Hi there, fellow adventurers!

I'm Benn, a curious soul from planet earth with an insatiable thirst for learning, adventure and new experiences. Whether it’s hiking through lush forests, exploring vibrant cityscapes, sharing a laugh over a cup of coffee/tea/beer, hunting for food, diving into a good book or simply enjoying a sunset or a night sky, I’m always up to something that makes feel ALIVE even if it's just sitting, doing nothing and being mindful.

I love connecting with people from all walks of life, sharing stories, and learning about the many cultures, perspectives and different ways in which people relate to themselves, others and the world in general . I believe that every person has a unique story to tell, a gift to share with the world, a hidden knowledge to uncover and I can’t wait to discover yours! and share our ideas and opinions in order to imagine and create a better world!

I’m currently living on the beautiful Island of Penang-Malaysia , where I trade in stocks and commodities (I'm not that good lol). My journey here has been quite an adventure. Graduated university, joined a family business in import and export, quit it after two years and moved to Thailand to start my own thing. Unfortunately—or fortunately— my aquaculture business ( a shrimp business, just like Forrest Gump! if you know the movie) failed due to COVID-19 pandemic, and while i was doing a visa run in Malaysia i got stranded (stuck) for 22 freaking months because of the lockdowns.

Losing everything, hitting rock bottom and starting from Zero was a transformative experience. It humbled me a lot, showed me how to enjoy simple things in life, taught me the true essence of resilience and adaptability. I realized that the universe operates in mysterious ways, often beyond my comprehension. Despite meticulous planning, there are moments when i must give up control and go with the flow of life. For someone like me, who thrives on details and precision, this was a profound challenge. Yet, it was in this surrender that I discovered the beauty of life and the strength within myself to navigate through uncertainty. This journey has shown me that sometimes, the most significant growth comes from letting go, trusting the process and enjoying the moment.

My philosophical maxim is "Know thyself" which was inscribed in the Temple of Apollo in ancient Greek, if i could add another, i would go for the wise words of Marcus Aurelius " The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way" from his book -Meditations-

My only real addiction is trying new things, please don't use that against me haha.

Proud Amazigh, if you don’t know what’s that, we are the indigenous populations of North Africa. No one knows our origins but Myth has it that some prehistoric people that crossed to Africa from Europe, then much later, Hercules/Heracles and his army came to North Africa where his army intermarried with the local populace and settled the region permanently.

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

When I travel, I choose Couchsurfing because it transforms my simple trips into unique cultural experiences. It’s not just about finding a place to stay, It’s about immersing myself in the local culture and forming genuine connections with the people, It’s about connecting with the heart and soul of a destination through its inhabitants.

Couchsurfing allows me to step beyond the typical tourist experience and see the world through the eyes of those who live there. This platform has introduced me to incredible human beings who have shared their homes, stories, and lives with me, often leading to deep, lasting friendships and unforgettable experiences. The authenticity and hospitality I’ve encountered through Couchsurfing have enriched my travels in ways I never imagined.

It’s about sharing stories, learning from each other, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Whether it’s a hidden gem in the city, a local tradition, a distinct perspective on life, a weird story from local myths and folklore or simply a heartfelt conversation, these moments make my travels more meaningful.

I believe that the essence of travel lies in these genuine human connections and the shared experiences that come with them. Couchsurfing embodies this philosophy perfectly, making every journey not just a trip, but an adventure filled with warmth, friendship, and discovery.

兴趣

I have a deep love for the arts and any form of human expression. Humans are incredibly creative beings, often I find myself in a state of awe and wonder when witnessing amazing art. Whether it’s a painting, a piece of music, a dance performance, a beautifully work of literature/science/philosophy or an individual life story ( a wise man once said: we are all writing a book, what your book looks like?). These expressions of creativity bring immense joy to life. They have the power to uplift our spirits and provide hope despite all the suffering and hardships. Art, in all its forms, reminds us of the beauty and resilience of the human spirit.

I extend the act of being creative to nature too. I mean let’s face it, nature is a phenomenal artist. If you take the time to look, you’ll find beauty everywhere, layers upon layers. That’s why I make nature a constant companion. I love all kinds of activities performed in nature, without exception!

I love learning about humans, life history in general, questions like _ what are the laws of human nature? how our minds function? what is consciousness? what lays hidden in our subconscious? how did we evolve throughout our history as a species? what is the true history of humanity, life and the universe? how do we relate to this huge universe ? the mystery of life? and what is the meaning of all of this? if there is a meaning at all _ always run through my mind and i have spent a considerable time of my life reading, researching and trying to find answers.

As much as this seems complicated and grandiose I genuinely enjoy the simple act of doing nothing—just sitting and being mindful, fully immersed in the present moment. It’s a practice that brings me a sense of peace and clarity, enhancing my focus and attention. I view it as a brain exercise. However, my mind often refuses to stay quiet, which happens all the time. To help calm my thoughts, I turn to yoga. The gentle stretches help me release all the stress from my body and make me feel very light. This combination of meditation and yoga has become part of my daily routine, providing a much-needed relaxation in my life.

Every day, I try to stay physically active, whether it’s hitting the gym, swimming, jogging, hiking, or just walking. Anything that gets my heart pumping and blood flowing. You know what they say: you’re one workout away from a good mood.

I love eating, drinking, dancing, and any activities that involve people. Like I always say, More people, More fun!

