Sam and Orna Stay July 24, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing, Friends , add a commentWe just hosted Sam and Orna for four nights.
Sam is Australian and Orna is Irish. They are traveling the world together and are heading to Koh Tao and then to Vietnam where they plan to teach English for 6 month.
Tik and I were both busy working this week but got the opportunity to take them for dinner at Fah Sai restaurant and, today to Crepes and Co for brunch.
Kanchanaburi Safari Park July 6, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing, Friends, Leisure, Thailand, travel , add a commentThe following morning we visited the safari park.
I’d seen videos of this park online and looked forward to how close we could get to the giraffes. The park itself was great value; 300 baht for westerners, 130 for Thais.
Outside the park we had the opportunity to play with an excitable lion cub and have a group photo with a pretty lethargic tiger.
The park itself was as I’d imagined it, animals so used to tourists that they stuck their heads right into the car.
I found the zebras a little aggressive. They constantly snarled and jumped at the giraffes in a bid to get into our windows. (more…)
Weekend in Kanchanaburi July 5, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing, Leisure, Thailand , add a commentOur Couchsurfing friends David and Sharon were only meant to stay with us one night. Even before meeting them I felt bad that we’d not get more time with them as they were an extremely interesting couple with a positive and proactive attitude and a lot to share. Thankfully we managed to convince them to join us for a weekend in Kanchanaburi as I was keen to visit the safari park there.
We chose a bank holiday weekend so a few guesthouses were booked up but we were lucky enough to find Sams Rafthouse which is along the river Kwai and not far from the infamous (and infamously dull) railway.
Although we were planning on only modest accommodation Tik was excited to be offered the VIP rafthouse with fully fitted bathroom. At 800 baht for the night this was very reasonable and the room was clean and well-maintained. We were looking forward to sitting outside on the floating patio and getting to know our new friends.
We sat outside on the porch, discussing life until late.
Face Bar Restaurant & Gazebo Rooftop Bar, Bangkok May 23, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing, Leisure , add a commentWe met up with a lovely couple through Couchsurfing today.
Stefan and Aileen are a similar age to us and we had a lot in common. Sadly, although they have been living in Bangkok for many years, we met them just a week before they relocated to the Philippines.
We were also jonied by their friends Arare and her partner (forgotten his name already, sorry). We began the night at the stylish ‘Face Bar’ in Sukumvit which is styled very much like a spa resort. They offer Japanese, Indian and Thai food.
(more…)
Elisa, Hector & Sameer Stay May 18, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing, Friends , add a commentWe have so many wonderful Couchsurfing experiences that sometimes I fail to take photos or update our blog about them.
The most memorable guests are usually those who cook for us and Elisa, Hector and Sameer came at a time when we weren’t too busy with work and could all relax together.
Elisa and Hector are Spanish although they’ve been all over the world for the last 7 years. They have just completed a round-the-world journey and are heading to Koh Phangnan to study to become yoga instructors and, when they complete their course will head to Brazil to teach at a school there.
Sameer is from El Salvador and is probably the biggest Couchsurfing fanatic we’ve yet met. Current he has about 145 positive references and is one of the ambassadors from El Salvador. Sameer’s had a very interesting life and is in Thailand to complete some advanced diving courses in Koh Tao.
A Night On The Town, Tokyo – Japan Day 12 April 16, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing, japan, travel , add a commentWe’d arranged to meet Aikiko (and her friend Yuka) in central Tokyo to experience authentic tokyo nightlife.
Aikiko is a fellow Couchsurfer and both her and her friend Yuka spoke perfect English, have a very sharp sense of humor and we couldn’t have hoped for better hosts to spend our time with.
After an enjoyable dinner together we went to a bar in Omoide
yokocho (translates at ‘memory side-street’).
The area used to be a popular haunt for Yakuza but nowadays it’s safe, friendly and very fun.
We enjoyed refreshing beers here and also an assortment of grilled nibbles such as the mushrooms below.
The bar was only small and after about 90 minutes we were asked to vacate our seats for waiting customers but got a lot through some great food, drink and conversation during that time.
We left Aikiko and Yuka about 10pm and headed for a Pachinko parlor to finish off the evening.
