I’m a sport tragic and foodie that loves music, meditation and sharing, live comedy and traveling the globe. Friends would probably describe me as laidback, talkative and always trying to make others laugh.

Authentic people and unique experiences are what I value most when traveling, so events with open-minded people appeals and I'm down for any and all weird things.

When I was solo in Europe for 8 months in 2016/17, my key memories of most cities were defined by the people I met, whether giving, receiving or sharing. I believe that locals (or semi-locals) almost always do it better which is why I love CouchSurfing :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Being Hosted: I love to get a local perspective on wherever my feet land and to fully immerse myself in the mystery of that culture - local people, food, underground nightlife and non-tourist experiences.

Hosting: In the past, my brother and I hosted CouchSurfers from our old family home, but it was organised through his account (www.couchsurfing.com/people/ashtraybroom). I'm keen to host some wonderful human-beings when I'm settled into my own place, whether in Melbourne or abroad.

Whether hosting or being hosted, ideally I'll spend my time with authentic, interesting and free-thinking people :)

Interests

Music: my taste is pretty open and eclectic as I can equally enjoy partying to heavy techno, cruising to journey beats or kicking back at a soulful jazz gig. If you’re keen for some new tunes, I have lots of carefully curated playlists here: https://open.spotify.com/user/1237321386?si=MF5Yu56HSS-joF3h_PYteg

Sport: I love most facets of sport and it represents a lot in my life personally and professionally. I follow Aussie Rules and football (soccer) most closely and the main sports I play are competitive futsal, tennis, squash and swimming.

Meditation and sharing: along with my own practice, I absolutely love to facilitate meditation and sharing for groups or at a 1-1 level. The sessions follow a simple process but are very transformative in their application, so I would love to spread this as far as I can and teach people the techniques to use for themselves and those around them. See more at: www.facebook.com/groups/integralmelbourne

Travel: I get itchy feet if settled in one place for too long as I have a thirst for adventure, exploration and new perspectives.

Comedy: really love to laugh and make people laugh. Big fan of live comedy - the more dark, offensive and witty, the better. I also enjoy doing improv classes :)

Festivals and markets: music, cultural, arts, food and drink, local markets, anything! I love feeling the buzz of people who are passionate about what they are doing.

Trying new things: I'm a risk-taking sampler that's open to trying (almost) anything at least once!

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: predominantly listen to tribal beats, techno, jazz, funk and soul. Some of my favorites include Fat Freddy's Drop, Porangui, DAVI, Metodi Hristov, Bon Iver, Christian Smith, Air, Nightmares On Wax, Stavroz, Richie Hawtin, Bonobo, OCNO and Be Svendsen.

TV: Narcos, Chef's Table, Dexter, Big Mouth, Arrested Development, Seinfeld, Breaking Bad, South Park, Rick and Morty and The Simpsons (back in the day) off the top of my head.

Books: love getting lost in fiction, but also very interested in sport, business, psychology, philosophy and spirituality.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Climbing Barcelona's Serra de Collserola and doing yoga atop the mountain was, quite literally, breathtaking!

Let me indulge a bit... I also (briefly) flew a cessna plane between the islands of Hawaii :)

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: I'm very happy to help anyone with English if it isn't their first language. As mentioned above, I also facilitate meditation and sharing for groups or individuals and I'd love to teach this to everyone I meet :)

Learn: I want to know the basics of your native language and discover the deep culture of your community, traditions and food. Always open to learning and experiencing new perspectives.

Share: I have lots of travel advice to share, particularly in Europe (I've been 4 times, including an 8 month solo stint). Other destinations over the last 1-2 years include Morocco, Bali, Hawaii, New York, Vietnam, Singapore and various parts of Australia. I have a handy list of notes for most destinations with local contacts, great eateries and bars, accomodation, fun things I did and areas I explored. I also believe sport has the power to connect people and defy barriers so I love to share this passion with others.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Hanging out: drinking, laughing, philosophising, partying and/or exploring together.

Tangible contributions: helping with cooking, groceries, cleaning and sharing whatever wisdom I've picked up along the way :)

Intangible contributions possible: gratitude, flexibility, energy, honesty, compassion and support.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Laos, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Ireland