CURRENT MISSION

To broaden horizons and deepen shared knowledge, bounding over convention

ABOUT ME

I can truly say that my life has been enriched by traveling and I wish to repay the kindness I received back to the universe.

I'm interested in meeting people from all over the world and sharing thoughts, food and fun.

PHILOSOPHY

'When one experiences truth, the madness of finding fault with others disappears'

S.N. Goenka

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've been very fortunate, in my couch surfing experience so far

I would love to do the same for others and CAN host people at my current place in Leeds for the first time!

I always want to meet new people on travels from places near and far, especially to learn more about other cultures and to practice my Spanish and Thai.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I was lucky enough to spend a few nights in Edinburgh in May 2012 while doing a course and met Ram who hosted me over the weekend. We didn't spend any time together in Edinburgh but did make dinner one evening and meditate early the next morning which was lovely.

In March 2013, I was in Milano with my boyfriend and we surfed with 2 different guys who were studying in the city. It was really refreshing to meet others who had moved to Milano and we had some really interesting conversations over amazing beers at the Birrificio Lambrate :)

In summer 2013 I was cycle touring in Portugal and stayed with Miguel in Porto for 2 nights. He met me at 4AM after a last minute request and was very helpful recommending a bike shop when I needed repairs.

Some time later, Alam hosted me in Aveiro which was awesome. We made dinners, hung out with some of his friends and went out in Aveiro.

Overall, hugely positive, touching and inspiring experience.

Interests

*Cooking
*Baking
*Meditating
*Music making (DJ, guitar, drum, SINGING!)
*Making Soap, candles and all things natural!
*Making organic chocolate
*CYCLING
*Dancing
*Reading
*Writing
*Swimming (the wilder the better!)

• fish
• writing
• singing
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• chocolate
• beer
• baking
• meditation
• walking
• shopping
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• guitar
• cycling
• fishing
• surfing
• swimming
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Books first:
*Snow Falling on Cedars
*The Book of Disquiet
*The Trial
*Jazz
*Shame
*Things Fall Apart
*Half of a Yellow Sun
*July's People
*White Fang
*Steppenwolf
*Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
*The Fire Under the Snow
*Papillon
*all Caryl Phillips
*Sci-fi, esp Phillip K Dick, Asimov
*all Kurt Vonnegut Jnr
*all Anthony Burgess
*all Aldous Huxley
*all George Orwell
*all Dervla Murphy

Movies:
*Le Intouchables
*The Science of Sleep
*O Brother, Where Art Thou?
*No Country for Old Men
*Waking Life
*Touching The Void
*Les Triplettes de Belleville
*Cidade de Deus
*Banlieue 13
*Dead Man
*Down By Law
*Coffee & Cigarettes
*Back to the Future (nostalgia!)
*all Studio Gibli
*all Monty Python (great SILLY British comedy!)

Music:
*'World'
*Gypsy/Balkan
*Instrumental

I'll stop there- my taste in music is very varied!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Undoubtedly one of the best experiences of my life was the Vipassana course I completed; phenomenally sublime. At times a torment (physical and mental!) but the potential for wisdom awaits in the unfolding of every moment. This sums it up pretty well:

"The awakening of the awareness of our universal nature and our connection to all other beings is intrinsically coded into us, and once we stop being busy, once we observe, we find that a powerful force." Paul Fleischman.

The second was the outward journey I completed in August 2013): El Camingo De Santiago from Santander to Fisterra by bicycle- nearly 1000kms!

I think my experience was quite different from other pilgrims (peregrinos) as I made the journey by bicycle- OK, not the traditional way but to be honest cycling is such a big part of my life that it feels more natural than walking for me!- MUCH respect to anyone who can walk so far carrying everything on their back (especially in summer!)
- things passed by me so fast and I didn't have much of the social aspect of meeting peregrinos regularly on the road or in albergues BUT for me the journey was one of affirmation, a test of my strength, endurance and resolve in a new country, which I needed to make after so many years in one place with a very small circle around me- from a big fish in a small pond to a miniscule fish in a huge ocean!

I took the Northern or El Ruta de la Costas instead of my original plan to join the Camingo Frances at Burgos, on the advice of one man I met outside Santander who told me 'este muy lejos y muy subides!' I'm incredibly grateful to this man as I believe it was truly the best way for me to go, with the brisa and beaches constantly to my side through Cantabria, Asturias and into Galicia.

I come away from this journey with renewed vigour for life, believing every day can be a new life when everything finds you unexpectedly and you allow yourself to trust in the kindness of strangers. I feel truly fortified by the experience, and am once again convinced that

'Estoy muy afortunada!'

Teach, Learn, Share

Cooking
Baking
Bicycle maintenance (still a beginner!)
Indian Head Massage
Writing
Travel

What I Can Share with Hosts

*sympathetic joy,
*stories and experience, especially of travel and meditation
*English lessons if wanted
*food

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Thailand, United Kingdom