Epulae : Kakuray Cafe

Kakuray Cafe

Location: Same block as BDC H&L Supermarket.

Jalan-jalan cari makan. Decided to try Karukay Cafe out...
Kakuray Cafe has been around for 6 months, and is owned by a local chap which had a nine years stint in Singapore before coming back to work at Hai Pa Wang (near SRJK Chung Hua 3) for a short while.

Salted fish fried rice with "mani-chai" (RM3.50)

 - the mani-chai gave it a bit of a crunchy bite



Fried fish slices in ginger broth (RM5.00/ with rice RM6.00)

 - the rice is filled to the plate's brim

Portion: Dog size (Dog = I'm stuffed; Cat = Just nice; Kitty = I'm still hungry)

Ambient:

Typical kopitiam seating/environment. A bit warm due to the low ceiling. A/C might be in order but that would crank up the electric bill and thus the food bill.

Verdict:

Heavy seasoning can overwhelm a dish. A tomyam soup which is too sour or a black soy sauce chicken dish which is too salty for example.

Both the dishes I tried are light on seasoning but still sufficient enough to bring out the taste. I kinda like the "ginge-ry" broth. Coupled with dog size portions and reasonable pricing, will I go back to try out the other dishes? Yes!

Flora : Periwinkle

Periwinkle / Vinca

There are many variants of periwinkle. I would broadly classify them into the "woody type" and "hanging type". The woody type is normally planted in the ground or pot as a small flowering shrub. The hanging type as the name suggested is planted in hanging pots, giving a showy display of drooping flowers.

Both are ever flowering evergreen that can be planted in full sun or partial shade, and is not particularly choosy of soil medium. You will often find vinca from fallen seeds growing happily in the smallest nooks and crevices giving the chance. But vinca is a thirsty plant. The leaves will curl at the first sign of thirst and turn yellow and fall off if not watered pronto. However, it cannot withstand water logging and will die back under such condition. The hanging type is less tolerant to water logging.

There are two most common pests afflicting periwinkle plants. Spider mites and mealy bugs. If not contained at first signs, the whole plant will die back. It is very difficult to see the spider mites but you will know of their presence when tips and green/soft branches die back for no apparent reason. A spray of white oil does wonders.

A monthly organic compost feeding will keep it flowering happily. Nip the tips of the branches to get a more bushy plant. Prune the stems back when they get too leggy to encourage new shoots.

Propagation is done by seeds or cuttings. Use mature woods if propagating from cuttings. The soft green stems will not strike roots. Since vinca cross pollinates readily, cuttings is the only way to ensure that you propagate the desired variants. I started with five variants which I collected over time and now I have nine variants. I let the periwinkles cross pollinate freely in a semi controlled landspace.

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Now... if I can get hold of the violet/blue variant for a perfect '10' !

Flora : 7-Sien-Chen

Chit-Sien-Chen (loosely translated as "Seven fairies needle")
(Scientific name ?unknown?)

A cactus like plant with showy red flower and 1" long needles along the stems. A single prick to your finger will cause your hand and arm to go numb with pain within the hour, and swollen within a day. It take about a week at least for the swelling to subsides.

It is a fast growing plant up to six feets tall which can get messy with twining stems. Should be planted in pot to control it's propagation reach, away from pets and children. Easily rooted from cuttings. Handling and pruning is tricky due to the long thorn. No gardening gloves is going to protect your hands from the 1" thorns. Handle gingerly by the leaves :)

Excellent to be planted along fences to deter intruders, be it the four-legged or two-legged type, especially when fully matured to six feets height and intertwined firmly onto the fence. Only the fool hardy intruders will attempt breach.

Flora : Oyster plant

Oyster plant / Boatlily / Moses-in-a-boat / Tradescantia spathacea

Left: medicinal Oyster plant                                                  Right: ornamental Oyster plant

The medicinal Oyster plant is beneficial for sore throat, coughing and body cooling. Slow boil for few hours. A lazy way is to boil it in a croak pot/ slow cooker on high setting once back from work in the evening and turn the power off before going for bed. A luke warm oyster plant tea will be waiting for you first thing in the morning.

