Nothing in this world...

can stop us tonight... a line from Paris Hilton's latest single; "Nothing In This World", funny thing, I actually feel inspired by the lyrics from that song! Paris is inspiring...she rocks!...Indeed, I am motivated by her.

As they always say opposites attract...think ME! and Paris Hilton...

GOOD NEWS:
Round 2: Interview; DBS Derivatives Unit...yes, am really glad to announce that I made it through Round 1. Really hope to secure for myself a career before I graduate, so I can single-mindedly focus my energy on acquiring my degree.

Also, Exams are on the horizon....working towards securing an Upper 2nd Class...

Additionally, a group of highly driven school mates and I are signing up for the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition. It is a competition that will see teams from various Universities the world over compete for coverted business grants and prize money. In essence, we have to write a business plan that covers feasibility and profitability of our potential business.

Indeed, so much to do, so lil' ti--mmmme...Then again, time is what I make of it...indeed, from the mouth of Paris..."Nothing in this world can stop us tonight".

All the way, Vernon...all the way! Impossible is Nothing (Adi Dassaler).

Mediacorp?

I like to tell myself this...

"If at the end of the day I am not a banker or foreign affairs officer...I would be in the media reading the news or writing news reports."



I have a write-up that is featured in a book- a coffee-table tome; "Celebrating Libraries",
I did a Studio Interview for "Good Morning,Singapore" (Chinese Morning News on Channel 8), I was asked for my views on Library Usage,
I have had my writings published in print (The Straits Times as a YouthInk freelance writer), and other publications both online and in print,
And now, a Full-Page Interview for a magazine!

What next? I really wish to read the news one day...perhaps, moonlight as a Newscaster? Boy, am I glad I have the necessary contacts; thanks to all the media exposure I have been getting!

Watch this space, folks!

My first interview!

It was for a position at DBS Vickers Derivatives Unit. DBS Vickers is Asia's largest brokerage firm, and they are expanding globally, hence, I think now is the most exciting time to be joining DBS.

The interview.....

It went smoothly...and I think the hiring manager likes me as well. She is poised and smart.

I like the office and had a very positive vibe about the whole interviewing experience. The office is at Cross Street; off Raffles Place at the Price Waterhouse Coopers building.

Basically, if I do get the job, I will be dealing with the stock market, hence, I am expected to work shift as well, just so that I can track the European and American Stock Markets. I am cool with that!

On top of that, I am expected to handle client queries and build that into a client-relationship for the bank.

Additionally, the position is expected to be filled immediately, and therein lies the problem, I will only graduate in June...oh well, I hope by then they would still have vacancies, since, it is a new unit, they are hiring!

Wish me luck!

Scaling to the top.

What: Confidence Course
Where: Leadership Development Programme @ Ubin
When: 12-13 Jan 2008



I reached! I did a spidey...our resident photographer sure did a great job capturing me in action.


The view from up there...


We made it!

My favourite family...

Leicester Square, London

Bart is naughty, cheeky and every teacher's nightmare.

But...

Bart is not malicious!

In fact,

Bart is a sensitve boy at heart...he weeps when his good friend (Milhouse) had to leave for Capital City, Bart also loves his family, and he hangs out with Milhouse (a goody 2 shoe kinda fella)...since, they say a man is known by the company he keeps; I can only surmise that Bart Simpson is a good boy!

Indeed, he is not the rascal he has always been made out to be.

Besides Bart...the rest of the cast are amazing!

This is why I simply adore the longest running family drama on prime time TV...THE SIMPSONS....this is also the reason why I paid 10 Pounds (SGD 31) JUST to watch it when I was in London...

It's my most expensive movie, ever! But it's worth it...in the words of Homer Simpson..."I am a sucker" to have paid that much for a 2-D movie.

Arigato Gozaimasu...

Where: Ichiban Boshi @ The Esplanade
When: Today, after my Information Systems Lecture
What: Din with a couple of friends


Assortment of Sushi: Unagi(eel), Lobster Salad, Salmon, Kurage(Jelly Fish)...


Chicken Katsu Togi (Set meal): Chicken Cutlet, Salmon Sahimi, Rice, Miso Soup, Ginger Condiment and Watermelon

The meal was good...serving portion was just about right! In fact, I ended up with a bloated tummy; given that I had so much rice, it was not surprising!

My first time paying using the Citibank Biometric payment facility...One touch with my index is all that was needed.

Who can resist this?

Krispy and my baby beaver(the London Sch of Economics mascot)...Toofy is its name-o!

Not even my wood-chomping toofy could...well, it did bring back memories of the time when I was in London and Krispy was available at every discerning supermarket...Tesco as well as the Harrods Food Hall. (This box is courtesy of my brother's girlfriend from Down Under)

Side note:
Its interesting how Toofy's name came about...he was not christened by me...but by a special some one (you know who you are). Just check out toofy's 2 front teeth...and go figure!

Into the Wilderness...

When: 12-13 Jan 2008
Where: Pulau Ubin, Ubin Resort
What: Leadership Development Programme; Camp

Day 1: Nitro Crossing, High Beam, Spider Web, Wild Wozzie, Turning Point, Key Punch.
Key Lessons: Communication, Team Work, Trust, Thinking out of the Box

Day 2: Ab-Seiling, Pamper's Pole, Rock Climbing
Key Lessons: Confidence, Courage, Mental Strength

Went for a Leadership camp...40 of us from various universities...namely, NUS, SIM, and a few from NTU. Took home with me many valuable lessons...especially, having more confidence in my abilities, and managing to overcome my acrophobia as well.

Made a few friends also....overall, the experience was priceless!


Leaving the still relatively "virgin" island...


Goodbye beautiful isle...


Contentment: the only rose among the thorns...leaving for mainland


I felt one with the sea, totally liberated...because, I am very much a water-boy at heart..my student days were spent in canoeing/kayaking, dragonboating...


Sunset: Jubilation; mission on Ubin accomplished!

Decent fare

Where: Earl Swenson's @ Vivocity
When: Lunch
What: Set lunch special with Mum


Starter: a generous serving of salad! There was a good variety of salad from the Salad Bar; lima beans, kidney beans, icerberg lettuce, abalone mushrooms...pasta too!Its basically, a green lover's paradise.


Main Course: Beef Steak Patty which was lightly grilled- it was just about right; meat was tender and succulent. On the side was mashed sweet potato, a slice of egg- plant and some leafy greens.

A pretty charming place- great view of the Straits (the body of water separating Sentosa from the mainland), and polite staff.

My only gripe is that staff are not observant enough- kept asking whether I wanted desert to be served when I was not even done with the main course, yet!

Prices here are steeper compared to ordinary Swenson's and relative to serving portion, it can be deem as over-priced! (read: Earl Swenson's- the more up-market one; smaller portions, higher price!) Do go for the set lunch though, truly reasonable - free flow of salad!

Also, there was a very fine selection of things at the Salad Bar! Now, thats a winner! It has truly appealed to me as a vege and bean loving person...

Woweeee....

Highlights:

2006: Featured contributor of "Celebrating Libraries" commemorative book - my first
contribution in a book

2006: Had a news interview at the Mediacorp studio for the Channel 8 Morning News -
my first time on National TV

2007: Hugo Boss Marketing Challenge - my first marketing project; won a prize for
that

2007: Student Exchange programme; London - my first time to London

2007: YouthInk writer - my first time writing for the Straits Times (have been
writing TO the Forum page; but this is my first time writing FOR the Straits
Times.)

2008: UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Life is filled with many accomplishments! Charting new territories wherever I go. Boy, am I going places...I love life.

Basically, besides academic life at school, I busy myself with loads of extra-curricular activities outside it. I try to live the life of an all-rounder and live life to the fullest.

