CURRENT MISSION

I moved out to Vietnam two years ago with my girlfriend and we currently work there as teachers. I’ve been studying the language and making small trips to more remote towns to try and learn as much about the culture and the people as I can. When I’m at home I’m hanging with my dog and cats, maybe playing some Chinese chess or writing some words or songs...

ABOUT ME

I am originally from Bristol in the UK and spent many summers there’s working as a boat driver on the harbour. For the last 6 years or so ive been pretty focused on travel. I like to make long trips that cover large distances and prefer to make them by land, independently where possible. I’ve spent a lot of time in Asia and feel at home amongst the sort of chaos that arises in it’s cities and the feeling of time travel you get when you head out to the country.

PHILOSOPHY

The conqueror of men is powerful, the master of himself is strong.
Eat when you’re hungry and eat when you’re eating, sleep when you’re tired and sleep when you’re sleeping.

Interests

I like to read and go for walks in the country. I write songs and poems and like dancing to soul music and drinking wine. I also like photography And old cameras. Vietnam has 54 ethnic minorities and learning about them has got me interested in folk cultures, local traditions and ancient religious practices. I try to search out these sorts of places and things wherever I travel.

I tend to discover cities and find my rhythm through their cafes, bars and public spaces. I think that this is where the soul of urban spaces lives.

• books
• poetry
• singing
• cooking
• yoga
• boating
• clothing
• music
• guitar
• blues

Music, Movies, and Books

I love reading. To name a few authors; Dostoevsky, Miller, Hesse, Salinger, Heller, Orwell, Greene, Murakami, Pessoa, Nin. I’m always looking for suggestions and book swaps.

My favourite film is Stalker by Tarkovsky, I like Charlie Chaplin and Paul Newman and old cowboy films and long detailed documentaries about obscure subjects; Werner Herzog, Adam Curtis.

I used to like mainly blues, 60s and folk but now listen to a lot of jazz and soul too. Nick Drake, Bob Dylan and Leaonard Cohen. Recently I’ve mostly been listening to world folk music from Vietnam, China and South America. In England I sang in a post-punky type of band. I like jamming and writing songs with people and going to shows.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Me and my girlfriend Ana travelled from Lithuania to Vietnam by land a few years ago. We crossed Russia, down into Mongolia and China then on to south east Asia through Laos and Cambodia.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I work as an English teacher so I can help anyone looking to a learn a little, and I can also help with anyone wanting to start learning Vietnamese too! I like to cook together with friends and to dance, and to sit in cafes and watch street corners, so I hope we can share these sort of experiences.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, China, France, India, Italy, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Monaco, Mongolia, Nepal, Russian Federation, Spain, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom, Viet Nam