CURRENT MISSION

Write a kick-ass guide book about Japan!

ABOUT ME

I'm a Canadian writer on the hunt for great people and fascinating stories. I like learning, meeting new people, doing things that scare me, dancing and trying new food.

I'm currently writing the 4th edition of National Geographic Traveler: Japan so I'm spending quite a lot of time traveling and researching recently.

PHILOSOPHY

"Why do I live my life?" That's a sort of funny question. Biological instinct of self preservation? Not much choice in the matter?

As for a goal or ethos or principle to live by, I want to live fully and not die feeling as though I blew it or wasted my time. I'm trying to find something to devote myself to, a cause I can help, but finding one is difficult.

Por qué estoy en Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I met a few people when I lived in Kyoto and then spent a year traveling, during which I met a few CSers.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've had one guest so far, met a couple people for meals, and I've stayed with two hosts. I hope to meet lots more people from now on!

Intereses

These days I am trying to spend a lot of time writing and traveling, even if just around Kyoto. I like hiking and history, so the mountain trails covered in buddhist relics are pretty neat. I try to read as much as possible and although I love watching anime, I am trying to cut back. I really like dancing too, and at Ko Phangan's full moon party I either received laughter or high-fives for my crazy dancing: opinion is divided, so you'll have to see it for yourself.

• writing
• books
• literature
• photography
• full moon party
• dancing
• dining
• partying
• flying
• anime
• traveling
• hiking
• buddhist
• history
• tourism

Música, películas y libros

Jeez, that list should be Books first, then music, last movies.

BOOKS
--Zorba the Greek - Kazantzakis. Favorite book. I read it in university and nearly wanted to quit school. Zorba's character is well done and inspiring.

MUSIC
--The Tragically Hip - Woooo best Canadian band ever!

MOVIES
--Monty Python and the Holy Grail - I really like this breed of humor.

Will add more later.

Algo increíble que he hecho

I'm a bit of a late bloomer in the adventure department, but I spend a lot of my time traveling in Japan solo. Most of the foreigners I see here are in big clusters or in pairs, so I guess going off on my own counts for something.

I hiked the length of the Daisetsuzan range in Hokkaido last summer about 100km in 5 days. That was pretty cool.

Oh ya, one of the last times I went out for dinner I ate some ridiculous stuff. Cow larynx, 2nd stomach, lung, artery --- who put this stuff on the menu?

I traveled for an entire year recently, visiting 10 countries and only flying twice.

Enseña, aprende, comparte

I know a fair amount about Japanese buddhism. I'm well read in world literature. I can teach basic photography with digital SLR equipment (I'm still learning myself). I like Mac computers and am fairly proficient, though I still get stumped with some thorny problems. I defy you to out-dance me.

Países que he visitado

China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam

Países en los que he vivido

Canada, Japan

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