CURRENT MISSION

To experience and explore the wilderness of our world

ABOUT ME

Hi all! I am a sociable guy, quick to laugh and see the funny side of life. I enjoy exploring, traveling and experiencing different cultures; more so now I live abroad. I like to keep myself busy, whether its socialising with friends, meeting new people or trying new things out.

PHILOSOPHY

Perhaps it's a bit cliched, but "do unto others as you would have others do unto you" sounds about right. As for choice of profession, I want to do work that is beneficial for society and the environment, rather than feeling I am stuck in a job I don't like and don't feel is positive. Looking for longer term fulfillment.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Socially with other surfers in Zurich and those in the places I visit.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Since moving to Zurich have met and socialized with a lot of couch surfers here and like the open, friendly, inquisitive attitude that everyone has. I have been looking to do this for a while - and having met so many surfers and heard their enjoyment in participating I want to get involved.

Interests

I love getting outdoors, I am a really keen hiker and diver and next on my list is climbing and mountaineering. I also like wildlife and landscape photography which I try and practice when hiking and traveling. I have been lucky enough to have done a fair amount of this as I am a tropical forest biologist. I have completed fieldwork in Central and South America and in Southeast Asia. I love getting into the wild and away from the daily grind. So naturally I am also quite green and take an interest in environmental issues.

• wildlife
• photography
• environment
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• canoeing
• mountaineering
• scuba diving
• rock climbing
• swimming
• biology
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

For movies I love dark comedy - my favourite director therefore has to be Wes Anderson - I love his films 'Rushmore', 'The Life Aquatic' and 'The Royal Tenenbaums'. Love things like 'American Beauty', 'Donnie Darko', 'Closer', 'Match Point' and the like

I prefer fiction over fact when it comes to literature. I am huge fan of science fiction (Ian M. Banks, Issac Asimov, Frank Herbert, Philip K. Dick et al) and fantasy (J.R.R. Tolkien, E.R. Eddison, Steven Erikson), and additionally historical fiction like the Sharpe series. I also really like exploration accounts and stories of voyage into the unknown - I've recently read about the Kon-Tiki expedition, 'A naturalist on the river amazon' by Henry Walter Bates, and am enjoying 'the worst journey in the world' - by Apsley Cherry Gerard about Scott's expedition to the South Pole!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Canoeing on the River Amazon, watching river dolphins breach and macaws go overhead - and hitting caiman in tiny canoes (Not recommended!). Swimming in underground caves by candlelight and catching boa's in Honduras. Watching Orang-Utans from my room in Borneo. Trekking in Corsica. Never happier than relaxing in my hammock after a hard days trekking, listening to the sound of the forest. I love getting away from the rat-race of modern life and taking things slowly, or appreciating life through simple living

Teach, Learn, Share

Trying to learn a couple of languages at the moment; improving rapidly at Malay, but deteriorating rapidly at German!

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, France, Germany, Honduras, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Spain, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Switzerland, United Kingdom

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