It is 1819 and the seaport of Singapore has developed a magnetic appeal. As merchants, traders, and migrant workers emigrate to seek their fortunes, the untouched land develops into an elegant town managed by British East India Company. Included in those who flock to Singapore are three men who have no idea that their destinies are about to bring them together in a rudimentary Chinese community where secret societies hold the power. Yong Huat is a Hokkien from Malacca determined to become a rich merchant. Mong Seng is a Teochew from South China who is a loyal friend and hard worker. Kum Tat is a Cantonese who works for a trading company. As the three men begin to acquire wealth, their paths intertwine as momentous events rock the land of fortune. Fearless secret societies, clan fights, vicious tigers, the evils of opium and gambling, and a cultural divide soon transform their friendship into a sworn brotherhood. But as a hostile confrontation brews between the Teochews and Hokkiens, now only time will tell if the friendship will survive. In this historical tale of early Singapore, three friends unite with the hope that their sworn brotherhood will help them not only endure the challenges, but also achieve their dreams.

The political, economic and social changes that have occurred over the past 60 years have shaped and transformed the childhood of children in Singapore. This book explores this transformation through anecdotes and memories through interviews with individuals hailing from different races and age groups, together with related archived materials from different sources. The components of childhood -- birth, home, play, school, health and welfare -- are revisited so as to provide useful insights about the past to young readers and at the same time serve as a nostalgic read for older readers.Written in a simple and accessible manner and filled with numerous photographs and specially commissioned cartoons, this book will be of interest to anyone who is interested in knowing about childhood as it was and is being experienced in Singapore.This book is also available in Chinese.

For most of its modern history, to speak of Singapore was to speak of the Singapore River, physical centre of the city and site of the greater part of the colony's entrepot trade. The river has been transformed over the last 25 years from a polluted industrial sewer choked with traffic to a clean, placid waterway that forms the centrepiece of Singapore's financial, civic and entertainment districts. This transformation symbolizes the city-state's efforts to remake itself for the 21st century.Stephen Dobbs sets out the history of this waterway, and of the people who made it their home and workplace. He describes the tidal swamp in the early days of the British settlement, where merchants ignored Raffles much-vaunted city plan and built their businesses on the limited high ground along the marshy riverbanks.Later, even as the long distance shipping moved to new port facilities elsewhere on the island, the river remained the base for a large regional trade, and boatmen and businessmen struggled to cope with silting, over-crowding, and bridges that were too low to be passed at high tide.Looking at the post-war years, Dobbs zeros in on the boatmen who carried goods between the "e;godowns"e; or warehouses along the river and the freighters lying at anchor in the roads. Despite its pollution, the river remained home to a vital community of coolies and tally clerks, and the tumultuous urban life that swirled around them.Today the waterfront community has been relocated. The shophouses and warehouses along the river are now chic cafes and upmarket restaurants, fish have returned to the Singapore River, and urban dwellers stroll on walks along the river's edge.Blending social history, geography, economic history and urban studies, this book will be of interest to anyone wishing to understand Singapore's many transformations during the past two centuries.

Dusk is that brief period of the day before nightfall. But when a rainbow appears after dusk, it is special, almost a divine apparition. The phenomenon, though rare, is not science fiction. Rainbows do appear after dusk. This unusual story is a celebration of mind over matter, life over death, and love over fear. Rainbow after Dusk builds on Soul of Ink to continue telling the Lim Tze Peng story, shifting the focus to the artist's most important works, starting with his Kampong series, to Chinatown, and then his all-important Singapore River works. Told with brushes and paints, the colours used in the narrative give his story a unique visual power. In many ways, his works act as a record of the life and time of a Singapore that no longer exists. Through honest and sometimes heart-wrenching interviews, the artist tells his own life story through his artwork.But the centenarian is not one to just reminisce. This book also looks at how this artist forces himself into the present and now. When his mobility is compromised, when he can no longer paint on location, his active and creative mind takes over. The subjects stay the same, but the approach to these subjects is entirely conceptual and imaginary. No longer a prisoner to what lies before him, he allows his mind to remember and see in vivid colours. More important, he releases the mind to his heart. He wants his audience to feel what he paints, not just see what is before them.

No Marketing Blurb

CultureShock! Singapore is essential reading for any foreigner who is going to live and work in the city. It is packed full of practical information as well as interesting trivia on the colourful customs and culture of the people. Learn how to get around the city effectively by public transport like the locals and how to assimilate quickly and shop for groceries. Join in the local celebrations such as Chinese New Year and Deepavali, and find out the best places to enjoy Singapore food such as laksa and nasi briyani. Packed with a resource guide, glossary, contact numbers, website addresses and useful advice, CultureShock! Singapore has the answers for anyone wanting to fit in and enjoy life in the Little Red Dot. About the Series CultureShock! is a dynamic, indispensable series of guides for travellers looking to truly understand the countries they are visiting, working in or moving to. Each title explains the country’s customs, traditions and social and business etiquette in a lively, informative style. CultureShock! authors, all of whom have experienced the joys and pitfalls of cultural adaptation, are ideally placed to provide warm and helpful advice to those who seek to integrate seamlessly into diverse cultures.