Growing up in Switzerland, surrounded by stability, opportunity, and a society that runs like a perfectly calibrated machine, I never really lacked anything—except the feeling that life should be lived beyond autopilot. In my mid-twenties, that itch became impossible to ignore.

In 2014, after saving enough to escape deadlines and packed calendars for a while, I set off on what I thought would be a temporary adventure. Half a year wandering through South America turned into a much longer journey. In the United States, I bought my first car—a rusty old van—and spent six months circling the country, covering about 35,000 kilometers through deserts, forests, and forgotten towns.

From there, the path unraveled across Asia: Japan during cherry blossom season, India’s beautiful chaos, the Himalayas of Nepal, and the remote corners of Southeast Asia. Along the way I was deported from Myanmar for an expired visa (and owning an illegal boat), crossed East Timor on horseback, survived malaria in Papua New Guinea, and collected more stories than I ever expected.

When the pandemic hit, I found myself unexpectedly grounded on the island of Siargao in the Philippines. For the first time in years, life slowed down. That pause allowed me to write two autobiographical travel books—Gestrandet im Paradies and Grand (De)Tour – The Long Way Home.

Today I work as a documentary photographer and storyteller, focusing on communities whose traditional ways of life are disappearing. My current project, The Last Nomads, documents cultures built on movement, resilience, and tradition before they fade into history.

I still travel frequently, but these days I value meaningful encounters more than ticking destinations off a map. Couchsurfing, to me, is about exactly that: conversations, perspectives, and the occasional shared adventure.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I travel to immerse myself in places rather than simply passing through them. Couchsurfing allows me to experience a destination from the inside—through the people who live there. I enjoy meeting curious minds, sharing stories, and learning about the everyday rhythms of life in different parts of the world.

Interests

• arts
• architecture
• photography
• cooking
• meditation
• traveling
• cycling
• surfing
• journalism
• buddhism
• conversation
• self-development
• community
• ethnology
• story writing
• ikigai

Music, Movies, and Books

Electronic music, indie rock

Still, after all these years: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Breaking out of a life that looked perfect on paper. Leaving predictability behind allowed me to rediscover curiosity, cross invisible boundaries, and eventually shape a life defined less by routine and more by exploration.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: travel stories, photography, and how to navigate the world with curiosity.
Learn: local perspectives, culture, and everyday life beyond the guidebooks.
Share: conversations, good food, and the occasional adventure.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good conversations, travel stories from many corners of the world, and a genuine curiosity about people and places. I’m also happy to share photography tips, cook together, or simply exchange perspectives about life in different cultures.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Macao, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Turkey, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Philippines, Switzerland, Thailand, Viet Nam