Staycation @ St Regis Singapore

Having stayed 1 full day here, I can say there is really no hotel like St Regis Singapore. The view, the perks, the room, the service (almost) are top notch! Wanting to have a last staycation before *OEE* goes to school for his playgroup, we picked St Regis Singapore just to have a 1 day indulgence. Thank God that we managed to get the lowest price available for the day. To maximize our time, we picked the "Live Exquisite 32-Hour Stay" package, below are the details:

• Early check-in at 10:00am
• Late check-out at 6:00pm
• Epicurean breakfast at Brasserie Les Saveurs
• Signature St. Regis Butler Service

Yes, the Butler Service is really a game changer. The service is available for each and every single room that you book in St Regis Singapore. Well, some perks that we really enjoyed is getting the 24/7 complimentary hot beverage delivered to your room, which we gladly ordered every few hours. Having forgotten to bring my iPhone cable to hotel, charging services is also available, which I gladly utilize.

Hot Chocolate!

The view from our room is also fantastic! Having indicated high floor preference during booking, they assigned me to 15th floor, which is not bad at all.

View from room. Bright and Sunny AM

Talk about changing weather. Dark and Gloomy PM

The room itself is also pretty spacious, at least they are bigger than your usual hotel room. Love the big toilet and the "all by itself" bath tub!

*OEE* managed to get a free St Regis teddy bear during the check-in process. Well, I guess that is the perk for having a kid around. Haha~

Staycation cannot end without a dip into the pool. We visited the kids pool area at Level 2. On the second day, due to the slight drizzle, we have the whole pool to ourselves. *OEE* have such fun crawling up and down the 0.1m deep pool 😃

For our breakfast, they do have quite a variety for your selection, which is way more than what you get at a normal hotel buffet. For us, we got ourselves Chicken Congee, Laksa, Nasi Lemak, Dim Sum, Fruit Platter, French croissant and chocolate bread, Juices, Waffles with Raspberries, Coffee and Hot Chocolate! For dinner, we ate at Yan Ting, which have nice Braised Fish Maw Broth with Dried Scallops and Braised Ee-fu Noodles with Seafood and XO Sauce!

2Q 2021 Investment Strategy Update

Q2 rumbles on with countries locking down again with the more infectious delta COVID-19 variant rampaging the local community. 1.5 years on since the onset of pandemic, social distancing and working from home has become the new normal of our daily life. When will international travel re-opens again? No one knows, but countries have been encouraging local tourism, else the local hospitality industry are long dead. Encouraging economic readings and inflation has prompt the USA Feds to tilt to preparation to start raising the rates. Banks counters are what I will be focusing on in the next 2 quarters as they will be the first to benefit once rates are increased.

DJI ended at 34502, an increase of 1521 points (+4.61%) compared to 1Q 2021. For Singapore, STI ended at 3130, a decrease of 35 points (-1.10%) compared to last quarter. This Q2 also marks the end of saga (or end of road) for both Krisenergy and Eagle Hospitality Trust. Not expecting any cash back as both company debts are way more than what can be recovered from liquidation. Well, that is the risk of investment, will remove both counter from my portfolio once they are delisted. For me this quarter, not much actions except participating in the rights of reits as they continue their expansion strategy:

Transaction 1: Participated in Mapletree Industrial Trust Rights in June.

It has been a long time since MIT last issued rights to retail investor to participate in their building acquisition as they normally preferred to deal with private placement. This time round, the rights are used for acquiring a portfolio of 29 data centers in USA. The deal will be yield accretive, so no need to wait, just accept your allocated portion and apply for excess.

Transaction 2: Bought 1 batch Altimeter Growth Corp shares in June.

If you haven't heard of Altimeter Growth Corp, it is now time to take note of it. This is the SPAC that Grab will be merging for its listing in Nasdaq end of the year. Currently, the price is at about 20% premium of Grab private placement ($10 a share) when they list. How to get to the private placement? I am not sure unless you have some link to their bankers. Once the listing is confirm, AGC will change to Grab. Do take note though, there are 3 types on AGC counter on the market (AGC, AGCU, AGCWW). AGC is the ordinary share which will convert to Grab 1 for 1. AGCU is the share attached with warrants (1 AGCU have 0.2 warrants attached, so you will need 5 AGCU to exercise 1 warrants at $11.50). AGCWW as expected is the warrants itself. 

Transaction 3: Bought 1 batch DBS shares in June.

The best bank share with the best growth potential in SGX, after having just amalgamated Lakshmi Vilas Bank with DBS Bank India Limited in Nov 2020. It is also in advance talks for the purchase of Citibank India consumer unit should Citibank decided to sell and it just took a 13% stake in Shenzhen bank for $1.08 billion in Apr 2020. Just buy and hold to prepare for easing of dividend restriction and USA fed raising of rates.

