A Short Trip to Surat Thani

12th of August is the Queen's Birthday, as well as Mother's day in Thailand. Hence wifey and I decided to make a short trip to Surat Thani to visit her mum.

Surat Thani is the 6th largest province in Thailand and is the largest of the southern province. Surat Thani means the "city of good people".

Taken from Google Map.

Day 1, 11th Aug 2020

As usual, I leave office quietly right before lunch, went home, wash up, pick up wifey near her work place and make a run for Don Mueang Airport.

A round trip at 4149.80 baht for two (around SGD181.20).

Quite a swift journey, we reached Surat within an hour 30 mins.

Right outside the airport, you can see a few shuttle bus parking there. Just ask them if they are going to the city. Usually it will cost around 100 baht per pax.

Bus terminal, taken from Google Map

You can either show them where your hotel is and they will try to stop if it is along the way or nearby. Else you can alight at the bus terminal.

Wifey actually wanted to stay at the CBD hotel, but since it is fully booked, we stayed at the Rajthani hotel. Cost around 550 baht per night, SGD 24. 

We reached the hotel around 1930, left all our things in our hotel room and immediately went to the nearby San Chao night market. We are craving for Surat's delicacy.

Surat's Pha Thai. 

It taste totally different from central Thailand's pha thai. A bit weird when you had your first taste of it, and then its gone. Love it!

Wifey introduced this to me, not sure the name for it. Taste like our Chinese yam cake, but in crab shell.

Day 2, 12th Aug 2020

Usually tourist do not come to Surat Thani, they pass through Surat, maybe stay a day or two before heading to the nearby islands such as Koh Samui for its full moon party. However, wifey and I came at the wrong timing. It is monsoon season, a week before we are here, a ferry sank due to the bad weather.

God bless them, so back to my usual hobby, eat ah!

Seree Taeteam, a Chinese restaurant that serves Dim sum, porridge & Malaysian style Bak Kut Teh.

For dim sum, just choose, pass to them and they will steam on the spot before serving it to you.

I love their baked char siew pao, especially the sesame seeds all over it.

Bak Kut Teh.

Fish Porridge

Fat Die Me...

As usual, after the meal we will take a walk to digest before our next meal.

Surat Thani City Pillar Shrine

When you enter you can go to the counter to ask for prayers required items. Sama sama temples in Singapore. Just point, ask the price and donate the required amount into the donation box.

Usually we will lookout for shoes on the floor and go bare foot when required.

Follow custom, need to knock the gong thrice.

Tie the cloth around the pillars. Reminds me of Myanmar.

Saw @Spinning_Top ! What are you doing here? Go have your haircut please.

Mother's day will see chrysanthemum flower everywhere.

Wat Sai Temple

Had an appointment with Mom and another Aunt for lunch opposite the river at Café Pla Daak. In the event that you want to go to places further away from your current location in Surat Thani, you can always flag down mini van (usually in orange or blue colour) moving along the main road. Do prepare your google map and google translate in advance if you cannot speak Thai. (We do not see much taxi around, you might want to rent a motorcycle if you have an international license.)

Cafe Pla Daak

Lime Smoothie

Crab meat fried rice

Thai Hot & Sour Fish Soup

River view from the Cafe

Guanyin Temple near our hotel

What is interesting are the prayers in Thai language placed on the table. I listen to wifey reading it, she is reading Teochew. Epic moment of my life.

Went to night market to eat green curry noodle for dinner.

Day 3, 13th Aug 2020

Keo Pla Noodle Stall. Delicious fish noodle stall near our hotel, a must try. Its fish and flour ratio is no joke. Cannot find in Singapore given its price here. A bowl for 50 baht (SGD 2.20).

You can order it is plain soup with wide noodle.

Or in tom yam soup with thin noodle.

Wanted to try this at the night market since day one, but it is always crowded with people

Lucky it is raining today, hence the crowd reduced. It taste like Otah in Singapore with chopped long bean in it.

Tried Surat Pha Thai from another stall. Still prefer the other kind though.

Day 4, 14th Aug 2020

Last day in Surat liao, followed mom to eat some local food. 

Usually when you eat at Thai stall, they will give you a plate full off washed and chopped vegetables. 

It is a vegetarian paradise!

 Me however, I will be very kind hearted and return back the same amount of vegetable given to me.

Green curry, the green green thing is actually chopped young banana with its skin intact. Taste like potato to me though. 

Stir fried vegetable wrapped with egg

Random shot

Random shot

There is shuttle bus to airport too, you can purchase it here.

