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 5
... smile . Guy sat down in the next chair separated by a small table , on which was a little bundle of butter paper wrapping . He put nonchalantly his little bundle of butter paper wrapping containing his extracted tooth next to the one on ...
... smile . Guy sat down in the next chair separated by a small table , on which was a little bundle of butter paper wrapping . He put nonchalantly his little bundle of butter paper wrapping containing his extracted tooth next to the one on ...
Page 9
... smiled and nodded gently in agreement to Guy's assumption . He was amazed at the real concern of the British officer and his sincere will to help bring him all the way home . It was somewhat contrary to the general perception of the ...
... smiled and nodded gently in agreement to Guy's assumption . He was amazed at the real concern of the British officer and his sincere will to help bring him all the way home . It was somewhat contrary to the general perception of the ...
Page 11
... smiled and walked towards Guy and offered her hand . With a remote tinge of local sound in her voice she spoke perfect English . " Thank you so much for your help , sir . I'm Shan's mother . I hope it wasn't too much trouble and taking ...
... smiled and walked towards Guy and offered her hand . With a remote tinge of local sound in her voice she spoke perfect English . " Thank you so much for your help , sir . I'm Shan's mother . I hope it wasn't too much trouble and taking ...
Page 13
... barracks at Tanglin . " Guy laughed and made Shan smile . " You must miss your family in England , Guy ... how long are you already here in Singapore ? " Mrs. Leong asked . " I'm almost two years in Singapore now and I 13.
... barracks at Tanglin . " Guy laughed and made Shan smile . " You must miss your family in England , Guy ... how long are you already here in Singapore ? " Mrs. Leong asked . " I'm almost two years in Singapore now and I 13.
Page 14
... smiled at Guy , faintly nodding . - Being used a few earlier similar expressions like his she figured it would be too much to explain that they themselves make a distinction between Chinese and “ peranakan " Chinese it might be too ...
... smiled at Guy , faintly nodding . - Being used a few earlier similar expressions like his she figured it would be too much to explain that they themselves make a distinction between Chinese and “ peranakan " Chinese it might be too ...
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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