Sunday BBQ and Almost Thermae

Will try to keep this post a relatively short one, as I'm feeling a bit under the weather. Stuffy head, aching back & neck and am also losing my voice. Anyway, today I met up with Sai Yeung Choi in Flushing again and we headed out to Roslyn Heights in Long Island for a BBQ. It was hosted by one of SYC's contractor contacts. We were given a tour of the house and property. Both were very nice, but we both agree that the house, even with the extension, is on the small side. We basically had a hot dog each, chit-chatted a little and left about an 1-1.5 hours later. Was kind of disappointed at the lack of ogling opportunities.

From Long Island, we drove to Almost Thermae. Along the way, SYC stopped by at a Wendy's drive-thru to pick up a burger. Can you believe a single Baconator burger (not meal) cost almost $7? WTF?!? For this price in BKK, you could've had 2 bowls of Thai noodles, 5 fried drumsticks from the chicken guy, a soft drink, coconut mango sticky rice and a DQ ice-cream cone.

Anyway, we got to Almost Thermae at around 7 PM. We see Curly at her usual station serving up drinks. However, both Matchstick and Stay Puft were MIA. Must be their day off. In their places were Fat Alberta and K-Pop. SYC ordered his usual hot coffee. I passed, as my throat was feeling sore. Due to me losing more of my voice, we forgo chatting and used SMS/text msg, instead.

Today, the crowd was bigger than last night's. As a result, we didn't get to sit at our usual Corner Office until close to 8 PM. Had to settle for the stools up front near the counter for a little over an hour. The long list of lounge lizards in the house include Olive, Stripes, Zoned Out Guy, Mr. & Mrs. Mute, Korean Chix 1-3, Music Man, Butt Crack Girl, Ass Out Man, The Professor, Fat Bastard, Kim Jong-un, Barnaby's Cousin, Baseball Cap Girl and Tennis Star. Barnaby 2.0 made a late appearance too, just as we were heading out at around 8:30 PM.

As the day progressed, I was feeling more and more exhausted due to the aforementioned sick symptoms. It was good I didn't have to take the van back home, as SYC was nice enough again to give me a lift.

Saturday at Almost Thermae

FYI - I didn't do any trades for the week of 8/19 - 8/23. Next week, I won't be doing any either, as I plan to be back on the simulator. Need to iron out some wrinkles before returning back to live trading.

Anyway, moving on to what happened yesterday. The plan was to meet up with Sai Yeung Choi Saturday afternoon in Flushing. First, took care of some personal finances - mortgage payment, mobile and cable bills, cash transfer to my checking to cover for the plots down payment. Then did the 3S's and had a quick bite to eat. Headed out the apt at around 3 PM to catch the Flushing van to Main Street. Traffic was bumper-to-bumper on the bridge. Good thing it cleared out, once we entered  I495.

Met up with SYC at around 4:20 PM at the New World Mall. Wrong name for such a low-end place. Should be called Old World Dump instead. This place has nothing on Robinsons or Esplanade. We headed down to the food court area as SYC hadn't had lunch yet. Initially, I wasn't going to get anything, but decided to also try out the chicken teriyaki dish that he bought. The ogle scene here is OK, but again can't really hold up to the other two malls.

After the quick bite, SYC wanted to get a haircut. Since coming back from our trip, I don't think he has found a place that offer a cut that is as trendy & professional-looking as the one he got in HK. Anyway, after checking one salon at the mall, he decided to go back to his usual place across the street. Two things stood out for me, while I was waiting there: 1) the tall & leggy shampoo girl washing SYC's hair and 2) the Russian brunette that walked in for a wash & cut. Let me elaborate a little on #2. When Natasha walked in, all the guys and even some of the girls, instantly stared at her. I mean, she was packing a pair of big guns. Also, the fact that she was wearing a negligee-like miniskirt with probably nothing underneath didn't help matters either. She was showing miles of legs and ample 36 DD cleavage, as that miniskirt was extremely low-cut at both the legs and chest areas. Boobs were jiggling uncontrollably when she was getting her scalp massaged. The below pic shows a very close resemblance to the type of dress that she was wearing and what she was packing.

RUS 36 DD

Anyway, after his cut was done, we headed out to our new hangout spot Almost Thermae. Had some trouble locating the place at first, but eventually found it. The place looks clean and comfy. Has that rustic interior design. I also like it because it wasn't that crowded and raucous. We ordered up our usual drinks from Curly. Also there, as usual, were Matchstick and Stay Puft. SYC found a lounging spot and we basically bs'd about everything and nothing and ogled for close to 3 hours. We saw Legs and her 2 girlfriends, Gangnam 5 Gang, Heels, The Family, Korean Chix 1-8 and last, but not least, Barnaby 2.0. He sat at his usual spot in the center, after ordering his drink.

We left Almost Thermae at about 9 PM for the parking lot. Went to grab some dinner across the street at a Vietnamese place. Afterwards, SYC gave me a lift home. Overall, it was a good day. Almost Thermae looks to be a good hangout place for drinking, bs'ing and ogling. Of course, it still can't match Thermae, with it's massive talent pool and ogling targets. However, it is good enough for us here for now.

