CURRENT MISSION

Restructuring my Travel and Tour business and looking forward to whitewater rafting and river running this summer. I am a former resident of Jackson Hole and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. I have moved my home and office to Steamboat Springs Colorado.

ABOUT ME

I try to be open, honest and friendly with everyone I meet. I enjoy the company of intelligent engaging people who have similar interests in travel, art and culture. I am happiest when traveling and having adventures which is why I have chosen a career in the adventure travel business. I enjoy making new friends from all over the world. My friends are my family and i treasure them all!

I have been actively participating in couchsurfing for 4 years now. I have stayed and hosted within the couch surfing community. I am learning more and more about the possibilities that this couchsurfing site has to offer. So I have been reading and digging deeper into the couchsurfing community. Here is a little bit more about me and my travels that will hopefully make you feel more comfortable with me as a fellow traveler.

Here is a little more about my travels and about myself.

Myself and a business partner published a Mandarin language Travel Guide to Yellowstone and Grand teton National Parks here in the USA. We are also hosting a website in China with information for Chinese travelers to Yellowstone at www.yellowstone.com.cn
In October and November of 2014 we traveled to China to go to some travel trade shows and meet with travel agents in China. China is a vast country with many different areas. I generally like to travel in more remote natural areas. Smaller cities. I have to admit that I find the large citys to be a little intimidating. We are flew into Shanghai in early October of 2014 and then traveled extensively in China and Taiwan to attend travel trade shows in China and Taiwan. Made some great friends at Hangzhou for a travel trade show. Later in November another trade show in Shanghai as well as Taipei Taiwan.

I did spend a lot of time in Chaing Mai in Thailand as well as Bangkok. So I do have experience in that.

I am fascinated by the Chinese history and visiting some of the ancient places in China. I made friends with a group of Chinese students that were here for the summer on student work visas. Very nice people! In fact we had one of them living with us for the summer. I got to learn and experience a little of Chinese culture here in the USA.

I have also had quite a few Chinese guests with my tour business here in Yellowstone. Some of those guests were booked by travel agents in China. I also have clients that are world travelers from all over the globe. I am also interested in developing my travel business to bring guests to China, Thailand and other places. So I am always business networking.

The reason I am in the adventure travel business is that one of my lifes biggest passions is traveling. My business helps to support my travel habit.

As I dig deeper into this couchsurfing website and community I am finding that I need to clarify where I am coming from as a person and as a traveler. So here is a little bit about who I am and what I am about. You are also welcome to check out my website for my tour business here in the USA: www.vipadventuretravel.com Hopefully all this information will give you a better understanding of who I am.

My background growing up was as the son of a university professor that taught Biology and Ecology. So I grew up in an academic environment. Our family was always learning and seeking knowledge. As a child we often traveled in the USA couchsurfing with friends of the family. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of those experiences being hosted by other families all over the USA.

For many years I worked as a professional whitewater rafting guide. I traveled all over America working and rafting on different rivers. I have friends all over the country and often surfed their couches while traveling.

There is nothing quite like making friends with the locals and learning about a new and exciting place from someone who lives there. This is why as a newcomer to this couch surfing website and community I am very excited. This seems like an absolutely amazing way to travel, meet new people and make new friends.

PHILOSOPHY

Live for today, enjoy life, live learn and experience as much as you can. Value your friends and do not be afraid of the unknown. Experience the world with open eyes, open mind and open heart. We live on a tiny island in a big universe! As humans we have many common shared bonds. It is the only planet we have so we ought to do our best to get along. Treat the earth mother with respect please.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Have been active in CS for over 4 years now. I have hosted here in Jackson Hole and Yellowstone and have been hosted in China. I like to travel and I am a travel and tour professional. So I am very willing to entertain the idea of guests coming to visit and likewise meeting fellow travelers that are open to hosting me in their homes. At the very least I would love to meet fellow travelers and locals during my own adventures. I am currently living in Steamboat Springs Colorado and am operating my travel business out of my home office here.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have hosted some wonderful folks in my home and had a great time couch surfing across China in 2012. I am looking forward to meeting some wonderful new folks in China in fall of 2014!
I was a professional couchsurfer before this site existed. During my years as a professional raft guide I stayed on many couches and floors of my friends houses all over. I know how to be a good guest and a gracious host. As far as this site and meeting new people I am willing to jump in and make new friends. My trip to China in 2012 was made very special by the wonderful hosts that I had while visiting. I was grateful for all the hospitality and new friends.

Interests

Traveling and immersing my self in different cultures and meeting new friends from around the world. I also have a life long interest in nature and beautiful natural places. Photography is another interest that helps me enjoy my travels and the beauty of nature. I also enjoy art, reading, museums of history and archeological sites. I work in the travel and tour industry so even at home here in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Jackson hole I can travel vicariously through my interactions with international visitors from all over the world.

• arts
• culture
• photography
• beauty
• environment
• cooking
• running
• boating
• reading
• traveling
• whitewater rafting
• surfing
• rowing
• biology
• business
• ecology
• teaching
• history
• tourism
• adventure travel
• working visa
• parks
• rivers
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I love most music and enjoy music from different cultures. Books and movies are fun as well. I do have a slightly sick and twisted sense of humor. But I like to watch interesting movies that examine the human experience as well as nature and science.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Rowing my own raft down the Grand Canyon in Arizona on a 3 week wilderness trip.
My enjoyable adventures traveling in the mountains of Northern Thailand.
Visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia, one of the worlds most amazing archeological sites.
I am awestruck on a regular basis with my day to day experiences in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks right here in my own backyard.
Seeing the Milky way in its full glory in a clear dark mountain sky.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have been an adventure travel guide professionally for many years and I have enjoyed travel my entire life. Most recently I have worked with a partner to publish a Mandarin Language guidebook to the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in the USA. For those who can read Chinese you may find it online at www.yellowstone.com.cn
I am happy to share any knowledge and or wisdom I may have gained during my life experiences however humble they may be. More important I like to share in the free exchange of ideas to enhance our shared experience. I hope to learn some Mandarin and Thai language skills.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Tales of adventure from my travels. I am also a good cook and gifted conversationalist. Sometimes I am traveling with a boat and trailer for river rafting.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, China, Laos, Taiwan, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Thailand, United States