by Yannis Valavanis

I don’t know how to put it, maybe as a confluence of situations or a coincidence or even as a “small world” typw of situation. In any case, I will tell you my story and you can reach to your own conclusions.

On a recent trip to Singapore upon landing I heard the arrival announcement and my ear caught one phrase, “Changi Airport”. It reminded me of something, but, within the panic of disembarking and luggage retrieval, I buried it in the back of my mind without paying much attention. I was in a huge, fantastic and contemporary airport but it reminded me of something that was not related to the general picture. The whole area is in the East of Singapore and takes on about forty square kilometers from what I read.

Arriving at the hotel and relaxing with a cigar and matching rum I remembered hearing the aforementioned phrase in a 1965 movie called “King Rat”. I had also read it in the book that the movie was based on called The Rat King by James Clavell. The moment was magical in my mind when I was able to put all these events together and I felt a great sense of satisfaction. Changi Prison after the fall of the British was turned into a prisoners of war camp by the Japanese and the author lived about three years as a prisoner of war. In his novel he recounts how he survived one of the harshest concentration camps of the Second World War.

The circumstances of course continue up to this moment that I am writing this piece, since I am about to watch one of the episodes of the series ”Shogun” which I had watched again forty years ago in its first telecast in 1980 and it is an adaptation of a novel by thw same author. James Clavell is considered one of the greatest British writers and screenwriters and is known for his many books known as “The Asian Saga”.

Many of them have become series and movies that you have surely watched, “Shogun”, “Tai-Pan”, “Noble House”, “King Rat”, “The Great Escape”, “The Fly” and several more. His most famous books, besides the ones adpated into movies, “Gai-Jin”, “Whirlwind” and “Escape” are also very interesting and exciting although huge in size, you have to make a decision and have enough time on your hands.

The magnitude and work of the author is huge and I finally realized that circumstances have unwittingly led me to share his images and work over the years without knowing it but simply because they came my way. I would strongly suggest you read it because I’m sure you’ve stumbled upon his work without realising it, just like me.