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 8
... mind . He sensed however that the British officer was truly genuine in his extending of help , he 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 ...
... mind . He sensed however that the British officer was truly genuine in his extending of help , he 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 ...
Page 9
... mind analyzing that in the two years that he was stationed and living in the East it was the first time he came to help an Oriental and at that even at this close and a tad personal . It occurred to him that this young man he was ...
... mind analyzing that in the two years that he was stationed and living in the East it was the first time he came to help an Oriental and at that even at this close and a tad personal . It occurred to him that this young man he was ...
Page 15
... mind , the agony at the waiting room , the concerned and likeable gentleman , his agreeable attitude towards his mother , his pleasant remarks about liking the house . He dozed off only to be woken up around six o'clock by the soft ...
... mind , the agony at the waiting room , the concerned and likeable gentleman , his agreeable attitude towards his mother , his pleasant remarks about liking the house . He dozed off only to be woken up around six o'clock by the soft ...
Page 16
... mind . It occurred to him that the family happened to be just as cultivated as the Europeans , was it possible that their wealth could have influenced their lifestyle and elevated them culturally ? This family has adopted European ways ...
... mind . It occurred to him that the family happened to be just as cultivated as the Europeans , was it possible that their wealth could have influenced their lifestyle and elevated them culturally ? This family has adopted European ways ...
Page 21
... mind doing some walking now , together ... do you ? " Guy said astonished at his own brashness in taking the lead . Shan was taken by surprise but pleasantly , he was quiet for a few seconds pondering on this development going step ...
... mind doing some walking now , together ... do you ? " Guy said astonished at his own brashness in taking the lead . Shan was taken by surprise but pleasantly , he was quiet for a few seconds pondering on this development going step ...
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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