ABOUT ME

I explore the World trying to figure out who I am and construct life full of harmony and happiness.

I used to be a scientist, now I'm a mountaineer and outdoor equipment seller. Absolutely happy with that :)

WHAT KIND OF GUEST AM I?

First of all, I respect hosts. A will to share hospitality and help other people is a truly marvelous phenomena. It makes our World a better place. Because of that I really don't want to cause any inconveniences to my hosts. I always strive for leaving a positive experience only.

- I'm a rofessional bum. I can sleep on any surface. As a hitchhiker I slept several times in some comfortable bushes on the side of a road. As a mountaineer I slept in a tent on some rocks, on glaciers, in snow cave and igloo. I'm ok with it. Will not refuse sleeping in a bed though.

- If you have time I always enjoy a company. Don't hesistate to invite me somewhere or just to share a conversation during a dinner. On the other hand, if you lack of time - don't worry, I'm a self-sufficient guy capable of taking care of self.

- I cook and I enjoy sharing food as well as cooking experience with others. Not all of my experiments with food were successful though. Couple of times I prepared a real a crap :)

- Used to be a meet and vodka lover, now vegetarian and vodka lover. However, I don't drink much anymore. Have to keep my body fit in order to survive in long expeditions in mountains.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Well, I surf, I host, I organize CS bania meetings (like that one - https://www.couchsurfing.com/events/winter-bania-meeting) when I'm in Novosibirsk. Couchsurfing is awesome.

Interests

Travelling obviously. Hitchhiking. Kayaking. I hitchhiked with an inflatable kayak in my backpack, so I could paddle and then hitchhike again. I came to Venice like that and spent an amaizing weekend paddling there on my own boat.

Cycling, skiing, trekking in mountains. Photography. Cooking. Science and technology. Pubs, live music, movies, drinking and other things man would like. I play a little bit guitar and harmonica. Stand-up comedy, I'm just crazy about comedians like George Carlin, Doug Stanhope, Bill Burr. Always enjoy learning something new.

• cooking
• meditation
• traveling
• music
• live music
• guitar
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• kayaking
• mountaineering
• skiing
• rock climbing
• chemistry
• science
• hitchhiking
• ice climbing

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: rock, blues, rock'n'roll, funk, jazz.

Writers: Tolstoy, Dovlatov, Remark, Pelevin, Strugatsky.

Movies: Big Lebowski, Detachment, Fear and loathing in Las-Vegas, Four rooms.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Just one? Haha! I've got a list:

Two days of kayking in Venice on a cheap inflatable kayak with holes. Crossing the Grand Canal on it somehow.

Landing an airplane in a horrible thunderstorm. I wasn't a pilot, only a navigator. Expected to be just a passenger though. That was my first flight.

Received PhD degree in photochemistry. Worked as a research fellow. Once won a big project with much money, then got disappointed, gave up both the project and scientific work. Now selling outdoor equipment and absolutely happy with it, haha!

Played harmonica on the Great Chinese Wall.

Cooking and sleeping at the altitude 6100 m.

Crossed the Europe from Bordeaux to Kaliningrad and Minsk by hitchhiking. One year after hitchhiked 5500km from Hamburg to Novosibirsk.

Sailed at night along the Black sea coast on a stolen katamaran sitting on a stolen chair completely drunk and wasted.

Teach, Learn, Share

Definitely can help with chemistry classes ;)

I know how to roll a kayak with and without a paddle (eskimo roll).

I know how to make igloo, but haven't practiced in that for a while.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Well, I can share food, stories, experience, moments of sadness and happiness, socks, underwear... I'm a generous man!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belarus, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, South Korea, Ukraine

Countries I’ve Lived In

Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, Slovakia

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