Hey! I'm Janaka, a 27 year old underwater fashion photographer currently based on the Gold Coast but moving to Melbourne in August - I'm an avid outdoor adventurer - rock climbing, surfing, kayaking, mountain climbing, skateboarding and more! I love to cook so I'm always happy to contribute my cooking skills in exchange for a couch to crash on. I'm learning Japanese and French, so if any hosts speak these languages that would be even better! I'm well travelled, having lived in France for a year, and for various amounts of times in India, Japan, Vietnam, America and more.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. It's much more fun than sitting around in a hotel room by yourself. Connecting with strangers who become friends is one of the most rewarding parts of life. I love to learn new skills/languages/views and share and teach what I can.

Interests

Photography, Freediving, Surfing, Skateboarding, Rock Climbing, Music (playing and listening), cooking (Italian/Indian/Japanese are my specialities), Travel

• fashion
• photography
• cooking
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• kayaking
• adventure races
• surfing
• skateboarding
• rock climbing
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Jeff Buckley, Damien Rice, John Mayer, London Grammar, Ben Harper, Ben Howard, Massive Attack, Portishead, Sigur Ros, Ray Lamontagne, Radiohead

Books: Tis', Shantaram, Water for Elephants, The Kite Runner, Atlas Shrugged.

Movies: Into the Wild, The Pianist, Lord of the Rings, Matrix, Inception, City of God, Grave of the Fireflies, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The 100 foot Journey

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Spent two weeks photographing the first adventures of a baby polar bear cub to be used on international billboard campaigns.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'd love to take a beautiful photograph of you or cook an amazing meal in exchange for crashing on your couch! I'm very friendly, relaxed and outgoing. I am extremely respectful and you'll never find your personal space left untidy.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, France, India, Japan