CURRENT MISSION

Live life to the fullest. I feel blessed to have good health and that's why I try to make the most of it, by exploring my natural surroundings, by going to beautiful caves, lagoons, beaches, forests and rivers in the Philippines. Thankfully I have a job that allows me to do this. I also am trying to be more active in ecological conservation work and eco-tourism.

ABOUT ME

"Behold I do not give lectures or a little charity.
When I give, I give myself."
-Walt Whitman

I am a trek guide and if you like, you can avail of my day trips too. You can find out more about it through these websites:
http://freddaruth.tumblr.com
http://instagram.com/freddaflintstone
https://www.facebook.com/pg/freddaruth/reviews/

PHILOSOPHY

My life is very simple, open, and minimalist. I tend to travel light- emotionally, physically. I have few worries and cares in this world. I cry when I'm sad, laugh when I'm happy. I go where the sun shines. I try to adapt to crises and changes with serenity.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

show people Philippine culture
I like to meet up with fellow CSers, whether local or foreign, for dinner, quiet coffee and chats, hanging out, bars and live music, dancing (I love it!) and general rowdiness.
for travellers, I can show them around Manila, the interesting sights and sceneries, even the underbelly of Manila, the ones not normally known by tourists. even accompany them to one of the outer islands.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

After my first taste of meeting two locals in HK and traveling with a tourist in HK, I am happy and can't wait for more. I got really lucky with the people I've met so far. I would love to return the pleasant experience to others visiting the Philippines, paying it forward so to speak.

So far I have hosted one CSer from germany, one Reverend from India, a girl from Indonesia, a student from Germany and a guy from Turkey. It was a nice experience and I enjoyed opening my home to them. They are polite and well-mannered.

So far I have met and showed around several interesting exotic foreigners the city of Manila and I enjoyed it a lot, even though we were walking in the scorching mid-afternoon tropical sun! So far an Iranian, Turkish, Indonesians, Jews, Japanese, Polish ... hope I meet people of strange colors and creeds from around the world!

I enjoy attending weekly dinners w/ expats and locals in Makati and socializing and partying and clubbing, but what I love the most is joining local trips w/ CSers. I even organized a camping trip in Palaui island, also a day trip to the waterfalls in mt. Romelo. I also enjoy attending party jeepney, Thirstdays, museum visits, food events and others with the CSers.

Most of all I loved going to the waterfalls, rivers and mountains with the CSers!

Interests

ancient civilizations, world history, world politics, the paranormal and occult, sociology, anthropology, literature, red wine, levitation, DC Vertigo comics, travelling and backpacking, taking vanity pictures of myself, traveling to India (still a dream for now), being close to nature, bookclub, freethinker club, videogames, Pink Floyd, films by Werner Herzog, etc.

• culture
• literature
• dancing
• dining
• wine
• red wine
• coffee
• walking
• partying
• clubbing
• politics
• comics
• movies
• traveling
• socializing
• blogging
• music
• live music
• backpacking
• camping
• anthropology
• history
• sociology
• rivers
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Journey to the end of the Night by Celine.
The Colossus of Maroussi by Henry Miller.
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.
The Flounder by Gunter Grass.
The Book of Memories by Peter Nadas.
books by Jerzy Kosinski.

movies-
The Sacrifice by Andrei Tarkovsky
Wild Strawberry by Bergman
Modern Times by Charlie Chaplin
Biyaya ng Lupa by Manuel de Silos
film noir classics by Hitchcock, the Maltest Falcon, The Big Sleep, Night of the Hunter, etc.

music-
all sorts, from Bob Dylan, Slayer, Toots and the Maytals, Nine Inch Nails, Nick Drake to The Clash, Teenage Fanclub and Ornette Coleman

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

seeing and being terrified by a huge komodo dragon in its natural habitat in Flores, Indonesia

Teach, Learn, Share

people from strange cultures always fascinate me.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Philippines

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