Couching up fast

Talking about young Puneites,Ketki and Ameya Nawathe started accommodating couple and single holidaymakers,two and a half years back,“Since then it has been fun. We meet people from all cultures and it proves to be an enriching experience for us as each accommodation leaves us full of memories”,states Ameya.

They recently hosted Joshep Foss,a law student from Minnesota,who says,“I was looking for a last minute lodging and Couchsurfing proved to be incredibly helpful. Just checked on the website for the hosts in the city and found this nice couple.”

All the free staying does come with its fair share of risks too as Foss points out,“Travelling this way confronts you with a lot of adventure. Once on my tour to New York I discovered that the person I was supposed to stay with didn’t exist and I ended up in a hostel.”

Though couch surfing seems to be very convenient to the pockets,it might not be very convenient for safety unless people research about the strangers they plan to host or stay with. “Its totally up to me if I want to stay with these people or not. I have couch surfed across the world.” said Mareile Krietsch,an explorer from Germany,“However seeing the crime rate of India,I somehow couldn’t gather the courage to do the same here.” she adds.

“Its not just the youth,couchsurfing is a growing trend among everyone I guess.” Explains Virag Thakkar,an active Couch surfer in Pune,”Though youngsters are more of surfers rather than Hosts. Hosts are mostly people above 30,off course they have their own home and can afford to provide a couch.”

Concerned about the safety of these people Satyajit Morey,Sales and marketing manager in hospitality,explains,“There are three steps you can follow to ensure your security- Firstly check their profiles and read the opinions of people who hosted them,secondly,check if they are verified by the Couchsurfing website and thirdly,meet them outside and study their behaviour before offering them a couch”

“Well there might be people who want a bit more than just Couchsurfing but I guess its no harm unless you check out their profiles and make sure it won’t be risky couching.” explains Bianca Kueddelsnann,an IT professional from Germany,“I got into Couchsurfing six months back and luckily I’ve come across nice people. I’ve couch surfed a lot in Pune and it is full of nice people,” she adds.

In spite of its negative aspects the concept is fast catching on amongst youngster who wish to dissolve cultural and geographical boundaries in ways like these. And as Biplab Deka,an electronics engineer,who recently hosted one such couch surfer says,“I just hosted one backpacker and it was a wonderful experience. It is a good thing that the concept is hitting off with the youth across the globe as it is something so antonymous to the world full of hostility and terror.”