My second day in Malaysia was very active. It's been bursting with that HiveFest energy that makes every edition so special. Fortunately, as my sleep has been a bit choppy lately, so I don't suffer from jet lag.
The morning started early. After a relaxing breakfast, we got straight to work preparing the goodie bags for all the upcoming HiveFest and ChainCulture participants. The room was filled with laughter, and it was like a true buzzing hive. Everyone pitched in, and you could really feel the team spirit. There’s something magical about how people with completely different backgrounds come together seamlessly around Hive.
After the morning’s busy start, I decided to spend the afternoon exploring the city a bit more. I wandered through some of Kuala Lumpur’s gigantic shopping malls, and they truly are a world of their own: bright, clean, and entertaining. What really surprised me was the fact that some of them have mini Luna Parks inside, complete with rides and games for children!
You can easily spend hours in there just taking in the mix of sights, sounds, and smells.
We’re right in the monsoon season here in Kuala Lumpur, and you can really feel it! Every day a thunderstorms rolls in, and within minutes, torrential rain starts pouring down. Fortunately, it never lasts long. I can’t help but joke that maybe this is how they refill the hotel pool every day for free!
The highlight of my day, however, came from a wonderful message I received that morning. It was from @littlenewthings, a Malaysian friend I first met six years ago during HiveFest 4 in Bangkok. She invited me to meet her and some other Malaysian good friends for dinner that evening. The moment I read her message, I felt a warm rush of nostalgia. It brought back so many memories of that amazing HiveFest in 2019.
When we finally met for dinner, it felt like no time had passed at all. The same energy, the same joy, the same laughter. That’s when it truly hit me. Hive is so much more than just a blockchain or a social platform. It’s a big international family, built on shared passions, mutual support, and real friendships that last far beyond the screen.
The dinner itself was unforgettable. It's been a very authentic meal in a small Chinese restaurant tucked away outside Kuala Lumpur. You wouldn’t find it unless someone took you there. The dishes were truly "typical": chicken feet, spicy pork chops, intestines, and other types of offal that were a bit of a challenge for me, but definitely part of the adventure. It was one of those experiences that reminds you how travel and friendship go hand in hand, as you discover culture through food, stories, and laughter.
Today, the real festivities begin! The HiveFest Opening Drink is happening tonight, and throughout the day, participants from around the world will be arriving. I can already feel the excitement building as the hotel starts to fill with familiar faces and new ones alike. There’s something truly special about that moment when the community you usually see online suddenly comes to life right in front of you.
It’s going to be an unforgettable week here in Kuala Lumpur. HiveFest 10, we’re ready for you!