Trading & travelling across the world!

wallstreet bull

At last, I’m back! After one month of travelling the US, Mexico and Cuba, I’m back in Singapore and just in time for the Great Singapore Sale! 😀

To see the full photo albums for this trip, please visit: https://synapsetrading.com/travel-log/

 

travel map

usa mexico cuba

wallstreet bull

 

How has the market fared while I was gone?

The great plunge in global equity markets (especially China) was great for my forex short positions, as well as my Gold long positions.

2015-08-24 16.27.41

 

What about the Singapore markets?

All I can say that we were prepared a long time ago, and I have documented the proof below on the STI chart.

straits times index 300815

 

1st warning – https://synapsetrading.com/good-value-investors-know-how-to-buy-at-the-right-price-right-time-do-you/
NAC event in front of 2000+ people – https://synapsetrading.com/thank-you-for-the-overwhelming-response-at-nac-2015/
2nd warning – https://synapsetrading.com/is-this-the-right-time-to-buy-gold-now/
3rd warning – https://synapsetrading.com/sti-index-artistic-charts-expanding-triangle-pattern/
Last warning just before my trip – https://synapsetrading.com/chinas-stock-market-8-5-crash-where-was-the-precise-turning-point/
Blog post on why I loaded up on Gold – https://synapsetrading.com/is-this-the-right-time-to-buy-gold-now/

 

Once again, to see the full photo albums for this trip, please visit: https://synapsetrading.com/travel-log/

Enjoy! 😀

island hopping

Last month, I took a short 2 week break with some friends to Boracay Island in the Phillipines, and for those who are looking out for your next holiday destination, this could give you some good ideas! 😀

To see the full photo albums for this trip, please visit: https://synapsetrading.com/travel-log/

Where is Boracay?

Boracay is a tropical island surrounded by stunning white sand beaches about an hour’s flight from Cebu or Manila just off the larger Philippines island of Panay.

For beach connoisseurs it competes with the best beaches of more popular destinations such as the Caribbean and the South Pacific as well as neighbouring Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. For those wanting to just lounge around and top up their tan, beach-front hotels usually have lounge chairs set up just a few steps away from the hotel entrances.

The more active will appreciate water sports and activities such as sailing, wind surfing, snorkelling, diving and jet skiing. The fun in Boracay doesn’t end when the sun sets. Boracay night-life pulsates with many bars and restaurants serving food, drink and fun until dawn.

1. Splurge on cheap cocktails

cheap cocktails

Because these 4 drinks add up to about $10 SGD

 

2. Splurge on seafood

seafood 2

Double-check to make sure they’re alive

seafood

Mutant prawns

 

3. Cliff-diving after drinking

cliff diving

After 3 beers and 2 cocktails

cliff diving level 2

After a few more beers…

 

4. Helmet-diving 20,000 leagues under the sea

helmet diving

Not photo-shopped btw lol

 

5. Kite-boarding

kite-borading

Let the kite drag you out to sea…

 

6. Island-hopping & Snorkelling

island hopping

Singapore, Sweden, Korea, Canada, Australia

kayaking

Ship-wrecked

starfish

Preparing for dinner later

 

7. Paddle-boarding

paddle board

Harder than it looks

 

8. The Legendary Pubcrawl + Post Party

pubcrawl 1

Trying to feel young again 🙂

pubcrawl 2

Looking for some good setups 😉

 

9. Trading at the Beach

trade a bit to cover the holiday

Have to trade a bit to cover the cost of the holiday

 

10. Building Sandcastles with Style 🙂

2015-01-08 16.45.41-1

A few years back, if anyone had told me that travelling the world was just a childhood pipe dream, I would have nodded in agreement. But after learning the truth about passive income, I realised that it was the only way to break free from the rat race and accumulate wealth more quickly that I ever imagined.

Sure, there will be many skeptical people who say that this is too good to be true. I understand that this might be out of their comfort zone, and all I can say is that once you have experienced it, there is no turning back.

Till then, stay tuned for the next holiday destination! 😀

 

P.S. Once again, to see the full photo albums for this trip, please visit: https://synapsetrading.com/travel-log/

Enjoy! 😀

2014 12 02 19.32.54

This morning, after glancing at the charts to check on my USD/JPY long positions and to take a new AUD/CAD short position, I had to rush off to make it in time for my weekly massage session.

After that, it was a sumptuous lunch treat by my broker (thanks!), and some exciting new trade ideas (which I will share in my next weekly updates), and finally it was off to see the IPTL!

From 4.00pm all the way to 10.30pm, it was an amazing display of skill and exciting plays by the best players and legends, including the likes of Ana Ivanovic, Fabrice Santoro, Daniel Nestor, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt, and Nick Kyrgios!

When I got back, I found that my USD/JPY position has gone up another 100+ pips (ka-ching!) and my AUD/CAD was slightly in the money by 20+ pips. What an eventful day! 😀

DBS Mascots - Guess who the main sponsor is?

DBS Mascots – Guess who the main sponsor is?

Ana Ivanovic - Hot Serve :D

Ana Ivanovic – Hot Serve 😀

Half-time models shaking it to the beats

Half-time models shaking it to the beats

Victory!

Victory!

Top view of the tennis court

Top view of the tennis court

Andre Agassi - The Return Specialist!

Andre Agassi – The Return Specialist!

Tsonga receiving serve

Tsonga receiving serve

Panoramic views

Panoramic views

Tsonga victorious!

