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
Page 8
... from the British officer . Guy who noticed the change of weight on his arm said : " I'm sorry , my name is Guy Lawson and I'm an officer at the Infantry Battalion at the Tanglin Garrison " " I'm Shan ... Leong Shan .... Leong is the 8.
... from the British officer . Guy who noticed the change of weight on his arm said : " I'm sorry , my name is Guy Lawson and I'm an officer at the Infantry Battalion at the Tanglin Garrison " " I'm Shan ... Leong Shan .... Leong is the 8.
Page 9
... Shan .... Leong is the surname , please call me Shan " " Nice to meet you Shawn , you'll be absolutely fine in a jiffy , the dentist gave you a bit too much of that Novocain , probably " Shan smiled and nodded gently in agreement to Guy's ...
... Shan .... Leong is the surname , please call me Shan " " Nice to meet you Shawn , you'll be absolutely fine in a jiffy , the dentist gave you a bit too much of that Novocain , probably " Shan smiled and nodded gently in agreement to Guy's ...
Page 10
... Guy had seen these large bungalows from a distance but never came this close to one, inside he felt keen to find out. Upon seeing Shan in the gharry a Chinese man, either the gardener or houseboy who was busy in the garden, quickly ran ...
... Guy had seen these large bungalows from a distance but never came this close to one, inside he felt keen to find out. Upon seeing Shan in the gharry a Chinese man, either the gardener or houseboy who was busy in the garden, quickly ran ...
Page 11
... man and the maids looked up in unison with eyes wide open staring in disbelief at Guy . A petite and elegant Chinese lady , presumably Shan's mother , dressed in a light blue hued and long silk Cheong - Sam , well coiffed hair and pearl ...
... man and the maids looked up in unison with eyes wide open staring in disbelief at Guy . A petite and elegant Chinese lady , presumably Shan's mother , dressed in a light blue hued and long silk Cheong - Sam , well coiffed hair and pearl ...
Page 13
... Shan should apply it and demonstrated to him how to hold the cloth to his jaw . She probably was not aware that the problem with Shan was the Novocain inside his system . Shan reluctantly obliged and slightly embarrassed in front of Guy ...
... Shan should apply it and demonstrated to him how to hold the cloth to his jaw . She probably was not aware that the problem with Shan was the Novocain inside his system . Shan reluctantly obliged and slightly embarrassed in front of Guy ...
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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