That is all for my four days three night in Surat Thani. It is monsoon season, so there is not much to show except food. Fat die us! 

Do stay a night a Surat when you are passing through for the islands, the food is worth the stay. Till next time.

Reality vs Game Plan

Second Quarter

With all the ongoing half reports releasing since the beginning of August, it is interesting to see how listed companies actually performed during the pandemic and whether our judgement is correct for choosing which companies to invest in.

Although I am a big fan of portfolio investing, my current choice of investment can be said to be extremely risky. My view for people between the age of 18 to 35, is to go all out and take risk. The reason being, it is better to make mistakes when there is limited wealth for us to lose at these age, while the potential of our future earnings will be enough to cover for our losses.

On the year which I will be age 35, rest assure my risk appetite take a whole 180 degree turn to being conservative - aka 认命 (accept my salaryman's life as it is).

Sri Trang Agro (NC2.SI)

Previously bought only Sri Trang Agro (STA.SET) on Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), funded from my allowance in Thai baht. Added more from sales proceeds of CNMC Goldmine (5TP.SI) after its profit guidance, making it the biggest holding in my stock portfolio. 

In the event that the pandemic takes a decade to recover, I have STA to hug onto. Milking it all the way to the bank.

Ring Energy Inc (REI.NYSE)

Been adding this counter since May's negative oil price, you may read here for my reasons to buy REI. Currently the second largest holding in my stock portfolio. Tonight it will report its quarter 2 earnings after trading hours. 

What can we expect from the earnings report? 

I am expecting its Delaware basin property to be sold at 31.5 million USD. It received 500k USD for deposit & 1 million USD for secondly payment. I hope to get an overview on when it can get hold of the remaining 30 million USD in order to further reduce its debt. 

As reported, they produced & sold only 5500 bld/d in second quarter (as they only hedged 5500 bld/d at $50), I would like see how long the management can keep their cost at. Yes, you hedged, but did you make sure you spent as minimum as possible?

Since REI hedged their oil for 2 years, I have plenty of time to make a run off the front door if I needed to, in case oil demand will not be returning for the next decade (unlikely from my POV).

Final Words

I will not go through the reasons why I dropped CNMC Goldmine, definitely it is not just because of its profit guidance. I could be wrong, let's wait for the half year report to come to a conclusion. Such is investing, you read the information, you search for more information, you read people's opinion online, form your own opinion and change course along the way as more information unfold itself. 

The important thing is to form your own opinion and have a plan before you click the buy button.

A decade long journey of the biggest wealth transfer in history is upon us. A lot of money could be made, a lot of money could be loss. To embrace risk or to be risk adverse? Time is running out, make your choice and plan it out carefully. Huat ar!

Disclaimer: Shared opinion on this blog is not to be treated as investment advice to the readers. Please do your own due diligence and consider your financial goals before investing.

Staycation for Asahna Bucha Day

Asahna Bucha Day is one of the many Buddist holidays celebrated in Thailand. It occurs during the first full moon of the eighth month of the Thai lunar, on 6th July to be exact for this year.

Awesome opportunity for me to take wifey out for a staycation in Phra Nakhon, Bangkok.

Map of Phra Nakhon, Bangkok from Google Map

Wifey wants to stay near the river hence we picked V Varee for this 3 days 2 nights' staycation.

Day One (4th July, Sat)

Worked half day and left quietly. Took a van with wifey to Bangkok and switched to a cab to the hotel.

Overview of surrounding

Bedroom

Toilet/Changing Room

Toilet/Changing Room

View from the Room

Damage: THB 3,219.06 for two nights

Personal view for the stay: 

1) Convenient location, a lot of recommended restaurants/stalls around the area.

2) A bit pricey for the view, which is amazing to look at when we wake up or before turning in.

3) It is a guesthouse kind of hotel. Hence, unless you ask for it, there is no room service at all. Which is good if you do not like any disturbance.

4) There is restaurant/bar below, can be a good place to hangout late into the night.

Ate chicken rice from street stall for dinner before we take a walk near the Grand Palace.

Bangkok City Pillar Shrine

The door for Grand Palace

Royal Monastery of Ratchworamahawharn, Maha Nikai Sect...

It is initially called Wat Salak, then changed one long long long name. What?!?!

Thailand's MINDEF

Bangkok City Pillar Shrine

Sat down for some drinks after the long walk.

Day Two (4th July, Sat)

If you ever come to Bang Lamphu area you can click here to view all the recommended restaurants. It is in Thai, but there is always google translate.

