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 39
... soldiers have since tried to maintain the plants but now it is more like attempting to keep the plants alive , so it seems the gardeners are failing . " After some thinking Mrs. Leong said " Can I suggest to let Timpang come down and ...
... soldiers have since tried to maintain the plants but now it is more like attempting to keep the plants alive , so it seems the gardeners are failing . " After some thinking Mrs. Leong said " Can I suggest to let Timpang come down and ...
Page 47
... soldiers to assist the regular Malay gardeners but it didn't bring about much change so far . The idea was that the experienced gardener would guide the barrack's own gardeners and impart his knowledge on them . He told Guy that he ...
... soldiers to assist the regular Malay gardeners but it didn't bring about much change so far . The idea was that the experienced gardener would guide the barrack's own gardeners and impart his knowledge on them . He told Guy that he ...
Page 55
... soldiers , the game was to be timed from 3.30 pm until 5.30 pm instead of counting the maximum of total of runs . The umpires were men chosen from the British residents and the soldiers ' team was , after tossing the coin , to bat first ...
... soldiers , the game was to be timed from 3.30 pm until 5.30 pm instead of counting the maximum of total of runs . The umpires were men chosen from the British residents and the soldiers ' team was , after tossing the coin , to bat first ...
Page 56
... soldiers and staff . At exactly 5.30 the final whistle was heard and the crowd jumped up , clapped jubilantly for the winning team . Shan stood up and slowly walked in the direction of the benches of the cricket teams , he met Guy ...
... soldiers and staff . At exactly 5.30 the final whistle was heard and the crowd jumped up , clapped jubilantly for the winning team . Shan stood up and slowly walked in the direction of the benches of the cricket teams , he met Guy ...
Page 72
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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