Completed three leisurely cross-country drive (in the past 3 years) utilizing the kindness of Couchsurfing for all three long journeys/adventures. Always to do some hiking, some winetasting, some ballgames, and lots of other things that aren't tourist traps so that I can enjoy certain areas from the perspective of a local. In 2017 alone, I did the southern U.S. route in January, and then returned on a northern route in the spring. --------- MY AFFAIRS WITH COUCHSURFING: Meet more people than I already know... in order to find more personal inspiration... whether that involves making new friends... falling in love again... finding new stories to write about. Thanks in part to Couchsurfing, I followed my stomach and curiosity on a solo cross-country drive (March-April 2015) from Los Angeles to New York City along the southern states--and then up the Atlantic seaboard. The Couchsurfing way of life is the next best way to travel (besides traveling with a girlfriend or best friend) meeting so many great people I met along the way (i.e. CS hosts, new friends in wineries, other hikers in remote spots, someone who traded eye contact at the bar). I enjoyed the AirBNB hosts I met in Europe (Summer 2014) in Prague, Krakow, and Paris, but I'm sure I would have enjoyed CS there even more. Attended a couple CS events in Paris that July. ABOUT ME: Clean, respectful, intelligent, polite, easygoing, curious, low-maintenance. Among my friends and colleagues, I'm known for being an awesome connector of people. I guess being a writer helps me to ask the right questions, to listen thoughtfully, and to understand people. Part of me actually gets embarrassed when my friends refer to me as their "coach" or "mentor". I also run a professional networking group in New York City called "The M/E/T" which focuses on the convergence of Media/Entertainment/Technology. In my spare time, I am determined to alleviate homelessness in America by creating a unique crowdfunding platform that reconnects the homeless back into our society. *** Ask me about it, because I would love to know what homelessness solutions you see in your part of the world! MY PERSONAL PHILOSOPHIES: Don't sweat the small things in life. And always double-check your work and be mindful of how you behave, because every little thing you do always carries the potential to make an everlasting impression on someone else. Make healthy New Year's resolutions in order to better myself...and stick to them! (Last year, I vowed to re-try 12 foods that I thought I didn't like ever since I was a kid.) MY ONLINE FOOTPRINT: https://instagram.com/kennethandrewong/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethonguvaucla/en https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.ong.5458 https://www.facebook.com/groups/The.M.E.T.networking/

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I used to be more bi-coastal between my beach life in Los Angeles, and my urban life in New York City. Now, it's probably more NYC and Washington D.C.

To meet people in NYC, sometimes you need to get away from the noisy bars & clubs to have real conversations. Last year, I formed a professional networking group here called "The M/E/T" which hosts cool mixers, panel events, and workshops for people with particular interests in Media, Entertainment, or Tech.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/The.M.E.T.networking/

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Any time that I notice a visiting tourist (especially a solo one) who is so overwhelmed that he/she doesn't even know which question to ask someone first, I try to offer my assistance. Because I know from experience what that's like when I'm in other countries or remote territories.

Heck, even though I speak English as my native language, it's hard sometimes to understand people in the Deep South! :)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

AirBnB is great, especially when I was last in Europe. But traveling is even better when you can meet locals in the places where you visit.

Interests

Tennis in New York Central Park.
Beach volleyball in Los Angeles.
Hiking especially in Malibu.
Winetasting trips anywhere.
Constant learning & networking.
Planning dinner parties.
Listening to TED Talk style events...but live.

You are as old (or young) as you feel. You would never guess my real age if we met on the road. Even my closest friends hardly know. My secret??? Drink a lot of red wine. Eat a lot of red meat and junk food. Sleep little. Play lots of sports like someone just out of college. And make good friends easily!

• arts
• writing
• dining
• wine
• red wine
• partying
• drinking
• clubbing
• happy hour
• technology
• news
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• hiking
• sports
• tennis
• volleyball
• communications
• tourism
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

I listen to podcasts more than music. I absorb more knowledge instead of entertainment.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Taking enough time in between jobs to really travel and enjoy life. Don't wait for retirement to travel the world!!!

After once leaving my job with Disney, I bought my Ford Explorer, a laptop, a cooler, and a sleeping bag, and spent weeks driving north from Los Angeles across to Canada--vowing to stop at every National Park and winetasting region along the way. And avoiding as many interstates as I could (northward) in order to see and appreciate more of America. Of course, this was all before couchsurfing.com.

Other incredible travels that will stay forever in my memory: Cinque Terre... Positano... Interlaken... Australia (even with my then ex-girlfriend)... Paso Robles wine region... Las Vegas...

Teach, Learn, Share

I tell people that the only big difference between you and me is that "I'm stupid enough to call myself a writer. It doesn't mean that you don't have better stories to tell than I do."

I like asking and listening to other people's stories. Which is great when you meet so many nice people with different perspectives around the world.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My perspective. Stories about the stories I'm writing now. And maybe a recently purchased bottle wine from my car.

Tips on fun, memorable, and cheap/free things to do in Los Angeles or New York City--especially when it's warm out!

As a blogger, I also wrote this helpful guide to non-tourist trap activities in NYC that many people have loved for meeting cool people.
https://flamingbagofpoo.wordpress.com/2014/07/20/best-new-york-city-pick-up-spots-for-awesome-single-millennials/

More NYC tips that other travelers seem to have liked in the past:

The Skint newsletter - where locals look for fun things that pop up for that day.
http://www.theskint.com/

Free Museum days - free, or donate-what-you-want (like $1, even)
http://www.nyc-arts.org/collections/35/free-museum-days-or-pay-what-you-wish

Eventsy - My event partner's own social & professional networking organization
http://www.eventsy.com/calendar/

Gary's Guide - A great source for entrepreneurial and tech events...sometimes offering free tickets. Of course, most tourists just want to see the Empire State Building, Times Square, and hang out in a dark bar with super loud music. But if you want to meet locals and hear the amazing stuff they are doing to help change the world, then check out an event. Some are just happy hours...some have great informative speakers. You might like a group called "Women 2.0".
http://garysguide.com/deals

U.S. Open Tennis Tournament - The tournament grants free grounds pass entry to the outer courts and main courts on certain days (such as the entire week of qualifiers and practice schedules leading up to the tournament in late August). Best way to see your stars up close for free during the day.
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2015-08-13/2015_us_open_to_feature_free_grounds_admission_sept_10.html

Countries I’ve Visited

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Saint Lucia, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Philippines, United States