Traveler, mountain climber, yoga/fitness freak, scuba diver, flute player, stock investor/options trader, provocative poet...sometimes an engineer - well, simply a lover of life!

This life is indeed too short and precious to be wasted/spent in pursuit of things that doesn't enrich it's innate quality. And what can be more enriching than to meet folks from all over the World under a common roof in exchange for some amazing travel stories, cultural insights and in many cases, just being with delightful company! I love to travel and to meet travelers who're on their own exciting paths to explore this incredible planet. The spirit of the couchsurfing community very well speaks for itself and I'm glad and grateful to be a part of it!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Just returning the favor! I had an incredible and memorable experience when I was first hosted in Playa del Carmen, Mexico by a random couchsurfer who's now one of my best buddies, and the whole idea of meeting people from varied backgrounds and experiences opened my eyes (and the doors of my home as well) to be able to express my gratitude and to welcome those who're in need of a place to stay in Austin, Texas.

Interests

As much as I like engaging myself in all the activities I've listed in the 'About me' section and also pondering over the 'grander scheme of things in life', I absolutely marvel at the little things as well - the presence of birds/squirrels in my patio when they join me for breakfast every morning, the sound of wind-chimes resonating with the breeze, the genuine smile of a child, a greeting from a stranger to name a few. I cherish and respect the company of other people but at the same time, I can't call it a day without having spent ATLEAST one full hour with myself every single day doing something I like - which can be anything as simple as reading a book, or going for a long walk after dinner.

I'm not into sitting at home and watching TV (I don't even have one at home), though I wouldn't mind going to the movies now and then whenever there's a good one around. I love cooking and experimenting with different recipes that appeal to me. Many of my guests have called me a tidy host, so it has now officially become my 'interest' in the interest of my guests to continue to keep my place as clean as possible as well :)

• birds
• books
• poetry
• dining
• cooking
• recipes
• breakfast
• fitness
• yoga
• movies
• reading
• tv
• traveling
• billiards
• socializing
• music
• scuba diving
• swimming
• engineering

Music, Movies, and Books

Music - Anything that's melodious. The bamboo flute often has a mesmerizing effect on me which has even intrigued me to learn how to play it from scratch even after reaching the late 20's of my years. I currently take online flute lessons thro' skype once a week from my teacher who lives in India, and I love the spooky effect it has on the (nightly-shift) security officers at work when I shut myself in empty conference rooms to practice after dark, so as not to *potentially* annoy any of my neighbors :)

Movies - Thrillers, entertainers, romance and mystery. I'm not a big 'drama' fan but I do watch one or two whenever they've got good reviews or based on a friend's recommendation.

Books - anything that provokes or challenges my thinking. Examples of some masterpieces include "The Book of Mirdad" by Mikhail Naimy, "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse, "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran, "Think on these things" by J.Krishnamurti, and "The open secret" by Tony Parsons. I also love Dan Brown's collections, Sherlock's and Poirot's deductive ones and light comics such as Tintin, Asterix and the Indian Amar Chitra Katha series. I'm currently reading a light and humorous account of a couple's move to Costa Rica from the US - "Happier than a billionaire" by Nadine Hays Pisani. It's really funny if you're looking for a good laugh :)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Overcoming the fear of water by becoming a certified scuba diver descending to depths of over 100 feet in the open ocean waters of Cozumel, Mexico after a near-drowning experience a few years ago. I had never been "under" water in my entire life - not even in a pool, and didn't have the slightest idea as to what swimming really entailed or was all about. Believe it or not, Austin's YMCA swim program has a category titled 'Adult terrified of water (TOW)' and that's where I had to start from :), after I survived the near-drowning tragedy. The time, money and energy that I had to spend on this endeavor was well worth it that eventually resulted in a liberating experience as opposed to letting the fear of water bog me down for the rest of my life!

Taking a cold dip in a glacier waterfall hikin' up a volcanic mountain in Iceland could very well qualify for 2nd place :)

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach - I like to make my own wallets out of duct tape, and I've got some rolls of matching colors and designs at my place as well. So if you're interested in a demo or to find out how to make one for yourself, all you need is a pair of scissors, a ruler, your esteemed presence and 20 mins of your time.

Learn - I love to learn new things, so if you've got anything even remotely interesting to offer, I will jump on it if it even barely intrigues me!

Share - Travel stories, cooking, music, poetry and awesome company, of course!

What I Can Share with Hosts

My home, food, bamboo flute music, and myself.

Countries I’ve Visited

Antarctica, Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, England, Iceland, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Peru, Scotland, United Arab Emirates, United States, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, United States