I'm a son, brother, friend and traveler. I'm also a photographer, seeking to capture the beauty of Central Asia, the region I've lived in for the past two years.

I was born in America, grew up in London, and have lived not only in other parts of the UK, but in Russia, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan and now Kazakhstan. Traveling and getting to know people from different cultures are big passions of mine - for me they're the best education you can ever receive.

Spending time with friends and family is very important to me, I love getting to know new people and spending time chatting with them over coffee, good food or on a day out exploring. I also love watching movies, drinking good coffee and taking as many photos as I can!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've done a lot of traveling in the past, and for a few years was very active on Couchsurfing as I was exploring new parts of the world for the first time. I've been to over 50 countries, and hope to visit 100 in my lifetime. I'm now at a place in my life where I have a place of my own, which I share with a friend, and can host people from around the world as they visit the beautiful country of Kazakhstan.

Interests

In recent years I've become quite interested in trying different cuisines from around the world. I love learning how they can combine different flavours and spices to create tasty dishes. Alongside that, I'm an enthusiast of specialty coffee, and am always on the lookout for coffee shops that offer high quality drinks when I'm traveling.

Photography has gone from being a hobby to something I now do also for work. I'm the founder of Tsar Photography, a project to capture the beauty of Central Asia, its cultures, peoples and landscapes. You can find out more about the project at www.tsarphotography.com

• culture
• photography
• coffee
• movies
• traveling
• art
• friends
• exploring
• museums
• central asia

Music, Movies, and Books

I listen to a wide variety of music, but I'd say my favourite genres are indie, pop and folk right now.
I'm a big fan of independent comedies, such as Lost in Translation, Sideways and Little Miss Sunshine.
I'm not a big book reader, but have recently enjoyed reading the geopolitics books of Tim Marshall.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In autumn 2015, I traveled with a group of friends to the lower Himalayas of northern India. We traveled in a 4 x 4 up to a village which had only ever received four previous overseas visitors in its lifetime. We shared some tea with the local people, and they took us on a tour of the village.

Teach, Learn, Share

It takes time to become accustomed to a completely different culture. You'll probably experience culture shock, but that's okay. Try to figure out what it is that you're challenged by, and try to overcome it when you're next challenged by it. It's not necessarily going to become something you get used to, but you need to figure out what you need to do it cope with being around it in that environment.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share stories from the different countries I've visited, the people I've met and the places I've been to. I'm trying to get better at cooking, but I'd also be happy to grab a coffee or meal out and get to know my guests more.

Countries I’ve Visited

Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State, Viet Nam, Western Sahara

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States

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