CURRENT MISSION

One way ticket to Australia!
Will be there from the 8th of March onwards..
First stop: Melbourne

Generally my mission in life is to live it to the fullest, adventure, enjoy people’s, as well as my own, company, and every now and then to find a couch to crash while exploring the world (when camping is not an option).

ABOUT ME

Social, friendly, positive and all that..but not your average Joe(;

I’m a passionate adventurer. I want to learn, see, do and experience, but on the other hand I'm down-to-earth and easy-going - balancing between calmness, curiosity, laziness, enthusiasm and action.

I have graduated as a photography-artisan and a nature&wilderness-guide. And I'm grateful that in recent years I’ve been able to make my living doing both.

You can find my photography behind these links:
instagram.com/mpxmark
facebook.com/mpmarkphoto

I consider myself a world citizen – I love traveling, I’ve been living in different countries and feel deep curiosity and respect, as well as connectedness, towards other cultures and foreign lands and their people!
For me traveling is about exploring the world and myself. I enjoy meeting and interacting with all different kinds of unique people, the local ones and the like-minded travelers, seeing and learning about different cultures and all the various wonderful forms life and nature has taken around the globe.

I've been in love with the nature ever since I was a little boy exploring all the wonderful things my childhood backyard and forest as well as the awe-inspiring sky had to offer. Since then I've been growing my interest in nature and extinguishing my thirst of knowledge. If there is one thing that I can always turn to for inspiration and positive energy it's nature.

My main "hobby" is photographing. Not sure if it’s me taking my camera for adventures or the other way around, but it surely feels like my ticket to adventures. I get too see so much more with my camera. I pay more attention, I see things in new light and with much more detail. The combination, of my thirst for adventures and my camera, takes me to places and makes me end up in situations where I probably wouldn't go or end up otherwise, whether it'll be in the nature or in a city.
With my photography I wish to share the beauty of our planet, and hopefully inspire people to go out an get their share of that beauty as well. Mother Earth is in bad shape because of our lack of respect and understanding towards it.

I could say that I'm a sporty person as well.
My main physical passions are climbing and hiking/trekking. I love going out camping in the northern Taiga-forests, exploring the jungles and rainforests of the tropics and doing rough excursions, conquering the mighty mountains of our planet.

And of course, life wouldn’t be anything without arts!
I like drawing and painting as much as I like drawings and paintings alongside all kinds of different art forms from dance to sculptures and everything in between.
And oh I love music too!
I enjoy listening to it, but I also enjoy making it - singing and playing different instruments like guitar, bass, drums, percussions, flutes and everything I can get my hands onto. I've been playing and performing in pubs as well as at bigger festivals.

Hahah, and here's a song with a video that totally sums up my world view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC-jau-fpJY

PHILOSOPHY

I am grateful, for I can explore, adventure, be curious, do new things, go to new places, meet new people, feel, think, live, laugh and love.. I always try to be as positive and optimistic as I can.

Every living and non living thing in this universe is equally important and should be equally appreciated and respected. We are all equally important parts of the greater whole.

The mind is our most powerful tool. We always have the possibility to feel grateful and happy no matter what is happening around us. When the times are really against you, then you just need a powerful mind to overcome the negativeness.. and of course loving people around you.

Physical and mental well-being go hand in hand.

If you're seeking happiness, the only place you can find it is in yourself.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

For the next year or so I’ll be traveling around Australia, and besides needing an occasional couch/place to stay, I'm always open to meet new people and offer my help and company.
Often when I'm traveling I tend to sleep in my tent (doesn't matter if summer or winter), but sometimes I come across situations when camping just isn't an option, and that's when I usually prefer couchsurfing rather than hostels etc.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Probably the most memorable one was in May 2013 I went to do a photo-reportage about La Patum-festival in Berga, Catalunya. Me and my ex-girlfriend ended up getting invited by a very nice and special guy who was living in a huge stone mansion, that was first built something like 1000 years ago. He was a farmer and could rarely leave his place, so he was very enthusiastic couchsurfing host and a very nice one too! We made food and spent time together, he introduced and guided us into the festival and a lot more!
I'm definitely planning to go back to meet him some day and couchsurf in his place again and to experience the unforgettable La Patum-festival again!

At the end of the year 2013, me and my ex moved into Geneva and we were desperately looking for a house to move into. It took us more than two weeks to find our own apartment, so couchsurfing pretty much saved us from ruin back then! Plus again we got to meet some really nice and helping people!

Interests

There was this section 'ALL about me' above already!

Well..:

-nature (space, animals, plants, minerals, forests, mountains, deserts, beaches, oceans/lakes etc. :D )
-science
-photography
-traveling
-different kinds of people and cultures
-climbing/hiking/trekking/camping
-music
-arts

• animals
• arts
• books
• singing
• photography
• festivals
• dancing
• dining
• pub crawls
• traveling
• socializing
• painting
• drawing
• music
• guitar
• drums
• hiking
• camping
• adventure races
• rock climbing
• science
• tourism
• beaches
• lakes
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Hands down my favorite band is Tool. But choosing a favorite musical category is impossible. I love jazz reggae, rock, funk, soul, blues, country, electronic and all kinds of exotic and ethnic music from around the world. Simply put, I love all kinds of music with playfulness, atmosphere, heart and soul to it.
No hit radio-bullshit, please!

Waking Life is one of those films that I always have to mention when talking about movies.

I enjoy poetry and philosophy literature as well.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

There's so many that I should write a book about them really:D
With the right kind of eyes and mind there's amazing things happening all the time, near and far.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd be happy to share my knowledge and skills about photographing, nature, wilderness skills, music, climbing, traveling, just to mention few.

I'd be glad to have discussions and conversations on any topic.

I'm always looking forward to learn new things from different people. I want to learn as much as possible about everything! (:

And of course I'm always willing to somehow pay my part when someone offers me a place to stay for free. Whether it's making food, cleaning or whatever I can offer as a gift in return.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Iceland, India, Italy, Monaco, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Finland, Norway, Spain, Switzerland