Boil with yellow rock sugar, add other herbs like jasmine, pandan leaves, chrysanthemum, etc if so desired. I have no idea if the herbal mixture will turn poisonous but so far so good... phew!

However, the latex/sap of the Oyster plant IS poisonous, so avoid skin contact during pruning/harvesting/handling. Is ok to handle after thoroughly boiled. Don't ask me why. Unripe tomato is poisonous. Ripe tomato is yummy. It just is.

And don't mix up the medicinal Oyster plant with the ornamental Oyster plant. Looks alike at first glance. The pictures are taken at the same time with the same camera and light exposure.

Oyster plant is not too particular with soil medium but loves a good dose of organic compost every forthnight or so. Forgiving if you forgot to water them for a couple of hot sunny days. Propagates by seed or side shoots. Have a pretty deep root system. Root system will envelope the entire pot given time. A shallow 6~8" pot will do. I have one planted in a 4" pot and doing well :)

Ground planting can be invasive due to propagation by seed nature and also the far reaching rooting system.

Thrives both under shade and full sun.

Fauna : the Three Wise Kings

See  no evil.
Hear no evil.
Say  no evil.

Things may not be what they seem. Or it is just as simple as it seems. See with thou common sense and informed judgement. And thou shall see what needs to be. Char-ku-piao with your heart, and char-coal shall be gain.

Learn to be silence, for pure bliss is attained when thou mind are still; Even if thou are placed in a room full of clucking hens. Char-ku-piao with a distracted mind, and char-sio-too shall be served.

Thee can speak a thousand words without whispering a sigh from thee mouth. Thee mind speak only when thee say none. Thee mind think only when thee say none. Be still and speak for a moment thee know this true. Char-ku-piao clucking like a hen, and a-clucking thou shall be.

Q2'11 updates

QE2 is expiring in 5 days. Will the good days be bygone? Que sera sera.
Let's see what's on the platter.

5106 AXREIT

Still lingering at RM2.40 level. Sleepy cow :) 
AXREIT has been know to be late riser. Things should warm up entering August. RM2.80 target price maintained.

Dividend in H1 2011:
Ex 31/01/2011 Final distribution of 5.25 sen per unit
Ex 11/05/2011 First interim distribution of 4.20 sen per unit

There were a flurry of acquisitions and a disposition completions in the first half. Expect this to trickle in from Q3 2011 reporting onwards.
What I am really looking forward to is the implementation of DRIP or Dividend Re-Investment Plan with expected completion in Q3'11. What had been happening in the past was new units representing 20% of existing shares were placed out to institutional big boys. In a sense, there were dilution of earnings to existing shareholders, but AXREIT management has done a doubly good job in value creation which more than negated the dilution. With the DRIP in place, existing shareholders can continue to participates in the non-diluted growth while the AXREIT management can capitalised on the fund for new acquisitions or carrying out value added improvements on existing properties with minimum drawdown on loan facilities.
It is a win-win proposition.



5127 ARREIT

Moving sideway. Fly swatting first half of 2011.

Dividend in H1 2011:
Ex 25/02/2011 Final distribution of 1.6741 sen per unit
Ex 09/06/2011 First interim distribution of 1.812 sen per unit



5878 KPJ

RM4.60 target met. Setting sight on year end RM5.00 target.

Dividend in H1 2011:
Ex 23/03/2011 Distribution of 5.00 sen per unit
Ex 28/06/2011 Distribution of 2.40 sen per unit



1155 MAYBANK

Swapped CIMB for Maybank.



4308 SUNWAY

Property/construction/merger play. Did a quick short at 2.71  :p
Merger progressing smoothly with expected completion in Q3'11. Target price of RM2.87, 3.00.



5031 TIMECOM

My most recent addition. Time dotCom is trading at PE of 16.3x at RM0.73. Looking to add position on any further weakness. TIMECOM made three significant announcements in the first half of 2011 pertaining DIGI, ASTRO and capital reduction. Quarterly revenues and EPS is on uptick.
RM1.00 target within next 2~3 quarters.



