ABOUT ME

It's always tricky to describe yourself on these things...so I shall default to the slightly easier, more comfortable method of describing what I like doing and what I am doing...

I'm currently travelling through India, started in the Punjab and heading southwards to finish in Trivandrum, Kerala, where I will be volunteering for 3 months.

I've been travelling on and off over the years both to far flung places and those closer to home, and always find that the most memorable experiences are those spent with interesting people met along the way. I tend to opt for slower modes of transport - trains being a big favourite way to see the landscape. Recently travelled overland from Tanzania to South Africa, including a 3 day train journey on the Tazara route - definitely recommend it!

Also hugely enjoy travelling by bicycle - there's something very satisfying about carrying your own home along with you on the back of a bike. The slower pace means you see a lot more of your environment and meet a lot more people along the way.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hosting and surfing...Had some great experiences surfing in Poland a few years ago. Was able to return the favours to people passing through Liverpool by co-hosting a few surfers in my last house. No current house to host but hopefully when I return to the UK I can get back into the swing of things.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Have had some great couch surfers come to stay when I lived in Liverpool (my old housemate was a longterm CS-er)

Met some incredible people in Poland (Warsaw and Krakov) and was treated like one of the family in Vienna, Austria by the loveliest hosts. There is literally no better way to see a city, getting the best guided tours you could wish for (and as many gherkins you can stomach...)

Interests

Walking, cycling, camping, exploring, live music, festivals, reading, finding cafes to read/eat cake/drink tea in/play music/listen to music in, charity shop shopping (grabbing a bargain), pubs, big-all nighters with ridiculous dancing (heavy use of the knees)...learning about the world, different ideas and approaches to living, delving into different cultures

I enjoy eating and making delicious vegetarian dishes.

Cheese related jokes are a favourite...."What does a cheese say to itself in the mirror?""Hall-ou-mi!"

• festivals
• dancing
• environment
• cheese
• vegetarian
• walking
• drinking
• pub crawls
• shopping
• reading
• traveling
• investing
• music
• live music
• violin
• cycling
• camping
• surfing
• volunteering
• tours

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: No genre in particular, I like all sorts of different things: Bjork, Caribou, The Dirty Projectors, Joanna Newsom, Wild Beasts...

Films: Again, all sorts...Before Sunrise, Amelie, Momento, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind...Also, I'm a bit of a Bollywood fan

Books: I like non-fiction as much as fiction - big fan of Jonathan Safran Foer, Tom Robbins, Dervla Murphy, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Currently enjoying Jeffrey Eugenides.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Being present in Bagan, Burma for Aung San Suu Kyi's first travel outside of Rangoon since her house release, and sharing in people's barely held-back excitement at the prospect of catching a glimpse of her.

Teach, Learn, Share

Currently learning how to play the Ravan Hata (a sort of Rajasthani violin)...if I decide to invest and buy one I may even be able to hold a tune some day soon...

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories...?

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Barbados, Botswana, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Morocco, Myanmar, Poland, Saint Lucia, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Guyana, United Kingdom