2020 Review: Almost ending of year of Covid19

 Realized i've been on another year of hiatus. Since Apr the post was done while in the very first lockdown in M-land. 3 months later we went back to work , business as usual. Then the case got worse and we went back to conditional lockdown , work from home.

Not an easy year. 

One whole year of hard laboring at Tx project, only to be a sacrificial scapegoat.*it's interesting to view from outside how this crap works. everyone just talk and waiting for the g0at to do all the task :X

Let's do a yearly review and status update:

• Moving into Q3 , got thrown into a Cloud project, lots of ups and downs. So occupied with new work learning curve, adapation. Last week Friday the whole thing sort of wrapped up. So now is the cool down period and catch up time for me to review the year changes.
• 
  
• Career: i think got another 2-3 safe years left in OK zone. There is still like a last straw kind of thing in my position ..since im in a global resource ...so thats like the last resort. Pondering if lecturing is the good path for me to go down into..need to really think about it. Pros Cons, feasilibity of getting there, benefits in long run. 

• Jumped out from a toxic work group. Entered a new playground, learning the ropes.. future unsure at the moment but not as bleak and guttered as previously. Hopeful not to be sent there. Buddy at other group got promoted (good news, hope it changes some game later on)
• 
  
• Holiday: Had a family travel with wifey and family to Japan. It's a great experience, totally worth it. Repercussion lashed at work place like 3 months later on my review. -yes, you got bad grades cause you took leave (wtfish_ =.=). Timing is actually quite good, since it happened right before total lockdown, now nobody can fly (poor airasia).
• 
  
• Ported from cheap UM to Maxis post paid. My goal is to get into prepaid line... now its a RM35 line, +RM5 for unlimited hotspot ..wtf is this deal. with Postpaid RM60 hotlink and special data im still burning thru RM10 -10Gb easily.. Maxis line is much more stable than UM , but still abit weak at home. Can it be related to hotspot and multiple tethering of more than 2 devices ?
• 
  
• Dropped broadband plan in Jun/July. Saving each month RM9x .. paid like RM30 monthly for extra data due to WFM. so still a win to me.
• 
  
• Burned out the laptop i converted. the kiddies are very destructive :( ... 
• 
  
• Health: Took up exercising regularly again 3 months ago during MCO . Annual health check all ok - except for fatty liver (again) and hi cholesterol (again) .. wat the heck... i think i need to turn like 50% vegetarian to achieve this crazy level of 'healthy'. Still being asked to lose weight more (ok challenge accepted ). May consider a different hospital to get a 2nd opinion. I felt the healthiest these few weeks in the past years (been doing jogs like typically 4-5 times a week).
• 
  
• Investment - thinking of stock trading. much to learn. (see below)
• Fun time - missed POE alot, didn't really have much time for it. but its such a good old time.

Now:

Having abit more spare time now, looking into serious study of stock watching. Eventually need to try and get burn (hopefully not much).  

Tried hello gold - not really rewarding. 

Tried stashaway - soso,  abit boring (3% yield in 3 months not bad_

First step done: open a CDS nominee account with RakutenTrade

Now another first: looking for opportunity to do first trade/buy . current market is a scary volatile place, due to the pandemic, so let's see first.

I like lowyat forum, lots of reading can be done there.

KLSE screener is my goto place now, as a watcher.

https://www.klsescreener.com/v2/watchlists/index/?name=NooB

I like this analogy, hunter and farmer. The best is to get hybrid profile as a balanced investor kan2.. since FD rate really sucks at this moment .. 1.9 - 2% ...hmm...

https://www.mrtakoescapes.com/farmers-hunters-and-investing-for-financial-independence/

Noob learning links; read the intro at Rakuten it's pretty layman.

https://bursaacademy.bursamarketplace.com/en/article/equities/for-the-investor-in-you-knowing-is-everything

https://dividendmagic.com.my/stock-investment-malaysia/

https://www.mrfreeat33.com/this-dividend-stock-is-cheap-time-to-buy/

https://www.rakutentrade.my/it-s-a-kind-of-dividend-magic#Noticeboard

need to pickup the jargons/terms , do more readings i suppose

https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/4922786

Vampire's fall: origins (android game)

image from google playstore

What to do during MCO time? Stay home and game , well that is when kids no need my attention.
Anyway, this one is quite a good one and brings back memories of turn based RPG + diablo-ish feels. Story is pretty good too.

 It's an open world RPG so , you also get the freedom of running around as you like and probably encouraged to. So resembles Fallout 1/2 series a little as well. Combat is a turn based style and don't expect great graphics here.

