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 1
... turned to the side. The drizzle's drops fell continuously on the pale back of the body, and the water was still washing off the last traces of blood from the open wound on the head and hair. Around the neck of the young man was a ...
... turned to the side. The drizzle's drops fell continuously on the pale back of the body, and the water was still washing off the last traces of blood from the open wound on the head and hair. Around the neck of the young man was a ...
Page 14
... turned his sight to his mother who 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 ...
... turned his sight to his mother who 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 ...
Page 24
... turned gently to the right onto the next straight stretch leading more inland, a wide swampy area spread out with dense dark green mangrove trees and there in the distance at the edge at the sea, stood a fishermen's kampong built ...
... turned gently to the right onto the next straight stretch leading more inland, a wide swampy area spread out with dense dark green mangrove trees and there in the distance at the edge at the sea, stood a fishermen's kampong built ...
Page 38
... turned to one of quizzical. They both laughed, rather politely, yet not being sure of what just took place. Children from the kampong on the other bank were seen swimming and cavorting while some boys were jumping in the water from the ...
... turned to one of quizzical. They both laughed, rather politely, yet not being sure of what just took place. Children from the kampong on the other bank were seen swimming and cavorting while some boys were jumping in the water from the ...
Page 41
... turned on the crystal ceiling chandelier in the lounge. The light from the lamps highlighted the intricate and colourful flower patterns of the floor tiles. A gecko sounded its short knocking nasal-sounding call. There was some talking ...
... turned on the crystal ceiling chandelier in the lounge. The light from the lamps highlighted the intricate and colourful flower patterns of the floor tiles. A gecko sounded its short knocking nasal-sounding call. There was some talking ...
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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