MacRitchie Hiking and Prata House

Recently we have been going to MacRitchie for hiking. Marco has been motivated to accompany me go there because of the prata breakfast and ice milo. He ate 2 prata and still said he was not full. I ate one and it's very filling.

Retirement

I always think about retirement anytime and anywhere. I have been planning since 9 years ago. I think it’s a bit late. I should have been thinking about it since I started working. However, comfort made me forgetting it.

There was a period of uncomfortable moments in my life. I would say “very uncomfortable” moments. These moment made me think even deeper and seriously about retirement. How long more should I get up in the morning and being slave of other’s dream. 

I watched some YouTube video on how much you really need to retire in Singapore. Unfortunately my social circle has no interest in financial planning, sadly. So most of my discussion is with either strangers or the person I just knew. I think it’s a good opportunity in exchanging ideas about money and personal finance. Some friends are very secretive, even I asked how much she rented her room. She felt reluctant to tell me. While I openly told anyone on the rent income. I think this is not personal info, because the rental rate of common room is about the same around one neighbourhood and anyone can check in the platform like Facebook or Carousell.

I developed obsession on investing and money around 8 years ago. I studied and really did a lot of research on this topic. In my head and manifest in my conversation is just investing and how to earn money so we don’t need to work for others. It may be boring and insane for others. I am what I am. 

I recalled when I was just working for a year or two in Jakarta. End of the month or early of the month, I went to Mall Taman Anggrek when most of the banks were there. I brought my cash (around 100 million rupiah) in my bag and walked around the banks, trying to find highest interest rate for my fixed deposit. That time it was quite good. 7-8% a yearly. So at least my petrol for work and lunch were paid by the interest from my fixed deposit. I was so diligent placing my little money to yielding me the most for my living expenses. That time I was not very knowledgeable in different financial instruments.

I feel like becoming myself again. I think this is the best condition for me to be my own self. I naturally crazy about investing. My risk appetite increase significantly recently. I don’t feel any emotion when my portfolio down so much. I just saw the apps and closed it then continued to sleep. Beside the temporary loss, I think I feel so good about being in control and no one messing with my finance. I can walk confidently to the retirement goal.

The instruments varies from low risk like FD, TBills, Bonds and Structure Deposits, to the high risk like options and futures. After knowing these, investment link insurance looks like rubbish of the rubbish. The funds which banks often offer also don’t look interesting anymore. With high risk instruments, I trade using leverage and 10-12% return I think it’s achievable if you are pessimistic. From optimistic perspective, I think 30% is achievable. 

My advice to my younger me that I should have been picking up this investing knowledge since very young and I should have started earlier because of compound interest. However, it’s better late than never. Investing may sound boring and complicated as topic, but everyone will understand when there is a will to learn. Life long learning.

I have a tot of living nomad overseas and the expenses must be covered by my return of investment. Just imagine, January to February I live in Batam. March to April live in Bangkok. May to June live in Hanoi. Then 3 months (July - September) travel around Europe, etc. You got the idea? Life is too short not to see things in the world. 

After thinking about this, I understand myself. I like freedom. I want to do what I like to do. To do so, money is the answer to allow freedom in your live. If you only work and safe, it won’t happen. By the time you retire, it’s too late to pick up on investing. Because investing works on compounding as well. 30ish and 40ish are the important period to roll your money to do its job. 

I am grateful that there was moment in my life woke me up and made me to be me again.

Picking Up Mandarin

I have basic to converse in Mandarin. However I never use. I am afraid to say in Chinese because my tone is not correct. I took Chinese lessons on and off. When I was primary school, my father engaged private tutor for me. Then I continued with Chinese course near my house when I was early twenties. I also took course in Singapore at Ikoma, Orchard. A bit expensive for my earning that time.

I think I have solid rock will to be able to speak Chinese. I signed up again. This time I allocated budget to do so. I also bought local primary school mother tongue book. I also practiced to speak when ordering my lunch any time when I feel confident.

I also asked Marco to help me practice daily. But you know, he is more comfortable to speak English. He said lao shi (referring to himself) took time off when he was lazy to practice with me.

It has been one month plus. We see how it goes. I hope in one year I have significant improvement.

Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice

It has been a very long time we never visited Wee Nam Kee. We ate there when they still have branch in Marina Square. It’s more convenient to go as we used to visit Cool De Sac, which Marco called as Jacky Playground.

My Mother’s 80th Birthday

I planned to go home initially, but because I didn’t have my passport with me so I couldn’t. I only got my passport on the 15th June. So I will go back on the 22nd June to see her. I only sent her a rose bouquet on her birthday. I don’t think anyone have given her a big flower bouquet before.

 

Gyo Gyo @ Plaza Singapura

I was curious to try this as they sell similar menu as Nakajima Suisan Grilled Fish. So we tried this for dinner. I ordered the miso yuzu fish and Marco ordered burger spaghetti hotplate. The bill came at $60-ish.

I think that’s slightly higher than I expected with that kind of taste. I am not coming back for sure. Nakajima Suisan is definetely more value for money.

 

Birthday Present 2024

Marco gave me a valuable birthday present. It is a M gold pendant. We bought it at Vivocity at Gold Heart.

 

Sari Rasa, Far East Plaza

My friend suggested this place to me. We went there for lunch. We ordered empek2 for sharing. She ate bubur ayam and I ate ayam bakar.

The ayam bakar took very long to arrive on my table. But the chicken tasted good. 

The empek2 cannot make it. Don't need to waste money for this. 

Next time I want to try other dish from here.

20' Luggage, Crossing

Opposite my office got sale for travel items. I didn't plan to buy anything there. But I saw this Crossing luggage. I checked Shopee the price, $80s. This bazaar sold only $49. I decided to buy this since I don't have an extra cabin luggage apart from the free yellow luggage from Expedia long time ago.

Danang Trip, Vietnam, 21-24 Feb 2024

Hotel : Hyatt, Danang, Vietnam

Meeting Up with School Friends, 10 March 2024

I like to meet my old friends. We are friends from more than 25 years ago. It is really good chat and I am glad to meet you both. I appreciate you both still remember me as one of your friends too.

Sanook Kitchen @WWP

Every Saturday, I have to decide what I have to eat for lunch and dinner. After a while, it's difficult.

I recently dine at Sanook Kitchen at Waterway Point. It was slightly expensive than Nakhon. I like their clear tom yum soup which is served in personal steam boat pot. $7.90. I added chicken wing $5.90.