After 10 years, I’ve returned to Europe and am currently living in the Netherlands. There’s a big difference between traveling and being a citizen in another country, and in my opinion, it’s always more challenging than just traveling.

In 2013, I spent nearly a year traveling solo across Europe, including walking the Camino de Santiago for 45 days and spending two months on the Shikoku Pilgrimage (in Japan).

I enjoy walking because it allows me to observe people and the atmosphere of the streets. Most of the time, I photograph street scenes. Although I’m not very extroverted and can be quiet at times, I’m always happy to talk and share thoughts about music, photography, culture, and travel experiences.

I’ve collected my photographs and edited them into a book to memorialize and summarize my one-year journey. It’s called "Illusion."
You can check out my work here:
https://sites.google.com/view/cjsiao/home

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I choose Couchsurfing because it’s an easy way to connect with local people. When I was in Germany, I also used Workexchange to immerse myself more in the local culture. I’m not fond of traveling to cities with too many tourists; I prefer to meet people who live in the area and experience the culture through them.

Interests

I enjoy photography and frequently use my phone to capture everyday life experiences. Sometimes, I also use a DSLR, a vintage 120 and 135 analog camera.
I enjoy jogging, trekking, and cycling as well. I usually jog or cycle twice a week, and on weekends, I travel with my folding bike to explore different cities in the Netherlands.

• culture
• photography
• movies
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• cycling tours

Music, Movies, and Books

I enjoy jazz, blues, rock, and any kind of music that can move me.
Some of my favorite artists include Pink Floyd, Gene Harris, Ray Brown, Keith Jarrett, Iron Maiden, King Crimson, Sigur Rós, Led Zeppelin, Heilung, Swans, and more...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Camino de Santiago (Spain): Approximately 1000 km, 45 days (2014)
Shikoku Pilgrimage (Japan): Approximately 1200 km, 2 months (2015)
Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage (Taiwan): Approximately 300 km, 9 days (2021)
Cycling around Taiwan: Approximately 1200 km, 9 days (2023)
Camino de Santiago (from Porto): Approximately 300 km, 11 days (2023)

Teach, Learn, Share

Well, I may not be a good teacher, but I would love to share my experience.

What I Can Share with Hosts

If you’d like, I can take some photos for you; I’m practicing portrait photography.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Netherlands, Taiwan