CURRENT MISSION

Trekking around Asia on a journalism assignment

ABOUT ME

My name is Benjamin Law, and I'm an Australian journalist, originally born to Chinese parents.

Right now, I am working on a book that examines the lives and stories of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people throughout Asia, which will be published by Black Inc. Books (distributed by Penguin) in 2012.

So far, the book has taken me to Thailand, China and Japan. Throughout 2011, I'm possibly travelling through India, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Korea, Turkey, parts of the Middle East and beyond.

I'm looking for gay-friendly couchsurfing hosts who love good conversation and stories. I'm a friendly, affable low-maintanence Australian guy who cleans up after himself, respects people's property, and — as a bonus — really enjoys cooking for people.

Give me a yell if you're keen to hear more about me or my research. I'd love to hear more about you too.

More information about me on my website:
www.benjamin-law.com

PHILOSOPHY

"All the lives we could live, all the people we will never know, never will be, they are everywhere. That is what the world is."
— Aleksandr Hemon

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I'm new to CouchSurfing! I guess you could say I'm a CouchSurfing virgin. (You'll be gentle, right?)

Interests

Reading books, magazines, newspapers, websites, the back of cereal packets — I'll read it all. I'm also into swimming and rockclimbing (when I get the chance), travelling to new places and meeting people. Some people say they like meeting "interesting people", but in journalism, I've found all people have a story to tell.

• books
• cooking
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• swimming
• journalism
• law

Music, Movies, and Books

FICTION: Jonathan Franzen, Zadie Smith, Jeffrey Eugenides, George Orwell, Daniel Clowes, Richard Yates, Christos Tsiolkas, Christopher Isherwood, Michael Cunningham.

NON-FICTION: Susan Orlean, Malcolm Gladwell, Ariel Levy, Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper, Anna Krien.

MAGAZINES: The New Yorker, GQ, Frankie, Esquire, The Monthly.

MUSIC: Björk, Grizzly Bear, Cat Power, Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird, Elliott Smith, Gillian Welch, Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Arcade Fire, Antony & the Johnsons, Amy Winehouse, Nina Simone, Laura Veirs, Kate Bush.

TV: Six Feet Under, Mad Men, The Daily Show.

RADIO: NPR, WBEZ Chicago's This American Life.

MOVIES: Welcome to the Dollhouse, American Beauty, Brokeback Mountain, The Hours.

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