Tanjong Rhu by Minfong HoSynopsisMr T. W. Li, a successful businessman, has just lost his mother. As he mourns herdeath, he recalls some important events before her demise, most significantly revolving arounda pair of binoculars. He had bought his mother a pair of binoculars so that she could see fartheras she had cataracts. However, his mother’s only concern was to see Tanjong Rhu, a placewhere they used to live while he was growing up. His father owned a small shipyard therebefore it was torn down about thirty years ago.When Mr Li finally convinced his mother to use the binoculars, he was upset that she stillcould not see the ships at the harbor, in front of his office. Instead, in her mind’s eye, she sawTanjong Rhu in the past, back when Mr Li was still a young boy accompanying his motherdigging for crabs along the beach. He became impatient with his mother who seemed adamantto hold on to the past and had no interest in the present. He refused to listen to her stories.Back in the present, Mr Li regrets his actions as now he too long to go back to hischildhood in Tanjong Rhu. He finds that his memories are vague and there are many things thathe does not remember clearly. Unfortunately, there is no one to answer his questions as theperson who shares the memories with him, his moth