CURRENT MISSION

Bumming round the world, visiting and rock climbing. Next stop China.

ABOUT ME

Bit of a hardcore veteran traveller (see my map of places travelled), never happier than when hitting the road to see new things and meet new people. Genuinely fanatical about learning languages, without which I think it is often difficult to really understand other cultures and ways of life you meet around the world.

PHILOSOPHY

Live life for today. Not tomorrow, not yesterday. OK so that's a bit aspirational - not as simple as it sounds and I'm not sure how much I achieve it... but I do try.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hosted a couple of couch surfers a few years ago (via my brother who used to host more regularly), and never thought much more about it. Then surfed a couple of times on my last big trip on the Silk Road overland from Istanbul to Beijing.

The reason I haven't surfed much since I joined is that I tend to travel in a spur-of-the-moment style. Obviously if I agree something in advance I'm committed to it and wouldn't want to turn round and say "sorry, I've changed my mind" to someone and mess them around, and I don't like to contact people too often at the very last moment. This does mean that if I contact you with a surfing request I'm definitely going to be there, and it's because I genuinely want to meet you and learn about your home and culture, and I'm not just looking for free accommodation!!! :-)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Despite my limited surfing experience, I've had really positive experiences with it. I think it's a great way to meet people and get to understand the place you're visiting a bit better by meeting locals. And with any luck new friends which will last the test of time. I had the best host ever in Azerbaijan and we will always be friends!! :-)

Sorry I didn't get my account verified, apparently they need to send you stuff, you send it back, etc.. and I've not been spending a lot of time at home recently...

Interests

Lots of stuff!
Rock climbing, travelling and learning new languages are my main passions, also mountaineering, skiing and playing music.

• culture
• triathlon
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• piano
• violin
• mountaineering
• skiing
• rock climbing
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Lord Of The Rings (book), long before it became trendy with the films ;-)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Working in a circus in Guatemala has to be up there, mountaineering in Pakistan might just edge it. Tajikistan was just phenomenal. Hitching my way around northern Iraq was pretty cool too... OK, they asked for one, but it's kind of hard...

Teach, Learn, Share

I'll help you with your English, you teach me your language!!
Also, if you have a violin or a guitar or something we can exchange music - I'll let you hear some traditional Scottish tunes..

What I Can Share with Hosts

My love of life, lots of good travel stories. :-)

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Antarctica, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, England, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Macao, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Northern Ireland, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, San Marino, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, France, Scotland