Big Southeast Asian 10th anniversary meetup

May 7, 2009 12:08 AM

Are there enough MeFites in Southeast Asia for a satellite meetup for MetaFilter's 10th anniversary?

With all the talk surrounding MetaFilter's 10th anniversary and the meetups being organized around it, I noticed a gaping hole in the Southeast Asian region!

I would love to organize a meetup in Manila, but last time I checked (a minute ago), there were only 4 registered members in the Philippines, which is a depressingly low number, unless anyone from any neighboring countries are interested in coming over. I'm not sure how many MeFites there are in Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. but I would really like to meet fellow MeFites in the region and I am always looking for an excuse to travel to neighboring countries, so if anyone else is organizing nearby, I would so be there!

Beyond bardic stepping up and stavros stepping down regarding a Seoul meetup, there has been nary a whisper about anyone organizing anything within the region.

So, Southeast Asian MeFites, are you up for it? How do we do this? Please crawl out of the woodwork!

posted by Lush to MetaFilter Gatherings at 12:08 AM (12 comments total)

I'm from the region but am likely to be travelling at the time...

If it's any comfort, there're huge gaping holes in China, Eastern Europe and Greenland as well. Not to mention Mars. Our Martian brethren are really quite reclusive.
posted by WalterMitty at 1:49 AM on May 7, 2009

I was just thinking that this morning. I'm in the region for the next few months. Will most likely be in Cambodia or Thailand for the anniversary.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 4:30 AM on May 7, 2009

I think there's about 6 or 7 MeFites in Hong Kong and a couple in Shenzhen. I was thinking about organising an HK one, but I've never even been to a normal meetup before...
posted by awfurby at 5:43 AM on May 7, 2009

I'm in Sarawak, Malaysia, and my totally unbiased opinion is we should do it in Kuching: nice town, central location, cheap AirAsia connections from Singapore, Jakarta and KL, orangutans... Whaddya say?
posted by BinGregory at 5:50 AM on May 7, 2009

I'm in Vientiane, Laos but could probably get to Thailand easily, or if you guys want to come here, I'd be willing to host.
posted by bertrandom at 7:56 AM on May 7, 2009

I play poker at Rocky Mountain Tavern, Itaewon Seoul (the Hongdae franchise is about to shut down) every other Saturday. But I'd be happy to celebrate the 10th of Mefi somewhere else in Seoul if need be.

Verrily, let's hoist tankards of Alley Kat in the Twon. Or somewhere else. I'm totally down for the Korea celebration.
posted by bardic at 11:07 AM on May 7, 2009

I'm in Vientiene too! Mini-meetup tonight?
posted by ActingTheGoat at 11:50 PM on May 7, 2009

Alnedra has set up a Singapore meetup, so there's one option...
posted by awfurby at 12:05 AM on May 8, 2009

One/two/three present here in Dumaguete Philippines - can't travel far due to family but happy to be a part of something locally if anyone is within shooting distance.
posted by peter_meta_kbd at 12:06 AM on May 8, 2009

awfurby, I'm up for a Hong Kong meetup is you organize something!
posted by Etaoin Shrdlu at 1:09 AM on May 8, 2009

Okay, so people are still going to hold min-meetups in their own cities?

How about one big one in an easily-accessible city, guys? I realize it's a huge commitment in terms of time and effort, but wouldn't it be fun to meet a whole new bunch of Mefites instead of just a handful?

Thoughts?
posted by Lush at 10:55 PM on May 8, 2009

Singapore and Hong Kong seem the most central in terms of relatively cheap and plentiful flights from almost anywhere in Asia.

My friend (a longtime lurker) and I considered Seoul when it was first suggested, but it turns out we'd have to have a visa before entering Korea, and I have no idea how quickly they issue them.
posted by Lush at 11:04 PM on May 8, 2009