CURRENT MISSION

To travel the world, have insight about the world, learn world cuisine,and one day open up a famous restaurant!

ABOUT ME

I'm Benz from Indonesia (and yes Benz is my real name and I'm 100% Indonesian), sometimes people never realize I'm Indonesian, even in my home country, i've been mistaken as a lot of nationalities even as a Japanese in Bali!

I really love traveling, and I have a strong desire to learn lots of languages ( so far struggling with russian hehe). I used to live in Australia in Townsville for 4 years, and the time I've spent there had opened up my insight of the world, and through my parents love of traveling as well (we drove 6000 km from North queensland to Melbourne back and forth for a family holiday)now I love to backpack and travel the world.

I used to stay in Bandung to learn Culinary management for 3 years as I have a desire to be a great chef as well but after graduating I've spent some time away from my main focus and did freelance translation instead (better pay than doing culinary job in Indonesia). I had spent some time living in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore (recently) to do my culinary internship and meeeting new friends from couchsurfing had gave me a great experience living there.

I love to host travelers in my hometown when I get the chance, and when I host you, please feel as if you're in your own house. And when I'm available I like to show my guests around and show what is Indonesia like, from the sights and the cuisine. When I'm not lazy I would cook at home for my guests, but since food is cheap in Indonesia and cooking Indonesian food requires a lot of time it's better to eat outside while I guide my guests.

As a guest when traveling I will follow all the rules that you have since I'm a guest and I have to be grateful that I made a new friend and that is my host's. And if you happen to be my first host on the trip I would probably bring some delicacy cake from my hometown.

I'm an easy going person and I like to befriend anyone! I like to have serious conversation, or even non serious and like to joke around (my college friends says i have a dry humour so i'm not funny, but i try to be a joker at times hehe). Usually I'm shy when I first get to know someone, but once I know them well, I let go of the shy barrier and be more opened about things.

I previously did a year of working holiday in Australia in Sydney. And afterwards I did an awesome 2 months journey across the orientals starting from Singapore then Malaysia to Hong Kong to Japan and Taiwan back in 2015.

Currently i'm Studying in Sydney Australia, and i travel here and there in between!

PHILOSOPHY

He who knows languages, he who know the world
Do Not rely on hope as it will only disappoint you later!
Live your live with Optimism

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

visited 9 states (4%)Create your own visited map of The World or Amsterdam travel guide for Android

I started CS from a recommendation from a college friend of mine in 2011. I've met many wonderful people and some become good friends. I've been hosting some people at my place but not too many since Bogor doesn't receive many guest (most stay in Jakarta and do day trips to Bogor)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

First CS experience was a CS meeting in Bogor on March, I met many local CSer and become friends with many of them and share experiences with traveling which inspired me to travel more.

Then I joined a couple of CS meetings in Kuala Lumpur, where I made a lot of friends and some become good friends as well. And up to now I frequently visit Kuala Lumpur to meet up with my friends there.

First time Couchsurfing (being a guest) was in Penang at Michel's place, he's very nice and showed me around the island. And I've done lot's of couching and hosting from then on, and meeting up with many interesting people.

Interests

In my spare time I love to find new places to explore, simply I cannot stay quiet and love traveling. Though I have times when I feel lazy and play video games instead. And I love to read a lot of manga and watch anime, don't worry I'm not an otaku (yet).

I used to play the piano since I was young until I moved to Australia since we cannot bring our piano of course, so now I only play it casually for fun thus I love to listen to classical music as well.

I grew an interest in culinary when I watched Jamie Oliver the Naked chef when I lived in Australia, i've been dreaming to become a great chef since I was in junior high school.

Sometimes I love to have deep conversation about the world and what's happening around us, since I'm very open minded, especially I always try to straighten up the misunderstandings of Indonesians towards Malaysians (both country fight a lot even though we have a cultural similarity).

Of course it would be traveling, but other than that:
I love Telenovela, learning language, anime, manga, Bollywood, Classical music, games, computers, cooking, traveling, walking, Playing the Piano, aviation.

• dining
• cooking
• walking
• aviation
• anime
• video games
• traveling
• eating out
• music
• classical music
• piano
• hiking
• backpacking
• freelancing
• languages
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies:

For movies I watched quite a lot of Bollywood movies (an influence I got from my maid when I was younger), and also Telenovela series. But I also like to watch regular Hollywood movies as well, and would go to the movies to watch the trending movies. And of course anime!

Music:

My sense of music is very different from what you define as normal music. My favourite song is from Armenia by Inga And Anus Arshakyans. I also listen to various Japanese music such as Yui, Crystal Kay, Scandal. And I listen to Russian pop singer Dima Bilan, and also a Macedonian rock group Next Time.
For normal western song I mainly listen to 70s-80s song such as Queen, Elvis etc.
And for relaxing time I love to listen to Classical Music.

Books:
Various manga
Artemis Fowl series
Alex Rider Series
David Baldacci Books
and many others

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I finally braved my self to try Hitch Hiking, first time in Melaka to Putrajaya, then from Singapore to Johor, it's fun!

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a desire to learn Russian and Japanese. And if you happen to be a goof cook (especially your traditional dish)I would love to learn as well!

I love to share my travel stories and my CS experiences and also listen to your travel stories as well.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Macao, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia

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