Okonomiyakis at A Japanese Bar – Japan Day 9 April 13, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing, japan, travel , add a commentAll that cycling made us hungry and, although we were planning on meeting friends for dinner we couldn’t resists heading into a traditional Japanese bar to sample their Okonomiyakis that they cooked on the hot plate in front of us.
Hanami Picnic in Maruyama Park, Kyoto – Japan Day 7 April 12, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing, japan, travel , add a commentTik and I had really been looking forward to this Couchsurfing event, and we were certainly not disappointed.
Staying With Michael – Our First Couchsurfing Host April 8, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing, japan, travel , add a commentWe spent a total of 6 nights with Michael in his apartment in Mukomachi.
The Flashpackers April 4, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing , add a commentNothing epitomizes the word ‘flashpacking’ better than Greg and his girlfriend ShaoYi.
Posing here with their netbooks, downloading movie torrents and uploading photos to facebook, both travelers prepare themselves for their next leg of adventures in India.
Couchsurfing Picnic in the Park March 27, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing, Friends, Leisure , add a commentWe attended an organized Couchsurfing event in Lumphini park.
There were about 50 people there and although we met some great people it wasn’t as friendly as our new years eve party.
I was really delighted to have reunited with May – an old colleague of mine from my teaching days.
A Warning To All CouchSurfers – You Will Lose Your Dignity Here February 24, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing, Friends , add a commentThis is one of Tik’s favorite photos.
She’s been known to confiscate our Couchsurfer’s cameras as soon as they get settled here and; using a combination of feminine wiles, mental and physical torture and heat-exposure wearing down their resistance.
Here is shocking evidence of the outcome of such session. She is making our couchsurfing friend Greg perform arial aerobics until she’s satisfied with the results.
After a battle of minds, drawn out over days Tik finally defeats Couchsurfer Greg into submission and strips him of all masculinity.
Another Couchsurfing Get-Together February 13, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing, Friends, Leisure, Thailand , add a commentWe had four people staying with us last Friday;
- Philippe and Amelia, a really lovely couple from Switzerland who’re traveling the world and are on their way to India.
- Alex, the guy we met in Kanchenaburi last week who’s on his way to the Philippines.
- Toon, Tik’s sister who came to Bangkok for a meeting.
We had a few other friends in Bangkok as well so took the opportunity to invite everybody over for dinner and drinks.
We ate at a great restaurant down the road called Fah Sai which serves Thai food.
Our CouchSurfing / Birthday / Farewell / Hello Party January 14, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing , add a comment
We decided to host another party last night. Most of us came for dinner at the large Issarn Restaurant round the corner, then it was back to our place for drinks and Wii games.
Attending were:
- Nolan, Tim and Josh – three American couchsurfers who were staying with us for three nights.
- Hailey and her Thai friend Roz. Hailey stayed with us a few weeks back and came to see us again beore flying home to Korea.
- Ying, Masaya and Sophie who we’d not seen since before New Year.
- Chris and Gai who are about to move out of Bangkok to travel the world together.
- Our Friend P’A
- Eric & Yasmin, a couchsurfing couple who’ve just arrived in Bangkok who hopefully we’ll get to spend more time with soon.
- Quinn, another couchsurfer who we unfortunately couldn’t host this week but we hope might return soon to stay with us.
It was also Tik’s birthday today so it was great being around such fun people.
Although many people were couchsurfers, we’d invited them privately so this wasn’t an official couchsurfing event.
In the future though we’ll issue a few more open invites to other couchsurfers who live or have arrived in Bangkok.
Click Here For Photos
New Year 2009 January 1, 2009
Posted by Martin in : CouchSurfing, Friends, Leisure, Thailand , add a comment
We made the most of CouchSurfing this new year and joined up for our first group event.
We were to meet in Charley Brown’s Mexican restaurant on Sukumvit 11. They had a great promotion where, for 1,000 baht we were served a refillable variety of Mexican snacks and could order any drink on the menu except for Corona.
We invited P’A to join us and also one of Tik’s new colleagues Vivek. As we’d not actually eaten all day Tik and I were first to make use of the offer and we arrived about 30 minutes before anybody else.
