CURRENT MISSION

Eastern Europe & The Baltics

ABOUT ME

I'm funny, but mostly lame (that's what my friends say! =P). Outspoken and outgoing. Traditional, keeps to status quo. Inquisitive, interested in meeting new people and exploring different cultures. Loves sports and outdoors. Metrosexual. Objective, seldom sugarcoat.
I love photography! Check out some of my work at www.jtiew.com/travel

PHILOSOPHY

Live life to the fullest. Seize the opportunity when you have it because you never know if it will ever pass you by again.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I first began couchsurfing most of my way in America and Europe in Dec08-Feb09. The following year in Jan09-Feb10, I couchsurfed with the friends (whom I met a year earlier) in parts of Eastern Europe.
In Feb-Mar 2011 I was in South America and had a really great couchsurfing experience there too.
Being based back in Malaysia from 2011-2013, I started hosting my first guests as well as continued on surfing in various countries around Asia.
Throughout all those times I have discovered so much about people and their cultures life which gave me a greater appreciation for my own roots and upbringing. I am always willing to share a part of me even as I learn from others.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

These are couches I've surfed unless stated otherwise:

North America
-------------
British Columbia, Canada - Chris Gat [Hosted]
San Francisco - Connor Montgomery/Travis Wellman
San Diego - Elizabeth Latham
Los Angeles - Jennifer Sorensen
Las Vegas - Mandy Horan
Miami - Brian Teel/Andre Pretz
Washington D.C. - Richard Loosle
Seattle - Erik Braziunas [Hosted]

Europe
------
Moscow, Russia - Anna Rolskaya
St Petersburg, Russia - Elena Yanyushina
Helsinki, Finland - Ida Immila
Tallinn, Estonia - Aret Pea
Stockholm, Sweden - Tilde Belaieff
Zagreb, Croatia - Marko Kaplan
Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina - Nikolina Herceg
Paris, France - Maudea Galacteros
Amsterdam, Netherlands - Bow Evers
Berlin, Germany - Ringo Junigk, Marek Klein [Hosted], Mandy & Benny [Hosted]
Stuttgart, Germany - Greg
Bratislava, Slovakia - Zuzka Vitkova
Poprad, Slovakia - Vladimira Lackova
Prague, Czech Republic - Honza
Budapest, Hungary - Judit Erdelyi
Innbsruck, Austria - Verena Tauchert/Anna
Pisa, Italy - Alessandro Sisto
Barcelona, Spain - Martin Mastricchio
Geneva, Switzerland - Brian Haugen
Lausanne, Switzerland - Eva P
Blagoveshchensk, Russia - Mikhail Mishchenko [Hosted]
Warsaw, Poland - Rodolfo Gomes & Paulina Dziewonska [Hosted]
Brindisi, Italy - Marcello Passaro & Maria Elena Ribezzo [Hosted]
Matteo Rossato - Pernumia, Italy [Hosted]

South America
-------------
Buenos Aires, Argentina - Alan Johnson
Quito, Ecuador - Alejandra Sanchez [Hosted]

Australia
---------
Perth, Western Australia - Jon Huddo
Gold Coast, Queensland - Luke Sawle

Asia
----
Hong Kong, China SAR - Ophelia Chan
Macau, China SAR - Sri Harida Siska
Yangon, Myanmar - Lone Lone (met up)
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam - Han Tu
Hanoi, Vietnam - Le Minh Hieu (Mike)
Tokyo, Japan - Keiko Ota [Hosted]
New Delhi, India - Sonu Kaur
Jaipur, India - Kabir Nadam
Mumbai, India - Amjad Khan/Ankush Agnihotri
Manila, Philippines - Darren Abante
Seoul, South Korea - Taiyoun (Tom) & Kee Hoon (Jerry) [Hosted]
Jakarta, Indonesia - Zo Genardo [Hosted]
Yantai, China - Brenda Zhang + Bryan [Hosted]
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - Mr Jules

Interests

Photography, Water Polo, Swimming, Surfing, Snowboarding, Bike Riding, Fitness & Bodybulding, Basketball, Graphic design, web design, Photography, camping, trekking, mountain/rock climbing, financial markets, investing, economics, learning languages, Photography

• arts
• singing
• design
• graphic design
• photography
• fitness
• traveling
• investing
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• camping
• surfing
• sailing
• snowboarding
• sports
• basketball
• rock climbing
• water polo
• swimming
• economics
• languages
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Jazzy, soul, and acoustic music does it for me.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Exmouth, Western Australia: I swam alongside whale sharks!
Argentina: Perito Moreno glacier was quite a sight to behold and Iguassu Falls was just roooarrrr!
Edinburgh: Joined in thousands singing Auld Lang Syne as the clock struck midnight on NYE2010
Whitsundays (Queensland, Australia): Survived a 3-day sailing adventure to the Great Barrier Reef with no air conditioning or showers (only the 1st day)
Sydney: Skydived from high up in the sky and explored deep into the canyons of Blue Mountains.
San Diego: Get pummeled multipled times by the waves of the Pacific Ocean
I know this ain't the most amazing things but at least I tried to think of something!

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to learn how to enjoy travel without it being a chore. Somehow I look at it as an art and I admire those who can just say 'screw the detailed planning, let's just go and see where fate takes me'.
Edit: Although I have progressed from the point when I first wrote this, I am still learning. But I must say I am starting to love traveling.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Myanmar, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Argentina, Australia, Germany, Malaysia, Turkmenistan

• 

•