Couchsurfing anyone???

Let's talk a bit about this organization .. I've known Couchsurfing for more than 2 yrs now.. it's all started with my dreams to travel around the world with minimum amount of money, or at least with some amount that I can afford.. I used to read a forum Travel & Living in Cari.com.my, reading other people experience traveling around the world .. then a forumer mentioned about Couchsurfing ..I registered and surf the forum from one room to another .. I found it very interesting and it may be a place where I can expand my knowledge in traveling and pray that one day I'll have my chance.. so I give it a try .. 

Open my car to a strangers .. hahahaha not house yet .. just my car .. what I did is, I offer a ride to Penang from Kuala Lumpur on a Chinese New Year Holiday in 2010. That's where it started .. I didn't put high hopes that anyone would reply, but someone did ..actually 3 travellers accepted my offer .. first, Giuseppe from Italy, then he asked wether I can accept another lady from Japan (Fumi), and few days later, Ivan from Russia sent me a request as well. So my car is full now, that's what I thought .. on our way there, Dexter from Penang give me a call .. he got my number from the forum .. the bas he took broke down in Perak, on the way to Penang .. so we stop over to take him with us.. my car was not just full, it was packed .. hahahahaha..

But the people in my car were so much fun .. we laugh all the way from KL to Penang with lots of stories .. they were travellers and they have lots of experience with people and culture .. They end up staying at my mom's house (except Dexter, as we sent him to Penang to his family) .. and they stayed for 3 days before I went back to KL .. they continue their journey further up north (Giuseppe to Langkawi, Fumi to Alor Setar and Ivan to Thailand) ... 

That was my first and great experience .. After that I did join few other events and I did open my house to others (will tell that stories later) .. I also tried couch other people house when I was in Paris last December (2011) .. again, will tell about it later too .. hahahhaaa ..

We stopped by Gua Tempurung in Perak on our way to Penang

Giuseppe, Ivan and Myself

my guest - Giuseppe, Ivan and Fumi

Giuseppe cooked us dinner that night :)

family photo with our guest in traditional outfit

Giuseppe and Ivan in traditional outfit

Back to their outfit as backpackers ..

I love the experience .. it really open my eyes and preparing my brain, guts, courage and everything to be ready for my own journey ...

Journey into the Cave - Gua Tempurung, Perak

If you googled about Gua Tempurung, you can find few information about this beautiful cave .. Located a few minutes away from the highway exit in Gopeng, the cave gives you a fantastic view and adventure inside the largest natural limestone structure in Peninsular Malaysia. You can get more information here: http://www.guatempurung.com.

The place only close 2 times a year- which is during Eid Festival (Hari Raya Aidilfitri) & Haj holiday. If you're not from Malaysia, try google for Malaysian's Calendar for the exact dates as it change every year ..

Me, Dida and Jean

How to get there:
No matter where you're coming from (north or south), just take the PLUS highway and exit at Gopeng. Turn left and probably less than 10 mins, you'll see the signboard to the cave area on your left .. they open at 9am, but normally they will wait until 11am before they bring you in.. unless you're already in big group (which is more than 20) ..  


I've been there few times, and always enjoy the cave.. this time, I bring friends from Couchsurfing, Dida and Jean. We took the most adventure trip for the cave - which took us almost 4 hours .. it's not that hard though .. just get ready for lots of crawling and getting wet.. 

If you notice the first picture, looks like a man with Serban, that's why they call it Osama bin Laden :)

Before you do the caving, make sure you:
1. Wear long pants if you don't want to hurt your knee (or wear a knee pad)
2. Bring torchlight- or you can buy for RM10 at the entrance
3. Bring extra clothes, you definitely gonna get wet..
4. Wear cloth that you don't really like - it does has the possibility to be torn at the end of journey
5. Wear proper shoes for wet activities..

Crawling ...

Some of the challenge you have to do..

Slides for about 9m down

Overall, it was a fun activity to do during the weekend .. if you haven't tried this, I would highly recommend it .. :D