We are Bayu and Jen, a married couple living in Padang, West Sumatra. Bayu is originally from Padang, while Jen is from the UK. We met at the beginning of 2015, Jen made the decision in March that year to move permanently to Sumatra. We married in August 2015, and our daughter, Olivia, was born in October 2016.
We both have a passion for travel and meeting new friends. Bayu studied anthropology at university here in Padang and spent a number of years traveling across Indonesia, experiencing first hand many of the various cultures across the nation.
Jen studied History in the UK before embarking on an East Asian Adventure that never ended.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

We love to meet new people, but more than that, we want to help you, too. It can be difficult to plan things in Indonesia, or to get any clear idea of what is going on unless you have some insider information.
Bayu will enthusiastically show you the nightlife in Padang and further afield, while Jen loves nothing better than a cuppa and a chat...

Interests

We love to socialize and travel! Bayu's hobby is making friends - he seems to know everyone, and have a story to tell about everywhere in Indonesia. He is a very useful man to know! Jen gets to enjoy the benefits of having such a fun-loving husband and has got so see and experience some amazing things in his company.
In her own right, Jen has become somewhat of a specialist on the local culture in Padang; constantly learning by trial and error both the language and the customs of this unique area.

• culture
• running
• nightlife
• traveling
• socializing
• backpacking
• anthropology
• business
• history
• tourism

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I went backpacking solo across South East Asia, accidentally ended up in Indonesia and met the best man in the world, made the leap and moved here. I wasn't looking for love, and kind of stumbled into the whole thing, accidentally becoming the luckiest woman in the world. - Jen

Teach, Learn, Share

Did you know that the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra are one of the only remaining matrilinial ethnic groups in the world? That means that property passes from mother to daughter, and families that have only sons are considered less fortunate.

What I Can Share with Hosts

We can give you a crash course in local cuisine, culture and customs, if that's what you want. Alternatively, we can show you some great places to hang out and give you a run down of what to do in Padang.

We currently run a small homestay business, and so are unable to host couchsurfers. However, we would gladly invite you into our home for a chat about life in Indonesia, insider hints and tips for making the most of your time here, a cup of tea or coffee and you're welcome to use our WiFi free of charge, too. We encourage people to feel at home in our home and that extends to all visitors, not only guests.

We also run a small tourism business, operating mainly for locals, and can help you to organize anything that you want to do in both West Sumatra and further afield.

Pop by the house or give us a call if you are in the area; think of us as your Padang family!

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Ireland, Italy, Laos, Malaysia, Scotland, Spain, Thailand, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Indonesia