0009 YTLE

Telco play. YTLE's fortune will be closely linked to the success of YTLPOWR/YES. Did a recent entry at the penny threshold. Will add position on further weakness.
YES coverage is at 65% with target 80% coverage by Q4 2011. Potential bumps in the next two quarterly reports stripping out the start-up loss.



6742 YTLPOWR

Telco/power play. EPF, and to a lesser extend ASB have been doing serious accumulation recently at RM2.14~2.20 level. The mark-up phase might have started on the last 3 candles.
YES earnings or potential earnings have not been reflected in the analysts reports. Expect that to change in the next two quarters. In the mean time, accumulate at low levels and make do with the temporary suppressed 5% yield which is ain't too shabby.



5176 SUNREIT

EPF has been accumulating SUNREIT at RM1.04~1.10 level for the past month. I have no clue what gives. But monkey see monkey do. Mark-up phase might have started.
I am looking at RM1.20 year-end target.

Dividend in H1 2011:
Ex 11/02/11 Distribution of 1.75 sen per unit
Ex 16/05/11 Distribution of 1.70 sen per unit



5116 ALAQAR

Hospital REIT. The slowest and dullest in my REIT universe, but is to be expected. All acquisitions are PRTs. Mature hospitals injected in by KPJ to unlock values. Call it a "REIT diversification/portfolio balancing".

Dividend in H1 2011:
Ex 23/03/2011 Distribution of 3.30 sen per unit



WATCH LIST:
0823EA CIMBC25 - KLCI & Hang Seng index ETF
--> Index trading when opportunity arises

7231 WELLCAL
--> Still waiting patiently to enter at floor level. Gives double digits yield.

1368 FABER
--> Trade counter. Starting to move on last 2 candles. Bullets reserve is a bit low currently to take position. Watch from sideline.

Happy 2011 !!

Well, how not to be happy with KLCI posting 3 white fat candles in first 3 days of trading in 2011  ;p
Close both eyes and throw a dart, you'll most likely hit something with decent gain. But having said that, gainers is decreasing compared to 1st and 2nd day despite the extra heavy volume today. That gotta tell something about the across board sentiment spread.

With lower end 2011 KLCI target of 1622 and KLCI hitting 1571 on day 3 of 2011, that leaves 51 pts to go for the rest of the year. wow! wow! But that's just 30 blue counters we are talking about. That leaves us with the 1000++ other counters. Back to the gainers spread. Stocking picking will be key moving forward. At least I have 12/13 counters in my watchlist today registering GREEN. Some really GREEN. One yellow.

Not much change in portfolio going into the new year. Been doing some top slicings and shorts. Dabble with Forex game. My two darling counters AXREIT and KPJ did well for 2010.

In summary (3 anchors + 3 satellites):
- AXREIT met my fair value of RM2.40 giving a 2010 40% Cap+Div gain. 2011 guide is 25% Cap+Div gain with RM2.40 reference and RM2.80 target. Modify "compounding" plan. Instead of compounding Div back into AXREIT, expanded into SUNREIT and ALAQAR.

- KPJ registered at 63% Cap gain from RM2.30 to RM3.75 (on adjusted chart) ++ the shorts (aka sell high, buy low) along the way. 2011 guide of RM4.60

- ARREIT. Entered only in 2H2010. Ended 2010 with RM0.935 closing. Registered 10% Cap+Div gain. Expecting price to go above RM1.00 with PKNS properties injection due for completion in 2011. Above RM1.15 to be more specific.

- CIMBC25. Entered Q42010. Shorted for 4% Cap at end of 2010.

- YTLPOWR. Entered Q42010. Did a few shorts to lower down average entry. Too lazy to calculate the gain, but about there.

- BJTOTO. Enter 2H2010. Disposed for paltry 3% gain. And it shot up to RM4.50 not long after that... !#~%$^_^(*&%$ !!

Looking forward into 2011. Removed CIMB from radar. Dabble into SUNREIT. Entered ALAQAR on weakness. Loves Finger Licking Good. Watching SUNWAY drama. Continue top slicing and shortings, maybe doing a trade or two.

 Happy 2011 !!