Aspiring Author
Active Reader
Continuous Learner
Avid Traveller
Regular Volunteer
Plants Lover
Lifestyle Designer

www.facebook.com/DoRiS83
www.instagram.com/doris.83

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

My university friend and housemate from Canada introduced me to Couchsurfing.com in 2006 and I joined her Couchsurfing experiences in New Zealand and Australia. We met amazing hosts and learn heaps of the local culture from them. I had many fond memories of those travels even after more than 10 years!

While I had always wanted to have my own Couchsurfing experience, there were no opportunities in the last decade as most of my previous travels were on tight schedules or with other friends. During my previous 6-month travel in America, I forgot about Couchsurfing as I was using AirBnB when not staying with friends.

Two of the travel destinations that I plan to experience Couchsurfing are South Korea and Japan, as I have always wanted to learn Korean and Japanese. I studied and use Chinese language for many years, but I felt my proficiency level improved by 1 year just after staying in Taiwan for 1 month!

Interests

I love travelling! Especially solo travel! In 2006, I went to New Zealand for my university education on my own and had an amazing time there. Since then, I had been on 5 solo trips - 3 summers around different parts of New Zealand, 1 month in Taiwan, and 6 months around North, Central & South America. The upcoming solo trips will be to South Korea, Japan and Australia.

Wrote this reflection after my 1 month trip to Taiwan: https://www.elitedaily.com/life/solo-self-discovery-trip-must-bucket-list

• arts
• volunteer work
• travel
• food
• travelling
• nature
• read
• cultures
• reading books
• plants
• different cultures
• local food
• new cultures
• volunteer
• write
• reading book
• writer
• volunteerism
• local cuisine
• solotravel

Music, Movies, and Books

My fave music are happy love songs, especially duets. Love most of the Disney songs, drama/movie theme songs, and easy-to-singalong karaoke songs. I enjoy going to karaoke once every other month, and had wanted to learn how to play the musical keyboard since childhood, but it is not high in my priority currently.

These are some of my fave music:
[English] If You Can Dream by Disney Princesses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtXNNAs9u0M
[Chinese] 告白气球 by Jay Chou 周杰伦 [周二珂 cover version]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enFGhIcD1d8
[Cantonese & Chinese] 好心分手 by Candy Lo 卢巧音 & Wang Lee Hom 王力宏
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v04DzjzSb5w
[Korean] Banmal Song 반말송 by Seohyun & Yong Hwa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGBolfdiwhA
[Japanese] First Love by Utada Hikaru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1sUaVJUeB0
[German] Und Wenn Ein Lied by Söhne Mannheims
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtuW08ZIgvg
[Instrumental] Sundial Dreams by Kevin Kern
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERGGPB_ok18

My fave movies are romance comedies, aka chick flicks, the kind with happy endings (not necessary happily ever after). I like movies with strong female characters, not necessary Wonder Woman, but more of the kind that are not damsels in distress. These days, I enjoy watching good female characters who are in their 30s or 40s.

These are some of my fave movies:
[Singaporean] The Wedding Game (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIOt5czRGpE)
[English] Eat, Pray, Love (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjay5vgIwt4)
[Chinese] Taipei Exchanges 第36個故事 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi010yX8Yl4)
[Hong Kong] Summer Holiday 夏日的麼麼茶 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im4ecMsdBlM)
[Korean] My Sassy Girl (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Pc3v0j5b4)
[Japanese] Your Name 君の名は (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU47nhruN-Q)
[Bollywood] Bride and Prejudice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6cs4hUxSAc)
[French] Coco before Chanel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvDFPjx-uBU)
[Swedish] Ego (https://vimeo.com/57213195)

I love reading, especially non-fiction. Generally I like books for women by women, on personal development, self-improvement, money management, finance and philosophy. I also enjoy stories like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, William Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, and Frances Hodgson Burnett 's Secret Garden.

Some books I read recently: https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/doris83?

I also enjoy watching different types of dramas/series/animes, especially those on time travel, fantasy, historical, adventure, and romance. For Chinese dramas, I also enjoy the genres 武俠 (martial heroes in ancient times) and 仙俠 (immortals and humans).

[Chinese] Legend of Condor Heroes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07m4JUaqWN0&list=PLA1A238F1BB456EA2)
[Korean] Descendants of the Sun (https://www.viu.com/ott/sg/en-us/vod/9854/Descendants-of-the-Sun)
[Japanese] Saiunkoku Monogatari

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I quit my job in June 2015 without a plan and went on a 6 month solo backpacking trip from July 2015 to January 2016.

#180DaysofTravel itinerary: Vancouver (Canada) -> Seattle -> Portland -> San Francisco -> Las Vegas -> Arches National Park -> Mount Rushmore National Monument -> Yellowstone National Park -> Salt Lake City -> Grand Canyon -> Los Angeles -> Madison -> Milwaukee -> New York City -> Toronto -> Orlando -> Nassau (Bahamas) -> Miami -> Manaus (Brazil) -> Honolulu

Details can be found in here: http://minimalisttraveler.blogspot.sg

Teach, Learn, Share

For languages, I can teach English and Chinese, more on speaking, as reading and writing will need time. For social media, I can advise on the optimal use of LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. I can also teach thread craft, such as hair/hairband/earphone wrap, and friendship bracelet.

I would like to learn languages, and experience the local culture. I know I blended in and live like a local when another local asks me for directions, which had only happened in English-speaking countries so far. Ideally, I would like to learn a bit more on the heritage and arts, if time permits.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share my past travel experiences and stories, especially how to plan and prepare for solo trips. As well as share information on the countries I have been to and lived in for at least 1 month (listed below). If I can provide any advice related to work, I can share my past experiences too.

If my host visits Singapore the future, I am happy to show you around my country! Unfortunately I am not able to host anyone at my current place since I am living with family. My parents do not like strangers staying over, we never had any guests and none of my friends had stayed over before.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Bahamas, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, New Zealand, Panama, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, United States