Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Couchsurfing and the Azan

I accepted a couchsurfing request sometime last week when I didn't know things were about to get crazy for me after that. I didn't foresee my 'lill sister was coming to stay with me during the same weekend my couchsurfer from Ukraine was coming. And I certainly didn't foresee that my parents were also coming a few days after for a heart operation at Institut Jantung Malaysia (Malaysia's Heart Institution).

Even after knowing all of these things were gonna happen on the same week.. I didn't have the heart to cancel the couchsurfer's request and just allowed her to come. At that time, I probably had thought of a dozens of excuses to cancel the request but it never fall through. Haha. And so she came and I was hoping that she wouldn't mind being cramped in a small room with my sister and I.

Thankfully... all my housemates were not home during that long Thaipusam weekend except for one girl. And my sister was being very hospitable. Since it was a public holiday, I was free to bring my guest around KL for some sight-seeing without being tied up with office work.

One funny moment happened that washed away all my doubts in hosting couchsurfers. An adorable moment. My guest heard a loud sound through the loudspeakers in my neighborhood and the conversation started like this :

Guest : Did you hear that? What is that man singing about?
My sister : Oh, that's the azan. A calling for prayers.
Guest : Azan?
My sister : We Muslims are being called five times a day to pray by this "singer". It's like a reminder so that we don't forget. 
Guest : It sounds lovely. I never been to a Muslim country.

I smiled when I heard their conversation. And this is why I love hosting and being hosted on couchsurfing.com. I get to share my culture and the way of living of a local with foreigners. Let them know... hey.. Malaysia is a beautiful country and yeah, we're not terrorists! Hahaha!

With my guest, Lika at KLCC.
My head and heart lightened up after that and I continued to be the gracious host despite having doubts of hosting when times were getting tough. I shall not forget the reason why I joined couchsurfing in the first place as I believe in the site's aim in creating.. “a world made better by travel and travel made richer by connection”.. Praise thee god for the life given.  :)

PS: The news about guests being raped is shocking! I hope I won't have such experience when I couchsurf!


12 comments:

Ramble and Wander said... [Reply]

First time baca blog post yg bukan exactly pasal travel (esp. after the blog clean up, haha!)

Jard The Great said... [Reply]

@ pakcik RAW... couchsurfing is about travelers.. lalala!

aaron said... [Reply]

couchsurfing itu apa ya kak?

Jard The Great said... [Reply]

aaron yg ngada! ... cobak cek di couchsurfing.com yaaa.... semua info di sana!

Sedunia Travel said... [Reply]

Hey Jard, that's a nice story about Couchsurfing you have here! We discovered this blog post after you recommended us to your friend that seeks Vietnam package. We're thrilled to be recommended and is really thankful for that. We look forward to serving you again soon! =)

P.S: We're having a Vietnam all-in package with flight to Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi priced at RM998 where the booking ends tomorrow so do pass this news to Haliza! We look forward to serving her as well =D

Jard The Great said... [Reply]

@ sedunia travel.. it is my pleasure to recommend your packages as it is to me the cheapest ones around. hehehe. will sure do!

HEMY said... [Reply]

aku ingtkn kawan ko tu kudung tadi

ruggedmom said... [Reply]

Aku masih berkira-kira nak couchsurfing and the news menyeramkan!

Teringin juga nak jadi host tapi rumahku penuh dengan orang hahaa..

Wak Lat said... [Reply]

Salam. Hee baru saya tau psl couchsurfing. ;p

azuan said... [Reply]

Concept yang menarik. In other words macam jadi duta kecil menyambut guest jugak ni

Especially kalau kena time weekend or cuti boleh jadi host dekat rumah and guide outside. Definitely better if dapat people yang banyak experience and travel knowledge like you.

Anonymous said... [Reply]

Salam sis, nk tanya sikit la pasal CS. Saya baru guna CS and Alhamdulillah dapat sorang host di Jepun. Cuma saya ada beberapa soalan yg menjadi concern utama:
1. Macam mana kita nk ckp yg kita ni Muslim, xleh makan benda2 haram tu semua (mcm pig, daging yg tidak disembelih) and x minum tanpa menyinggung perasaan host tu sendiri?
2. Kalau kita berada di rumah host, dari segi tempat nk sembahyang tu mcm mana eh?
3. Cadangan / selalunya apa yg kita boleh buat utk bagi balik dekat host sbb diorg dh baik hati nk bagi kemudahan tempat tinggal?

mintak maaf klu soalan mcm noob sangat hehehe, tapi dh search bnyk guideline CS, tapi tk jumpa bnyak dri segi bab muslim-friendly ni. kot2 sis boleh bagi tips :D Terima kasih.

Jard The Great said... [Reply]

@ anon....

Wassalam...

1. Nak bgtahu kita muslim takyah kalau dah pakai tudung, betul tak? tapi kalau lelaki, dan host tak faham islam itu apa.. belajar dalam bahasa jepun yang kamu tak boleh makan babi kerana allergic. Dan terus-terang lah yang kamu tak minum alkohol.

2. solat kat mana2 pun boleh. kalau rumah host jenis one-room bedroom... cari ruang tertutup utk solat.. atau tunggu host keluar rumah atau mandi untuk solat. takut jugak dia sensitif tengok org solat dlm rumah. haha.

3. sbg org malaysia.. aku biasanya bg skaf kat host wanita.. utk lelaki aku bagi kain sarung... hehehe.

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