CURRENT MISSION

to be truly free.. the short 2 week to 2 month breaks don't cut it any more !!

ABOUT ME

Quiet, softspoken and a wee bit adventurous.. that'd be me in a nutshell. I like going through life unnoticed while noticing as my things as possible.

Back in 2010, i quit my job of over 10 years to pursue my interests in traveling and photography. For about 2 years i tried my hand at pretty much everything that excited me. I trekked and cycled extensively around the Western Himalayas, learnt Yoga, got better with a camera and even managed to write a few good travel articles. But amidst all this there was one thing i kept coming back to and that was working on creating Kettik. A website that, i hope, would provide the perfect platform for freelancing travellers like me to make a living while no the road (ask me how..). Not a lot of people around me believe in the idea.. but i'am going to stick to it throughout 2013 and see what comes out of it.

PHILOSOPHY

I'am neither spiritual nor philosophical, but am amused by where my train of thoughts lead me sometimes. Here's a quote from one of my recent posts

"I long for a world without borders, without religious differences, and without social and economic inequalities. A world without ego, with peace and happiness.

Sadly it is not going to happen in my lifetime and perhaps never. For it would require all of us to be free from our worldly attachments, free from our ego, free from the selfish 'I' and embracing the 'collective we', realizing that we all are but one, that we are divine."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I tried to host as much as i can, when i can. Never really surfed anyone's couch till now. Hope to change it soon.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've been hosted once and that was before i joined couch surfing. The concept was alien to me and i was amazed at how anyone can open up their home to someone they know so little about.

I've slowly started hosting now in Bangalore and its been a wonderful experience so far.

Interests

I'am fascinated by wide open spaces and the nomadic way of life. Fascinated with the idea of living one with nature and following her rhythms and moods. Maybe its the case of the grass being greener on the other side but i do want to experience that life for myself. A summer bike ride across Mongolia and a winter landlocked in the mountains of Ladakah should help me get started.

Otherwise my interest these days are in photography and a little bit of writing. Im also interested in building websites these days (once a programmer... ;) Hoping that these skills will come in handy some day.

• writing
• photography
• cooking
• yoga
• traveling
• blogging
• cycling
• surfing
• teaching
• freelancing
• software
• lakes
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Books :I love to pick up travelogues (most of which i dont have enough patience to finish) and stories set in various countries and at various times. Oh.. and i also enjoy the fantasy stuff such as Harry Potter and Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Series (I'll not include Lord of the Rings in this list.. as i consider it a Classic ;)

Music : Well.. my preferences tend to change from time to time.. right now its something easy.. Lounge music from Buddha Bar. Perfect for my long hours working on Kettik.

Movies :. I enjoy a good movie form time to time. Prefer easy animated flicks, comedies, adventures and basically anything else with a good story around it.

TV Shows :. Its an addiction i'll never be able to shake off. Too many shows to include here.. but the basic genres include comedies, sci-fi, nature, science and other documentary shows.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Trekking solo across the snowed out passes in the High Himalayas.

Cycling along the Manali Leh route and further to the beautiful lakes in Ladakh.

Teach, Learn, Share

Lets see.. I can teach you how to cook some basic indian dishes (quick and easy ones, im not a elaborate cook). Maybe a few photography techniques and could share a few tips on how to setup and/or enhance your web blog.

I'am also supposed to be a certified Sivananda yoga teacher, but to be honest my yoga practice is very rusty and my joints stiff. But i do enjoy practicing yoga with people and talking about yoga and the vedic philosophies.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bhutan, Malaysia, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, India

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