• arts
• books
• folklore
• dancing
• yoga
• meditation
• music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• history
• philosophy
• psychology
• science
• hitchhiking
• road trips
• adventure travel
• nature
• mythology
• traditional food
• freedom
• tea
• reading books
• learning new things
• mindfulness
• gym
• self-development
• nutrition
• traditions
• consciousness
• psychedelics
• beer and wine
• human development
• trading
• action sports
• drinking coffee
• health and fitness
• financial markets
• unconscious

音乐、电影和书籍

Books : I started my journey with philosophical novels such as books written by Paulo Coelho and Fyodor Dostoyevsky but then i transited to historical novels or hardcore history, books like Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind is one of my favorites. After that it was all about philosophy, existentialism, human nature, psychology, consciousness, human development and how to maximize the human potential, I'm talking about books written by Rollo May, C.G Jung and all the Jungian analysts, Robert Green, Most of the work of the Stoic Philosophers, Ancient texts like The Art of War by Sun Tzu, The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu and many more.
Since i am a self-taught investor and trader, I read all the time about Economics, Finance, Behavioral Finance, Financial History, Accounting, Geopolitics, Great Investors and Financiers and so on.

I love books, I love reading, I read all the time and i am always looking for ways to read more, my To Read List is always getting longer and i don't think one life time is enough for me to consume all the treasure of knowledge hidden inside the books, the more I read the more I realize how little I know, the more humble I become and the more thankful I am to all these great humans and thinkers that graced us with their wisdom.

I love listening to Podcasts too, My favorites are: Huberman Lab, Found My Fitness, Drive Podcast, Rich Roll and the Joe Rogan experience.

Movies : it is very hard to pick few, too many great movies haha, if i had to choose i would go for: Into The Wild, Forrest Gump, The Shawshank Redemption, Fight Club, Interstellar, Good Will Hunting, Braveheart, Memento, Gladiator, Joker, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Shutter Island, Star Wars, Gone Girl, Rocky, Blade Runner 2049, Nightcrawler and many more.

Music : all kind of music, i listen to calm relaxing music, deep psy house music, hip-hop old school dope music, classical music and i love traditional music, please show me some good traditional music played with traditional instrument especially eastern music.

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

Surviving so far hahaha, jokes aside though, Back in my early days of traveling, I was 18 or 19 yo, My friend and I decided to go on a one week trekking trip in the mountains of Georgia, No experience, No equipments, No planning, No nothing, we just ventured into the unknown, trusting everything will turn out well.

It was Day 3 when we lost the trail, we arrived at steep Cliff, looked just like a Wall, We saw two groups of people making their way back, they told us this is the wrong road, We must have took the wrong turn somewhere.
My friend who did his PHD on Maps and Navigation told me this is the correct way, he said the trail is up the cliff and we need to climb it, put in mind that we didn't have hiking shoes, climbing equipment, or any proper gear, and we were currying heavy backpacks, Yet we decided to climb, We didn't like the idea of going back and we were running out of food so the only way was Forward.
We had the brilliant stupid idea to tie each other with a rope and go for it, either we make it together or we fall together haha, and on top of that we were loosing the Sun (it was hiding behind the cliff) and we had no Lights only phones.
It took us 1 hours to climb that damn cliff, we were doing it inch by inch, I climb one inch, find a strong hold for my hands and legs, Then he fellows so that each time one is on the move the other is acting as an Anchor.

Miraculously we made it to the top, found the trail, which meant we weren't lost anymore, found a lot of wood to start a fire, the sun was setting and it was one of the happiest moments of my life, i felt extreme joy and ecstasy, i started shouting and howling with wolfs which you can hear them by the way howling from far.

The other groups with their sophisticated equipment took notice of us , we signaled to them that we found the trail, they followed us and we all set camp together, had a well deserved dinner together with some vodka to keep us warm and enjoyed the Milky Way with the wolfs acting like a background music.

我可以与沙发主分享些什么

As your guest, I bring a variety of experiences and stories from my humble journey, I’ve learned and seen quite a bit. I consider Experience, be it my experience or that of others as a priceless commodity, the true wealth of a person and I am more than happy to share mine with you.

If you’re up for some outdoor activities, count me in! We can explore the hidden gems of your area together.

I’m deeply fascinated by human nature, consciousness, the workings of our minds and the mysteries of life. I enjoy diving into deep conversations about these subjects. If you’re into thought-provoking discussions, we’ll have plenty to talk about.

Mindfulness and yoga are parts of my daily routine. I can show you my practices and how they help me stay relaxed and focused, I’m happy to do these calming activities with you.

Staying active is a big part of my life, and I’m always up for a fitness session. So if you are looking for a training buddy, you just found one.

Books are my passion, I’ve read a lot. I can share insights from my readings and discuss a wide range of topics over a cup of coffee or tea. I can definitely recommend you many great books if you are interested in what i have read, be it psychology, how economy and the financial markets work? and why you should be know what the Federal Reserve of USA is doing?

Podcasts/Documentaries/Movies are another love of mine. We can exchange recommendations and discuss/watch interesting episodes together.

Lastly, I love social activities, I’m always up for lively conversations and connecting with others over good food and drinks.

Looking forward to sharing stories, experiences, and creating unforgettable memories together!

我游览过的国家

Austria, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Poland, Slovakia, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates

我居住过的国家

Algeria, Georgia, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Poland, Thailand