Hi everyone, I'm Ashcharya and in Sanskrit it literally means "wonder" (or miracle). Well but everyone calls me Ash for obvious reasons. I was born and brought up in Colombo, Sri Lanka and later in life when I was 18 I moved to Melbourne, Australia with family. When people ask me where I am from, I would say that I am from both Sri Lanka and Australia.

I love traveling and recently I made it to the 31st country - Vanuatu. Besides travelling I also have many other interests in life, such as nature, spirituality, yoga and meditation, learning various intellectual/academic disciplines, vegetarian/vegan food, anything ocean related, and so many other things in between.

I am currently on a Working Holiday in Japan and teaching English for pre-schoolers. I just recently finished a second Masters degree in Education and I am by trade a teacher of Philosophy, Humanities and Media Arts. My undergrad studies have been in Philosophy and I have a special interest in Philosophy of Mind, Phenomenology and Metaphysics within it. I aspire to start a PhD in Philosophy related to Psychedelics and Meditation eventually. I am also a qualified ESL Teacher with a Diploma in TESOL and I have a Diploma in Business too - as you can see I am an eternal student - since I was 4 years old until now at 28.... and wish to continue further.....

I might be a bit eccentric in terms of my ambitions in life - I have travelled to many places, met many people and definitely have been exposed to many ideologies, epistemologies, and ways of life. As a result of all these, my ambition of life is to live in a self-sufficient communal lifestyle with like minded people. I might start my own ethical living community one day! (If you are keen let’s do it! Hahah). However lately I have been also thinking that one can live a city life, doing a regular job but be immune to the rat race mindset. So there is an alternative.

Traveling has been my greatest teacher in many ways. It has allowed me to experience all these different avenues I can have in life. Also the people I meet while traveling have inspired me in many ways. I love traveling to big cities and people watch or get lost in a deep forest. All these are different experiences that I enjoy equally.

I have a small YouTube channel called Life On Road By Ash: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPlH12e4jAfV8AcRJvCICGg

Follow me on Instagram: lifeonroad_by_ash
Facebook: Wicko Aash

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have been Couchsurfing a lot lately during my First-solo and first- Europe tour. I also have hungout with heaps of people I met via Couchsurfing. So yeah I AM LOVING IT!!!!!! Because.... Each and every person I met through this website are awesome. They all are beautiful souls who love to travel and share their stories. I have met many Intresting people with different lifestyles in different Cultures, cites and countries. Everyone of them has inspired me to do something different in life. Couchsurfing indeed has shown me how beautiful the human are. One day when I move to my own house I will repay to all of them who were kind enough to host me and hangout with me by giving the same privilage to another fellow couchsurfer. I believe CS explores the very human qualities in people such as sharing, hospitality, kindness, politeness, and interactions.

Interests

Movies, travelling, hiking, exploring, different cultures, food, swimming, playing guitar, studying languages

• culture
• vegetarian
• vegan
• yoga
• meditation
• hiking
• scuba diving
• snorkeling
• languages
• neuroscience
• philosophy
• volunteering
• films
• food
• buddhism
• exploring
• psychedelics
• communities
• communal living
• work exchange

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:

According to my 2022 Spotify wrap-up:

My TOP 5 ARTISTS

1) Bob Dylan
2) Rolling Stones
3) Prosad (This is my Canadian Yogi friend who practice traditional Raga and Reggae music)
4) Avril Lavigne
5) Pink Floyd

I would add more to this list

Moby, Maroon 5, Bee Gees, Air Supply, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, The Clash, Cold Play, Evanescence, Frank Sinatra, Green Day, John Denver, Michael Learns To Rock, Michael Jackson, Nickelback, Nirvana, David Bowie, The Police, Queen, The Ramones, Rascal Flats, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Shakira, Slipknot, Sting, Led Zeppelin, Switchfoot, Tom Petty, Trains, U2, Westlife, Lady Gaga, Bon Jovi, AC/DC, Guns and Roses, James Blunt, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Beach boys, Beach house, Eminem, Rookantha Gunatilake, Clarence Wijewardane, Charitha Attagala

MY TOP GENRES

1) Soft Rock
2) Indie Rock
3) Sri Lankan Pop
4) Dance Rock
5) Rock

Movies:

I love any kind of movie. Few of the fav movies I can think about are- Leon, the professional, Forrest Gump, Goldstone, Turtles Can Fly, Mirage and many more!

Books: Do not read much at all but I like reading more philosophy, spiritual and popular philosophy books. Like New Earth, Conversation with God, Sapien, Conscious Mind, Utopia for Realists, Ethical Slut and others.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Getting certified for SCUBA Diving
Studying so much (2nd Masters Degree)
Solo hike on an 80KM trail in the Marlborough Sound in NZ over 3 days
Writing a Philosophy of Mind undergrad thesis
Living in a Yoga Ashram for 1 Month
Living in an off-grid meditation retreat in the forests of Vanuatu for 1 Month
Solo backpacking in Europe
Having dreadlocks and saving it for nearly 5 years

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: everything I know
Learn: everything you wanna teach me
Share: everything I am able to.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My lovely company in Melbourne. When I am free I can show you Melbourne and its surroundings.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Denmark, England, Estonia, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Samoa, Scotland, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu