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Wednesday 3 April 2013

Couchsurfers get together in Gent

I'm so tempted to say, C is for cookie! Yeah. Our cookie stock is going down fast. But I've planned for C to be for couchsurfing. It is the best thing that happened since 2008. It has made it possible for us to meet wonderful travelers from all over the world. And in turn we get to visit some of them. And had brought us to take a detour to Belgium. So on the last weekend of February 2011, we made our way to Gent.

The City of Gent welcomed us, two Malaysians (Joey, who then was in Antwerp working as an Au Pair, and I) and an American (Digital) with its cold wintry rain. With Olivier and James (a friend of Olivier, and our driver for the day) in the lead, we trudged street to street, one ornate building to the next, and catching up with Sven (Olivier and Sven came to Kuala Lumpur in 2008, and stayed with us as our first couchsurfer guests). It was like being in a reality TV to see Sven again, as we had not been as communicative apart as we had with Olivier. There was a lot to catch up with Sven. After two coffee houses, and the rain not getting any better, Sven suggested we all should just help him and his girlfriend Efrata cook dinner. We all said, yes yes!!! In a couchsurfing spirit. We knew good food was coming.

Pretty maid statue in front of a restaurant.

Moi in new pair of rubber shoes, Digi and Joey
(Photo was taken by Olivier)

Our host Sven getting the  sauces ready.

Chicken, East meet West style.

Joey, Moi, Digi and Olivier about to begin our
dinner - noodle and chicken.

There were many places that I purposely did not include in our Belgium trip this time. No Waterloo or a cross to the Netherlands. Although it was meant to get Digital to visit another country, and three great cities, the main pull was meeting up (again) with Olivier, Sven and Minny. To also had the opportunity to catch up with a fellow Malaysian (Joey) in a far away land was really nice too. Antwerp, Brussels and Gent have so much to offer to travelers, but having great friends and meeting them make these cities memorable.

Till we meet again,
Alternative Foodie

14 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you Lynn, I do feel very fortunate, to have wonderful friends and the opportunity visit them and go places.

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  2. I loved this tour, with great photos!!! xox jean

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    1. Jean, it is wonderful to see you here. I'm glad you're enjoying the tour. I'm looking forward to read more of your writing in the coming days too. It is 1.15 am in KL (Kuala Lumpur) now, so I'll say goodnight now, and continue blog hopping tomorrow. Night all.

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  3. A-Zing over and all I can see is... mmmmmmmmmm. News From Nowhere

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    1. Laugh, I was sure I have written something for you Dani, but that mmmmmm must had gotten me hungry and missed saying hi to you. Yes, it was a lovely dinner. Thank you for commenting on us.

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  4. That looks like a lot of fun. I really need to travel again.

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    1. That would fun indeed, Samuel. And thank you for stopping by ... seeing you, remind me that I've to write about book someday ;)

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  5. I just heard about couch surfers last night when I was with my friends at dinner last night (I'm in L.A., California). It sounds like a lot of fun.
    Kids Math Teacher

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    1. Lucy, for visiting and joining nuttybean. And for couchsurfing check out your local couchsurfing community - that is the easiest to find if you like the group & its activity. As well learn from other members about its rule & regulation, and most importantly on safety. Either as host or as guest, especially in far away places, the fact is - in the beginning we will still be meeting strangers. But the reward of meeting a bona fide couchsurfer is really great. If you like meeting people, staying with locals when on the road, give it a try.

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    2. Lucy, I meant to say, thank you up there, for visiting and joining nuttybean. Love your Kids Math Teacher page.

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  6. Wonderful travel stories! It reminds me of my time in Australia with a melting pot of cultures! Fun blog! Happy A-to-Z 2013! ~Angela, Whole Foods Living

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    1. Thank you Angela. Australia is huge too, right - takes days to go places if you are on the bus. But is great there, especially for my son and I, meat eaters ;)

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  7. Both these and the Brussels photos are fab!
    Loved both posts :)

    auntyamo
    http://ficticiousamo.wordpress.com/

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