No trades for 8/19/13

Last Friday, I said that going forward, I will try to enter all trade signals. Well, looks like that is still a work in progress. Today was the worse. I was like a deer caught in the headlights. I called off 11 trade signals as they were forming. 9 would've been winners and only 2 losers. Would've, could've, but didn't, as I didn't enter on any of the signals. Blame hesitation, fear, greed, mental/emotional block. I believe following through with my signals is the final hurdle I need to overcome before becoming a successful trader.

8/19/13 ES chart

Anyway, maybe these couple of pics of Maggie & YoYo will help me jump over that hurdle quicker.  :-P

Maggie

YoYo

NQ trades for 8/16/13

Just a FYI...each trading day's accompanying NQ chart does not have much annotations or drawings. The reason for this is because I'm actually doing most of that stuff on the ES chart, instead. I trade the NQ off of setups I see on the ES. Once I develop more confidence and am more mentally ready, I will switch back to trading the ES. Anyway, today there were several 2nd entry longs that I didn't take (due to hesitation, again) that were all winners. Next week, I'm going to try to take all 2nd entry signals. I also ended trading early, as I had to go out to take care of something.

Trade #1 - Prices failed twice to break pass the resistance near the high of the day. It then proceeded to head down with a bearish red candle. I went short at around 11:00 @3087.50. Prices reversed back to the upside somewhat and I was afraid it might try to make a new high and stop me out in the process. However, prices again reversed immediately and went straight down to hit my target at around 11:12 @3085.00. Gained +2.50 pt on the trade.

8/16/13 NQ chart

Now another pic of my favorite HK celebrity Charlene Choi. Dag, wish she had worn a shorter skirt than the one shown.  :-P

Charlene Choi

NQ trades for 8/15/13

I was busy taking care of other matters this Monday and Tuesday. Today is the first day this week that I did any actual trading, as I didn't take any trades on Wednesday either. Even though I had 2 winners and only 1 loser, I still ended the day net negative. When I move up to trading >1 contract, then I think this problem would be mitigated, due to having runners.

Trade #1 - Went long at around 10:52 @3074.50 at what I initially thought was a double bottom. It wasn't. I came within 1 tick of being stopped out, before prices reversed. I manually exited at around 11:01 @3075.75, as I thought prices were beginning to stall. Having just barely escaped earlier, I didn't want a negative trade. Ended up with +1.25 pt.

Trade #2 - I saw a triple top had formed, so entered on a 2nd entry short at around 11:14 @3078.75. I got stopped out at around 11:23 @3082.50. As that saying goes, hindsight is 20/20. Looking back, I countertrend traded, as there was an uptrend. Also, there was support at the median support line. Took a -3.75 pt loss.

Trade #3 - Another long trade at around 11:40 @3088.00. Looking back, I can't seem to recall why I got into this trade. Reviewing the chart, I see no good reasons to have gone long. I nearly got stopped out again, as prices immediately backtracked. When it bounced momentarily, I just manually exited at around 11:49 @3089.25. Gained +1.25 pt.

8/15/13 NQ chart

NQ trades for 8/09/13

I've decided to switch over to the E-mini NASDAQ-100 Futures (NQ). At only $5.00 per tick, instead of $12.50 for the ES, it's less damaging to my account when I'm wrong. Of course, it's also less rewarding, if I'm correct on a trade.

Trade #1 - Saw about 8-10 good trading opportunities, but as usual, only took 1. Well, maybe today I can be forgiven, as it's my first day trading the NQ. After hesitating on entering so many good trades, I decided to finally act. Market was see-sawing all day. Entering the final couple of hours of trading, it was in a downward trajectory. On a pullback to the upper trend line and with a bearish bar completed forming, I went long at around 14:23 @3121.00. Took some heat, as prices went up to 3123.75. In hindsight, I should have waited to enter on a 2nd entry short, which came one bar after my entry. Prices then proceeded to head straight to the lower trend line. Hit my target at around 14:35 @3118.50 for +2.50 pt.

8/09/13 NQ chart

ES trades for 8/07/13

I apologize for the vagueness (no time or entry price info) of my trade descriptions, as I didn't save today's chart data.

Trade #1 - Prices formed a triple top, so I went short. Again, I got nervous and was shook out of the trade. The second my manually adjusted target got filled, prices went straight down about more 6 pt. Instead of getting my auto target, had I stayed put, I got a measly +0.25 pt. What a pisser!

Trade #2 - This trade was emotionally draining. I entered on a 2nd entry long. It was looking decent early on. However, prices then broke below the upward sloping trend line. On 4 consecutive occasions, prices dropped within 1 tick of stopping me out. It then reversed to the upside near my entry. I could've (and should've) just exited for +/- 1 tick. But that previous 4 consecutive times of prices hitting support had reinforced my view that the market was returning to an upward trajectory. I got rewarded for my conviction with 3 very bearish bars. After I got stopped out for -2.00 pt, prices reversed and headed straight up. Would've gotten my target, had my stop been 3 ticks lower.

