GTalker couchsurfer

[luisacart]

hi guys!

I was just wondering if there's another gtalker member at couchsurfing.com

[Frozen Toes]

This is very interesting. I will read more on this over the weekend. Have you experienced couchsurfing?

[luisacart]

not yet, sis.i just joined the other day eh. i'm trying to meet local CSers so I can get references

[Frozen Toes]

Keep me posted. There's a big probability that I'll be joining the org.

[rocky]

^sis, member ng CS si sleepy_me member din friend kong si lakwatsero kaya EB sila. hehe

[Frozen Toes]

^ Mga gala pala talaga ang members nito. Magmember na rin kayo ni SHEGOTHIM.

[rocky]

^di pa ako familiar sa org sis. kay sleepy_me & angel ko rin lang nalaman to. anong website? hehe

[Frozen Toes]

^ www.couchsurfing.org

Aaralin ko rin yung org before signing up. Mukhang interesting eh.

[neeners]

I'm a CouchSurfer too

I've couchsurfed twice palang (HK in Feb 2009 and Jakarta Aug 2010), and met up with some CouchSurfers in Manila for a Binondo food trip and Chinese Cemetery tour.

Overall, it's a great positive experience. Getting to know other people who are as passionate about traveling as I was the highlight. You also get plenty of advice and suggestions from people about the places you're planning to visit.

Syempre, it's cheaper din if you're staying with someone pag nag CS ka, since bawas na accommodation expense mo. Of course, may drawback din kasi syempre wala ka masyadong privacy, unlike if you're paying for your own room. But the interaction and insight you get from a local is a priceless experience

[riandrew]

Of course, may drawback din kasi syempre wala ka masyadong privacy, unlike if you're paying for your own room. But the interaction and insight you get from a local is a priceless experience

hands down. lakas ng loob mo teh! im a fan!
pero di ba hindi ka naman friendly? joke!

seriously, what if di mo bet yung bahay ng host mo? i know mejo choosy ka (at ako) eh, halos nalibot natin ang town ng daet, remember? 

[neeners]

Chyng: I can be friendly if needed But seriously, kung maliit na group lang, I'm fine. Pero pag maramihang tao na (like the big CS gatherings), medyo shy na ko sa ganun.

With CS kasi, in each person's profile, there's a section that describes the "couch." It can be a literal couch, or just an extra mattress in your host's room, or if you're lucky, your own room. Some post pictures of the couch or the bed so at least you know what to expect. Syempre, wag naman mataas ang expectation. Remember, you're basically asking a stranger if you can stay at his/her house for free. So wag mapili. If you really can't stand it, syempre talk to your host and say that it doesn't make you feel comfortable. But kung comfort lang naman hanap mo, might as well shell out money for a room.

There's also a personal description and interest list, so you can read if you and your host would be a good fit. There's also a feedback system, so you can see what other CS members have to say about your possible host.

The thought of meeting a stranger and staying at his/her house is a scary thought, but in the end you just have to believe in the CS spirit, that each member are there because they want to help other travelers.

In the end, Couch Surfing is not just about cheap travel, but also a way to connect with locals.

[badmonkey]

Hindi pa ako member ng CS pero may idea na ako how it works dahil sa close friend ko na member nito.

Freaky yung idea for me but I'm willing to try it sa next travel ko.

[riandrew]

Nina: For the love of traveling, some people with the same passion as yours share their "couch". Amazing pala yung couchsurfer.

So nextime, do you also need to be the host to pay it forward? Or walang pressure na ganun?

[l_neveph]

tried couchsurfing on my tseoul trip last june..aside from the fact na makakatipid ka sa accomodation you  get to try local things and visit places only locals know of, in my case, pinasyal kami ng host namin sa incheon and treated for lunch..saya  kasi hindi kami makakapunta and eat like locals if not for them..
last month naman it's our turn to host..couple sila from the US, it's up to you if you want to invite them for dinner or a night out.on our part , serve namin sila ng bfast and on their last day treat namin sila for dinner.pay it forward lang kasi we were treated nicely on our first couchsurfing experience..

[Frozen Toes]

^ So, how was it, welcoming strangers into your home?

[neeners]

Nina: For the love of traveling, some people with the same passion as yours share their "couch". Amazing pala yung couchsurfer.

So nextime, do you also need to be the host to pay it forward? Or walang pressure na ganun?

Hosting doesn't just mean having a couch or room that's available for other members. It could also mean meeting up for coffee or showing them around your city, since there are members (like me), who don't have an extra room in the house.

Di naman explicitly required to pay it forward (they don't keep tab), but it's much appreciated by the community.

[Frozen Toes]

^ Nice to know that hosting does not always involve allowing other members to stay over your place. I share the house with my mum and two snobbish baby dogs so live-in hosting is not possible for me.

[l_neveph]

hi frozentoes..it was fun..they're very considerate din kasi and they're well aware how it is to host kasi they've hosted several times na kaya hindi sila yung mga pasaway na couchsurfers..like they keep the room tidy and they're not noisy at all..i like hosting already that in fact come october another couple from denmark will be staying at our place again=)

[miss understood]

May mga sisses na tayo na member na nito. http://www.femalenetwork.com/girltalk/index.php?topic=230116.0

was inspired and challenged to try this, kaya nagregister na rin ako dahil sa blog na ito:
http://www.solitarywanderer.com/2011/06/couchsurfing-project/

Baka gusto niyong itry.

[mameejhy]

Sino pa members dito?