I'm quite bad at filling in this type of questionnaires. Suffice to say that the diverse travels I've done for work and leisure, short and longer term, have really shaped who I am. I have learned to cherish brief moments with people met along the way, to be curious and explore as much as I can, as well as to respect the local culture (no least the food!) and respect the nature.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am (still) on Couchsurfing because CS is proven to nicely enhance one's travel experience, providing for the local connections which you need in order to learn something valuable as you travel. CS gave me long lasting friendships and inspired some of my new travel ideas.

[Written back in 2012, shortly after CS went down a 'for profit' path. As of 2019, I am not sure about point 1 anymore, while I might be more cautious about point 3, given a great influx of newcomers into the CS community]

Quick tips for newcomers who look for a host

1. If all you want is bed, be especially careful when making contact. Most of CS'ers (more than 70% I met) will expect from you social interaction. The rest don´t care.

2. Be very cautious with people with no references or odd ones.

3. Good idea is to enter the city's CS forum before visiting. Some big cities have an "Emergency couch" special forum, where with a bit of luck you can find a couch within hours.

4. I found it a good idea to bring little gifts along (I mean really little ones). Or, even better, to know how to cook a dish your country, region or culture feels proud of (provided you can fetch right ingredients at the destination)

Interests

• photography
• cooking
• coffee
• sauna
• movies
• chess
• reading
• traveling
• music
• surfing
• sports

Music, Movies, and Books

One who never travels thinks it is only his mother who is a good cook
[Kikuyu proverb]

When Nhanderu, the Creator,
had finished the creation of the World,
he hung up a hammock.
One end he attached to a stake
arising from the centre of the Earth,
and the other end he attached to his home.

[Guarani folk tale]

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Surfed perfect waves at Sorake (Nias, Indonesia), Mole (Sta Catarina, Brazil), and Tumbes (Peru). Survived surfing at Hookipa (Maui, US)
Played football in Kirkuk, Iraq
Interviewed Aceh guerilla fighters and the survivors of the Great Tsunami
Met Evo Morales, ex President of Bolivia
Witnessed a large oil spill in Peru
Survived a stroll in a 50 C heat in Qeshm, Iran
Gazed at the aurora borealis in Tromso, Norway
Enjoyed a whisky at Boabab Alley in eastern Madagascar
Swam with whalesharks on Mafia island, Tanzania
Climbed Mount Halgurd, Iraq's highest peak
Got invited to Hawaiian, Acehnese, Indian and Kurdish weddings
Visited Tikal, Guatemala
Played a bit with sea lions, giant turtles and whalesharks
Attended Croatia - Germany (3-0) in 1998 World Cup

Teach, Learn, Share

See: how I participate.

What I Can Share with Hosts

With my hosts: share travel stories, share contacts, have a local drink
With my guests (Warsaw): my 2.5m long hammock will be your couch

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, Czech Republic, Iraq, Mauritius, Poland, Spain

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