Though perhaps not entirely and perfectly accurate, people tend to describe me as warm, chatty, compassionate and inquisitive. I can probably never get tired of exploring foreign cultures. Even in a place that I've lived for years, like London, or Hong Kong, I am still very gratified by scouting the more hidden pockets of the city or the less travelled neighbourhoods, chill out at a local pub/ cafe, and check out how life's like there. I'm more intrigued by trips that involve interacting and hanging out with people living there, than by running after a long check-list of touristic sights/ landmarks for picture opportunities (which are of course also interesting in their own rights :p ). I enjoy the kind of exchange that involves learning about each other's life stories and cultures. More importantly, sharing of travelling stories! International friendships is a beautiful thing.

Being a bit of a language geek myself, I am also fond of picking up a new language every now and then. My current passion: learning Urdu.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

New to Couchsurfing!

Since as long as 5 years I've already started ditching the conventional hotel/hostel options and embraced the idea of staying with locals when I travel by doing Air-bnb. As the same time as I'm cosying up to the idea of doing more short but spontaneous, impromptu trips, I've heard quite a few earnest recommendation from my other wanderlust friends to give couchsurfing a go - something that has hugely enriched their own experiences abroad. So now here I am ready to make new friends and other fervent travellers, through couchsurfing!

Interests

• arts
• dining
• wine
• baking
• politics
• live music
• jazz
• cycling
• languages
• volunteering
• urban exploration
• cinema
• activism
• local history
• soul music

Music, Movies, and Books

Favourite Music: Frank Sinatra, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Al Green, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Damien Rice, Christina Aguilera

Films: The Great Gatsby, À la Follie Pas du Tout, Chungking Express, Gladiator, Spirited Away, Before Sunrise, Wall-E, Closer, Atonement, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In 2016 I'm learning to read and write the Arabic script!

And having (being dragged to) perform at the stage in a Turkish wedding in Istanbul.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am more than eager to teach you how to cook Okonomiyaki - a kind of Japanese savory pancake that is a delicacy in Osaka!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Hong Kong, Singapore, United Kingdom