In just a few hours, I’ll be on my way to the airport, suitcase packed, ready to take off for HiveFest 10.
It still feels a bit surreal to realize that this incredible community event, which has taken us around the world over the last 10 years, is happening again. The excitement is real! I'm so glad to head back to Asia, this time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
To be honest, the past few months have been a real rollercoaster. Life has thrown quite a few challenges my way, personal, professional, and emotional. For a while, I truly hesitated about whether I should attend HiveFest this year. It didn’t feel like the right moment to take time off, and I wasn’t sure I’d have the right mindset to fully enjoy the experience. But sometimes, you need to step away from the daily chaos and reconnect with what inspires you.
That’s when my friends @detlev and @roelandp stepped in. Their support and positive energy gave me that little push I needed to say yes, pack my bags, and go. I’m grateful to both of them.
No motorcycle adventure for me this time! I seriously considered doing another long road trip, like I did the previous year to Split (Croatia), just for the thrill of the journey. But after studying the route carefully, it became clear that it would have been far too long and, more importantly, too dangerous. The idea of crossing certain regions currently affected by conflict quickly convinced me to opt for the safer, calmer alternative: flying. Safety has to come first!
I’m so looking forward to seeing familiar faces again, especially those I met back in 2019 at HiveFest 4 in Bangkok. That edition holds a special place in my heart: the friendships, the laughter, the energy, not forgetting the many hugs we shared. It’s hard to describe to someone who hasn’t been there, but HiveFest always feels like coming home to a global family.
So I'm looking forward to reuniting with my Hives buddies, to name some of them that come to my mind: @andywong31, @elizacheng, @joannewong, @littlenewthings, @khimgoh, @jza, @crimsonclad, @mynewlife, @lemony-cricket, @m31, @etblink, @thebeedevs, @ninaeatshere, @lordbutterfly, @alpha, @blocktrades, @rmach, @engrave, @stoodkev, @louis88, @rivalzzz, @gtg, @cryptospa, @akipponn, @techcoderx, @vaultec, ... Be reassured if I forgot you in the list, it does not mean that I do not love you. My memory need an upgrade ;)
And of course, I’m equally excited to meet new people. HiveFest is where online connections become real friendships, where usernames turn into faces.
Last but not least... I hope we’ll be able to keep up one of my favorite traditions: the legendary #SangsomSunday 🥃🐝. If you know, you know. This is the kind of story that makes HiveFest unforgettable.
See you all very soon in Kuala Lumpur! ❤️