Three years ago I left my job in the community sector after a meal with a 67 year old stranger left me thinking about life and new beginnings. I packed what I needed into my backpack in search of new experiences, new adventures, new places to call home, new connections, new insights into life and just an openness to experiencing all that life has to offer. What was meant to be a one year journey turned into three years, across three different countries. And now, the journey brings me back home to Sydney, where new stories are being written.

PHILOSOPHY

“Someone once I asked me why I insist on taking the hard road?" I replied "Why do you assume I see two roads" - a great unknown author

"As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same" - Marianne Williamson

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Taking CSers out to eat, drink and explore my hometown, and hosting when house arrangements allow it.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My couchsurfing experience has been a journey in some amazing friendships, new ideas, new thoughts, new experiences and a new life.

Interests

I LIKE people watching, the wind, food, cooking, experimenting with new ingredients, healthy eating, mindful living, music, arthouse films, reading, challenges, learning, hiking, yoga, meditation, simplicity, talking, listening, meaningful connections, volunteering, hanging out at coffee shops, walking, running, flowers, trees, architecture, documentaries, writing To-Do lists, thrift shopping, local markets, farmers markets, museums, art galleries, libraries, photography, snowboarding, eyes, kissing, smiles, eating dessert, camping, sleeping in tents, the stars, helping people, wandering, tea, teapots, bushwalking, history, culture, philosophy, painting, the taste of water, birds chirping, the beach at night, watching clothes dry, feet, ginger beer, popcorn, randomness, 5 rhythms dance, via ferrata, TED talks.

and I LOVE cuddles, breathing deeply, cheesecake, adventure, eating, nature, learning, new experiences.

• arts
• culture
• architecture
• photography
• documentaries
• cooking
• coffee
• yoga
• running
• meditation
• walking
• flowers
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• camping
• snowboarding
• history
• philosophy
• volunteering
• tea
• reading books
• biking
• mindfulness
• learning
• museums
• silence
• libraries
• connecting
• bushwalking

Music, Movies, and Books

My tastes in music vary with my mood, the seasons, the time of day or night, the company I'm with. In general, it just varies invariably with the person that I am, but some of the music I enjoy include Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird, The Cure, The Kills, The xx, Sigor Ros, Explosions in the Sky, M83, Imagine Dragons, Ayo, Bon Iver, Passenger, Amy Winehouse, Sia, The Middle East, Of Monsters and Men, Louise Attaque, Christine and the Queens, Jose Gonzalez, Manu Chao, Stromae, Coeur de Pirate...

My reading exploits have sadly waned a bit over the last year, but some of my favourites include Middlesex, 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Disgrace, Notes on a Scandal, The Catcher in the Rye, Freakonimics, Spring Snow, Dice Man, The Happiest Refugee, Siddhartha, Far from the Tree, The Brain that Changes Itself, In Defence of Food, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, A Walk in the Woods, When Breathe Becomes Air

Movies I like:
Juno, Forest Gump, Garden State, Fight Club, Pulp Fiction, The Dark Knight, Dogville, Dreams, Rashomon, Tokyo Story, Wall-E, Closer, Inception, No Country for Old Men, Momento, Taken, The Science of Sleep, Amelie, I Origins, The Intouchables

Documentaries I like:
Earthlings, Home, Dear Zachery, Capturing the Friedmans, Born into Brothels, Catfish, Sound and Fury, One Life, Happy, Jiro Dreams of Sushi

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I always find myself in places or in situations I never planned for, and one of those experiences was a 4 month stint at a yoga ashram, where I had previously ran away from, after only a week. But life has a way of presenting you with things again in the hope that you might see and experience them with a new set of eyes. Those 4 months taught me to fall in love with me, and that wasn't easy. I grew and learnt many things about myself during that time, and I learnt a discipline I hadn't ever thought I had before, as I am often prone to changing my mind . I also hate sticking to other people's rules. But my new normal became waking up at 5am in the morning and starting my days with a cold shower. This, I learnt to enjoy and appreciate, and which I take back into daily life with me. It is something I do to remind me to be here in the now.

Teach, Learn, Share

This section is probably the hardest for me to fill in. I never think I have any concrete skills to teach or share with others as I'm constantly chopping and changing and so don't feel I've honed my skills or knowledge in just one area. But people have told me that they have learnt things from me that I had never intended to teach them or I have learnt things from them, that they had never thought to teach me. So all I can say is that we never know what one can teach another. So I'm just not sure yet what I might teach you, what I might learn from you, or what I might share with you until we meet :) Although I am extremely interested in learning more about bike maintenance, so if you know things about bikes, I want to know you! But even if you don't know anything about bikes, but would be up for a bike ride, hit me up.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand

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