A humble chef, philanthropist and educator meandering around the world. After learning early on that the only secret to a happy life was making a living doing what you love, I made a decision to enjoy every day doing exactly that. If I had to label myself I would be an International man of adventure, living a life that unfortunately, most will only dream of. If I were a song, I'd be Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I call myself The Globetrotting Chef.
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Always in search of the perfect meal, my soulmate, the most beautiful beach, and my slice of paradise. It's been a wild ride for sure. My solo travels began nearly 20 years ago. After a few years of trying to live a "normal life", I sold it all to pursue my dream. I've spent the last several years building a non-profit foundation (NGO) in memory of my younger brother Dan. Now I'm back on the road, healing and trying to feel like me again.

"Buy the ticket, take the ride"

~HST

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

When I began traveling solo at 20, I had a totally obscure view of the world. The first barrier to fall and big realization to be had was how incredibly friendly and hospitable most people are. I remember countless acts of generosity which included strangers (who became friends) opening their homes to me. When I first learned about CSing it seemed like a great way to pay back the hospitality I've experienced as well as make new friends all over the world. So far, Couch Surfing has not disappointed and I love the platform!

Interests

Traveling
Hammocks
Teaching
Helping those living with addiction, mental illness and poverty
Eating/Cooking or anything that has to do with food!
Scuba Diving
Cannabis growing and processing
Making friends
Getting Lost
Motorcycles
Relaxing

Road Trips
Sailing
Fishing and anything else to do with water
Mixed Martial Arts
Poker/Black Jack/Craps or gambling in general
Movies
Fixing Things
Building race cars (Nissan and Infinti)

Reading/Writing
Camping
Hiking

Music, Movies, and Books

I LOVE movies and also love to LMFAO while quoting them with people.

MOVIES:
Cool Runnings, The Wire, OZ, Belly, Scarface, Boondock Saints, Platoon, Apocalypse Now, EZ Rider, Motorcycle Diaries, The Godfather I and II, Goodfellas, Casino, Shottas, Blow, Juice, American Gangster, KIDS, King of NY, A Bronx Tale, Once Upon a Time in America, Poseidon Adventure, Memphis Bell, Maverick, Hang em High, A Map for Saturday, Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Black Sheep, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, How High, Half Baked, Trainspotting, Up in Smoke, Traffic

BOOKS/AUTHORS:
Thomas Keller, Kitchen Confidential, Machiavelli, The Art of War, On War, Angels and Demons, Rouge Warrior, To kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, The New Mediation Handbook, The Age of Enlightenment, books on the history of war, meditation and relaxation. I don't read as much as I should but I'm slowing becoming faster and I don't like fiction, real life is much more interesting.

MUSIC:
I enjoy all types of music, if you were to let my Ipod play on shuffle, it would be a mix of reggae, rock, old school rap, R&B, metal, blues, even some opera and monk chants. My top 5 artists/bands are Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Slightly Stoopid, Disturbed, and 2pac.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Co-Founded the DCT Foundation Inc. NGO
Our mission is to fund and raise awareness for the distribution of the opiate overdose reversal drug "Naloxone". As well as the successful lobbying of both Congress and Senate to pass 2 new laws in the last 2 years. We also fund long term substance abuse treatment for those who cannot afford it.

Flew to a country I knew little about where I didn't speak the language. Opened my first restaurant with less than $1000. A small beachfront bar & grill in Puerto Cayo, Ecuador called Booby's Beach Bar & Grill

Lived in the house that Bob Marley was born in while working for his brother. Spent 2 months living with his family, learning and teaching cooking skills.

Helped pull a woman and her child from a crashed car

Saved my neighbor from his burning house

Made friends with a family of Humpback Whales in Tonga which I swam with often

Went diving for and found sunken treasure in the South Pacific

Owned a sailboat in the Florida Keys and taught myself to sail

Been part of a reality TV show about Treasure Hunting in the Caribbean

Spent a season cooking for Billionaires in the Alaskan wilderness

Rescued a failing bar/restaurant in Seattle, Washington.

Lived on an picture perfect South Pacific island, Nomuka Iki

Lived in a rural fishing village in Jamaica (Hope Wharf) on and off for years

Went diving with a school of Bull Sharks

Burned a spliff with Mama Tosh, (Peter Tosh's Mother) in Jamaica

Hiking to the top of Jerusalem Mountain (Jamaica) on 4/20 with a relative of Bob Marley. While I "expanded my consciousness", I watched the sun go down and reflected on my life. It was a majestic experience.

3k KM road trip around SE Asia on a $400 84' Honda Bonus 150cc

Skinny dipping on Rabbit Island, Cambodia with phosphorescent allege and Austrian sisters

Skinny Dipping on Utila, Honduras watching a meteor shower with my Swedeheart

Hiking 6 days to El Mirador through the Guatemalan Jungle

Climbing La Donta and El Tigre in Guatemala

Exploring the ATM cave in Belize

Riding through the Cardamon Mountains in Cambodia

Swimming with stingrays in the Cayman Islands

Climbing Coba ruins in Mexico

Spent 2 days alone with a seal colony in New Zealand

Bought a van, turned it into a camper and made a 14k KM road trip around New Zealand for 4 months

Countless memories from the open road

Countless amazing meals with many incredible people

Front row seats for Hurricane Paloma on a cliff over the ocean in Grand Cayman

Experienced a 7.8 earthquake in Ecuador that killed 1000s

Sun rises over the mountains across the sea in Jamaica

Sunsets from the open ocean

Wondering through Angkor Wat in Cambodia

Street Food in Penang, Malaysia and all over SE Asia

Dinner at Paul Bocuse, L' Auberge du Pont de Collonges

Teach, Learn, Share

I've lived an extraordinary life, through stories and education I give people an understanding about a world that most would never have an opportunity to experience.

I'm like a sponge lately, I can't get enough information! I love to learn new skills and be thrown into the deep end of new challenges.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Cooking is my passion and I love to share recipes and experiment in the kitchen. Sharing travel stories and life's ambitions are always fun. I love playing the "Last Meal Game"

Countries I’ve Visited

Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Chile, Ecuador, Fiji, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cambodia, Ecuador, Jamaica, New Zealand, Tonga, United States