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 5
... lady assistant in white uniform to slide down in the first chair next to the door. He apparently needed some more time to recover from the effects of the sedation. Guy's wisdom tooth had to be extracted which he expected as predicted by ...
... lady assistant in white uniform to slide down in the first chair next to the door. He apparently needed some more time to recover from the effects of the sedation. Guy's wisdom tooth had to be extracted which he expected as predicted by ...
Page 11
... lady, presumably Shan's mother, dressed in a light blue hued and long silk Cheong-Sam, well coiffed hair and pearl clasp earrings walking in embroidered slippers, came in and immediately attended to her son with great concern. But soon ...
... lady, presumably Shan's mother, dressed in a light blue hued and long silk Cheong-Sam, well coiffed hair and pearl clasp earrings walking in embroidered slippers, came in and immediately attended to her son with great concern. But soon ...
Page 43
... ladies still using their forks, with their left hand while tasting local food .how little would reach their mouth with each effort. Well, it's a way to stay thin I suppose." Mrs. ong said laughing softly. In the quiet that ensued Mrs ...
... ladies still using their forks, with their left hand while tasting local food .how little would reach their mouth with each effort. Well, it's a way to stay thin I suppose." Mrs. ong said laughing softly. In the quiet that ensued Mrs ...
Page 53
... ladies from the British community. Other stalls offered fun games such as tin can ball throwing and bottles-and-rings. The proceeds from the sales would be donated to the Tan Tok Seng Hospital for the oor that recently moved to Moulmein ...
... ladies from the British community. Other stalls offered fun games such as tin can ball throwing and bottles-and-rings. The proceeds from the sales would be donated to the Tan Tok Seng Hospital for the oor that recently moved to Moulmein ...
Page 59
... ladies were dressed in fine long cheong sams, panese women wore kimonos. Buginese men wore wide sarongs of woven fabric wrapped around and from their waists down while wearing turban like wrappings on their heads, Malay men wore the ...
... ladies were dressed in fine long cheong sams, panese women wore kimonos. Buginese men wore wide sarongs of woven fabric wrapped around and from their waists down while wearing turban like wrappings on their heads, Malay men wore the ...
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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