Hey,

CURRENT MISSION:
Explore the world, adventure, make friends and live out my passions.

ABOUT ME:
I'm a friendly, easy-going, casual, open-minded, inquisitive person keen to explore, learn and experience. I love meeting like-minded people to share stories, knowledge and experiences with. I'm independent, responsible and like to have good clean fun. I dislike going out clubbing, don't smoke and have never been drunk. I would much rather experience the great outdoors and build lasting memories with friends. Although responsible I don't take myself too seriously and am pretty relaxed.

From Pietermaritzburg, I studied Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Cape Town, honours in Molecular and Cell Biology (genetics and bioinformatics) at UCT again and am currently busy with my Masters in the same lab. My future plan is to find out how I can sustainable fund my botanical exploration of the unexplored mountains of Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Por qué estoy en Couchsurfing

My life's ambition is one of exploration and discovery. If I had infinite cash I'd probably be lost in some remote jungle by now. I love learning about our world and all the people and cultures that inhabit it. So why couch surfing? Three reasons:

1) I'm a student. As much as I don't want couch surfing to be about saving money, to an extent it is and I want to be honest about that. I would much rather couch surf and be able to stay a few extra days or have extra money to explore what the local area and culture has to offer.

2) An insider view. I really don't want to see what a hotel or hostel looks like; we have those at home. When I think Couchsurfing I think being as much of a local as possible; a cultural exchange of sorts. I want to learn your culture, experience your lifestyle and home, eat what you eat, learn about your personal philosophy and hobbies. I could go to the touristy areas but I feel like I would miss out on what traveling and your culture is really about. I don't want the censored version. Lets see the "hidden" corners of places and cities which you would never see as a "normal" foreign tourist. I am interested in a cultural experience and in return sharing of my own time, stories and insights. I don't want this to be a one way relationship. I want to give as much as I want to take :)

3) Friendship. So I'm spending time with you, in your home sharing our stories. I really hope more will come of this than a brief stay. I want to build friendship and connections. If I'm ever in the area again I want to want to visit :) Like wise I hope that if you're ever in South Africa (or wherever I end up living in the future) that you will let me know and we can meet up and maybe I will have the opportunity to show you around and give you somewhere to stay :)

Intereses

This is a tough question. What aren't I interested in?

I love adventuring and learning new things (this way life never gets boring) and I am particularly fascinated by the natural world we live in. I explore this through my many hobbies: Scuba Diving; Free Diving; Surfing and skim boarding; Sailing; Hiking; Reading; Ballroom and Latin American Dancing; Drawing and painting; Horticulture and botany; The cultivation of carnivorous plants (notably the genus Nepenthes). I may get some beach time with some friends and a little bit of gaming in on the side :)

This need to discover fuels my passion for books and reading, both for leisure and educationally. My areas of interest are: History, Ecology and Conservation, Global climate change; Leadership and development (social, economic and personal); Innovation.

I love nature, plants and animals. In the past I have kept and bred snakes, tropical parrots, fish, lizards, frogs and chameleons. I also currently have a greenhouse full of tropical plants.

Lastly.. Food. I am hugely adventurous when it comes to eating. I love cooking and learning how to cook, especially dishes from other cultures and parts of the world.

• animals
• fish
• culture
• books
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• clubbing
• reading
• traveling
• eating out
• painting
• drawing
• outdoor activities
• fishing
• hiking
• surfing
• scuba diving
• sailing
• biology
• chemistry
• ecology
• genealogy
• history
• beaches
• mountains

Música, películas y libros

Music:
I pretty much listen to anything that sounds good. This includes some mainstream pop, indie rock, rock, melodic vocal dubstep, reggae, accoustic, classical, blues, classical dance, jazz, chilled vocals... yeah my taste is quite diverse.

South Africa in particular has some AMAZING talent with many very talented bands little known outside of the country. It's quite a shame.

Movies:
I don't feel like I can really stick to genres or directors. Some movies move me, other's don't. I like being made to think.

Books:
I've read A LOT, especially espionage and fantasy. Robert Ludlum, Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Tolkein to name a few. Now I find I'm a lot more selective and try to be a lot more diverse in what I read. This involves everything from historical books on ancient battles to books on modern business and entrepreneurship. Below I've listed a few that come to mind.

Shadow of the wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafón; Mud, Sweat and Tears - Bear Grylls; The Case for Christ - Lee Strobel; 1421: The Year China Discovered the World - Gavin Menzies; What the Dog Saw - Malcolm Gladwell

Algo increíble que he hecho

I've scuba dived with ragged-tooth sharks, canoed the Orange River, been stung by a sting ray, hiked the Outeniqua Mountains (4 days of which I did on fractured knee caps), discovered of a previously unknown population of critically endangered Drosera regia and have successfully grown a new (currently unnamed) species of carnivorous vine (Nepenthes) from seed.

Enseña, aprende, comparte

I'd love to share our stories and experiences as well as chat about and teach you about any of my many interests. I can teach you some South African Colloquialisms and share some of our culture. Although difficult if travelling if possible I'd happily show you some South African cuisine and how to have a good "braai" :)

I'd pretty much be open to learning anything you have to offer :)

Hopefully by the end of the stay we'll share many great experiences and stories as well as a lasting friendship.

Países que he visitado

Botswana, England, Greece, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Wales, Zimbabwe

Países en los que he vivido

South Africa