CURRENT MISSION

to travel around the world spreading positive vibes

ABOUT ME

Being a graduate of sustainable development, I have long given up on worldly possessions and left my hedonistic lifestyle behind. I am now a minimalist backpacker traveling the world with only a carry on backpack weighing 7kg. I don't believe in mindless consumption anymore as it no longer serves me. And more importantly, going back to a simpler life is not a step backward!

Having spent one year in New Zealand and one year in Micronesia and another year and a half in Australia, and then two years each in Sweden and the UK, it's taught me how to appreciate nature and find love, kindness and compassion in human being. Now I am mostly living life by the day and not get stressed with the happenings in the world. No I am not a hippy and I refuse to be labeled, why complicate life with names?

I have since participated in several blockades with the treehuggers, mostly against mining and deforestation. I am also an advocate for seashepherd and other conservation programs. I like meeting like-minded people who share the same passion and ideals. I don't judge so if you are friendly, then you can expect a friend in me.

I have very little time and patience for tourists and avoided them as much as I could. To me traveling is more about experiencing the journey and the moment and less about the destination and the tourist spots. I love hitchhiking and is saddened by the fact that few people do it anymore.

PHILOSOPHY

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.- St. Augustin.

“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things - air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky -all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.- Cesare Pavese

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didnt do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.-Mark Twain

œYou do not travel if you are afraid of the unknown, you travel for the unknown, that reveals you with yourself.“ Ella Maillart

"Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world." Gustave Flaubert

€Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling.
ۥ Margaret Lee Runbeck

“Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.”

Elbert Hubbard

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've been a member of CS for years, always have loved the idea and thought what a brilliant way to travel and to make friends all over the world! If you think about it, the world isnt such a big place after all.

Im always available, even when im not! that means you can never be too busy for anything or anyone, you make time. And you know what they say, life is simply too short, so why burden yourself with the insignificant things in life? You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My CS experience is extensive, I first started with Hospitalityclub.org and Global Freeloaders, way back in 2005 when I finished school and started traveling. It has always worked for me all these years and I have the most awesome experience and met some interesting people.

I have traveled most of Europe, the middle east, the North and South Pacific, most of East and South East Asia, South America and a few states in the US. 63 countries in total.

I have hosted in Kuala Lumpur, London, various locations in Australia and in Uppsala, and also when I was volunteering in Micronesia, very often also getting visiting friends, friends of friends that I know from surfing their couches, and their parents' couches.

Interests

crazy adventures: white water rafting, bungee jumping, surfing, sky diving, sailing, caving, jungle trekking, rock climbing, jumping off bridges, zorbing, surfing, skiing, ice-skating, snowboarding, camping, canoeing...

I also play the piano and baritone (in case you were wondering).

• books
• traveling
• piano
• backpacking
• canoeing
• spelunking
• camping
• surfing
• scuba diving
• sailing
• bungee jumping
• skiing
• snowboarding
• rock climbing
• hitchhiking
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

I am a movie and TV junkie too whenever im not traveling. I read lots of books and listen to mainly instrumental musics and scores of original soundtracks from films. John Williams, Joe Hisaishi, Danny Elfman, Alexandre Desplat, Hans Zimmer, Alan Silvestri, Harry Gregson-Williams among others, are my faves.

To all CFers, I highly recommend the documentary 'The Corporations', oh yes, im anti-corporations and consumption, arent we all? :p

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I can't narrow it down to one, when I do find it, you will be the first to know!

I can say tho, the landscape in NZ and Norway is spell-binding.

Teach, Learn, Share

be yourself and be real

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Malaysia, Micronesia, Federated States of, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States

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