The Singapore Necklace: A Secret Love Across Two CulturesTHE SINGAPORE NECKLACE Storyline The narrative took place in 1914 Singapore in a span of ten months. A part of the British Straits Settlements finding itself well into the age of the industrial revolution, due to the opening of the Suez Canal and thanks to the islands unique location, Singapore grew rapidly into an important thriving trading post. The city has put itselftogether into a shipshape and organized place of commerce but also a proper place of living the infrastructure kept abreast of the business development; roads were built, electricity network replaced gas lights, water was pounded and piped to industries and residences - but also telephone, telegraph and postalservices were part daily life. The love story evolved not only in a place where western quality of living were injected catering for colonial life clubs, a horse race-course, sports grounds, and department stores sprung up besides markets, cinemas, parks, schools and churches but the account occurred in an era when Victorian morality of restraint, rigid social codes of conduct and class system has been instilled. Residential areas were separated based on race, non-europeans were barred from certain places and were discouraged from travelling first class. A love between a European and one from another culture wasnt quite tolerated then, certainly so were that bond between two men. In a historic era, just two years after the sinking of the Titanic,in the period the 1st World War unleashed in Europe and the year that the famous Singapore Sling was conceived, two young men living in Singapore - a British and a Chinese - discovered feelings for one another that they couldnt comprehend themselves. As their curiosity prevailed the mutual fondness blossomed in the midst of a tropical setting letting trams,rickshaws, cars, trains and boats transport them on their fine journeys and experiences. The sombre ending of the union was all to blame on the nasty World War spreading its negativity to the colonies. But in a twist of fate and after a long wait in limbo, the two lovers were united, free at last. |
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Page 24
... Malay man - smiled at and acknowledged Shan and he waved and smiled back."Do you know him' ”es he works for the plantation further up at Teban.” Guy enjoyed the peaceful ambience that permeated from the surroundings and enjoyed the ...
... Malay man - smiled at and acknowledged Shan and he waved and smiled back."Do you know him' ”es he works for the plantation further up at Teban.” Guy enjoyed the peaceful ambience that permeated from the surroundings and enjoyed the ...
Page 25
... Malay children were playing on the road under the shades of trees. When they saw the two men on the bicycles they stopped and looked and greeted the two men, laughing and smiling — one of them tried to run beside as if racing with the ...
... Malay children were playing on the road under the shades of trees. When they saw the two men on the bicycles they stopped and looked and greeted the two men, laughing and smiling — one of them tried to run beside as if racing with the ...
Page 30
... Malay .at home they think I bathe too often twice or three times a dayl perspire too much and I like to feel dry and to always wear dry clothes." ”Oh alright, Mandy ..well, it's has a clean dry sound to it." ”In our culture people tend ...
... Malay .at home they think I bathe too often twice or three times a dayl perspire too much and I like to feel dry and to always wear dry clothes." ”Oh alright, Mandy ..well, it's has a clean dry sound to it." ”In our culture people tend ...
Page 39
... Malay gardeners together with some enthusiastic soldiers have since tried to maintain the plants but now it is more like attempting to keep the plants alive, so it seems the gardeners are failing." After some thinking Mrs. Leong said ...
... Malay gardeners together with some enthusiastic soldiers have since tried to maintain the plants but now it is more like attempting to keep the plants alive, so it seems the gardeners are failing." After some thinking Mrs. Leong said ...
Page 47
... Malay gardeners but it didn't bring about much change so far. The idea was that the experienced gardener would guide the barrack's own gardeners and impart his knowledge on them. He told Guy that he would talk to the Commanding Officer ...
... Malay gardeners but it didn't bring about much change so far. The idea was that the experienced gardener would guide the barrack's own gardeners and impart his knowledge on them. He told Guy that he would talk to the Commanding Officer ...
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Common terms and phrases
afternoon Alexandra barracks already angsana arms asked bamboo bicycle Bidadari Cemetery boats British building busy Chinese Christmas close clothes coloured covered dinner dishes distance Dollah dressed drinks EUrong eyes feeling felt front garden Garrison German gharries girls glass Grandma grass Guy and Shan Guy sat Guy's hand head heard Hotel Indian kampong kissed knew kuih ladies maids Malay Mandy mind moved ndon necklace Negeri Sembilan nggi River ngland night North Bridge Road officers ong family Orchard Road ord-T peranakan Raggy rain rickshaws roof Saturday seated seemed sepoys Shan and Guy Shan looked Shan's Shan’s side Singapore Singapore Sling sitting slowly smiled soldiers soon sounds started stay stood Street Sungei Ujong talempong Tanglin Tanglin barracks thank tikars Timpang took tram trees trying turned urope uropean verandah waiting walked wooden young