I've been working in Chiang Mai province as an educational tour guide for school groups since 2011 so even though I'm not Thai I know all the local places of interest and a lot of background knowledge. I can speak Thai too.

PLEASE NOTE that I live about 25km from the city. If you are interested in meeting other tourists you're probably better off staying somewhere else. If you would rather be in a quiet house with a great view then I want to hear from you! However, I recommend that you either come with your own transport or at a time when I am not working so I can be your chauffeur - there is not much to see around my house that you can walk to!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love hosting people and sharing stories and experiences. I want to give travellers the opportunity to see the same things that made me want to settle down here.

Interests

I like cycling, hiking, kayaking and anything else outdoors! I always pay close attention to the plants and animals I see and love learning about nature.

To socialise I like to chat about meaningful subjects more than gossip but I usually find I can get on with anyone who is remotely open minded.

• animals
• dining
• cooking
• chess
• socializing
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• kayaking
• camping
• tourism
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I can't talk much about books or movies. Music is much more my thing. I listen to quite a range: all sorts of electronic music from psybient to drum n bass to breakcore to minimal tech, I'm a former huge metal fan who still likes to dabble, I love ska punk and I'm also into jazz. You'll catch me listening to other stuff too.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One of my more unique experiences was finding a dog and her hungry, newborn puppies in a cave. She was too weak to care for them so had crawled away in search of food, getting wedged between rocks and lost in holes as they did so. By following the sound of their crying we eventually found all of the puppies that were still alive. We took them to a safe place and fed the mother and then she started to take an interest in her puppies. I don't know how many of them survived but one of them can now be found at my house.

Teach, Learn, Share

As part of my job I visit a lot of places in Chiang Mai province, especially Mae Rim, Mae Taeng and Chiang Dao districts and so I can take you on the activities below. Please note that all activities come with the option of going places that tourists don't usually see!
-Trekking
-Cycling (as long as I can get enough bikes together)
-Motorbike rides in the mountains
-Waterfalls
-Caves
-Visit hilltribes (real villages - not ones set up for tourists)
-Camping
-Fresh markets (and cooking local food)
-Temples (much better than the ones in the city)
-Tour of the educational farm at my place of work
-There's a bunch of other stuff to do around my house too!

Even if you do not stay with me you can ask for advice on all activities in Chiang Mai from trustworthy tour companies to ethical elephant camps :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ireland, Thailand, United Kingdom