*I wrote most of the text below 6 years ago and a lot has changed since, I'll put an asterisk with updates*

CURRENT MISSION

Make sure I spend my youth not fulfilling the 20th century invention of obtaining a career. Get out and travel, take photos, make friends and everlasting relationships. Learn culture from all corners of the globe!

ABOUT ME

28. (33* in 2019). Working in Sydney.When I was a kid I used to love watching that TV show, "The Pretender" where Jarrod can become whoever he wants, and always helps people. Might be why I want to change my career now and travel the world.I absolutely love photography, I love shooting film, a single roll slowly, over days, maybe weeks. We create a memory, and for me taking the time to forget it, and rediscover it when I develop it makes it special.I just want to live a life where I can look back one day and say I didn't waste any of it. That doesn't mean I have to be doing something all the time, it just means that a day doesn't go by where I haven't laughed or shared something with my friends.My passion for wanting to see and meet the world, comes from my parents. Unknowingly from them. They moved from the most inland area on Earth, across a continent, and lived in two countries where they didn't know the language, leaving their family, jobs, and everything that made them comfortable behind, searching for a place they could be themselves without persecution. They came to Australia, and I was fortunate enough to have both a different mother tongue and culture, but be raised in a country where this fact is celebrated. And because of this, I feel I owe it to.. somebody.. to see the world, experience ways of life that are foreign to me, understand the trials, tribulations and hardships, as well as the small joys of the everyday man and woman of the world.

PHILOSOPHY

I have way too many philosophies and am still trying to figure out which direction I'm heading in.

I guess one of my strongest beliefs is that nothing is impossible. If it's been achieved before, by ANYONE, then I can achieve it if I truly want to.

Another is that you can't ever know too many people. There isn't enough time on this earth for me to experience everything I want to (but I'm going to make sure I try), so the next best thing is to know people, because chances are, they've done it before.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

One of the best was staying with a great host Adam in Ho Chi Minh city. A well seasoned host (and guest), and there were at least 4 other surfers there at the same time. Got to see a lot of the cool side of Saigon.

Pretty much every event I've been to, I've been able to click with people and continued on being in contact. Made some good friends via this!

Interests

Photography - A lover of film. I had a digital once, and while it was convenient, I don't think it let me grow. Now I have 5 film camera's and counting. 2x 35mm SLR, 35mm Rangefinder, Square Medium Format SLR, 67 Medium format SLR. And hopefully next year I can buy a large format cam! What I lack are time, film scanners, and my own lab for developing colour. *(still true though I lost my square format camera in one of my moves)

Muse - Band (and all other music)

Coffee - Chatting at a local cafe that serves good authentic cappucino *(I've become a coffee snob and look for cases that make single origin filter coffee). I must admit that Cibo is no longer a small local cafe, but a bit of a franchise juggernaut. Still as far as franchises go, this is good italian coffee.
EDIT: Madera or Felici are now my favourite cafe's, but my FAVOURITE coffee is the one I make at home with freshly ground beans.
2nd EDIT: Madera has closed down, my favourites now are The Coffee Barun and Bar 9, however I'm at Felici almost every other day due to convenience. Good food still.
3rd EDIT: 2019 and 4th wave coffee culture has swept across the world. Sydney has Mecca espresso, primary coffee, and artificer for the true best coffee experiences. Most cafes serve excellent espresso based milk containing coffee.

Growing my moustache for charity - Last year was a bit of a dismal effort. This year I've noticed it grows thicker on it's own, so starting TODAY (November 1st 2009) we're going to see just how manly I can be.
EDIT: 2010 was a better year both in fundraising and hairiness.

• arts
• culture
• writing
• singing
• design
• photography
• festivals
• dining
• cheese
• coffee
• vegetarian
• running
• nightlife
• drinking
• clubbing
• clothing
• tv
• traveling
• magic
• music
• karaoke
• hunting
• paragliding
• emergency services
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
I enjoy lots of things, but my favourite bands are Muse and the Rolling Stones. (*still love Muse but they're a bit commercial now, love listening to relaxing stuff on spotify, jazz, funk, everything)

Movies:
Sooo many to list.
The Ringer, The gods must be crazy, Malcolm X, The Hurricane, Shawshank Redemption, Blood Diamond, Dumb and Dumber, The Departed, Anchorman, 40 year old virgin, Old School, Nacho Libre, Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, Harold and Kumar Guantanamo Bay, You Me and Dupree, Taeguki, Beauty and the Beast (The korean movie), The Italian Job, Into the Wild, Coming to America, Trading Places, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Priceless (French) and soooo many more to list.

*add Drive, nightcrawler and Ajeossi to this list.

Books:
Mao's Last Dancer, Malcolm X, Hitch-hiker's guide to the galaxy, and most of the John Grisham Novels. Started reading more business related and interpersonal books out of interest now.

*Sapiens and Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari are great reads.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've seen some wonderful things and tragic things in my lifetime so far. And I hope I get to see more.

I once found some roast chicken at woolworths for only half price because they were close to closing.

I found $10 on the ground this other time, and no one claimed it, so it was mine.

I once saw this amazingly beautiful girl waving at me to come over, and after a brief moment of amazement, I realised she was pointing to her girlfriends behind me.

I kid.

I actually saw, in one group, over 3 million people. I was in Saudi Arabia, standing at the very back part of the pilgramage on the side of the hill, and saw down to the front, where people were waiting to move on. I walked literally from the very back.. as in the back, nothing behind me, to the very front gate, passing 3 MILLION people. It was an incredible feeling just knowing that.

I've seen the Ka'bah in Mecca. Seeing all these people facing it to pray, it was also an awesome feeling knowing that 1.6 billion people face it every day.

