Alongside a career as an Engineer, our first guest has built his personal brand in web3 around a Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT called, Chanimal. We discussed what he is working on both in the blockchain technology space as well as his tips for an authentic presence built organically on X. He also works as an ambassador for Filt3r Studios and NFTLook. One of the reasons he is passionate about his brand is the networking. Celebrate with Chanimal in New York this year with Bored Foodie Frens's event: Ape, You’re All That and Dim Sum. He closed with tips about traveling to Hong Kong having lived there growing up and going to visit friends and family when he can.

Keep an eye out for November’s party from Bored Foodie Frens in New York to share some good food in person.

Official flyer for the Bored Foodie Frens November event

Q1. How would you describe yourself today?

Around his engineering career, Chanimal, finds time to focus on weekends and evenings to expand and dial in his authentic style for his personal brand. He mentioned many connections and networking opportunities from immersing himself in the journey of like-minded creators and enthusiasts. There have been several unique encounters that lead him to expanded IP ventures as well as his ambassadorship roles. That being said, he is still able to keep abreast of new developments in web3 both in New York and around the world.

Some of the positions Chanimal holds as well as IP usage

Q2. What new projects/companies are you most excited about and watching today?

In the macroeconomic trend we see today he still sees long-term success at the intersection between blockchain technology and gaming. One project that he has strong conviction for is Valeria Games and their hybrid approach to gaming. Owning genesis lands provides access to a mobile and classic prototype in development for the last 18-months. After a recent token offering, an in-game currency will provide real world exchange value in the future. Interestingly enough, the founders of Valeria are also still working full-time careers outside of building Valeria. This level of dedication resonated strongly with Chanimal and when we was allowed to demo the prototype at NFT.NYC they even offered him physical goods to take home. At the core, Valeria speaks to people who engaged with Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh universes to bridge the gap between trading-card-games and mobile gaming.

A few Valeria land NFTs listed for sale

They are even exploring opportunities to build out the lore through comics as well as an in-person gaming cafe in Japan. Expect bigger things and more from Valeria around the end of this year. Another driver of engagement in Valeria is the community, including several other Bored Ape’s which speaks to the networking possible with web3.

Q3. Let’s talk about Hong Kong. How would you describe life in Hong Kong in general for someone who has never been?

In general, it is a high population country. With limited resources due to its size, citizens of Hong Kong hustle hard for their real estate. Driven by city density, often people will work two jobs to compete. It is not uncommon to encounter a sentiment of judgement in Hong Kong centered around wealth as a measure of success. Status matters to people in Hong Kong and they appreciate luxuries earned from success. This culture can exact a toll on citizens who are stressed by the pressure of the need to succeed. Once a British colony, now that the country has rejoined China there is the described culture is further accelerated due to migration to and from Hong Kong.

Q4. What are some things you recommend knowing before traveling to Hong Kong for the first time?

The vast majority of establishments and citizens are tourist friendly and speak English well. Public transportation is abundant and signage is also available in multiple languages. Chanimal mentioned explicitly, make sure you bring some cash with you to pay for late night street vendors. Not everyone takes cards.

Hong Kong night market

However, a local service, The octopus card, is the equivalent of the MTA card in New York, but more versatile. You can swipe at fast food restaurants or convenience stores including global brands 7 Eleven and Mcdonald’s. The subway system itself offers restaurants and stores to explore on the go. Hong Kong is always on the move so quick bites are readily available throughout the city. Read more about the octopus card here. Another travel tech tip, he recommended to download OpenRice and Yelp. The latter is more Americanized and for that reason the app OpenRice, which in Cantonese translates to time-to-eat, is the go-to in Hong Kong.

Q5. What are your ‘top things’ anyone reading this has to do if visiting Hong Kong?

• Food, there is a wonton noodle shop that has been around a long time and is a must stop. Check out directions on the Bored Foodie Frens post on X.
• Dessert, a few doors down from the wonton noodle shop is another stop. For less than $10.00USD you can enjoy one of Chanimal’s favorite desserts in the country.
• Breakfast is a culture that is very important in Hong Kong. Named a Hong Kong style cafe, you can find eggs and sausage accompanied by something more traditional to Hong Kong. There are many different combos at these restaurants so be sure to come hungry. Don’t worry about gathering a large group as many breakfast cafe goers are grabbing a bite before work. Make sure to add a Hong Kong style milk tea to complete your meal.
• Dim sum, another strong culture in Hong Kong has catered more towards the elderly nowadays with te fast-paced culture. Yumcha, translated to drinking tea, is the commin invite you will hear from friends looking to grab some dim sum on weekends.

Wonton Noodle Soup, Milk and Egg pudding

Be sure to subscribe to Mono’s World for more content featuring Chanimal coming soon.