Language & Travel Hacking

I’m sharing my one-month update on my intensive Indonesian learning project. My goal has been to reach at least a B1 level before starting four months of full immersion in Indonesia, and I’m happy to say that I’m well on track. Right now, I’m at a strong A2 (upper beginner) level, making very fast progress. Over the pa

In this episode, Benny shares his fascinating journey through the complex world of US visas, from his early days on a J-1 visa working summer jobs in New York to securing the infamous O-1 visa – better known as the ‘Alien of Extraordinary Ability’ visa. He reflects on how his blogging success and language-learning miss

Hello and welcome to The Language and Travel Hacking Podcast! In this episode, I’m tackling a big question: How can you make the most of iconic travel destinations before they become impossible to enjoy? While I’ve talked about exploring off-the-beaten-track gems in the past, this time I’m focusing on the classics—Rome

Are you tired of crowded hotspots and skyrocketing travel costs? On this episode of The Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I’m diving into the future of travel and tackling the “hotspot problem.” Recorded from bustling Bali, I’ll share my firsthand experience of how even off-peak seasons feel like peak season—and why

As part of my Indonesian project ahead of travelling through the country, I’ve been testing out different tutors to find one who truly suits my learning style. From filtering by dialect, availability, and budget on platforms like italki to booking trial lessons with multiple tutors in one week, I’ve refined a method th

I’m kicking off 2025 with a new language project: learning Bahasa Indonesia. I’ll be studying intensively in Bali for two months before exploring Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and beyond. Indonesian’s simplicity—no conjugations or noun genders—makes it one of the easiest languages I’ve started, but my focus isn’t on mastery.