Morning View

First stop will be at Patongo Café for breakfast. I believe it meant Youtiao when translated from Thai. Anyway its mini Youtiao aka fried dough. You will see a lot people ordering it with ice cream just to take a photo and post it on Instagram. Ice cream for breakfast... People and their logic.

View across the road

Address: 246 Phra Sume Road, Talad Yot, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok

Shop front

Tom yam soup based pork rib noodle

Patongo in pandan flavour sauce 

Where do Thais travel to during holiday? First and most importantly will be temple. Just go to any of the temples during holiday, it will be packed with people. While for me, I just walk around to digest.

Upagupata Vihara Temple nearby Patongo cafe

If you look closer, you can see the story of Monkey Sun.

Beautiful Bonsai Art inside the temple

Welcome to Kaosan Road... Now that is the impact of air restriction.

Maps can be seen around the area. After all, the area is a major tourist attraction.

Was supposed to go to the Grand Palace, but I am stopped by the guards. They say that my Bermuda is too short and want me to buy a 200 baht trouser pants. No thanks bro, I rather come again another day.

Do note the requirement before you go to some attractions as they might have requirement for attires. 

Crabmeat Rice Noodle Roll

Took a ferry from Tha Chang Ferry Terminal opposite to Wat Rakhang Khositaram Temple. 3.5 baht per ride.

Huge statue of a famous monk

The front of Wat Rakhang Khositaram Temple aka Bell Temple

Ring Ring Ring my bell, reminds me of REI

Just look at the details

Overview from outside to the left (The amount of space it occupies is just amazing)

You may want to pay 30 baht to visit another 2 temples. Lookout for the orange ferry.

First the ferry will bring you to Wat Arun

Huge statues everywhere

Just look at how tall it is

It does look like a pyramid

In Myanmar I actually can climb to the top, not in Thailand though

Small boats going around selling grilled food

People buying loaf of bread to feed the fishes

Back to Wat Rakhang Khositaram Temple's ferry terminal

As mentioned, the 30 baht takes you to two temples. We went to Wat Arun but was too tired to go to the other temple which is also nearby. Just remember to hold the ticket with you and take the same orange ferry.

We bought Thai version of Murtabak from Karim Roti Murtabak Restaurant near our hotel at 36 Phra Athit Road, Chanasongkram Road, Bangkok.

Too crowded so we ask for take-away and ate it in our room

Thai yellow rice

Grilled chicken? Whatever, I like its taste.

The famous Murtabak… Or mini Murtabak… Not my kind of Murtabak.

Thai curry chicken? Too sweet for me though.

Took a rest at the hotel for the rest of the afternoon before heading to Khinlom Chom Sa Phan restaurant at 11, 6 Samsen 3 Alley, Wat Sam Phraya, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200. Do make a reservation before heading there. It is quite famous with locals and the queue we saw even during this period is quite a long period of time that you will need to wait for.

It literately translates to Eat, Windy and Glaze at the bridge. (Famous Rama VIII bridge)

The view, we are seated at a right spot.

Fried Fish with Thai seafood sauce. Normal nia.

Pineapple Rice. I like.

Stir Fry Crab? Too salty for wifey and me.

Bye bye sun

Night view

Entrance of the restaurant at night.

Took a walk to the bridge after our dinner before heading back for the night.

Day Three (5th July, Sun)

Duck noodle for breakfast at some hidden alley.

It is like our own Chinatown back in the days where stalls were operating between buildings in the small alleys. This duck noodle stall however had a stall inside the alley, but to get people to notice that there is a stall inside, they had to cook at the alley. 50 baht per bowl, I think it is quite worth it for the taste.

Wifey bought some Mae Prapha snack

I will not tell you where this is as there are a lot of stalls around selling Mae Prapha snack, I did not taste them as it is too sweet for me.

Thai public transport.

Actually if you have the time, public bus will be a very affordable option. Just google, follow the instruction on where to board the bus and show the bus attendants the location you would like to alight at. It might take you hundred over baht or 60 baht to travel by either taxi/grab or BTS/MRT, but very likely less than 20 baht when travelling by bus.

Shop front of famous Pad Thai Thip Samai restaurant at 313-315 Maha Chai Rd Khwaeng Samran Rat, Khet Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200

Inside of the restaurant

Coconut smoothie

Pad Thai with prawn

Pad Thai wrapped with egg

Front of their menus

Personally I do not see the difference between the normal Pad Thai and Pad Thai wrapped in egg. In fact I will prefer the normal Pad Thai as the egg will have more texture when chewed on while the other version has very thin layer of egg. Both cost the same price, 120 bath per plate.

 With that, we ended our 3 days 2 nights journey in Bangkok. Thanks for reading.