Transaction 4: Bought 1 batch China Everbright shares in June.

Continue accumulating good quality company giving potential 8% yield. Dividend has increase from S$0.0067 per share to S$0.0104 per share. As a China government linked wastewater treatment company, I can hardly see it goes wrong, coupled with the fact that tariff treatment price will increase with China increasingly higher wastewater discharge standards.

That is all for now. See you all in Q3 2021 update and thank you for reading thus far.

Flower Dome Trip

With the company day off on 03-May for the May day (Sat) holiday, we decided to bring *OEE* to look at flowers in a nice big air-conditioned glass house, utilizing the SingapoRediscover vouchers which just have their expiry date extended by 6 more months to 31 Dec 2021. This time, the main exhibit in Flower Dome is Glass in Bloom.

Date: 13 Apr - 01 Aug 2021

There are various glass exhibits located at different venues, namely Flower Dome, Dragonfly Lake, Serene Garden and Cloud Forest. For more details, you can refer here.

At least for the flower dome, we found there is nothing interesting about the glass sculptures, except that they are uniquely crafted and colorful. Nonetheless, we have an awesome time taking photos together with *OEE* 😃

Had dinner over at McDonalds before catching a cab back home. Interestingly, we found that there is no self-collection service at this counter, else, we would have use the Grab 30% self-collection discount voucher. Hmm

1Q 2021 Investment Strategy Update

Q1 marks the start of the global rollout of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Getting the population vaccinated also mark the start at getting the country to reopen again. Since then, new COVID-19 cases has seen a drastic drop, plus the recent USA stimulus fending concerns of inflation and rising interest rates, it has caused a shift away from current favorite technology counters into past forgotten hospitality and tourism sector that stand to benefit the most when countries re-opens again. In the recent few weeks, there is also a COVID-19 resurgent trend in Europe causing concerns of further extension in lockdowns, putting a damper in equity recovery.

DJI ended at 32981, an increase of 2375 points (+7.75%) compared to 4Q 2020. For Singapore, STI ended at 3165, an increase of 322 points (+11.32%) compared to last quarter. For me, all the actions are still seen over at the USA market, withdrawing from highly valued technology shares and shifting into counters that stands to benefit when countries start reopening:

Transaction 1: Sold all Apple shares in February.

Since the start of global vaccine rollout, I believe it is time to start positioning for countries reopening and the past record breaking profit will be a bar too high to repeat again. Time to step away until a lower price for re-entry.

Transaction 2: Bought 1 batch Visa shares in February.

As countries begin to re-open for travel, business travel and to a lower extend, tourism will start to pick up. With the pent-up demands, this is the time where credit and debit cards stand to be put to good use. Bought in Visa in anticipation of the new spending wave to come.

That is all for now. See you all in Q2 2021 update and thank you for reading thus far.

Singapore Zoo Trip

All thanks to Wildlife Reserve promotion again during early March, we brought *OEE* to visit the Singapore Zoo to see some of his animal friends "live" that he is seeing from his everyday playbook and toys.

Promotion Period: 3-7 March 2021 (Online) 

Validity: Any days in March 2021 

Eligibility: Only local residents

It is highly advisable to bring along fans and spray heavy doses of insect repellent before entering the gate. You will soon find that most of the zoo compound are unsheltered and you will be at the mercy of the weather elements and mosquitoes. Currently, some parts of the zoo are under renovation and some parts of the animal enclosure (such as elephants and hippopotamus) are closed. Most important of all, do bring your own water as the drinks inside the zoo are ridiculously priced, with the exception of iJooz orange juice vending machine, which you can get a cup at $3.

Well, not much photos from me as I was busy carrying *OEE* around on my arms. Only managed to snap a few photos whenever I am inside an air-conditioned room or there is no sun =p

Australia Wallaby

Papua New Guinea Tree Kangaroo 

Chimpanzees and Orangutans monkeying around 

Giraffes in the setting sun

Changi Jewel Trip

Since there is a need to clear some Annual Leave before the FY ends, we took the opportunity to bring *OEE* to visit Changi Jewel, at the same time, to ease *mds* craving for lobster since the visit in UK. Glad that there is not much crowd during our weekday visit and we managed to snap some good photos at the iconic Jewel waterfall:

For lobster, we visit the UK famous Burger & Lobster restaurant. Price aside, the lobster is still as fresh and juicy as we remembered, with some localization of Singapore flavour. Just a pity, the menu choices in Jewel is not as much as the ones in UK or Raffles branch. 