Tsonga victorious!

Serena Willaims serving

Serena Willaims serving

Looks like a trashing :(

Looks like a trashing 🙁

Andre Agassi autographing the giant tennis balls

Andre Agassi autographing the giant tennis balls

 

P.S. For my full travel photo log and list of countries travelled, please visit: https://synapsetrading.com/travel-log/

Greetings, fellow traders! 😀

I’m back from my trip across South America, covering Brazil, Peru and Argentina!

It was a great time experiencing the adventure of travelling, while covering the cost of the whole trip while trading on the go with a few simple trades with just 15 minutes a day!

To see the full photo albums for this trip, please visit: https://synapsetrading.com/travel-log/

 

Here are some photos from the trip, with a brief intro snippet from Wikitravel:

1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil, on the South Atlantic coast. Rio is famous for its breathtaking landscape, its laidback beach culture and its annual carnival.

The harbour of Rio de Janeiro is comprised of a unique entry from the ocean that makes it appear to be the mouth of a river. Additionally, the harbor is surrounded by spectacular geographic features including Sugar Loaf mountain at 395 meters (1,296 feet), Corcovado Peak at 704 meters (2,310 feet), and the hills of Tijuca at 1,021 meters (3,350 feet).

These features work together to collectively make the harbor one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2. Lima, Peru

Lima is the capital of Peru and its largest city.

Founded in 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, the modern city is a curious mix of the modern mega city with some ‘islands of modernity’, large but orderly slum areas and colonial architecture in the city center. Lima was the seat of the Spanish rule during 300 years, and as such it has wonderful churches, cloisters and monasteries that are worth a visit.

Lima is also the best place to try the wonderful Peruvian cuisine, which has a huge variety of ingredients from coast, mountain and Amazon regions. The cold sea current in front of Peru’s large coast makes the sea very rich in fish and seafood, which have a great taste due to the special plankton they eat. Fish and seafood restaurants are therefore worth the time, and not expensive.

Lima, Peru

3. Cusco, Peru

Cusco is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province.

In 2013, the city had a population of 435,114. Located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cuzco, its elevation is around 3,400 m (11,200 ft).

Cusco was the site of the historic capital of the Inca Empire and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983 by UNESCO.

It is a major tourist destination and receives almost 2 million visitors a year. It is designated as the Historical Capital of Peru by the Constitution of Peru.

Cusco, Peru

4. Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 metres above sea level. It is located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District in Peru. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Sacred Valley which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows.

Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often mistakenly referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas”, it is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization.

Since the site was not known to the Spanish during the colonial period, it is highly significant as a relatively intact cultural site.

Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide Internet poll.

Machu Picchu, Peru

5. Puno, Peru

Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca.

It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 149,064 (2014 estimate).

The city was established in 1668 by viceroy Pedro Antonio Fernández de Castro as capital of the province of Paucarcolla with the name San Juan Bautista de Puno. The name was later changed to San Carlos de Puno, in honor of king Charles II of Spain.

Puno has several churches dating back from the colonial period; they were built to service the Spanish population and evangelize the natives.

Puno, Peru

6. Lake Titicaca, Peru/Bolivia

The Uros are a pre-Incan people who live on forty-two self-fashioned floating islands in Lake Titicaca.

The Uros use bundles of dried totora reeds to make reed boats (balsas mats), and to make the islands themselves.

The larger islands house about ten families, while smaller ones, only about thirty meters wide, house only two or three.

The islets are made of totora reeds, which grow in the lake. The dense roots that the plants develop and interweave form a natural layer called Khili (about one to two meters thick) that support the islands. They are anchored with ropes attached to sticks driven into the bottom of the lake.

The reeds at the bottoms of the islands rot away fairly quickly, so new reeds are added to the top constantly, about every three months; this is what makes it exciting for tourists when walking on the island.

Lake Titicaca, Peru/Bolivia

7. Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

Iguazu Falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border of the Argentina province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu.

The Iguazu River rises near the city of Curitiba. For most of its course, the river flows through Brazil, however, most of the falls are on the Argentine side. Below its confluence with the San Antonio River, the Iguazu River forms the boundary between Argentina and Brazil.

Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

 

Once again, to see the full photo albums for this trip, please visit: https://synapsetrading.com/travel-log/

Enjoy! 😀

2014 08 23 14.51.31

Malacca (Malay: Melaka) is the capital of the state of Malacca, on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia.

Visiting Malacca is a unique experience with a rich historical and cultural background from previous Portuguese, Dutch and British rule.

The city centre was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in July 2008, along with Georgetown, Penang.

To see the full photo albums for this trip, please visit: https://synapsetrading.com/travel-log/

 

Here are some photos from the trip:

Crossing Over...

Crossing Over…

Wow, 2 Television Sets in the Room!

Wow, 2 Television Sets in the Room!

Infinity Pool with Mountains In the Background

Infinity Pool with Mountains In the Background

Indoor Archery Range

Indoor Archery Range

Jonker Street

Jonker Street

Buffet Breakfast at 5 Star Hotel :)

Buffet Breakfast at 5 Star Hotel 🙂

Floating Mosque

Floating Mosque

Most Awesome Chendol I've Ever Eaten!

Most Awesome Chendol I’ve Ever Eaten!

World's Largest Pineapple Tart!

World’s Largest Pineapple Tart!

 

Once again, to see the full photo albums for this trip, please visit: https://synapsetrading.com/travel-log/

Enjoy! 😀