My first name, Ranah, if said in a certain way in my language means "crazy". I have neglected it for a long time and never used it, afraid to get teased by people and be laughed at by others. But this time I am using it. I wanted to discover that part of me, the part I have neglected for a long time due to the pressures of my family, my former school/ present company I'm working with and the world.

I am currently in the process of self rediscovery/ self awareness and I wanted to reconnect to myself via my dream of traveling. I wanted to listen to myself finally this time, not just hear but really listen. At the same time, I wanted to discover other people's stories. I wanted to feel connected to the world as much as I hunger to be connected with myself.

I am currently working on a cruise ship for 8 years already and have traveled to New York, LA, San Francisco, Miami, New Orleans, Aruba, Bahamas, Mexico, Belize, Bonaire, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, Honduras. I'm used to working with people from different cultures and background and I have friends from all over the world because of that.

I'm a Filipino with a spanish last name who looks like a chinese/ korean and I grew up in my lovely country of the Philippines, working on the cruise ship for 8 years has opened my eyes to the vast cultures of the world out there and has definitely changed the way I live my life.

I don't know how to end this so probably you could tell me by leaving a message or a reference. Together let's create a story.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I like trying new experiences and learning. I think it's very important to keep on learning in life and always be open to experiences. I travel most of the time backpacking and there's no other greater feeling than leaving your home with a backpack to see a new place, taste different kinds of food and know the stories of other people.

From the opportunity I was given to work on a cruise ship I was able to travel to the Caribbean and bathe in the crystal blue waters of the Bahamas, swim with the friendly dolphins of Mexico and go back in time and fall in love with the history of the Mayans when I saw the Pyramid of El Castillo at Chichen Itza.

Apart from that I was also fortunate enough to have the time of my life at the Universal Studios at Orlando, FL, stride and feel the glory under my feet at the legendary Walk of Fame and get awestruck at the sign on Hollywood Hills at Los Angeles. There's also the spontaneous travels I had at New York and San Francisco when serendipity hit me and I was able to see the two famous cities after both times my flight got delayed and I insisted on having the airline provide a flight for me a day after instead so I could explore the city.

I would never forget as well the first time the sugary sweet beignets of Cafe Du Monde from New Orleans melted in my mouth and when I gobbled the real Jamaican Pattie from Ocho Rios, Jamaica, braved & climbed the Dunn's Falls from the same area and on my 26th birthday parasailed and feel infinite on the skies of Key West, FL. A few months after that, just before I was due for another vacation, I spent the whole day on adventure and zip lining above the jungles at Xplor Park, Mexico while Ole-ing with freshly made tacos. I remembered crashing that day as well several times while driving a dune buggy and having the buggy police tail me on the mountain. They asked me beforehand if I know how to drive, I told them I learned from Mario Kart and they thought I was joking and yes I don't have a license but I'm planning to get one soon.

I have fed iguanas on a farm at Isla Roatan, Honduras and overflow with desire while walking in the Spanish streets on the island of Puerto Rico.

Whenever I'm on vacation though I made it to a point to surrender my soul to the all encompassing islands of my birthplace, the Philippines. I would wander around in my back pack from North to South and feel myself get lost in vulnerability as I climb its mountains, swim on its beaches and lay on its sandy shores after relishing its local cuisine.

I would like to have more of this moments and further push myself, that is why I am here on Couchsurfing.

Traveling for me has always been connected with my soul and I always lose myself in it. It's meditation without being still, a pilgrimage without an ending, a religion without the stone brick church. For me, God has made the world for us to inhabit, to see, to explore and to connect. And just like what the wise man has said in the book The Alchemist "Then go back and observe the marvels of my world, you cannot trust a man if you don't know his house." Traveling has always been spiritual for me and a form of illumination; to myself and the places I visit.

Interests

• arts
• traveling
• backpacking
• eating
• learning new things
• food trip
• traveling around the world
• reading and writing
• culture and history
• experiencing new cultures

Music, Movies, and Books

I have an eclectic taste in music and mostly it depends on my mood or whatever I am doing. I rarely watch movies nowadays and prefer reading instead. Although, a Christopher Nolan film is always interesting. As for books, my favorites are The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck and Everything is Fucked by Mark Manson, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, books written by Dan Brown, The Way of Wanderlust by Don George.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One amazing thing I have done is probably to be grateful everyday. I write three things that I am grateful and as well as 3 things that I'm excited to do everyday, every morning. This made me thankful, appreciate myself and what I have a lot more, made me move closer to my dreams every day and made me a lot more present than ever before. Thanks to my coaches who introduced me into doing this. They know who they are :)

Teach, Learn, Share

I could teach about marketing and branding and things related to the Hospitality Industry. I wanted to learn about culture, food and cooking and stories of success, failure and learning. I wanted to share my life to people as much as I want to be part of somebody else's life and story.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share my creativity with my host, my job right now is focused on marketing and branding so I can definitely share a lot about that. I have worked for 10 years in the Hospitality industry, mainly Content Management, Front Desk and Housekeeping so definitely I could also tell them a lot about that as well. I can also share my travel stories and the story of my life :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, England, Estonia, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Gibraltar, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands, British

Countries I’ve Lived In

Philippines, United States