Between classes, deadlines, new jobs, family plans and everything else life throws at you, it’s easy for friendships to quietly slip into the background.
You still see each other’s lives in bits and pieces; a story update here, a new job post there, an old memory that suddenly pops up on your feed and reminds you of the fun you used to have together. Sometimes, you may even catch yourself wondering, “How are they really doing?” before getting distracted by the next thing on your to-do list.
That’s the thing about friendship. It does not always fade because something happened. Sometimes, everyone simply gets busy.
So, this International Friendship Day, in celebration of 60 years of sharing happiness, Pocky is serving up five simple ways to take friendship beyond the screen. From easy weekend plans to nostalgic activities that give you and your friends a reason to reconnect, share a laugh and make new memories together.
- Plan a mini getaway.
With International Friendship Day around the corner, this is your sign to finally plan that catch-up you and your friends have been postponing. You don’t need to fly anywhere to feel like you’ve escaped the usual routine. Sometimes, all it takes is a picnic at the park, a cosy staycation or even a short glamping trip with the friends you’ve been meaning to catch up with.
Keep it simple: pick a spot, bring your favourite snacks and pack a few boxes of Pocky to share along the way. Whether you’re passing it around during a picnic, snacking between activities or opening a box during late-night conversations, Pocky makes it easy to share small moments of joy with the people around you.
If you’re keeping things casual, Klang Valley has plenty of picnic-friendly spots such as Perdana Botanical Gardens, Titiwangsa Lake Gardens, Kepong Metropolitan Park, Taman Saujana Hijau in Putrajaya, Elmina Central Park in Shah Alam and Bukit Jalil Recreational Park. For something a little more special, turn it into a weekend plan with a nearby staycation or glamping trip and make time for the conversations that usually get pushed to “next time”.
- Be a tourist in your own town.
Sometimes the best hangout plan is pretending you’re on holiday in your own town.
Join a walking tour, revisit an old school hangout spot or explore a neighbourhood you’ve always passed by but never properly checked out. You can look up free walking tours, ask your friends for their favourite hidden gems or turn the day into a mini adventure by taking the train or bus instead of driving everywhere.
Bring a few packs of Pocky in your bag too. They’re great for snack breaks, especially when the “quick walk” suddenly turns into a full-day outing because everyone keeps stopping for photos.
- Sign up for a workshop.
When your whole day already revolves around laptops, phones and endless notifications, doing something with your hands can feel weirdly healing.
Grab a friend and try a workshop together. Pottery, crochet, journalling, tufting, ring-making, painting, there are so many options now, and the best part is that you don’t even have to be good at it. Half the fun is laughing at each other’s questionable creations and pretending they are “abstract”.
You can also check out repair workshops organised by social enterprises or non-profit groups, where you can learn how to mend clothes, use basic tools or fix simple household items. It’s practical, sustainable and gives you a new personality trait for at least one week.
- Go old-school.
There’s a reason why old-school things are having a moment. Sometimes, slower really does feel better.
Spend an afternoon at a vinyl café, have a meal at an old warung or kopitiam, or bring a film camera on your next hangout and enjoy the suspense of not knowing whether the photos turned out cute or chaotic until they’re developed.
It’s a nice break from the pressure of instantly posting everything. No filters, no retakes, no overthinking the caption. Just you, your friends and the kind of memories that feel a little more special because they weren’t made for the algorithm.
- Organise a movie night.
Remember when the best plans were just going to someone’s house, ordering food and watching whatever everyone could agree on?
Bring that back.
Pick a movie, set up the sofa, order dinner and let everyone contribute snacks. The best part of a home movie night is that you are not limited to overpriced popcorn. You can have fries, nuggets, instant noodles, ice cream, Pocky, essentially whatever the group chat decides is needed.
And unlike the cinema, you can pause halfway through when someone needs to refill their drink, argue about the plot or grab more snacks.
Sometimes, happiness is not about doing something big. It’s about making someone feel seen, even for a moment.
So this International Friendship Day, reconnecting with your friends does not have to be complicated. Sometimes, all it takes is making the first move, choosing a simple plan and sharing small moments of happiness together — one snack, laugh and memory at a time.