I'm your host

This is just another update on my Couchsurfing experience. I was quite busy hosting different CSers during the first 2 weeks of December.

I'm always happy about it as I get to meet people from different sides of the globe. Having the chance to understand different cultures was the main motivation for me to join Couchsurfing.

1st - 2nd Dec 08: hosted Ayesha & YiXin (Singapore)
This young couple from Singapore showed how adventurous they were during the college break. No proper travel plan. Just to travel until they were broke. They were so amused of how the bean sprouts being eaten in Ipoh. This reminded me of Shiling's comment about the bean sprouts.

Ayesha - Yixin - me - Kit

1st - 4th Dec 08: hosted Kit (Canada)
It was my 2nd time hosting Kit in Ipoh. The very first time I met her was way back in August. She was going to end her exploration in Asia soon. On the way to KLIA to catch the flight to Japan, I hosted her a few nights. She had a day trip to Cameron Highland with my mum and mum's friend.

4th Dec 08: hosted Sandrea (Malaysia) 
My first time meeting up with a fellow CSers from Malaysia, Johor to be more precise. She is an activist and just started the job as the special assistant to one of the state excos. She had spent 6 months in New Zealand with the working traveller visa before that.

5th - 6th Dec 08: hosted Alar (Estonia)
I didn't spend much time with Alar, just a little bit of chit-chat. He arrived late in Ipoh from Lumut and left early the next day for Cameron Highland. Coincidentally, he met my next guests - Anian & Mathias during the bus ride.

10th - 12th Dec 08: hosted Anian & Mathias (Switzerland) 
They came to Ipoh at the right time when all of my sisters were back in Ipoh. Hosting them made my place so happening and brought in much cheers. My sisters and cousin went white water rafting with them too. Later, my sister, too, became the host of them in Subang. 

Anian - my bro - Mathias

12th - 14th Dec 08: hosted Peter & Maria (Russia)
They were out all the time, so I didn't have much time talking to them. It might be the language barrier also that made me couldn't know more about them. They had a free ride to Penang with my friend - Sam, after that.

Updates on Couchsurfing

I had received another request from a Couchsurfer, Marco. He’s an Italian Punk-Rock musician and will be coming to Ipoh some time next month. I replied to him saying that I would be able to host him so long that it’s after my trip to Jakarta & Bandung. His reply to this: ‘hope to see you soon.’

Of course, I did browse through his profile on couchsurfing.com. His description of himself really caught my attention, especially this line:

… have no desire to go back to Italy. I want to go anywhere and I want to help like-minded people to have a place to crash …

What a cool phrase! I do hope to be as magnanimous as him! So 豁达 (fut da) & 潇洒 (siu sa) ！

Having such a liberal & unconventional mindset wasn’t what I’ve been trained for. Although a very small part in my heart telling me to be like that, the reality set in and I have to resume to my role. The reason: my body and soul have been brainwashed for nearly a quarter of a century, to face up to the challenges in reality.

All the Couchsurfers that I hosted so far are generous minded as that. Like Ota the Czech for which I had my first experience of Couchsurfing, decided to retired from working despite only in the late twenties; Kit & Francesco, both taking some time out of works and studies, joined some soul-searching camp in India. All of them share a same goal: to step in to different territories and meet people. This is the same to the two Couchsurfers I hosted recently: Shar from Nevada USA & Simon from Uruguay

Shar is an American Fine Art graduate. After working a few years, she decided to go to Australia to work part time and earn enough for travel fund and for her graduate studies later on. She is a very polite and well-mannered person. Too bad, I didn’t have much time showing her around Ipoh. Luckily, both my sisters were in holiday that time and they had fun doing white water rafting in Kampar.

Simon, a skilled photographer, on the other hand, has not called a place home for few years. He has just begun to tour around half of the globe. It’s going to be another 2 years before reaching the final destination – Turkey. At the end of his trip, I am sure he would have met up and befriended with more than a hundred of Couchsurfers and locals in different coutries. I wish I could be like him; just leave everything behind for awhile and forget about the sense of belonging (归宿感) for a short period.

I am really looking forward to be hosted by any Couchsurfers in the future. Who wanna join me? However, I do feel weird to tumpang at some strangers’ house. This is something I need to get away with so as to happily enjoy the true spirit of Couchsurfing!

Francesco & Kit

I hosted another 2 Couchsurfing members last week. Francesco, an Italian, & Kit, from Canada. It was a very short notice. Got their request email at noon & meeting them at night.

Both of them had just attended a camp about some sort of therapy in Tamil Nadu, India. The type of back-to-nature camp; no WC, no modern shower, eating very pure food, etc. Do you dare to join?

Francesco - Me - Kit

Luckily, it was school holiday. I kindly asked my Xueji mate - Kitty, who is a teacher by profession, to show them around Ipoh. I'm sure they had a great time. Thanks to Bernie too (my mum's friend), who brought them to hunt for the good food around Ipoh.

We bid farewell after spending 2 nights at my place. They were off to Penang. By now, they should have crossed the border into Thailand. Wish them having great fun traveling in Thailand!

sending off @ Medan Gopeng

Couchsurfing

I've joined the Couchsurfing network not long ago.

What's this? Emmmm... "CouchSurfing is a worldwide network for making connections between travelers and the local communities they visit." That's what written on the website.

In simple terms, it's a network for travelers to look for free place to stay. At the same time, to get themselves closer to the local community.

In end of May, I had my first CouchSurfing experience. I hosted a hitchhiker from Czech for 2 nights. Of course, I had a guest room for him and not just a couch. His name's Ota, a retired English teacher.

You know what? He's just 29yo! Oh man! Don't think I will ever retire before the age of 30.

I picked him up at the coach terminal area at night and brought him to try the nationwide famous Bean Sprout Chicken. He said it's nice. Good stuff! He too told me how he's in love with Iced Milo, Teh Tarik and Kaya Pau! He had good taste!

The next day, he spent his time walking in the city centre during the day time. I met up with him again for dinner. We ate at Ipoh Garden Gourmet Square. This guy fell in love with Popiah. He ate like 5 rolls. Crazy!

After spending another night at my place, he left for Teluk Intan. I sent him to Sam Poh Tong area and he hitchhiked to where he wanted to go. Wish him all the best!

I had a few very good conversations with him. He went to Iran & India before coming to Malaysia. He was telling me how nice was Iran & how not true all the news about this country. Maybe I should consider of visit to Iran in the future. But not so soon lah!

Last week, I received 2 couch requests from the couchsurfers. 2 girls from USA are coming in August; a Uruguayan guy & a Scottish guy will be visiting to Ipoh in September. I've replied to them and gave them some suggestions on planning their trips.

Well, I've at least something to look forward to for the next few months. I won't have to day dream and always think of places to go. Now, I need not be a traveler to meet people. By hosting couchsurfers in this way, it too gives me the opportunities to make friends.


My Schedule:-

• June - KL & SG Warwick mates are coming to Ipoh for food hunt
• July - Going to Cambodia with Craziest friend Roy (& maybe Kenny too)
  
• August - Hosting 2 American girls
• September - Hosting a Uruguayan & a Scottish guy