Currently on a 6 month South America trip, so unlikely I can host. Unless my AirBnb happens to have space. :)

I'm a Malaysian citizen of Chinese, Portugese and Goan descent. Grew up in an island known for as a destination for culinary tourism and its World Heritage designated colonial buildings: Penang!

Both my wife and I are fairly well travelled. We both love learning about different cultures in a very grounded way. We do love the museums, but often I find that talking to people gives you a lot more context and colour. Hoping to meet people who can share what they love (and maybe hate) most about their hometowns (in the same way I would about mine).

We know how it can sometimes be daunting opening up your home to strangers. To ease your mind, we usually travel light, and are generally tidy guests.

Things we always look out for on a holiday and would share with our guests:
1. Outdoor adventures (hiking, scuba diving)
2. Art (museums, street, exhibitions)
3. Food (street food and when budget permits, fine dining)
4. Music (best local music scenes)
5. Bars where we can easily meet and chat with locals.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Just looking to grow my network, meet and learn from people of different cultures.

Interests

• dogs
• wildlife
• politics
• music
• hiking
• scuba diving
• business
• travel
• art
• nature
• outdoors
• jungles
• hiking mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm kinda behind the latest movies but there's a wide-range of films (documentaries and movies) that I enjoy. Off the top of my head, basically anything directed by Tarentino and Scorsese usually gets a thumbs up from me. I've been watching Peaky Blinders on Netflix. I think the last movie I watched which wowed me in the cinemas was "A Star is Born".

Here's a link to my Goodreads profile:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/56042396-gerald-tan

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hitch-hiked 1600 miles - from England to Morocco (2007).

Teach, Learn, Share

I've worked closely with governments, politicians and businesses across Southeast Asia. I have a unique insight and understanding into how politics and business in this region works.

I've been interviewed and have written articles on politics and business in Southeast Asia: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3010834/there-one-clear-winner-philippine-midterm-elections-rodrigo

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love cooking. Both learning new dishes and cooking for others. I'd love to cook a great Malaysian dish - but I can also do other cuisines.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Netherlands, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Malaysia, New Zealand, United Kingdom