CURRENT MISSION

To learn Chinese and to have fun in Taipei.

ABOUT ME

From an early age I had a sense of adventure. Trips to the Africa and Europe with my parents sparked this. Independantly I have spent lots of time on the road, including trips to Central America, Northern and Southern Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. I spent a few months living in China in 2009, running a small restraunt/bar. I am currently living in Taipei. I have recently moved here to embark upon a new life as an English teacher. I'm enjoying my time here so far and looking forward to hosting again!

PHILOSOPHY

I try and be positive about everything. There is way too much negativity in this world. We are not here for long so we should make the most of it, so I always try to grab opportunities that come my way.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have hosted now for about a year. My experiences were hosting in London and generally were good. I met some amazing people and had lots of fun. I have hosted on and off for a year in Taipei, however, at this time I am unable to do so. I am an active member of the Taipei couchsurfing community. When I have time I attend or organise events.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Surfing:Not through CS, but I did my own version of surfing in Eastern Europe. Some of my experiences were:Staying in Chisinau I partied to the early hours drinking homemade red wine and vodka. Crashed on the floor of a converted office block in Holland.Chilled out in a beach house with a gang of Serbian hippies, once again drank homemade hooch, this stuff had been buried in the garden for 15 years!Stayed with a Russian family after meeting them on the train in Siberia. Didn't speak any Russian so it was a godsend when they approached me and spoke to me in English.Hosting:I hosted for six months in London where I met lots of really cool people. Have just started hosting again here in Taipei.

Interests

Well here's a surprise, I'm going to say travelling! But really it is, ever since I took my first tentative steps out on the road I've always want to go back for more. When I'm not travelling I spend my time dreaming up new and exciting trips, and trying to save money to do them.

Other than that I really enjoy hiking. I love the feeling you get from reaching the top of a mountain, the best high. I have recently got into photography, though on a teachers wage it is difficult to indulge this hobby as it is so damn expensive. To keep fit I like to play badminton, although I'm lacking a partner atm, perhaps someone in Taipei might read this and challenge me! I sometimes play football, but less and less as I get older. I support the two greatest teams in the world, Manchester United and Chester FC. I go to the gym when the feeling takes me, but I gain no pleasure from doing this, it is merely to stop me becoming the size of a house! I love anything to do with Natural Sciences and astronomy, so I am an avid viewer of documentaries related to this, I might even buy a telescope one day! I love to scuba dive, though it has been way too long, hoping to get back out there in Taiwan sometime soon.

I have just started to grow my own fruit and veg, although the only success has been some grass that I mistakenly bought thinking it was cress! I'm learning Chinese, though more out of necessity than as a hobby, it's early days, but I am enjoying it so far.

• photography
• documentaries
• wine
• red wine
• running
• drinking
• gardening
• reading
• traveling
• cars
• hiking
• surfing
• scuba diving
• soccer
• badminton
• astronomy
• teaching
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Indiana Jones trilogy (I don't count the fourth one, Spielberg and Lucas you ruined my childhood!). These are my favourite movies of all time.
I enjoying watching foreign language films. I recently watched An Autobiography of Nicolae Ceausescu entirely in Romanian without subtitles! One of the best films I have seen in a long time.

I have a wide taste in Music. My top five artists would be; The Clash, The Smiths, Manu Chao, Radiohead, Depeche Mode.

I enjoy reading factual books related to my studies and where I am living or travelling. I don't read much fiction, as I believe life is interesting enough! Although I must put an honourable mention on here for a dear friend who has just released his first novel, it is titled 'The Notable Brain of Maximilian Ponder' written by John W Ironmonger and it's a fantastic read!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

It's pretty difficult to pick one. I've been to many amazing places, done many amazing things and I would add met many amazing people. But the one I feel combines all of these things is the Trans-siberian railway. The ultimate rail journey. The scenery isn't always the most exciting, but as an experience you cannot beat it.

Teach, Learn, Share

I know a bit about coaxing dying cars around Africa and Eastern Europe.

I'm an English teacher, but then I guess if you're reading this you don't need it!

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam, Western Sahara

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, New Zealand, Taiwan, United Kingdom

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