Hi! I'm Devinda, a traveler, nomad and software engineer from Sri Lanka. If you're here, I reckon you want to learn more about me, so let me try and condense my story!

I began traveling, couch-surfing, and living the nomad lifestyle in 2018 during my summer break while studying for my computer science degree in the United States. With nothing to do during the break and expensive travel back home, I hitchhiked instead. Reflecting on my hitchhiking adventures during the following semester, I knew I had to do more of this - meeting new people and travelling to different places across the globe, possibly working a remote job.

Since then, I've completed my degree and returned to Sri Lanka but my love for travel remains unchanged. Fortunately, this passion aligns perfectly with my current position as a software engineer working remotely for an Australian consultancy. I've been formulating my plans for nomadic living for some time, and I finally obtained my Malaysian visa for an entire year !

And so, I'm very excited to get back into travelling, exploring Malaysia, and meeting kind people. I'm an avid coffee fan and drink it every morning. I even made an app to track my coffee reviews! I'm into photography - I use it to capture moments, and I love to cook (and eat, of course!) food from cultures all around the world

I thrive in stepping outside my comfort zone, learning new things, and meeting different people - an environment encouraged by traveling and couch surfing !

instagram for my adventures - instagram.com/devinda_me

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I want to meet kind and awesome people.

Now, this might sound easier said that done - but I actually think it can be ! Sweltering beneath the simmering summer sun while hitchhiking, I noticed that the only folks that stopped, were those that genuinely had the capacity and willingness to help a fellow human out. Anyone that couldn’t help, simply drove past. Be it the hitchhikers, the people that offer rides, the couchsurfers or their hosts, I’ve found that the travelling community consistently attracts the best people I’ve ever met. Through them, I’ve learn that there are truly no strangers.

Travelling helps me grow. Before my adventures, I considered myself to be a kind person. I soon realised that I had so much more to learn, in face of the amazing kindness and hospitality that I received from random, fellow humans. Today, my benchmark for success in life is to strive to be as kind and generous as the people I met on my adventures.

Interests

Coding 💻
I love the problem solving aspect of it and how I can get fully immersed by it. I often find myself in the flow state, completely in the moment when I’m programming - such a peaceful and meditative place. I’m awed at how it allows me to take things in my head, a bunch of thinking rocks and manifest it into a practical solution which solves a real problem for another person.

I do this for fun, and I do this as part of my career as a Software Engineer. I’m always down to learn new stuff about my craft be it by developing fun side projects, reading blogs or just talking with smart engineers. Even if you’re unable to host me, if you’re into coding, we should definitely hang at a local cafe!

Coffee ☕
Every morning I drink 350ml of coffee that I brew on my french press. On the weekends, I’ll treat myself to a brew from my moka pot. Every once in a while, I’ll brew and bottle a big ol’ batch of Cold Brew to my own recipe - it’s always handy to have backup coffee when I’m too lazy or impatient !

I love connecting with the local coffee culture. I buy my coffee from local roasters, mostly from the cafes I frequent. I like to get to know the roasters and learn about their process, understand what the coffee climate is like and condense all that information to experiment when I’m making my daily sustenance.

If you end up hosting me, I’d love to make you a cup! And then, I could show you how to review your cup with my coffee reviewing app (coffee.devinda.me) that I built as a fun side project

Cooking 🥘
Cooking is so fun! I feel like a newbie when I can pick up a recipe I’ve never made before and make it for the first time, full of mistakes. And at other times, I’m Gordon Ramsey as I reiterate and rework a dish to perfection and not even scraps are left at the end of the meal. But mostly, I find that it’s soul filling, an activity that allows me to transform my effort to the nourishment of my friends and family.

Cooking is such a great way to connect and explore other cultures. I’m always finding recipes from different places, and adding it to my rotation. My favourite meals to make right now include german beer pretzels, focaccia and tortang talong from Indonesia. It’s also a great way to share my own culture! If we can find some of the spices, I’d love cook you my signature Sri Lankan black pork curry.

• cooking
• coffee
• running
• anime
• reading
• coding
• electronic music
• swimming
• longboarding
• craft beers
• dota 2

Music, Movies, and Books

Current Music
- Melodic dubstep, i.e Illenium, Said the sky, Dabin, San holo, ARMNHMR
- Synthwave
- Irish Bar songs

Books I've read recently
- The robots of dawn - Issac Asimov

Favourite Anime
- Vinland Saga
- Eighty Six
- Spy X Family
- Mob Psycho 100
- Kaguya-sama: Love is War

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

- Driven 40 miles out of way to see rocks going around in circles at the racetrack in death valley.
- Hitchhiked all states west of Missouri in the United States
- Train hopped across a few states in US, to get back to uni class 8 hours before the semester starts
- Explored every inch of Highway 1, the road that hugs the west coast - I think it's most beautiful road in the world

Teach, Learn, Share

- I'm a software engineer I'm pretty good with most computer related technical stuff, so maybe I could help you if you've a problem with your computer
- If you've wanted to setup a personal website, I can show you how to get into
- I can teach you how to review a cup of coffee, and guide you using the app I made
- I'm always trying to learn new stuff from people all around me because I find it's the best way to grow !

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love cooking. Maybe you can take a break from the kitchen and let me cook you a delicious Sri Lankan meal. I can also make other kinds of food (i,e focaccia, pretzels, pizza), and I would love to learn from you, if you've a speciality dish. I will have my coffee equipment with me, so we can find some local coffee beans and I can make you a perfect cup of coffee every morning - it's a great way to start your day perfectly !

Countries I’ve Visited

Hong Kong, Singapore, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Sri Lanka, United States