The House of Wives

Travel Guide

Calcutta, India

This story was inspired by Choa-Johnston’s great grandfather. The Jewish community in Calcutta is rich and evocatively drawn. The streets, the chaotic alleyways, the noise of the rickshaws along the streets, the cries of the hawkers plying their trade. A rich tapestry of a city bustling and growing with a rich opium trade at its core. Barges and ships go up and down the Hoogly river of the old, historical Calcutta

Hong Kong

Hong Kong in comparison is the rich, royal city at the other end of the Opium spectrum, another end of the Opium route. This is a royal city where palaces grace the avenues, and where Emmanuel goes to earn his fortune

The author says that his great grandfather was actually planning to return home once he’s made his money selling the opium he had on board and he had to go via Macao since the ports of entry along the china coast were so busy. He became the foremost opium trader in Hong Kong

After her husband’s death, Semah moved to King Edward Hotel on Ice House Street in Hong Kong and is now buried at the Jewish Cemetery in Happy Valley

In the Hong Kong Museum of history there is a photo of a white mansion called Kingsclere – the house which was once beside the harbour

The school on Hollywood Road where the Belilios family donated money too during the years is now on Tin Hau Temple Road.