The CouchSurfing Project (CS) is currently the world’s largest hospitality exchange network, founded by Casey Fenton in 1999. The network connects like-minded travelers for cultural exchange, friendship, and learning experience. Travelers can be hosted by the locals for free and sleep in whatever space spare available (floor, couch, or bed). The idea of CS came up when Fenton got a cheap flight ticket to Iceland. Rather than staying in a hotel, he spammed over 1,500 Icelandic students in Reykjavik to ask them whether or not he could crash on one of their couches. The effort was eventually successful as he received more than 50 accommodation offers! From this amazing experience, CS was ultimately born. Currently, CS has over 2 million members spreading in over 230 countries (from Indonesia to Antartica! No kidding!). It is the most visited hospitality service on the Internet and the most famous one (at…

Chocolate letters are very popular in the Netherlands. When the Dutch holiday of Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas’ Eve) approaches, many shops and department stores sell chocolate letters. These chocolate letters are a typical Sinterklaas candy that are given to each person according to their initials. I discovered that the Netherlands was the only place with a St. Nicholas chocolate initial letter tradition.

Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful. (Al-Qur’an 2:185)

Can’t believe that Ramadhan is coming up within a blink of an eye! According to the Indonesian embassy in Den Haag, the start of Ramadhan will be on Wednesday. This year’s Ramadhan is going to be as tough as last year…