I’m Niko, along with my wife Chike.

We're a married couple based in Bali, Indonesia, working daily as freelance designers, illustrators, and mural artists. I specialize in outdoor illustration while Chike is a children's book illustrator.

We're into nature and culture. It leads us to travel to places. We started traveling together 6 years ago and it has transformed our life. Traveling has become so essential to us, as a way to change our perspective, to share lives with others, and as a constant reminder to breathe and be present.

We love going outdoors, hiking, or walking far distance in nature. I am also keen on running while Chike likes swimming. We see ourselves as an active people.

We both are urban sketchers and would find time to sit and draw in the city, village, forest, anywhere! Chike can be found painting street foods, sleeping puppies, wildflowers, children playing, and anything cute and colorful. I'm drawn to the intricate ornament in temples, ancient ruins, majestic mountains, and cultural stuff. If you're into art, we can draw together!

One more thing, Chike loves to cook! She makes tasty Indonesian foods, and will be happy to cook for you!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

We believe that the world is full of wonderful people, each with their own unique story. We think couch surfing is perfect to broaden our perspective and find new experiences and friends from different background. We would love to learn new languages, travel and life like local.

Interests

• arts
• food
• nature
• trekking
• learning languages
• meeting new people
• ethnic food
• culture exchange
• nature walks
• birdwatching
• nature conservation
• local life
• urban sketching
• culture sharing
• camping and hiking
• history and culture

Music, Movies, and Books

Book
Niko : "Titik Nol" by Agustinus Wibowo
Chike : Any children's book, "The Arrival" by Shaun Tan, "Inside Out and Back Again" by ThanHa Lai

Movie
Niko : Any adventure documentary
Chike : Song of the Sea and Wolfwalkers, both by Cartoon Saloon

Music
Niko : System of a Down, techno music or EDM music in foreign language.
Chike : Kings of Convenience, Sleeping at Last, Paper Kites, Kina Grannis,

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Trekking in Annapurna circuit in Nepal. Riding in Ha Giang Loop Vietnam and Mae Hong Son Loop in Northern Thailand. Doing a cycling trip and volunteering in Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia.

Teach, Learn, Share

Would be happy to share our knowledge in art field , either it's about illustration, mural, or urban sketching.
Let's draw together or we can teach you a bit :)

We bring our camping stuff and a pair of binoculars, we can go camping and bird watching together.

Also, if you want to know about Indonesia, we have a lot to tell you since we've travelled a lot inside the country!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Lend us your kitchen and Chike will cook you a yummy plate of nasi goreng! If the ingredients is available, lots of Indonesian cuisine as well!

If you have paint and brush, we can create some nice illustration on your wall too :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Indonesia