Bad trading days like today always make me reminisce about all my past trips to TH. This year's trip went by in a flash. I guess all fun activities go by quick. For me, there is never enough time spent in HK/TH. I sometimes envy the expats who get to work in those two places. My goal/dream is to be able to trade 6 months in BKK, 3 months in HK and 3 months in NYC each year. Maybe I can just look at these pics of Pinky, Nok and Chompoo as consolation.

Pinky

Nok

Chompoo

ES trades for 8/06/13

I didn't do any trading yesterday 8/05/13, as I was away. Now, for the majority of today, the market traded down with significant volume. It ended the last few hours trading in a range. There were a lot of good trade setups. I only took 1 of those setups, as the mental/emotional factor came into play again. Instead of just following through with my analyses of the market and make the trades, I tend to hesitate and question my reasoning for them. Definitely a work in progress in this area.

Trade #1 - By now the market was in a trading range. After a very bearish candlestick bar ended, a Doji one formed. Prices also formed a double bottom @1691.50. Got long at 14:13 @1692.00. Took some heat, as prices dropped 1.25 pt before another Doji formed and prices reversed rapidly to the upside. Hit my target of 1693.25 at 14:25 for +1.25 pt.

8/06/13 ES chart

ES trades for 8/02/13

We had a trio of economic reports/announcements on Friday. Market was trading in a 4 point range early on. I did a couple of trades – 1 winner and 1 loser. I should have known better than to jump in on that loser, though. Ended the day net negative.

Trade #1 – As noted before, the market was in a trading range. I had an upward sloping trend line in place. In hindsight, this was drawn in error. Sort of tricked me into the trade. At 10:52 when I went long @1699.00, prices seemed to be reversing. A Doji just formed and prices had support at the (incorrect) trend line. It was obviously from the start that prices weren't going to bounce. Got stopped out at around 11:08 @1697.00 for -2.00 pt.

In hindsight, there were multiple mistakes made:

1. Prices were below the EMA at the time of the entry
   
2. A failed 2^nd entry long just occurred
   
3. Market was in a trading range, so trading range rules apply
   

Trade #2 – After being stopped out on the 1^st trade, I immediately went long again, as a Doji formed again. In at 11:09 @1697.50. Initially, took some heat, as prices went down 1.00 pt against me, but found support at 1696.50. It then reversed and hit my target of 1698.75 at around 11:23 for +1.25 pt. Prices continued going up for another 5 pt before it retraced a bit.

8/02/13 ES chart

Thai street food & Charlene Choi, but no ES trades for 8/01/13

I was away from my computer for the entire day Thursday. Therefore, I didn't do any trading.

So, onto my travel-related rants. First, lets talk about street food. In NYC, it's basically the ubiquitous hot dog, pretzel and kebab stands. Wouldn't want to eat them, even if they were free. End of discussion. Now, lets move onto Thai street food (will need a separate entry later for food courts). I've been to Thailand countless times and on each trip, I never failed to get good meals from the street stalls. There is so much variety there. You can have meat, seafood, vegetables, fruits, etc of all types prepared in multiple ways. Best of all, they are not only good, but cheap too. A win-win combo, if you ask me.

For the most recent trip in June 2013, I went with my friend Sai Yeung Choi. This trip was SYC's first (but won't be last) to the Land of Smiles. He also gave high praise for the quality, tastiness and pricing of the Thai street food. He said one would need to pay double or even triple for something similar in NYC. Among his favorites are the fried chickens, assorted fresh fruits and grilled chicken skins and hearts. Mine include mango coconut sticky rice and the aforementioned fried chickens.

One particular fried chicken vendor deserves additional mention. His stall is located on the former Jusco parking lot, right next to the Big C on Ratchada. The nearest MRT station is Thailand Cultural Centre. I particularly like the guy's fried drumsticks, which goes for only THB5 or $0.16 each! I must have bought his food over a dozen times in the month that I was in BKK. You can get 12 tasty & freshly fried drumsticks for less than $2.00. What a bargain! He also sells wings and thighs. There's almost always a line at his stall and his chickens sell out fast. On some days, he would be out of stock by 3PM. No big surprise there.

Big C fried chicken stall

Also, not to be forgotten are the Thai milk tea drinks. We preferred this over soda or beer to quench our thirsts on those hot & humid days. You can get one for about THB25-45, depending on the location. We were especially impressed with one small shop, who uses real tea leaves. We witnessed him grinding them during the preparation of our drinks. It cost only THB45 each or $1.50! SYC said in NYC's Flushing and Chinatown neighborhoods, you would need to fork over $3.00-5.00 each and it's the instant powdered kind. The ones made with real tea leaves, if you can find a shop that makes them, would likely cost even more money.

Anyway, that's my 2 satangs worth on Thai street food.

Oops...nearly forgotten about Charlene, whom I think is the cutest & funniest actress in HK. Just a pic here, as no words are needed.

Charlene Choi