"Life is like a extra crispy chicken drumstick, it disappears way too quickly, and you are left wondering if you should have ordered more." - KFC employee in Tokyo

Explore the world, make unforgettable memories, and grow as a person. Through my travels, I've learned essential life skills like packing light, haggling with locals, avoiding food poisoning, and saying "no" to strangers offering candy. Meeting amazing people and having crazy adventures feels like living 100 lifetimes in one. And my journey is far from over!

I was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the USA, and since then spent most of my time in California. I like meeting new people and learning about diverse cultures, beliefs, traditions, and lifestyles. Life is an exciting adventure, and I'm eager to see what happens as I meet amazing people worldwide. Listening to their stories and discovering commonalities despite our differences is incredible. We're all navigating this beautiful planet together. I believe everyone I meet has something valuable to teach me, which is why I'm always curious and respectful of others' views. Brief encounters leave lasting impressions on my life journey, choices, mindset, and attitude. Life is full of surprises :)

Since 2019, I've lived a semi-nomadic life, exploring for 2-3 months, then resting at home for 2-3 months. I move to a different place (city or country) every 7-14 days, immersing myself in the culture without feeling rushed. I know when to slow down and take a break, returning home to catch up with family, focus on work, and recharge before my next adventure. It's like a travel sandwich with a nice, long rest in the middle - the perfect recipe for happiness and balance. Who doesn't like a good sandwich?!

Why did I start traveling? I used to be a workaholic, working over 100 hours a week from ages 20-30 without taking real vacations. Exhausted and sick, I realized I needed to prioritize my happiness and health. In 2019, I reduced my work hours and became a part-time consultant for tech companies. I also started saying "yes" to new experiences and trying things outside my comfort zone. Traveling became a big part of that, and I've never looked back. Hmm... Life is full of surprises, and I'm ready for whatever comes my way!

Travel Itinerary:
2022
May - August: Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, France
October: New Mexico, New England (states)
November - December: Vietnam, Malaysia

2023
January: Cambodia, Thailand
March - GA, NC, SC, VA, DC (states)
May: Canada
June - July: Portugal, Switzerland
September: Mexico
November - December - Taiwan, Philippines

2024
January: Indonesia
May: MT, WY, ND, SD, NB, MN
July-August: Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland
November to December: Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am trying out the philosophy of "slow living" and "slow travel" and I find that CS helps extend this type of living and travel approach.

Slow travel emphasizes the importance of savoring and immersing oneself deeply in a place, often by prolonging stays, choosing sustainable transportation, and participating in culturally enriching and socially responsible activities.

Slow living, on the other hand, is a lifestyle focused on simplicity, mindfulness, and genuine connections. It values experiences that bring joy, fulfillment, and meaningful relationships while reducing stress, hectic schedules, and materialistic pursuits.

Interests

• photography
• yoga
• meditation
• partying
• clubbing
• video games
• board games
• reading
• minimalism
• kayaking
• psychology
• sociology
• beaches
• lakes
• rivers
• nature
• linguistics
• sustainability
• abandoned places
• exploring
• mindfulness
• simple living
• virtual reality
• abandoned buildings
• urbex
• climate change
• self development
• machine learning
• autism
• slow travel
• artificial intelligence
• sustainable living
• gratitude
• international law
• postmodernism
• marxism
• slow living
• civic activism
• augmented reality
• continuous improvement
• healthy habits
• ikigai
• essentialism

Music, Movies, and Books

I like to listen to the music of the countries I visit. Do you have any recommendations for me? I enjoy listening to your country's music even when I am back home, commuting or working. There are some bands and composers I love, like Elephant Sessions from Scotland, and a composer from Austria named Parov Stelar.

https://youtu.be/VVJrzlSc_P4
https://youtu.be/QgU5taBcsjM
https://youtu.be/mJC_TxThbfU

Music - Scottish Indie-Folk. Austrian Electro-Swing, Funk, Soul, Nu Jazz. Italian Electro-Dance. French Electro-Hip Hop, Funk, Soul. Belgian Electro-Swing. Swedish, Spanish, American Tropical House. Greek Hip Hop. Vietnamese RnB. And of course unavoidably American Hip Hop, RnB, Country, Folk.

Movies - Superhero. Drama/Suspense/Thriller. Mystery/Psychological. Themes and commentaries of Class and Race relations. Comedy, especially Dark Comedies. Anything with a interesting narrative. Documentaries.

Books - I usually listen to audiobooks and I enjoy reading articles related to Wellness. Minimalism. Slow living. Slow Travel. Self-Improvement. Productivity hacks. Inspirational stories. Technology. Venture capital. Artificial intelligence. Sociology. Psychology. Linguistics. Political Economy. Globalization. World History. Wartime Life. I am oddly very interested in what daily life was like in different historical eras because I think I would not survive lol 😀

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Not to brag but I have a gmail account and I still have all my 10 fingers.

I guess it's not 1 thing I've done... but I have 1 hobby that I have that allows me to combine my interest in history and exploration. I explored almost 50 abandoned places, such as old prisons, monasteries, churches, temples, hospitals, asylums, zoos, racetracks, communist/facist/nazi meeting houses, water/power/manufacturing plants, military/mining/slave towns, ship/airplane wreckages.. and exactly 1 abandoned 30-story hotel in Georgia and 1 abandoned 3-story gentleman's club in Mexico (during unexpected crazy hurricane-like weather!). It's exciting to me to uncover the stories of these abandoned places and the people who used to live or work there.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Hungary, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Estonia, France, Greece, Scotland, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam