Second Free Huhgs Campaign (Xmas 2011)

The First Free Hugs Campaign in Bali was held on the 25th Dec 2010. I organized this event and planned to do it annually, and made the second one on the same date in 2011. But the different is that the last one was held at only one venue which is in front of the Bombing Monument at Jalan Legian, Kuta Bali. It was raining during the day, so I decided to do it at night only.

There were more than 20 Couchsurfers came to participate this event and we got some hugs! Xmas-Free-Hugs! . It just a nice thing to do giving hugs on Xmas to people who are far from their family (even they are enjoying their holiday) and specially to see them smile.

The event started at 7pm and ended ta 10.30ish. Some people were very happy to be hugged, some people are not. They thought that we are crazy or something. And one of a girl shouted like “Ohhh… I’ve seen this on youtube!” Haha! I was just smile. Well at least made people excited .

Here are some pictures!

Bali CSers

Sebastian, The most excited one!

Lucky Him

We wish you a merry Xmas... lalalala

 

BIG HUG!!!!!

See you at the next FREE HUGS CAMPAIGN!

 

The first negative reference i wrote

I hosted her after a party at the beach when the next day she said that she need to rent a motorbike. I offered her to rent my cousin’s motorbike since it’s cheaper than what she usually rent. She rented the bike for 5 days and when she returned the motorbike I was working. I told her to put the key and everything somewhere at the house since i was not around.

I saw the motorbike was at the parking lot of my house but then i realized the next day that the helmet was not there. I thought she forgot to return it then I called her to ask. She said she has put it on top of the moped. Well I thought it’s stolen or something but I’m really sure that the area of my house is a save area. I always put my helmet outside for days but I’ve never lost it.

The day after i decided to use the motorbike just to warm the machine since it’s not good to just leave it like that. Then I did not find the STNK (Registration paper) where I usually put it. I call her but no answer then the next day she called me with her office number. I asked her what happened with the STNK and she said she accidentally brought it to Jakarta. I asked her to send it immediately since I will not be able to use the moped without it.

I waited for 3 days but I did not get anything from her. I called her again to make sure that she sent the STNK already. She said she did. So I asked her to text me to send the tracking number since I don’t want to lose it. But I never get it. I’ve tried to call her on her cell again, but either her phone is out of reach or off or she didn’t pick up my call. I texted her several times and sent msg on her FB, but I got no response. I waited for 2 weeks but I got nothing form her. I was sooooo pissed!

Then I remember that she called me from her office, so I check my phone if I still have the number. Luckily, I did. I called her to her office number and she picked up the phone with worried tone when she found out that it was me who’s calling. I asked her about the STNK and I was even more pissed when she said she lost it. I was so angry but I couldn’t do anything about it. I need to make the new STNK and the process will be complicated. She won’t be able to do it since she’s in Jakarta. I don’t want her to fly to Bali to make one but I just need her to be responsible.

She promised me to transfer the money for STNK making. So I process it the very next day and have the new STNK in 3 days. I emailed her about this but I did not get any answer and she had has not transferred the money. Again I called, texted, FB, email and tried everything… but i got NOTHING. I waited for 2 weeks and I gave up. So I send he a text saying that if she did not transfer the money until the following day, I will write a negative reference for her.

I waited for 2 days, but nothing. So i wrote he a negative reference. And 2 days after she replied my reference with none sense excuses. Well at least I got the money back! And there is no way that I will change my reference for her.

 

I love him like I love my brother :)

I love Dani like I love my brother. He is my room mate who likes to cook and always makes me worried if he said “Reni, I need to have a serious talk with you” even it’s not a serious talk at all . A person who I always enjoy to talk to at night before I go to sleep. A person who I can cry in front of who likes to tease me and makes me feel bad of something which i always think he means it.

Been living with Dani for almost 3 months and enjoying those times with him if he’s around (He travels a lot). I decided to offer the empty room in my house to him for rent since he was looking for a room or flat to live. Dani is a Hungarian CSer who came to Bali to study in an art university in Denpasar. He got a Dharma Siswa scholarship for 6 months to study shadow puppet.

Few months before his coming, he contacted me through CS after he found my Bali Blog. We were emailing for few months since he needed some information about Bali. Then finally he came in September this year and I hosted him for 2 weeks before he decided to rent my empty room. I’m happy to have him in the house since he is a very nice guy.

Since then, we spent a lot of time together with another CSer that I hosted (Josh). He cook sometimes, and tasted delicious! We travel a bit to some beaches, went party, watch movies at home or only hang out and have a nice light talk. I always enjoy it. Sometimes we also hang out with his Hungarian friends. I like Dani a lot and I am really glad to have him in my life.

Dani, me and Josh!

 

Requested for 2 days, stayed for 2,5 months!!

His name is Joshua Pante. A cool guy from Switzerland.

I got request from Josh the day before his coming. He requested to stay at my place for 2 days. I read his profile and seems that I was OK to host him. At that time, i was hosting 2 friends of my room mate from the US. But my other room was empty, so I thought I can put him in that room. First day we didn’t talk a lot since he was a quite person (at the first).

He joined the Mt. Batur hiking with other CSers that we planned a week before and in that hike I felt that he is a really nice guy! So decided to host him as long as he stay. He planned to stay for 2 weeks then will continue his travel to Australia. But then, he decided to extend his stay until his visa expired. But… that’s not the end! Eh keep extending his stay every 2 weeks until he decided to leave after 2,5 months!

I brought him to CS meetings and introduce him with other CSers. I spent a lot of time with him at the first month. Hang out, travel, party, dvd nights, mushroom night (and morning) or even only have light conversation with Dani, my other room mate (A CSer from Hungary). 3 of us (Josh, Dani and I) are like a small family . I’m happy to host him and have him as my really good friend now.

He loves Bali a lot . I really can see it in his eyes. I know he didn’t want to leave Bali, but I insisted telling him to go . It’s not because I don’t want him to be around (I’ll be really happy if he stay), but he should see other country. Now he has only 10 days to spend in Australia.

Sad to see him at his last night. But I really hope I can meet him again someday .

Dani, Me and Josh

 

 

Couchsurfing is not a DATING site

Using Couchsurfing for a dating site is not an uncommon thing anymore. As I can see from CSers I know or CSers in my country, many of them use the site to get girls or boys. Even, they put on their profile obviously that they only host opposite gender CSers only. Sadly, no one could do anything about this.

Let’s talk about Indonesia. I heard some issues that many CSers (female) joined CS to get white guys for date as well as male CSers joined the site to get white girls. This is popular as “bule hunter”. Bule means white guys/girls. Well, it’s a shame and sad.. but that’s the fact. No one could do nothing. And for the bule, it’s a bonus for them to come to Indonesia for holiday and get a bule hunter for their summer fling. You know… no cat refuse fishes a.k.a “kucing ga pernah nolak di kasih ikan”. (Sorry bad translation)

But other normal case happens as well. The aim of meeting/gathering/hosting/surfing is to introduce one CSer to another. Sometimes, traveling together and meeting/gathering for several times with the same CSers will grow special feeling. (you know what I meant by special feeling) Well, that is normal. Even there are some couples who met in CS and got married.

I also heard from some CSers I know that some host (guys) tried to touch the surfers (girls) when they’re hosting them. So bad… I wonder if someone could do something about this… since Couchsurfing is definitely a dating website.

 

2 Days in KL was like 2 hours

Jazvina Lahre, she;s the very warm heart CSers who hosted me when i traveled to Malaysia. I sent her a request a month before my coming and she accepted it.

I flew from Bangkok and arrived in KL at around mid night but Vina was willing to wait for me and would pick me up at KLCC. At the first time I saw her, I knew that she was very nice. And indeed she is. She brought me and my friends to a CS gathering which i totally forgot where. Hehehe… We met 2 other CSers there, had late dinner and nice chat.

