I come from the mountains, when I say the mountains, I mean from some of the highest mountains on planet earth, including the second highest K2. The region is called Gilgit Baltistan and my home town is in the (what people say most beautiful valley) but I find it okay, yes The Hunza Valley.

The Valley is known for its unique culture (you’ll find lot of videos on YouTube), primitive lifestyle, longevity of life and close to zero carbon footprint but recently it has changed because of mass tourism. When I say mass tourism , I do not mean the ones we get to see in Rome or Bali, but every year it’s increasing.

I am currently based between Germany and Switzerland, doing my PhD in Medienwissenschaft und Islamwissenschaft. I travel a lot. Currently on a tour to Mexico, USA and Canada. I speak multiple languages including Wakhi( my mother tongue), Brushaski and Shina which are not available on CS recommended languages. Since 2017 I am constantly travelling. I travelled to almost 50 countries in the last five years. My longest stops has been Kashgar China, London U.K. Austin USA , Marburg Germany and Winterthur Switzerland. Hopefully will travel to another 50 countries in the next five year before I retire and decide to settle at one place :)

I have a hobby of editing videos in my free time, just like other people do arts in their free time. These videos occasionally ends up on YouTube. So am I a YouTuber? That upto you to decide.

I also follow Iranian cinema closely and can recommend you many excellent films. I can teach basic photography and film editing.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I come from a background where there is no ‘I’, it’s ‘we’ or ‘us’. By that I mean , individualism is almost non-existent and everything is communal. This means that relationship are neither transactional nor material. There is no expectations involved in any human relationships. Money lies at the periphery and value of human being is at the center. This might sound a bit too exaggerated but to experience it, you have to travel to Hunza. I joined couch surfing in 2010, since then I have seen it’s evolution. I hope it upholds it’s spirit and may the community thrive. I see this community as a form of resistance to capitalism and its aspiration to see us homogeneous, reducing us all to surplus and profit. Let’s embrace this community, our diversity and heterogeneity. ✊

Interests

Filmmaking, hiking , rock climbing, skiing, buzkashi

• movies
• meeting new people

Music, Movies, and Books

Any form or genre of music that includes spiritual/mystical lyrics ( that sounds strange right? ) Well I am into Sufi-music if that exists as a genre?

I read quite diverse but currently stuck in only boring academic books related to media, theology, and films

Watching any art film is an art in itself but watching Iranian art films, makes you the greatest artist:)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Climbed 7000m peak in the Karakorum

Teach, Learn, Share

Mountaineering, Photography, Filmmaking, history, philosophy, religion

What I Can Share with Hosts

Amazing food recipes, adventure stories, filmmaking/photography classes, language exchange , talks on high altitude climbing, religion and cultures.

Countries I’ve Visited

Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Pakistan, Switzerland, United Kingdom