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 28
... Timpang our kebun , gardener , " ..... ada apa Timpang ? " he proceded in one breath to reply to the calls and walked towards the end of Passir Panjang Road from where Timpang was approaching . " Saya ada bawa teh sama kuih kuih ' tuk ...
... Timpang our kebun , gardener , " ..... ada apa Timpang ? " he proceded in one breath to reply to the calls and walked towards the end of Passir Panjang Road from where Timpang was approaching . " Saya ada bawa teh sama kuih kuih ' tuk ...
Page 29
A Secret Love Across Two Cultures Jaim Kaan. Timpang appeared with his usual limp and handed Shan a lacquer tingkat and both walked to the grassy clearing , Timpang carrying under his arm a rolled tikar , a lightweight mat made from ...
A Secret Love Across Two Cultures Jaim Kaan. Timpang appeared with his usual limp and handed Shan a lacquer tingkat and both walked to the grassy clearing , Timpang carrying under his arm a rolled tikar , a lightweight mat made from ...
Page 30
... Timpang , it means walking with a limp . " That Saturday in April was truly a remarkable time , it proved to be a moment where the two young men opened up and started to enjoy each other's company . Guy appreciated Shan's life and was ...
... Timpang , it means walking with a limp . " That Saturday in April was truly a remarkable time , it proved to be a moment where the two young men opened up and started to enjoy each other's company . Guy appreciated Shan's life and was ...
Page 35
... Timpang has put at the bottom at the rear seats . " The weather is nice , and the wind is gentle . " Guy said standing at the grassy patch exploring the surroundings , as if he was already so familiar with the place . The trees provided ...
... Timpang has put at the bottom at the rear seats . " The weather is nice , and the wind is gentle . " Guy said standing at the grassy patch exploring the surroundings , as if he was already so familiar with the place . The trees provided ...
Page 39
... Timpang come down and help out your people once in a while and assist to revive the plants ? He knows exactly the kind of plants to put and combine in the pots and the way to nurture them . " " Oh , that sounds great ; thank you ...
... Timpang come down and help out your people once in a while and assist to revive the plants ? He knows exactly the kind of plants to put and combine in the pots and the way to nurture them . " " Oh , that sounds great ; thank you ...
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Common terms and phrases
afternoon Alexandra barracks already arms asked bamboo bicycle Bidadari Cemetery boats British building Ceong Chinese Christmas close clothes coloured covered dinner dishes distance Dollah dressed drinks European eyes feeling felt Ford-T friends front garden Garrison German gharries girls glass Grandma grass Guy and Shan Guy sat Guy's hand head heard Hotel Indian Ipoh kampong kissed knew ladies Leong family light Linggi River maids Malay Mandy mind moved necklace night North Bridge Road officers Passir Panjang Road peranakan Pulau Brani Raffles Hotel Raggy rendang rickshaws roof Saturday seated seemed sepoys Shan and Guy Shan looked Shan's side Singapore Singapore Sling sitting slowly smiled soldiers soon sounds started stay stood Street Sungei Ujong talempong Tanglin Tanglin barracks tikars Timpang took tram trees trying turned verandah waiting walked wooden young