CURRENT MISSION

to live each day as it is my last.

ABOUT ME

I am often called as the "Crazy Asian" by the acquaintances that I meet when I travel. True enough, I have a crazy decision making pattern on travel plans. All my travels were unplanned and a result of my impulsive behavior on booking a flight to random places I just thought in a snap of a finger. I try to travel as often as I can and engage into something that will widen my cultural perspective. My goal is to be global citizen as I believe that an Asian living in Asia alone will not make a person globally competitive. There are a lot to explore outside the four corners of my room and that thrills me everyday...to learn new things, the world will offer.

I am fond of volunteer works and most of the time, I engage myself to volunteer related jobs during my travels. It makes me feel more fulfilled having both business and pleasure. It's a win-win situation for me and for the people whom I helped.

I am fascinated to learn new languages and things about certain place that I can't just read on books and Google on web. Experiencing it first hand will be awesome.

I have a huge appetite on various food. I am always ready to indulge on gastronomic adventure. Wherever I go, I always make sure that I try a certain place's street food because that is how I will really find the culture in a specific place. It may be risky but I rather eat street food than in a fancy restaurant.

I am often perceived as aloof or snob but I am totally NOT. I am the living proof that LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING. :)

PHILOSOPHY

I'm a firm believer of what Mark Twain said: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I would love to share everything that I know and everything that I can do to help someone learn something valuable from me. Through stories and random chit-chats, we can draw inspiration and lessons so I am very much willing to share my knowledge to everyone.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

As a cliche says: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

I wonder why I discovered CS so late. I just heard about it in July (2011) while I was doing some volunteer work in Russia and then I met a CS-er who inspired me to go Couch Surfing.

I had experienced staying with host families and the likes through an international organization that I joined but I haven't tried surfing through CS.

UPDATE (25/02/2012)

After a postponed CS trip in Sri Lanka in November 2011, finally I got the chance to couch surf with a friend in Dubai (February 2012). Awesome experience!

UPDATE(July 2012)
I went backpacking through CouchSurfing: Singapore-Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand.

UPDATE (September 2012)
I spent another weekend in UAE with a friend from Germany going on a road trip from Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman-Ras Al Kaimah-Abu Dhabi.

UPDATE (October 2012)
I extended my business trip in Dubai to surf with Yasser and accomplish my little goals that I haven't done despite traveling to Dubai for nth time: a.) take the public metro b.) meet a Dubai-based former colleague which I havent seen for 5 years. c.) go to Dubai mall and get annoyed on how huge the place is. (I will never be a fan of shopping malls)

Interests

I love to travel for the main reason that it is the best way to learn culture.
If I am an adventurous traveler, I am more adventurous eater err food connoisseur. I have a strange appetite for exotic food and beverages.
I take advantage of social networking and online journals as I express my thoughts on blogs.
I love to learn new languages and hope to converse in different languages.
I am fascinated of tattoos and body art having 6 tattoos (and wishes to have more)

Music, Movies, and Books

Spirited Away, Ran, Dreams, Trainspotting

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In 2009, I booked a flight to Qatar (while waiting for my internship to Colombia to be finalized)initially for two weeks which ended up two years and counting.

While staying in Omsk, Russia, I successfully placed an order in a pizza place where the menu is completely in Russian Cyrillic and the crew speaks only Russian.

This is somewhat petty and funny but isn't it cool to successfully wash your clothes in foreign washing machine (with no photos and instructions were written in foreign alphabet)?

In 2011, I survived a racial attack and underwent surgery in a non-English speaking hospital. It was LIFE -ALTERING EXPERIENCE that completely shaped me to who I am right now as a traveler.

Went for zip-line ride in Singapore with a wrong harness size...it was utterly UNCOMFORTABLE being CRUSHED in mid-air (if you know what I mean)

In July of 2012, I went to try Sky-diving simulator in Malaysia while nursing swollen ankes after falling 10 steps down in Batu Caves in the morning.

In September of 2012, went for a road trip to 5 Emirates in UAE in a span of two days.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach everything about the Philippines and some lessons about media, photography and broadcast.

Learn everything I can absorb because I believe everything on earth is valuable.

Share stories about my travels, life and interests.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Egypt, England, France, Georgia, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, North Korea, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, United Arab Emirates

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