I've helped deliver a baby via caesarian who was born with a heroin addiction, and I saw it recover and become healthy.

I saw a car crash and roll several times in front of me, and see the driver climb out without a scratch on him.

I saw a guy come into emergency with a NAIL IN HIS HEAD and he was 100% conscious and fine! He even waited like 8 hours before going to surgery and was perfectly fine, minus the headache.

Actually I should stop writing the amazing medical things I've seen because this list will just keep growing.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach:
Malaysia

Try to eat at a Mamak Stall at least once a day. And drink Teh Tarik as often as you can, cos it's hard to get cheap anywhere else. Also make sure you don't leave before you try a Ramly Burger.
If a nightclub ever gets raided for any reason, make sure you have your FOREIGN documents on you, drivers license or passport. Otherwise it's going to be a longggg night in the police station waiting for drug tests. Always make the Taxi drivers run the meter. EAT EAT EAT.

China

Beware people who try take you off the main street into an alley to sell you stuff, that should be common sense but we met so many people who were swindled. Beware of everything actually, even pretty girls who just wanna sing karaoke with you. But from my personal experience, beware the charming students who speak English and are from out of town, and want to show you a Tea Ceremony. Luckily mine was cheap, but I've heard of people being ripped off of thousands!
Explore far and wide. See lots of China, especially Xinjiang and Tibet if you can. My parents are originally from Xinjiang so maybe I'm biased, but it's about as different as China gets, and is the most ethnically diverse area (for now). The Taklamakan desert to the Tien-Shan Mountain ranges, the jade city of Hetian, to the grape city of Turfan. And the most beautiful gem of all - Kashkar. The silk road, many highlights from Monkey Magic, Lamb Kebabs to die for, Xinjiang has it all.
But aside from that, China's great :P

*China has changed a lot. Much more authoratatian. Very difficult to see Xinjiang and the Uyghurs as 10% of the population are held in concentration camps.

Hong Kong

If you go to an all you can drink place, make sure you know if there's a timelimit. Try to catch the star ferry across from Kowloon to HK island, it's cheaper and WAY more fun and scenic, how can you ever get sick of crossing that way?
If you're into sneakers, Mongkok is the place to be.

Singapore

FOOD. Katong Laksa. Ice Cream Sandwich. Enough said.

Melbourne

Stalectites. A 24/7 Greek Souvlaki place that is the best way to end amassive night out. Even if you aren't closeby. They are PACKED all the time. Lamb souvlaki with double meat, chilli, cheese, tzaziki, all the salads and a glass bottle of coke. Mm Mm. Can't reccomend clubs, they change everytime I'm there.
Art galleries are great, and wander the laneways for some fantastic coffee, stores, and graffitti.

Japan

Don't waste a minute inside your accommodation longer than absolutely necessary. This place has everything and you're going to sorely miss it. If someone has told you what sounds to be an urban myth about Tokyo, try verify it! Look for that elusive vending machine, try find that weird restaurant. It's either there, or there's another one waiting. Take lots of photos, because the locals tend not to mind. Eat everything Japanese, meet as many people as you can, don't be shy to talk, and most of all, enjoy your time. I'll be back!
Since been there 3 times and about to do my 4th (and 5th in December). Visit smaller cities, go to Fukuoka, awesome ramen and people.
* been about 15 times now, still fantastic. Awesome for snow sports too.

Adelaide

I always tend to dismiss Adelaide as a place you can see in 24 hours. Not quite true if you want to really experience it. Fair enough you can see all the sights in a day or two maybe. Most of the interesting sights are just outside Adelaide, the Barossa Valley, the Hills, Victor Harbour etc. But if you want that relaxed pace and laid back atmosphere, Adelaide has it. There are only two kinds of people that hate Adelaide, those that have never visited, and those who have never left.
If you want lots to do in Adelaide, come towards Mid February and stay till the end of March. This is the real festival period with the Adelaide Fringe, Womadelaide, Future Music, Soundwave, Big Day Out, Clipsal 500 (not a real cultural festival, but if you like bogans, alcohol and mindless engine noise its for you), The Adelaide Festival, Format Festival.. it's all on!

Nepal

I had the most awesome week in Nepal. Went to a friends Tibetan wedding, and we were kitted out in Chuba's. Also went to Pokhara and went paragliding and cruising on the lake, lots of momo's and thakali.
Kathmandu is an awesome place, just wandering around the streets of Thamel, eating wherever you come across. Or2k roadhouse was awesome vegetarian food. If you have the time and energy, go trekking, we only did a small day trek but got to see the Annapurna ranges (magnificent!). Downhill mountainbiking is something that you should do here, as it's not everyday you get fantastic terrain like this.

Seoul

I've only really visited Seoul, but what a city. A true megacity that has something for everyone. I was staying in Hongdae, near the Hongdae university of arts, and hence there were TONNES of fantastic clothing, design, accessory and bookstores, as well as a vibrant soulful atmosphere day and night.
Every night after going out I'd head down to Hongdae Chopok tteokbokki to get my fix.
The food is something you must explore here, as well as the varied nightlife. A local host is always best for these things. Itaewon is very foreigner friendly, almost similar to Roppongi in Tokyo, and whilst fun, I enjoyed my nights away from here more.

Learn:

I'll take everything on as a learning experience. Where I work now, I see old people with lots of stories to tell who have done things I'll never get to experience. And I catch them during their most vulnerable moments, so the things they often share with me are amazing life experiences, stories and advice. I try no to forget it and take on board what I can.

Share:

Share.. my things? My money? I think my company is the best thing I can share. Just my time, my thoughts, my stories. Share some drinks? Share a moment. Share some unforgettable experiences together. Lets share!

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Japan

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