CURRENT MISSION

to never make it to my destination

ABOUT ME

I believe in Never Never Land. Some people like to think I'm running away from responsibility, some people like to think I'm on a permanent holiday, I think I'm just trying to figure out what this adventure called life is all about.

I left the UK 4 years ago and spent a year in Africa, a year in Australasia, a year in Asia and now I'm in Canada. I've worked a lot whilst traveling (actually more working/volunteering than traveling), as this gives me the chance to really connect with a place and experience what it really means to be a part of the community rather than just passing through.

Since leaving the UK I've discovered rock climbing, which has increasingly replaced work/volunteering as my direction. Fu*k, its taken over my life.

Hoping to find a bit of climbing/living balance in Canada.

PHILOSOPHY

Everything, good and bad, happens for a reason. Sometimes that reason might not be apparent, be patient. Live life with an open mind because ANYTHING can and will happen.

Has served me well so far.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

So far I've taken much more than I've given to this amazing community. I did host briefly whilst back home with the folks, but I'm hoping to start balancing the scales when I get settled somewhere in Canada.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've always couch surfed indirectly. And I always have the best time, because of course locals know all the secret gems that make the place they live so special. So thought I'd better make it offical. The experience has never failed to dissapoint.

In the short time I've been on CS I've met some interesting, crazy and inspiring people that I've learnt a lot from. I just wish I'd known about it before.

Interests

Climbing, climbing, climbing and anything else that invloves nature and the wild.

Good, wholesome, yummy, home cooked food.

Learning about the world we live in and learning from others who are trying to figure it all out.

• dining
• baking
• dieting
• running
• partying
• politics
• traveling
• bouldering
• music
• rock climbing
• volunteering
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I know I'm listening to good music when I start to tingle all over. The latest tingle sensations have been due to Beats Antique, Bombay Orchestra, Fat Freddies Drop, Nightmares on Wax, Goyte, Katchafire, Bonobo, Morcheeba, Loren, Gotan Project....

One of the best things about traveling is all the reading you can clock up, and the discussions that ensue. Some of my best reads have been Shantaram, Brave New World, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Nelson Mandela's Walk to Freedom, Wild Swans, Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali anything by Khaled Hosseini, Paulo Coelho, Jon Krakauer....

I like movies that have something to teach me. Having said that I recall Snatch was a favourite.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Being thrown a leaving party by the villagers in Uganda, and knowing that finally I had been acccepted.

Brushing my teeth under a blanket stars, in the mountains of Xi Yuan. 100m waterfall to rinse the brush.

Watching a solar eclipse from the banks of the Ganges with 50000 Hindus and one friend. I was buzzing from the energy in the place for the rest of the day.

Living in a cave whilst bouldering against a Himalayan backdrop in India.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm a fan of the exchange of music.

I'm good at baking cookies and plum pies, and could probably do with a slightly more balanced diet.

I'll be a belay bitch anyday if you return the favour.

Wisdom - not sure I have any pearls but talking about philosophy, politics, the meaning of life or any thing else that makes my brain explode makes me very happy.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Botswana, China, France, India, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Rwanda, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Canada, China, South Africa, Turkey, Uganda