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. |
From inside the book
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Page 8
... felt better at ease and after a short time he let go of his last bit of control of his neck's muscles and rested the weight of his head on Guy's upper arm. Succumbing to the situation Shan noticed a certain scent, not unpleasant, that ...
... felt better at ease and after a short time he let go of his last bit of control of his neck's muscles and rested the weight of his head on Guy's upper arm. Succumbing to the situation Shan noticed a certain scent, not unpleasant, that ...
Page 10
... felt keen to find out. Upon seeing Shan in the gharry a Chinese man, either the gardener or houseboy who was busy in the garden, quickly ran up the verandah from where he excitedly yelled some commands to the people in the house. He ...
... felt keen to find out. Upon seeing Shan in the gharry a Chinese man, either the gardener or houseboy who was busy in the garden, quickly ran up the verandah from where he excitedly yelled some commands to the people in the house. He ...
Page 19
... felt a bit special. Guy stood up and offered Shan his hand and seeing him there, smiling, he now remembered what Shan looked like. or the past days he tried a couple of times to recall and picture Shan's face and now he knew why he ...
... felt a bit special. Guy stood up and offered Shan his hand and seeing him there, smiling, he now remembered what Shan looked like. or the past days he tried a couple of times to recall and picture Shan's face and now he knew why he ...
Page 21
... a last sip of his drink and went down the steps towards his Raleigh . Shan took his Singer over from the gardener and told him they were heading to the river . Shan felt honoured that this Englishman undertook to spend his 21.
... a last sip of his drink and went down the steps towards his Raleigh . Shan took his Singer over from the gardener and told him they were heading to the river . Shan felt honoured that this Englishman undertook to spend his 21.
Page 22
A Secret Love Across Two Cultures Jaim Kaan. Shan felt honoured that this nglishman undertook to spend his free time to see him and now to ride his bicycle alongside side him, it shows that he wanted to get to know him better and he felt ...
A Secret Love Across Two Cultures Jaim Kaan. Shan felt honoured that this nglishman undertook to spend his free time to see him and now to ride his bicycle alongside side him, it shows that he wanted to get to know him better and he felt ...
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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