CURRENT MISSION

Istanbul and back again riding solo by mid-summer

ABOUT ME

I'm 24 and trying to make the most of six months off I've been given before starting work in London in August 2012 by bicycling to Istanbul and then back to Paris through Italy. I like to think I'm open-minded, tidy, polite and get on with (nearly!) everybody. Plus I should be a very quiet and unintrusive guest as I imagine I'll be worn out from bicycling!

PHILOSOPHY

Learn by doing. Avoid what ifs.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Only surfing at the moment (see couch situation) but hopefully some day I'll be able to host too.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None (yet) through the website, but I was once saved from a night in Orte station by a fantastic Dutch couple who kinda figured what had happened when the conductor kicked me off at 1am saying my inter-rail pass wasn't valid. Heroes.

Interests

Travelling (I bet everyone says that!), but, more precisely, trying to travel differently - getting off the beaten track and find experiences and adventures that others don't. Hence biking to Istanbul solo for no real reason other than it's being there. I really enjoy the opportunities travel presents for meeting new people.

Obviously also tied in with my trip, another major interest is cycling. When I was at school I cycled the length of the UK for charity which was an awesome trip.

Finally, I love theatre and reading, though I never seem to have enough time for either.

• books
• reading
• traveling
• cycling
• surfing
• track and field
• history
• law

Music, Movies, and Books

Really into classics at the moment (both films and books) - Casablanca, Dr Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia - but also some more modern stuff. Though I'm not that into F1, I thought Senna was awesome.

Books, I loved Tom Jones, Birdsong and everything I've read by Hemingway.

Less good on music - haven't really renewed my collection since I stopped living with a guy who had literally everything ever recorded in 2006!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When I was working in Cambodia a couple of years ago my girlfriend and I were lucky enough to visit Myanmar and, more particularly, the temple complex at Bagan. We only had a day there, but we rocketed around on bicycles from 5am till 9pm, ending up having lunch with a local lady we had met in one of the temples and who lived in the adjoining monastery. Definitely the most amazing place I've been.

Teach, Learn, Share

I studied history at uni and did a lot of medieval and crusade-based papers which I really enjoyed and would be happy to chat about. Since then I've been studying law, but I also love a good chat about books I/people have read too.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Cambodia, Czech Republic, France, Gambia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Myanmar, Saint Lucia, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cambodia, United Kingdom