                                                                                 image from google playstore

Another great thing is the game is pretty F2P and the ad/game store concept is pretty cool. Try it to experience it i would say. The game conversation is not as bold/punky as fallout else it would be gold standard.

If playing casually i think this will take up ~2 weeks time, abit lesser if going for main quest only or if you look around reddit /google for walkthroughs.

The Chateau Spa & Organic Wellness Resort @Bukit Tinggi Pahang

Another teambuilding at a resort. This one costs a minimum of RM500 for Deluxe room at the resort. It's an excellent place and has a good classy feel and environment. Located in higher land the air is a little more cool , but not so much that you require jackets.

French style architecture i reckon, and very castle like design.

The French village is like 5 minute walk away from here. Per pax entrance on this are is RM16 , paid upon your vehicle entering the premise way outside of this bukit tinggi area.

The entrance has a fountain surrounded by plants view.

One of the building blocks of the resort. 

A lot of space for group activities here 

This ballroom is for formal functions of some sort, aside of bar and also fine dining restaurants thats available, It's said that Dr Mahathir's birthday part was once held here, while private wedding dinner is held at the fining resto.

 A peek along corridor of the rooms.

Complete set of toiletries provided.

 The view upon opening the door.

Bed that never dissapoints, had a superbly good sleep.

 Not much of a view outside, just the road leading towards french village.

Ethiopian coffee which i do enjoy, after brewing and pressing and flower tea that you can enjoy in luxury.

Had a 10 min nap the morning before check out. Pretty darn relaxing.

Amerin Boutique Hotel, JB

The next one , i just pick it randomly based on Agoda ratings. Booking via Agoda gives me a good discount and competitive price compared to walkin (rate shown on counter of lobby start at RM2xx). Had a twin bed room booked for ~RM14x inclusive of tax and breakfast. This trip is a bit less hectic 3D2N and there are many things that make me like it.

Check in is easy, by giving booking ID. But take note for those business traveler, receipt won't be issue and we need to use Agoda's receipt, hope that worked out.

The main door. Right below is a 7 eleven, a restaurant..it can get abit noisy at night. Might be preferable to request a rear facing unit ,that might fix the issue. There are Malay food, Chinese food court just right beside the hotel and KFC/Pizza hut just ~7min walk away. Crossing the main road brings us to a Giant coupled together with some sort of food bazaar.

The checkin counter

View at the lobby.

The view outside room at Floor 6, air con not turned on..suppose its for cost saving. 

Top floor view of the dining hall. Finally got a decent rated hotel, rather than 2 star boutique style. 

Traditional Malaysian breakfast, ala fusion nasi lemak + omelette + mashed potato + mee goreng.
Complete heavy breakfast after a good jog early of the day.

Rooftop lounge in the morning.

Gym , and the hamster mill that will work just fine.

Swimming pool is not really usable, especially at night with a stage bulid right into it. 

Room view, i like the design. Really suited for business traveller. You got a sink and everything in a linear spot =)

Opposite the TV set are the beds, they can be pushed together to be double Q size bed haha. Need a king size? no issue, hotel asked for an upgrade fee. So no thanks , no problem sir.

The wash room.

Shower area, with rainwater style shower (not shown)

Toiletries set provided.

View outside of room.

Definitely a good stay for me here. Much better than my previous 2. I suspect due to availability of free breakfast, clean and classier hotel setup.

Legenda Boutique Hotel , Johor Bkt Indah

Here is entry #2 of work travel down South. In a rush to book hotel, i just do a quick pick.

source from Legenda site

When i reached , did a walk around abit at this area. Pretty empty on weekdays, there are alot of supermarket around. Giant is no longer right infront of Legenda, it became TF hyper mart since Apr 2019.

Booked a queen bed room for RM120, upon check in had to deposit RM50. Pretty standard. Room is just a simple bed with a table + chair and 2 bed mini table. Arrangement is pretty compact but good enough, so it's really a square box in simplicity. The place managed to squeeze the closet with a mini fridge that seems to work.

Wifi is strong and available on each floor (psswd: legenda123). Air con is pretty cold due to the small size of room and bed looks clean enough . The toilet pass in my book , clean no frills, had a rainwater style shower and surprisingly toiletries that includes toothbrush/paste set.

There is also TV above the table where, 2 bottled water is available i assume FOC with a jug kettle.

Overall is ok place, but a little far to walk to Tesco/Aeon area which is opposite the 2 laned street. Nothing too special, why i picked here? Cause its near enough to the park :) Looking at things around this sleepy community, my next target might be Geos Hotel , then thing probably will wrap up after that.