Australians are typically viewed as laid back and openly friendly, and I like to think I follow that stereotype.

I have traveled a lot in the last 7 years and at last count had been through close to 50 countries in that time. Including having lived and worked in Samoa and the United Kingdom (I got 'sent to Coventry').

When not working or traveling I like to paint and draw. I get compliments about my art, but I think I have a long way to go in that regard. I love to spend time with friends, usually over a boardgame of some kind.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I think meeting locals is the only real way to say you know a country, which is why I value my time working in Samoa and the UK so much. One way to do that is through couch surfing.

I built myself a new home in 2016 and have only moved into it this year, but it is big enough that I rattle around in it, and since I have a spare room it seems only fair to share it with travelers. And in truth I have loved all the experiences I have had with backpackers, hitch-hikers and travelers over the years. So I have high hopes that will continue with couchsurfing.

Interests

• arts
• board games
• traveling
• painting
• drawing
• music
• hiking
• food
• friends
• massage
• foodie
• art museums
• bushwalking
• painting and drawing
• food lover
• rambling

Music, Movies, and Books

Books:
Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
Fires of Spring - James Michener
Unbearable Lightness of Being - Milan Khundera
Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien

Music:
The National
Mumford and Sons
The Decemberists
Damien Rice

Movie:
Serenity
Bladerunner

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Having done many more than one amazing thing in my time I will instead describe a great traveling experience.

I once drove all the way South from Santiago Chile down the dirt road that passes for a National Highway, crossing backwards and forwards into Argentina as the road does. Seeing volcanoes, beautiful coastal vistas, amazing lakes and the isolation of that Southern part of the world. Then I boarded a boat and toured the glaciers and coastline of Cape Horn, and eventually landing in Tiera del Fuego in Argentina. Then drove up through that area as well as Perito Moreno where you can watch chunks of ice the size of 10 story building shear off the face of the glacier and crash into the lake below.
A fantastic part of the world to have seen.

Oh... another traveling story that comes to mind is turning up in Germany and my passport was so full that the passport officer couldn't find a place to stamp it. He had to go get a form and fill that in, and then he stamped that and made my carry that around till I left the country.

Teach, Learn, Share

Life is a lot simpler than it is made out to be. Simply enjoy it for the flawed puzzle that it is rather than expect it to be perfect and logical. Find the joy in the experiences you have; not only in the experiences you want.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I hope good company, and many travel stories.

I do like to take my host for a dinner if they have time. It is a good way to get to know each other.

Countries I’ve Visited

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominica, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Samoa, United Kingdom, United States