Surf & Turf Roll - $20

Best of both world - chunky lobsters meat and juicy beef patty

Sambal Lobster - $67

Staycation @ JW Marriott South Beach

With the need to clear leaves accumulated over 2020, and not able to travel overseas, we decided to do a 1 day staycation in Singapore and bring *OEE* for his first swimming pool encounter (Or rather splashing water time). JW Marriott South Beach was chosen based on the good reviews written online about its swimming pool view and the availability of tubs in every room for mineral spa treatment. 

The room was booked straight from Marriott website and we did an early check-in 1 day earlier via the Marriott app with some request such as early check-in at 1.30pm, high floor and crib in room. I was really presently surprised that the app notify me that my room was ready as requested at 11am! Good service ya?

Premier King Room at 17th floor

Tub for spa treatment

Baby pool at 18th Floor with view

Adult Pool

(We have the whole pool to ourselves at 4pm)

View of Suntec from our room

We chose the package with breakfast included at their Beach Road Kitchen. Due to COVID-19 restriction measures, you will need book your dining visitation hours restricted to 45mins per booking. Well, we went at a time where there is not much crowd and hence, the 45mins eating restriction was not enforced. There are still plenty of empty seats in the restaurant though. Same goes for the swimming pool, you will need to make your reservation in 45mins slots. 

As buffet is not allowed to be served, you will need to make your orders to the staffs in the restaurant. The choice available are not as plentiful as the normal pre-COVID times, but the usual Marriott standard choices are still there. Given a choice, I will rather make my own Grab Breakfast and walk over to Suntec for self collection! Will definitely re-visit again, if situation allows.

River Safari Trip

All thanks to Mothership, I came across this great promotion by Wildlife Reserve Singapore. With some cash remaining in the SingapoRediscover Voucher account, and wishing to avoid the school holiday period, we decided to buy the ticket online and visit River Safari the very day (04-Mar), bringing our *OEE* along to see some river wildlife! That is 2 out of 4 down, leaving Singapore Zoo and Night Safari left to conquer. (Sidetrack: Thank God that *OEE* did not develop fever the next day after his vaccination)

Promotion Period: 3-7 March 2021 (Online)

Validity: Any days in March 2021

Eligibility: Only local residents

Picking a weekday to visit is really amazing. Not only there is no crowd, you can take your time to take all the pictures you want (if you can take the heat of the sun)! Well, another good thing about River Safari is that almost 50% of the exhibition are in Air-Conditioned Room 😄.

No crowd!

Entrance to the River Safari featuring the otters!

One thing I do notice though are that most of the sea creatures in the river are gigantic! Human are easily dwarfed comparing to them in terms of size! Not sure if their meat can be eaten though 😜. First part of the tour (River Safari is developed in such a way that you only need to continue walking forward to tour through all the exhibits) brings us to see the sea creatures living in the major rivers of the world (Mississippi. Congo, Nile, Ganges, Mary, Mekong, Yang Tze)

After touring Rivers of the World, you will arrive at the main attraction of the safari, the giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia! Of course, there is also the lively Red Panda as the side attraction.

  

Kai Kai

Kai Kai

Kai Kai

Kai Kai

Jia Jia

Yup, the giant pandas are really cute and adorable. 😄 We arrive just in time when they are having their snacks! With that, we have finished half of the River Safari. Wanting to give *OEE* a break from his carrier and give our tired legs a much needed rest, we took refuge in the Mama Panda Kitchen.

Food ordered

1. Seafood Basket - $12.90
2. Panda Cappuccino - $3.45 (50% off after ordering a meal)
3. Chocolate Panda Bun - $2.90

We did saw bad reviews for the Ramens and rice, so we end up trying their Western Section, which we did not regret doing so. The seafood basket with 2 fish fillets, 3 prawns and a generous serving of lightly salted cut potatoes are served pipping hot! Cappuccino wise is normal, definitely not worth paying $6.90 for it, but can consider if it is 50% off just for photo sake. The Panda bun wise is soft and the chocolate filling is not too bad. *OEE* like the plain bun quite a lot! Do bring your own serviette, as the café will charge $2.00 if you need them. Well rested, we continued on the rest of the journey, crossing the Upper Seletar Reservoir bridge. 

As *OEE* did not meet the height requirement for the Amazon River Quest, we have no choice but to bypass it. Anyway, the boat ride will cost $5.00 each pax. The next exhibit is the Monkey forest, where all the creatures such as monkeys and Azara's Agouti in the enclosure are free roaming. Better keep all your belongings least they are snatched away (Hence no pictures here) 😞. The last exhibit will bring us to the Amazon Flooded Forest, where visitors will be treated to a gigantic view screen showcasing the Amazon River wildlife! I felt this was way better than the Southeast Asian Aquarium!

After cooling down in the air-conditioned room and taking all the pictures we wanted, this bring us to the end of the River Safari journey! We might give this place a re-visit though, if there is such a chance.