CURRENT MISSION

For my next trip I plan to go to southern China and then on into southeast Asia. I can't wait to get out there exploring new lands, meeting new exciting people, and experiencing different cultures again :)

ABOUT ME

A quest for answers drove me to the 'holy land' of Israel, when I took my first extended solo trip abroad at 18. And, although I found none there, I did discover a love for seeing the world and learning about it's many cultures. So began a lifelong journey around the globe, peeling back the layers of history to reveal the origins beneath as I go.
Over the last two decades I've backpacked, couchsurfed, and volunteered my way around six of the seven continents, and four of the five oceans that our world has to offer. Only the arctic is missing and.... what can I say....? It's just too cold for me there! Brrrr!

While I'm out every day when I'm traveling, when at my home up in northern England I'm much more of a hermit. It's often cold, grim and grey outside, and all the social venues tend to be caffeine or alcohol related; neither of which I partake in. As a result my place has become it's own social hotspot for like-minded people, which is great because then people come to me and I don't have to go anywhere, haha! I do like going to gigs though, and would like to go to festivals more regularly too. Live music is the best music :D

PHILOSOPHY

"The unexamined life is not worth living" Socrates.

So many people sleepwalk through their lives, blindly following along with rulers and traditions without ever examining the reasons why. Live your life the way you want to, don't feel that you have to conform to society's expectations.

I'm a gay, polyamorous, nature loving hippy, and the only rule I follow is the Golden Rule. ;)

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has" - Margaret Mead, anthropologist.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have had a number of travellers sleep on my couch since I joined CS, and have enjoyed the resulting cultural exchanges with them immensely. I get to meet fellow backpackers from the comfort of my own home. Brilliant!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've hosted, and been hosted by, a number of CouchSurfers since I signed up, and have had positive experiences with all of them. I love couchsurfing!

Interests

Travel, obviously! Also love computer games, especially strategy ones. Photography is an old hobby I've only just recently picked up again. Currently enjoying learning Tai Chi and Krav Maga.

• photography
• festivals
• movies
• traveling
• billiards
• music
• backpacking
• anthropology
• languages
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

First and foremost I'm a gamer. Board games, card games, tile games, dice games, roleplaying games, dexterity games, videogames.... it doesn't matter, I love 'em all!

I've collected comicbooks since the age of 3. 30+ years later and my collection is completely out of control, lol! I enjoy them so much though. I can't see me ever stopping.

Novels, I mostly read Sci-fi and comedy. I gravitate towards the same genres for movie and TV series too, for the most part.

For music I grew up on Trip Hop, Big Beat, Breakbeat, Jungle, DnB, Industrial, Hardcore, IDM, Alt Rock, Dubstep and Worldbeat.
These days I'm mostly listening to Electro Swing, Vaporwave, Chiptune, Downtempo electronica, Dancehall, World, and meditation/trip music.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Cycled the coastline from Sydney to Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, and all around Tasmania. PEDAL POWER! ;)

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a university qualification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. (CertTESOL)

I've always had an interest in spiritual and mystical practices, especially for what these days is often lumped together under the catch-all term of shamanism. Discovering the reason behind why all the major modern religions have always had such an overwhelming hatred of anything queer, will shatter the foundations of your whole world.
I've met and journeyed with the Xhosa in South Africa, the Nat Kadaw in Myanmar, the Huichol of Mexico, and the Cofan, Secoya, and Shipibo-Conibo tribes of the Amazon rainforest. I've also spent time with the Tibetan Bon, the Kinnara (more commonly known as Hijra) followers of Ardhanarishvara in India, and trained in Vajrayana tantric practices with followers of Avalokitesvara in Orissa and in Eastern Tibet. Gays are the gatekeepers!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belize, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Egypt, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Thailand, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, India, Israel, United Kingdom, United States