CURRENT MISSION

I've been in Salvador for some time now and feel I am ready to host people and show them around the city. Also want to meet people who live here and I want to improve my Portuguese! Always looking for new experiences :)

ABOUT ME

Generally, I'm quite introverted. I've always prefered to stay at home reading, writing or listening to music. This has changed, to some degree, since I decided to stay in Salvador :) Though my work keeps me busy, or perhaps because of this, getting out is often exactly what I need to revitalise myself. Still, I don't mean wild clubbing or carnival-style parties. Red wine on the beach with a few friends, or one friend at home for profound conversation about life, the universe and everything is more my thing. I like tennis, fresco ball, and table-tennis. Football not so much, or any team sports, besides perhaps volley-ball.

After many years of "spiritualism" and philosophying, I've become pretty much split between extreme idealism and extreme cynism concerning the human race in general and what happens after death.

I love anything creative. From painting and drawing to writing to photography, and recently, fractal art. And am constantly frustrated by not having enough time for these. Writing has been a constant, sometimes saving my life. Also trying to learn to play the guitar (acoustic).

I've started reading the classics, after a life-time eclectic taste (from sci-fi/fantasy/historical fiction to philosophy/psychology). Am also always frustrated about how I'll never be able to read everything I want to. Especially after talking to fellow avid readers.

And I'm more of a cat person :)

PHILOSOPHY

Well, my philosophy changes all the time really. But essentially, it's the very cliché-ic: To learn and grow, and help others do the same by being a good example. Not always easy, of course.

I aspire to be The Fool on the Hill... ;) ... I think I sway between being wholly immersed in life, experiencing, and watching my life, observing. It's an art to keep the balance, living and being fully aware of that life. Sometimes, along the way, I meet people on the same journey who seem to do the whole thing effortlessly, and I envy them.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have hosted once so far and it was great :) Hope to do it more often... :)

Also, I intend to actually go to one of the Weekly couch-surfer meetings I get messaged about all the time, maybe start going regularly.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I heard about it a few years back and loved the idea... Then remembered it via a friend and checked in. So glad to see how much the idea has grown and succeeded! My experience thus far is only as far as I've come: Filling in my profile :P Again, hope to add much more here later.

Interests

As I said above, anything creative! I design websites for fun, and for money sometimes too .. Love to learn new skillz in this area. Most recent obsession is fractals! I have a blog about them, both 2D and 3D.Otherwise, I adore talking about life. From how the universe works to how the human mind works. Love to paint, draw, write, read, listen to great music and want to learn to play the acoustic guitar. A beautiful instrument!Oh and movies. Also an artform! I like things like The Fountain, Where the Wild Things Are, Amelíe, Finding Neverland, etc

• cats
• arts
• humanities
• writing
• design
• photography
• wine
• red wine
• partying
• clubbing
• movies
• reading
• team sports
• socializing
• blogging
• painting
• drawing
• music
• guitar
• surfing
• sports
• soccer
• tennis
• psychology
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Argh... I'll come back and fill this in later... So much! And its getting late. Well, ok, off the top of my head, as things stand now, my Number Ones :

Movies: The Fountain, Where the Wild Things Are, Amelie, Finding Neverland

Music: Rufus Wainwright, The Beatles, Damien Rice, Jeff Buckley, Depeche Mode, ELO, Radiohead

Books: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, The Lord of the Rings (and anything else) by Tolkien, Dune Series by Frank Herbert

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Oh man... Sections like this make one think about just how _little_ one has done/seen :P ... Actually, deciding to stay in Brazil after originally intending to stay only for 5 weeks gave me quite a rush :) ... I left so much behind, and my life has changed in such profound ways, that I can't call it anything less than amazing.

Something amazing I've seen would be the Cango Caves in South Africa. Truly beautiful!

And taking part in an Ayahuasca Ceremony... Very hard to relate. Amazing. Terrifying. Humbling. It took me deep within myself, and I found both light and darkness.

Teach, Learn, Share

Hmm.. Couch-surfing University.. Sounds like a good idea! I'll think about things and add something here later :)