CURRENT MISSION

conquer all fear

ABOUT ME
As you can see from the counties I visit, I am attracted to places where I can find traditional cultures. This also includes Australian traditional country - that of the first people, Australian Aboriginals.
I am proud to count many traditional owners amongst my friends and acquaintances, and have a Tiwi brother ( from Bathurst Island off Darwin). John stayed with our family for 6 years whilst studying back in the 70s & he adopted my family into his.
I am passionate about being an active member of a community, whether at home or abroad. I live in a tiny village where things get done mainly because of volunteers. I am a part of many projects in my town. It's a great way to feel connected and meet people.

I have a great passion for India and her people. I have turned that passion into a small business by curating and leading small group off-the-beaten-track tours. More information on my website: https://kasutours.wordpress.com/
I also buy fair trade crafts in India and sell them in my online shop http://www.kasuemporium.com.au/
All sales from the tours and the shop generate donations to people living in poverty in India. Read more here: http://www.kasuemporium.com.au/organisations-2

PHILOSOPHY

I live to learn. My teachers are everyone, everything, everywhere.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

As a guest on couches and hosting other CSers

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
2008: Great experience in Delhi with Mag Greenberg in his tiny bungalow in Rajokri - met lots of there there, some still friends.

Later in 2008: On second trip to India, again stayed with Mag & met more good people.
We all travelled to Diu together for week of New Year. Met more CouchSurfers there.

Have been hosted by some amazingly generous Indian families, either as a house guest for a few days, in a paid guesthouse or chats over chai.... so many good memories!

I have hosted many couch-surfers in my home - one for a month, one for 3 months. But only very special people get to stay longer than a week!

Interests

Art & Design
Livelihood development projects
Philosophy
People
travel, of course

• arts
• design
• crafts
• traveling
• camping
• volunteering
• beaches
• deep conversations
• sustainable living
• fair trade
• community projects
• contemporary jazz

Music, Movies, and Books

BOOKS
The Book Thief
Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard - Kirin Desai
The White Tiger
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Hosseini
The Snow Leopard
City of Djinns _ William Dalrymple
Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
No Full Stops in India - Mark Tully
Love in a time of Cholera
The Tin Drum - Gunter Grass
Gilgamesh - Joan London

MOVIES
The Band's Visit
Chocolat
Walking on Clouds
Amelie
Russian Ark
Habla con Ella (Speak to Her)
The Bicycle Thief
Kenny
Mamma Mia

MUSIC - wide taste really .... almost everything except acid rock & aggressive hip hop....
Some classical - especially Handel, Paganini
Classic American swing & jazz- Benny Goodman, Fats Waller, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Vince Jones, Edith Piaf & lots more
Classic blues & rock - Elvis, Roy Orbison, Beatles, Abba, Kraftwork
Newer stuff - Jeff Buckley, Bjork (sometimes), Spooky Mens Choir
Special: Gyoto Monks chanting, Spanish music, Indian ragas; African Sanctus; Sufi music; Trilok Gurtu; Jan Gabarek, Leonard Cohen...........

Latest passion: Kandisa album by Indian Ocean

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Can't decide on only one!
giving birth to my daughter would have to be the number one experience of my lifetime. Nothing else comes close! But these are some wonderful memories:
Sipping hot chai under a banyan tree on a mountain top in Himalayas with my daughter
Sharing a coconut with some Mexican lovers on a deserted Mexican beach on New Years Day
Camping under the desert stars in central Australia.
Watching a 30,000 year old campfire emerge before my eyes as the wind swept sand away - Central Australia.

visited 13 states (37.1%)Create your own visited map of India

Teach, Learn, Share

Still too busy learning - but we are all teachers and all students. If I have something to teach, the student will find me & vice versa.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Travel stories, Australian culture, some things I have learned about Indian culture and crafts.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, China, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, India

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