A 'checkered' career I guess! I've just set-out on a one-way trip to Europe hoping to see parts that I haven't seen on previous trips.
I worked as a portrait photographer for four years, then a University researcher and lecturer. For seven years I taught groups of American students about Australian ecology. I took them in the rainforest and bush to give them an understanding of the landscape. Then I spent five crazy years as an exploration geologist, mostly in the wilds of Mongolia, Indonesia and Turkey.
I've traveled to about 85 countries (just a few listed below), published about 80 academic papers, and now I'm trying to learn computer graphics. At the end of last year I went to Guatemala and got my TESOL certification.
I own a small (0.9 Ha) patch of cut-over rainforest on New Zealand's West Coast, which I am trying to ecologically restore, and one day, build a little cabin on.

A good way to figure me out are from my blogs on www.mikepole.com

Oh, and I don't watch TV, and wouldn't have the faintest idea about various sports (soccer, rugby, baseball, etc)... (:

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Travel is so much about meeting people. Trading stories, picking up a few words of their language, getting their perspective on local or global politics. I'm new to Couchsurfing - my travel accommodation in the past has been mostly back packers, cheap hotels, and the homes of some people I've met while hitch hiking. Couchsurfing seems like an ideal way to meet local people.
I've just sold my house, so I can't reciprocate. The last year and a half of that it was AirBnB, so I do have some idea of hosting, though I didn't live in the place over that time.

Interests

• traveling
• hiking
• ecology
• mythology
• archaeology
• climate change
• portrait photography
• walking in nature
• ecological restoration
• computer graphics
• history and culture

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: old fashioned rock and alternative ('Golden Brown', The Stranglers; 'What I Am', Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, 'Life's An Ocean', The Verve; 'Echo Beach', Martha and the Muffins; 'Little Talks', Of Monsters And Men)
Movies: Not much of a movie-watcher, but do like good dramas or thrillers. Sometimes happy to zone-out to something like the 'Bourne' series.
Books: I usually have several on the go at any time. Typically history, anthropology, climate change, global politics.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Last year I solo'd Australia's Larapinta Hiking Trail. All up it involved about 160 km of trekking, without a tent, and no re-supply. The days were hot, but two nights it dropped below freezing. My water bottle froze, and one morning, even the end of my sleeping bag was covered in ice.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories!

Countries I’ve Visited

Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Russian Federation, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, China, Denmark, England, Mongolia, New Zealand