The year was 2004...

Reading Grain in 2004...wow...see how much I have grown from a young military punk to a gentleman *sniggles*.

A charming day...

People have said we look alike...it has to be the cheeks.


Thats me in 2005

Went for a photo shoot and interview at Mediacorp yesterday (9 Jan), and guess who I saw?
There was this nonchalant air about him...
I was seated in the same studio as him and he was reading a magazine....
it seemed like he was waiting for Sarah.

Saw Jien with Sarah at Borders a couple of weeks back....they looked so charming together. I am sure their kids will turn out great!

Sequence of events yesterday: 09 Jan
Law lecture, Photoshoot & Interview @ Mediacorp, Dinner @ Singapore Island Country Club.

What a whirlwind day it was, but I enjoyed it!

Impossible is nothing...just chasing my passion

Very soon I would be graduating.... to provide some perspective, basically, the summer of 2008. Yes, thats how soon it is.

I have thought long and hard about what I want to do.

First, I would start my career in a bank/financial institution, will probably clock a few years, during which time, I will pursue a post graduate diploma in International Relations.

After a couple of years at the bank/financial institution, I would take a sabbathical and pursue my Masters in International Relations (IR) in the UK; now, thats chasing my long term dream of being in Foreign Service.

Hopefully, it will be back at my alma mater; the London School of Economics or even Cambridge. Both have charmed me equally much while I was in England reading International Political Economy (a branch of IR)......

At least I know, I have something good to work towards to.

Happy 2008 and beyond.

P/S: just wanna extend my warmest wishes and love to my faithful readers out there! Happy Blessed 2008, may the year bring many good things to you as it would for me.

The Cambrige plate from the University of Cambridge.

A celebrity? (Part 1)

Some people become celebrities because they are respected for what they do, like the contributions they make through their professions...

While others become celebrities because they lend their faces to photoshoots and grace events, and perhaps cause a scandal or two to unfold...

I am glad I belong to the former where one becomes celebrated because of his/her contributions...and what do I have that warrants me becoming a celebrity?

Stay Tune!

All have a part to play in push to stay ahead

I READ with pride how both Temasek Holdings and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation have made their forays into the American market by engaging in capital injection to bail out troubled banks.
Indeed, this signals that Singapore has its economic fundamentals in place and is doing well at the global level. Truly, it is the foresight of our leaders that has brought us where we are today.

However, there has to be a mindset change as we move further up the development scale. Ordinary Singaporeans must realise they too have a part to play in Singapore's push to stay ahead of rising competition.

We have developed exponentially over the past few decades and have enjoyed sustained growth for many years now. The way forward is with a population that continues to be conscientious.

An opportunity to go on a student exchange programme in London opened my mind to difficulties some nations face. Even in a developed country like Britain, there are problems such as strikes organised by the unions. Such things are a bane of ordinary citizens as they affect their way of life.

However, here in Singapore, we can be assured that everything works. Time and again, we have been lauded for that, and it is an accolade we can be proud of.

Also, as citizens, we need to be more appreciative of the successes Singapore has achieved. For a start, we can be more proactive in giving feedback. In this way, Singapore's success can be sustained.

In the words of The Economist magazine, Singapore is 'booming, bustling and bursting at the seams, a developed country that grows at developing-country rates'.

Indeed, we can all be proud as everything in Singapore runs like clockwork, and we can walk the streets with peace of mind.

Vernon Lim

p/s: the above is my 4th article to the ST Forum page in print

Taiwan Connection...

I have relatives the world over whom I am very much in touched with...

The US, Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan

Here I have the Taiwanese Connection...

Little Shi Yong is my Taiwanese nephew...a little boy who is both mischevious and adorable all at once!

I am gonna miss them when they return....

Till then..."Ah Yi" and little Shi Yong...

From your Singaporean Uncle

When the clock struck 12...

A new dawn.
New year at Hacienda @ Dempsey...

Lovely cakes...good music...great company