Around the World in 80 Dresses

Singaporeans will tell you we are a fusion of different nations. Hearty doses of Malayans and Indians add to a big chunk of ethnic Chinese. Some days I feel like adopting that style of col our ful fus ion . I throw a brightly green Chinese vest over a black dress, add some dark green African bead work and walk high on colourful plateau sandals handmade in the Caribbean. In Singapore’s East Point Mall I pulled the vest out of a bundle of freshly imported jackets in every imaginable colour of the rainbow. The green beads from Spier Wine Estate and market place in Stellenbosch had been resting in my drawer quite some time until I found out how nicely they fit with some bright green, toned down by black.   On a home exchange to Guadeloupe I was looking for souvenirs and found a shop full of handmade leatherware in African colours and patterns. On the street in front of the shop people were singing and dancing. The descendants of African slaves imported by the French ...

While Christopher Columbus failed to discover India and landed instead in the Caribbean I managed to find a trace of India on the island Marie-Galante, which Columbus had named after his caravelle Santa Maria la Galante. The idyllic spot in the blue, blue sea belongs to Guadeloupe and is still a part of France. Amazingly enough the French cling to this tiny archipelago as one of their overseas provinces. French is spoken, baguette is sold and one enjoys a delicious mixture of spiced seafood and French cuisine. I was there on a home exchange trip and had the most splendid view to the Laguna on the main island from my host's terrace. Fashion on the island is all about pareos for the beach and brightly coloured kaftans. On the main road of Marie-Galante I discovered a lovely boutique cum seafood restaurant owned by two elegantly French looking sisters specializing in ware from India. The charming sisters did their best to convince me that I could not do wi...