Do you control or does your environment controls you?

The real question should be whether the environment's influence on individual outweighs individual's will?

Are we expecting an ideal environment at all times? How is that possible?

I would have people complaining to me about their lousy work environment or their bad relationships with their colleagues. My answer will always be, why not assume the problem is yourself and see how you can adapt? Maybe you really hate the micromanaging style of your superiors or your colleagues always like to pin point your mistakes and love to have a say at how you work. Adapt doesn't mean you are in the wrong or choosing to be powerless, but to control how you responds to them.

Revisit your goals in life, revisit where you want yourself to be in another 5, 10 or even 20 years. Have a change in mindset.

Ultimately, if things are that bad that it affects your health, change. Nothing is more important than our health. If it's a toxic relationship, cut it off. If you can't bring yourself to cut the person off, find ways to minimize your exposure to them. I mean work is work, we can stay professional when it comes to project work and keep it at that level.

Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.

 Such is life. Curious during our childhood, eager to become an adult during our youth, lost or following a predetermined path set by our parents during our twenties. However, direction is more important than speed. Many are going nowhere fast.

Don't worry about making mistakes, don't worry about not having huge gains like others. Those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it. They might not have shared their huge losses with you.

Personal Update

Was asked to relocated to near Pattaya area, hence I am inactive for the past few months as I was busy with the new project and making myself comfortable with the newly rented apartment. Will be slowly updating my trips since November 2020 till date.

A crazy 2020 and a fabulous start for 2021. Within the first 2 weeks of 2021, the overall profit & loss for my portfolio made a 180 degree turn from loss to profit. 

Overall P&L till date

Reduced holdings to ten as I would like to be more focus and not diversify too much. 

Danaos Corporation (43.9%)

I am heavily vested in Danaos Corporation as we might finally be entering a supercycle for containerships. 

1) ZIM IPO, DAC holds around 10.2% of ZIM equity before IPO

2) Increase in containership chartered rate

3) Increase in asset valuation due to increase in containership charter rate

4) Improve in debt reduction due to the above and it might finally start paying dividend

5) Price / NAV below 1

6) PE below 10

Watch out for earnings report soon.

China Everbright (19.41%)

Reinvested in China Everbright as I am building up a less volatile portfolio to prepare for my ten years retirement plan. If you believe in the China story, you should see where I am coming from.

1) Water is essential, all these projects are like small streams of water eventually forming a never-ending flow of cash. Then again, remember we should never forget about Perennial Real Estate Holdings, delist before its project start earning money.

2) Price / NAV below 1

3) PE below 10

Sri Trang-Agro Industry (10.38%)

There are enough people talking about STA in Singapore, hence I will keep it short.

1) It is not a pure glove company, it is a rubber company. Know the difference.

2) STGT to be listed on SGX the second half of 2021.

3) Ask yourself whether you believe covid will end anytime soon.

Ring Energy Inc (8.57%)

Bought back in 2020 at the same time as DAC to hedge for recovery when covid is over. DAC & REI are the only two companies that met my criteria.

1) Its hedge against oil price will help offset any near term oil price volatility

2) It restarted its drilling program, would provide more cash flow if oil price continue to rise

3) Price / NAV below 1

4) PE below 10

Something is moving its share price these days.

Medtec International (7.44%)

Its result will speak for itself. Please ask yourself whether you believe covid will end anytime soon.

Seroja Inv

This is a cigar butt play, three more months before I collect back my capital plus profit. Pray they just distribute and not do stunt.

The rest are insignificant.

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.

Hua Hin Vacation Trip (November 2020) Part 1

Wifey Birthday Trip to Hua Hin

Some background story, wifey and I first met each other in Hua Hin. Therefore, we tend to visit Hua Hin every now and then. Hua Hin is a seaside resort on the Gulf of Thailand, in the southern Thai province of Prachuap Khiri Khan. The Thai royal family built summer palaces here and it got famous. Wifey and I preferred Hua Hin over Pattaya as it is less well known by tourist.

Map from Google to give you an idea where it is.

Usually people will stay near the beach, especially Hua Hin Beach.

So are you a dog or a cat?

Bought and wrapped up some present for wifey's birthday before the trip.

There are various ways you can get to Hua Hin, either by bus, van, train or by plane. As we stayed near Rangsit, we chose to take the van at the Van Station Rangsit opposite Future Park mall. Language is not a problem these days with google translate available at your finger tip. Simply walk up and say where you are going. For this instances, simply repeat Hua Hin and the vendors will direct you to the right person.

Seated and waiting for people to shout Hua Hin to notify us that the van is here and ready to board.

A map from Google to show where the van station is. 

This is not the only van station available, usually if you use google map to check the possible route from your location, it would either show public bus or local train. You might want to check the van station near you in advance to know whether there is a van to the location that you wish to go to.

Interior of the mini van

Telephone number if you need it. You might want to ask your Thai friend for help with the conversation..