Then one of the CSers (Jeev) organized a trip to a waterfall and again I did not know where. Because i had no plan so just joined the group. Before going to Vina’s place, we stopped at Jeev and meet other CSer he hosted (Vladimir). Jeev has a very interesting life. He has snakes and iguana as his pets and he put them in his bedroom. My question was “What if they escape from their cage???” Well, I think Jeev is enough to know what to do. Hehehe…

We went to Vina’s and had a short nap before leaving for waterfall. He has a nice warm house and lives with her very nice mother. Then we left for waterfall and went to this lake (I forgot the name). The trip was tiring to be honest , but the most important thing was the companion. The day passed so fast. Vina was so nice drove us home after the trip then had to go somewhere else to pick up her CS friend.

Me and my friends were very tired and we had a short sleep then had dinner somewhere in the town (again i forgot the name) . Then we went back to Vina’s and We slept in a guest room which is very comfortable. Thanks a lot, Vina! In the next morning we have to leave to fly back home and Vina took us to KLCC. She was very nice and I thankful hosted by her.

 

Mention my name 3x before sending couch request!

Reni Reni Reni… That’s the password if you want me to host you!

Until today, I hosted 96 CSers from 29 Countries (for a year), I think that’s quite a lot. And happy to have 95% good experience and 5% bad ones. I can say that i host almost every day. From 1 night stay (I don’t accept request for a night stay anymore since i think there is no point of it) to 3 weeks stay. So, i know who do really have CS spirit and who only use the site to have a place for free.

I had some bad experience that made me very selected in accepting requests. I explained very detail about my couch info and wrote my profile nicely so CSers who wanted to stay with me will be interested in knowing me as well. And i think it is not boring to read ( I hope ). I had some  couch requests (CR) which exactly the same they wrote to other CSers, also a CR from a CSers who said other CSer’s name instead of mine or CRs without mentioning my name. Those are CSers who ONLY need free hotel.

I am as a host is nice enough giving a place to stay, giving good information, helping in organizing things they need, letting them using my internet, even making them breakfast if i like to. So, is it very hard? or wasting time to read my profile for less than 5 minutes?? That’s only a small thing i need them to do before getting very kind treatments from me. What if I’m a bad person? or serial killer? which is i am definitely not. Hehehe…

So, that’s why…. I put password on my profile. Just to know if they do care or not about me. Fair enough no??

 

What’s your name?? Ah, never mind… I don’t care anyways…

I am mean? or you are?

Couchsurfing is NOT ONLY about staying at people’s place for free. It’s also about exchange culture, sharing experience, getting to know each other between the surfer and the host and many more. For me, CS is about making friends and which I have to know them better than only what they wrote on their profile.

I hosted a lot, so a lot of different people I know. But there are 2 guys I hosted who I do not even remember their names. Well I have their names on my CS profile, but if you ask me know, I wouldn’t remember. So, those guys are from Holland. Came to my place, arrived at the evening and had a talked for a lil bit with Yuni (a CS they know) then went out. I think I was only said hello, since they had other friends and they wanted to hang out with them. I’m fine with it. Well, I don’t have to force my surfer to hang out with me, right?

Hosted them for 3 days as i remembered. It was weekdays and then one Saturday I think.  First night, they came home when I was already sleeping, in the morning when I leave for work they were still sleeping. That happened 2 nights. No sms or phone call asking if I want to have dinner with them or something like that. Nothing!

Then the last night of their stay was new year’s eve. I hung out with Yuni who knows them as well, they were there only say hello. No other word. Then I decided to move to other place and did not join them since it was boring and they had their own world. The next day, they just left and until now I haven’t got any reference from them or not even a thank you email.

HELLO! I’M NOT A FREE HOTEL!!

Sorry about forgetting their name, but how should I remember? We did not even talk. Since then, I accept solo traveler only. I will know their name since I know they will talk to me and will not have their own world. Hehehee… (Sorry about my English ).

