal and inclusive society
- talking to animals
- survive a zombie apocalypse (self-sustenance)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland

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