i've been meeting people, learning from them and passing it on. it's been a humbling, stumbling, enlightening journey so far.

i was born in holland, and started travelling the world when i was around 16 years old. at that time, there was no social media, no smartphones, and most places had little or no internet access.

a few years ago i returned to my island home town by the beach on the north sea, and i've been spending most my time growing vegetables, making tea, coffee, simple food, writing poetry and playing music.

i like to keep my needs and wants simple; don't be surprised to see me sleep on the floor without complaint and eating plain food. to me, it helps keep things uncomplicated and frees me up to be more open to and have more time for the rest of life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

couchsurfing got me around the world at one point, and it was mostly a positive experience – i'd like to give back some of that positivity when i am at home, and continue to learn from people when i travel.

Interests

coffee, tea, 'do-nothing' gardening, nature, hiking, music, history, etc

i'm interested in how people find different ways to live and educate themselves, so have more time to enjoy their life. i've seen many examples of this during my travels, and it is one of the things that continues to inspire me. simplicity and sustainability come in many different forms, depending on time, place and people.

Music, Movies, and Books

whatever resonates with me...could be anything, really. if i like something, i like it. and it is usually hard to explain why i like it, but if someone asks me to explain i will try.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

the thing i think is amazing:
the sum of my entire (in)experience is the one amazing thing in my life that continues to inspire

the things i've done that other people generally find amazing:
climbing mountains in winter by moonlight, driving a one-speed folding bike through a typhoon, designing and stitching a complete backpack with a single 70 year old needle and thread and vintage cloth, and traveling the world with it (i have since retired it, but it is still in good condition - one day i'll restore it properly and it will be happy)

Teach, Learn, Share

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What I Can Share with Hosts

coffee, tea, my own kind of fusion cookin, stories, and maybe play some music together

Countries I’ve Visited

China, India, Japan, Mongolia, Nepal, Russian Federation, South Korea, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, Japan, Netherlands, Taiwan, United States