I think it’s you who have to make people remember your name, not them who have to bother remembering your name if you do nothing. am I right???

 

20K for your 3 weeks rent??? You gotta be kidding me!!

Fist of all, I will not mention the name and country where he/she from for the bad experience . I just want to share the stories of my CS experience. That’s all.

So, actually he was not a CSers, but he is a travel-friend of CSer I hosted. Sean (CSers that I hosted) told me that he’s travel mate was coming to Bali and asked if I can host him or not. Then I asked Sean to tell him to send me email. We contacted though email and chatted before he came until finally he came on the new year’s eve.

I agreed to host him because he seemed a very nice person. And indeed he is. I was glad that I made a right decision. We get a long very well, hang out together and talk. Share stories and so. We became good friends. He came to Bali for surfing. So that’s what he always did every single day when he was in Bali. Surf, drink and chicks. What a typical surfer guy. Hehehe…

Anyways, I had good times with him until his last night in Bali. I hosted him for 3 weeks and I thought I wanted to spent the last night with him hang out and talk like good friends. So, we went to a bar in Kuta (wrong place to go for a talk), but that’s the place where he would go. But apparently he ignored me and Yuni (CSers that we hang out a lot with).

I and Yuni were upset. Then I did not talk to him that night. He found out because I had been acting so quite. And he apologized by giving me a bouquet of flower. Hahahaha… is that normal guy does to apologize?? Well, kinda sweet but I don’t need flower. Anyways, that was his last day so I forgave him.

Then he gave me money for the motorbike rental that I helped him to organize and I needed to give him 20k (2 USD) for the change. But I didn’t have 20k at that time , so I said to him that I will give him later. The he said “No Reni, keep it for my rent”. I did not hear clearly then I asked again “For what?”.

Him: “For my rent!”

Me: “What rent?”

Him: “Staying at your place!”

Me: $#%^$#^*(&^)*&^#&Q^$$)(Q_$&*^$ (speechless)

What??? 20K for your 3 weeks rent??? You gotta be kidding me!!

Then I was just quite and didn’t say any word. It hurt my feeling. I’d rather him to take the 20k then said that word. It did really hurt my feeling. Well maybe you don’t know what i fee. But giving a place for free for 3 weeks and helped whenever he needed and said that word at the end? It was not acceptable for me.

What a nice word to end everything. Well anyways, it’s part of experience. There are always good and bad. Just take the bright side of it. *woot woot

 

Indonesian, Indian, Russian, British and Singaporean in one small room!!

I am the Indonesian, Mack is the Indian, Ilya is the Russian, Mark is the British and Moses is the Singaporean. I hosted all of them even not at the same time… Fist I hosted Ilya for 2 nights and then he moved to Kuta to rent a place for a month, then Mack came and then Mark then finally Moses. Hosted the 3M together.

I lived in small flat at that time. 3×3 meters bedroom with 1,5×3 meters living room and small kitchen and bathroom. So, you can imagine how I put those guys in my place. Hehehe…  But, don’t worry… I am a professional host, so I managed to do that. Haha!

One of the days they’re in Bali, Mark decided to cook. Again, imagine 5 people already inside the room, plus feeling the heat of the cooking thingy, but we managed to have fun. Hehehehe….

Goggles is the best thing u need to wear when pilling the onions *mark's way

Moses went back to Singapore and Mack gone to I forgot where. So there were Ilya and Mack left. We hung out too much together so made us stick together all the times . We’re became very close friends until now.

Moses became my roommate who is never around , Mark became the salesman of Couchsurfing J and spread the spirit to the world, and will never forget about Ilya (my Russian lil bro) and of course last but not least my Indian good friend Mack. Glad to know those great people

Me, Mack ( with sunburned nose ), Ilya

I hope we can get together again one day.

Their profile:

Ilya: http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/uxxa/

Mack: http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/mayankgoyal

Mark: http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/Old Blue Eyes