Took us around 4 hours to reach our destination @ LA HABANA. Seems like properties sales are cooling down as I was able to book a stay at La Habana. A condominium project near Takiab Beach which I previously found interest in. Check out the photos below, it is simply gorgeous.

Main entrance of La Habana

Reception area

Pool Side

Our studio room for the night

Everything was there

Toilet

Showers

Public space right outside the room

We asked for a ride to the beach 

(Of course it is free)

Side door of La Habana

Look at the lights, it is so empty

Count our blessings that we get to stay here due to Covid

To be continued...

Historic city: Ayutthaya

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya is the former capital of the kingdom of Siam until it was razed down by Burmese in year 1767. The vast amount of ruins and temple would give you an idea how prosperous it was back in the days. Made a trip to the city of Ayutthaya on 6th & 7th September after the Thai government declared 7th September as a substitute holiday for Songkran festival.

It was a last minute decision to visit Ayutthaya, hence we went for the less conventional local home stay at Athithara Homestay for this trip. Wifey loves to stay near the river, maybe she has a thing for mosquito bite. Anyway, a happy wifey means a happy me. 

360 view of the living room

View around the property

View around the property

They raise squirrels here

A nice pavilion outside the living room for me to sit, relax & glares into the far away land. Not that far la, level 2 nia, what you expect? Love the wind though.

View of the pavilion from inside

Living room

Life in a prison in Thailand, just joking. Nice view though.

Decoration from the living room

Here's something you would not get to see from Agoda, see the holes? 

Welcome to the buffet party~ (with you as the main dish)

Breakfast provided by the home stay

I would give it a 7 out of 10.

All in all, I love the environment but make sure your partner is okay with the condition of a home stay. After all, it is a cheap accommodation, what do you expect?

Things you should take note:

Very likely you will need to use the shared bathroom. (I do not remember seeing any room with a stand alone bathroom.)

There will be mosquitoes as it is near the river.

As there are holes everywhere in the room, you might want to pray that it does not rain during night time.

Total cost 1171.46 Thai Baht (SGD 51.09) for one night. Breakfast is included.

Boat Noodle

Ayutthaya is famous for boat noodle, we started off our trip with boat noodle at Lung Lek Boat Noodle. The locals will tell you this is the famous shop, used to be packed with people the last round when I am here but not anymore. I am not quite sure why. Maybe because it is not located right opposite the temples. Had our meals and headed south to the temples while I saw more people eating at other boat noodle stalls.

Lung Lek Boat Noodle taken from Google Map

My Tom yam boat noodle

Bought some Thai satay to prepare ourselves for the long walk later.

Simply cross the road and walk south, you will then arrive at Wat Ratchaburana.

View of Wat Ratchaburana

View from the top

View from inside

Oh ya, you will have to buy tickets to come inside

Withstand the test of time

Next stop, walk further south and we will arrive at Wat Maha That

To be honest, it is not worth it to pay the ticket to enter Wat Maha That. The only reason you would enter is to see the famous Buddha head embedded in Banyan tree.

View of Wat Maha That inside

View of Wat Maha That inside

View of Wat Maha That inside

The famous Buddha head

I think I came here to enjoy the kiwi smoothie @ Sanho at Ayutthaya

I love Thailand for its slow pace of life outside Bangkok. Ayutthaya is exactly such a place to hang out at. Simply bring along your sunblock lotion or umbrella and explore! My usual SOP, eat some food, check out the temples / attractions, hang out at the coffee house and move on to the next location.

River view from Sala Ayutthaya, opposite is Wat Phutthai Sawan

Chalawan Pale Ale, 5%

Bold yet smooth, this award-winning beer features notes of tropical lychee and citrus

Regret ordering this beer, might as well drink my favorite Heineken.

Khao Pad Pla Salid Hor Kai

Wok-fried jasmine rice with local salted fish, hot basil and chili, topped with salted fish and accompanied with a Thai omelet 

This is not bad, remember to mix the basil and chili with the fried rice and eat with the fish, else it can be quite bland.

Goong Mae Nam Sauce Makham

Locally-caught Ayutthaya river prawns, golden fried in crispy batter and served with tamarind sauce, fried shallots and dried chili

Another regret, I should have gone for the sea bass.

Paying for the view.

The view after the sunset is great

Mango Sticky Rice

Coconut Ice Cream Tad Boran

A traditional Thai dessert of chiffon cake with coconut ice cream and jackfruit

Actually wanted to stay at Sala Ayutthaya but it is fully booked, if you do not want to spend too much and still want to enjoy the view, you might want to come after 7pm and only order dessert & drinks instead.

Inside Wat Phutthai Sawan

Inside Wat Phutthai Sawan

Inside Wat Phutthai Sawan

Inside Wat Phutthai Sawan

Sleeping Buddha hiding somewhere

We took grab car and visited Wat Phutthai Sawan which is located opposite Sala Ayutthaya the following day before heading home. Spent all my money on dinner last night, hence we ate free breakfast from the home stay and simple lunch from eateries near the bus/van terminal. Till next time!