I host strangers together for the best curated group travel experiences around the world.
Find my stories here: https://www.instagram.com/hkarteek/

I started traveling young.
I was 18 on my first solo trip and ever since then, I’ve traveled 90+ cities in 17 countries.

I’m not the kind of traveler who only goes to the tourist places or the famous monuments when traveling. I love living with people locally and understanding their culture, language, eat their food, talk about their beliefs etc.

I worked with AIESEC for 7 years, which thankfully made travel a lot.
It has given me a house to stay in at least 30+ countries.

I love meeting new people. It is a form of education, I believe.
New languages, perspectives, cultures, food—everything helps me become a better person.

I travel the world in search of stories of love, resilience, courage and kindness.
I aim to write and publish these stories. Do you have one to share with me?

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

“To see the world, things dangerous to come to,
To see behind walls, draw closer,
To find each other, and to feel,
That is the purpose of life.”

I believe that empathy, acceptance and human connection is the best way to make this world a better place.
I love connecting with people from across the world and hopefully leave a mark on their personal journeys, as so many of them have on mine.

Interests

• culture
• photography
• dancing
• cooking
• indian food
• cocktails
• fitness
• running
• walking
• partying
• movies
• socializing
• business
• history
• science
• mountains
• filmmaking
• youtube
• nature
• storytelling
• bars
• videography
• local food
• weight training

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
I have my phases haha!
Some days it’s 60s-80s Music. Jazz. Soul. Pop.
On other days it is Eminem or Divine (hindi rapper - check him out!)
Most days it is whatever Spotify suggests me to listen.
1 recommendation:
Safarnaama (Hindi song - do give it a listen!)

Movies: TOO many to list. I’ll just write some that I watch again & again.
A beautiful mind, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Begin Again, Tamasha, Marvel universe movies, Spider-Man movies

Books:
Anything by Khaled Hosseini, Shantharam, Catcher in the Rye, Man’s Search for Meaning, Ruskin Bond books, Forty Rules of Love

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

• I've run up the hill to catch the sunset from the Buda castle.
• I've gotten lost roaming around the cobbled streets in Prague.
• I experienced my first ever snowfall in Bucharest.
• I drank my first ever mulled wine on a rainy day in Bergamo.
• I've jammed on Bollywood movies with Syrian refugee kids in Egypt.
• I've walked alone around the silent, empty Medina of Tunis at midnight.
• I've lived a month in the quiet mountains of Mussoorie during the pandemic.
• I've attended a wedding in Istanbul, and spent a month exploring Turkey.
• I've taken a group of 3 friends abroad for the first time ever to Vietnam & Thailand.
• I’ve backpacked Sri Lanka with 7 strangers from twitter.
I've done this and so much more across 90+ towns in 17 countries.

Teach, Learn, Share

I’m a certified life coach and I’d love to have conversations that help you.

I can teach:
- Social media, running a business, team leadership, how to cook delicious Indian food, Writing, Running

I’m learning:
- Slow travel
- Content Creation, Filmmaking

Share:
- My Coaching experience, stories from my travels, Indian food recipe secrets.

What I Can Share with Hosts

- Book recommendations
- Movie recommendations
- Business strategy skills
- Social Media skills
- Fitness tips
- Running tips
- Indian cooking
- Stories from my travels

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Nepal, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

India