wanderlust stricken / beach baby / aspiring creative / singer / songwriter / frustrated poet / struggling photographer / absolute foodie / cocktail connoisseur

I joined Couchsurfing a few years ago but never really got to maximize it. I'm sorry to all my potential hosts and surfers as I haven't really tried surfing or hosting yet so I don't have many references as of now.

To get a peek of more of me, check out my Instagram page: @chescarramirez

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm on Couchsurfing as it seemed a great avenue to overcome my reservations as an introvert through opening myself up to a community that helps create new friendships. I want to be able to maximise my travels by learning about the world and connecting with people by creating new friends. I also believe that experiencing a new place and learning about it and its culture is best done through a local's perspective.

Interests

I'm very much into art. I sing and play a little bit of guitar (think Amy Winehouse with the guitar skills of 6 year old). Aside from music, I draw and dabble into photography. Night streetscapes and candid people are my favorite subjects. If you'd like, I could take pictures of you! Cooking and eating good food are some activities that I really enjoy too. Don't we all, though?

I absolutely love traveling. It's an ever-present need of mine, but I haven't been able to do enough of it. I'm trying to rectify that and travel as much as I can. I've mostly traveled in the Philippines and it's been amazing. My country is beautiful, and I'm trying my best to travel farther from the capital more frequently to explore everything that the Philippines has to offer. I love immersing myself in the different cultures, trying to blend in with the locals, and taking in most of the place I'm visiting as much as I possibly can.

• arts
• culture
• singing
• photography
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• cocktails
• yoga
• traveling
• drawing
• music
• guitar
• snorkeling
• beaches
• freediving

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I listen to several genres including house, hip-hop, alternative, rock, indie, pop, classical, jazz, etc. A few of my current favorite artists would be Kendrick Lamar, , Bonobo, Foals, etc.

Movies: Aside from really long documentaries (cause I don't have the attention span for it) and horror movies and thrillers (cause I'm a huge scaredy cat), I watch most genres of movies. I'm definitely into comedy, action, and drama. A few of my favorite movies would be Inception, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Black Swan, Blow, Fight Club. I'm gonna go and include TV shows as well cause why not? Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Narcos, Shameless (US), Parks & Recreation,, amongst several others.

Books: A few of my favorites would be the Iliad, Odessy, and Wuthering Heights. The last title would probably be my favorite as I'm a sucker for tragedies and I can't stop wishing for Heathcliff to have ended up with Catherine.

Teach, Learn, Share

As a Filipino, I can share all that I can regarding Filipino culture, city hotspots, tourist hotspots, locals' secrets, tips and tricks, must-see places, etc.

I'm not too shabby of a cook either so we can definitely exchange recipes and, if given the chance, I could cook for you! I've also got a good palate so I promise to never recommend or bring you to a subpar restaurant/bar. Haha.

Should you go to Manila and feel like making new friends or even need advice on Manila, don't hesitate to hit me up. You can save yourself a few Google and Quora searches. Haha.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I believe that there's much more to gain in giving than receiving and that the best things in life are the intangibles.

If you've got the ear, appetite, time, and curiosity, I would be more than open to sharing stories, experiences, insights, food, and drinks.

I've been raised to be well-mannered and considerate. Should you be hosting me, you shouldn't have a problem except for me being too courteous and asking permission to use things in your house, like the bathroom, getting water, or leaving my shoes by the door even if you're not one of those houses. Haha . (Yes, some people have complained/made fun of me for that)

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Guam, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Northern Mariana Islands, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Philippines