Hey there, beautiful people! Welcome to @CoincidentallyUs, where you get an insider’s peek into the inner world of Ben and Leon— two creatives with an unlikely love story right here in Sydney. Join us as we share our Sydney life, design escapades, photography content, the irresistibly adorable Zissou (our Burmese cat), and a treasure trove of mouthwatering cocktail and vego recipes.
We’ll start with us… I’m Ben, a 33-year-old interior designer who traded the Queensland sun for the big city energy of Sydney three years ago. And by my side is my partner, Leon, a 34-year-old photographer originally from Taiwan, who’s been soaking in the Aussie life for nine years. Our story is not just about design and photography; it’s a tale of how our worlds collided in the most unexpected and coincidental way.
Let’s rewind to the moment our paths first brushed against each other.
Having matched on Tinder many moons ago, typical of many gay dating app experiences, our initial connection was overshadowed by the hustle of busy schedules, leading to a gradual falling out of touch and eventually unmatching without much conversation. After resigning from my hectic interior designer job in early 2023, I gained some much-needed down time and finally started to find some happiness again in my life since moving to Sydney. It was during this period of virtual near-miss that I, Ben, coincidentally stumbled upon Leon.
Picture it: a seemingly ordinary house party, invited by a friend of a friend of a friend, an event I nearly passed up attending. Adorned with an orange beanie to combat the winter chill and a cheeky smile from the edibles, I saw him there through the crowd standing there in the kitchen. Curiously, our eyes didn’t meet that night, creating another layer to our unfolding story.
Fate, however, had its own agenda. Four days later, déjà vu struck as I once again spotted Leon from afar, this time at the Sydney Vivid tunnels. Despite the familiar setting, our paths again didn’t cross. The universe seemed to be playing a teasing game of hide-and-seek.
Fuelled by curiosity and a bit of online sleuthing, I embarked on a quest to learn more about this enigmatic figure but couldn’t remember his name for the life of me. 4 weeks later, a stroke of luck came when a mutual connection tagged Leon in an Instagram story. Seizing the opportunity, I mustered the courage (liquid courage that is) to slide into the DMs which led to a 3am rendezvous that night, and the rest, as they say, is history.
@CoincidentallyUs is our new canvas, where we paint our vibrant Sydney life and share the intricate details of our creative journey. With Leon’s keen eye for photography and my passion for interior design, we’re crafting a life that’s uniquely ours — one that we can’t wait to share with you.
Zissou, our four-legged companion, plays a starring role in our daily escapades. Her playful antics and sheer adorableness bring an extra layer of joy to our lives and, of course, to our Instagram feed.
One of the key attractions for us in the beginning was the fact that we are vegetarians and share a deep love for cooking. However, we are only just the beginning of our culinary adventure. We’re inviting you to step into our kitchen, a testing ground where we embark on experimenting with tantalizing cocktails (we enjoy a stiff drink) and take up the challenge of blending our Western and Eastern backgrounds through food, to find new delicious (most of the time) vegetarian recipes.
So, as you navigate the @CoincidentallyUs blog, get ready for a whirlwind of content (as we find our feet), from design inspiration to photography tips, interspersed with adorable cat pics and mouthwatering recipes. We’re putting our little lives out there, inviting you to witness the beauty found in everyday moments, the joy of shared passions, and the magic of serendipity that brought two souls together.
Consider this your VIP pass to all things us — a space where life, love, and creativity collide in the most coincidentally beautiful ways. If you don’t already follow us, head over to our instagram @CoincidentallyUs, where we unveil a piece of our journey daily, one delightful moment at a time. Welcome, and thanks for stopping by!