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The Rojak Librarian is a blog that covers a range of topics related to Singapore's history, culture, and heritage. I wrote many articles on Bukit Brown, exploring the cemetery's past and present, the lives of the early pioneers buried there and the social and cultural significance of the site. I also cover about nature and birdwatching.

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Mrs. Lim Tay Hin nee Madam Tan Seok Imm Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division A

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Seow Soon Teck and Koh Leong Hin Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division G will

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Tan Kiok Seng (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division G exhumed

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Chua Hoo Long (Bukit Brown)

block 2 Division H decorative tiles marble Youtube Shorts

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Mr. and Mrs. Chua Ah Siah (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division G Block 3 Div A decorative tiles Teochew Tomb

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Winnie Ho Theam Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division G Died Young

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Madam Tijah - Beloved Nursing Mother (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division G marble Youtube Shorts

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Miss Joanna Tan and Dominic Tan Guan Chin (St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching Catholic Cemetery)

Catholic Died Young Kuching

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Baby Theresa Chan (St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching Catholic Cemetery)

Catholic Died Young Kuching

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Tan Kay Miang (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division C Died Young marble

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Chua Boon Chuah and Lim Bee Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division A

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Tan Hong Tek and Quah Cheng Lian (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division A

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Lee Geok Hoe (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division A

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Junior Too : A name restored (Bukit Brown)

Died Young Pauper Section 4 Division 3

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Tan Mary (Bukit Brown)

Pauper Section 4 Division 2

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Labels

Bukit Brown896
Hill 3330
Died Young191
Hill 1185
decorative tiles172
Hill 4152
Block 3 Div D151
Block 4 Div A142
Block 3 Div C109
Block 4 Div C107

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Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak): Advocate for Conservation of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Heritage and Nature Enthusiast.

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The Stories Behind: Birdwatcher turned grave hunter reunites families with forgotten tombs of their ancestors(2022)

Newspaper mentions(2025)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Tuesday Report (2018) 星期二特写 | 行脚。发现第4集：武吉布朗之旅

Newspaper mentions (2017)

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

Rojak Librarian+ (other Rojak matters)

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Popular Post

The story behind the iconic fig tree in Bukit Brown- Teo Chye Neo found

Madam Teo Chye Neo who lived in 40-A Onan Road was stab in the face and neck after a quarrel with a 16 year old Hylam Boy by the name of Yeo Tin Keng alias Ah Neok (Little Boy) who was employed as a cook in the deceased 's house at 10am in the morning of 23 June 1933. She died as result of extensive hemorrhage. It was also understood that Teo Chye Neo (who was married to Tan Siang Hee) had been pregnant for 7 months. Teo Chye Neo passed away at the age of 27 and was buried in Bukit Brown on 25 June 1933. Her burial entry is at Block 3 Section D, plot 373. Today we tried to find Teo Chye Neo and her unborn child. We found that a huge fig tree, a landmark in Bukit Brown hill 3 as taken over. Tombkeeper Queenie confirmed that there used to be a tomb there when she was young but even back as young lady, the fig tree with it aerial roots hanging down its branches has slowly enveloped the headstone. The fig tree that has engulfed the tomb of Madam Teo Chye Neo The fig tree w...

Madam Sim Ah Tah (Kopi Sua)

Madam Sim Ah Tah passed away at the age of 70 on 9:30 am, 7 July 1949 at No. 761, North Bridge Road leaving behind 3 sons, Messrs. Chua Ah Kim (proprietor of Chua Kim Hee, Electric Co.), Chua Kim Seng, Chua Kim Suan, 3 daughters-in-law and several grandchildren. From Madam Sim Ah Tah tomb, Sons: Chua Kim Hee, Chua Kim Seng, Chua Kim Suan Grandsons: Chua Hai Chwee, Chua Hai Hee, Chua Hai Bin, Chua Hai Hoe, Chua Hai Kow Son: Chua Kim Hee / Chua Ah Kim Chua Kim Hee's company - Chua Kim Hee Electric Co., was the company that provided the Electric, Gas & Sanitation for the The New 7-Storey Hotel & Restaurant at Rochore Road which had its grand opening on 26 April 1953. (That building no longer exist). Chua Kim Hee Electric Co., was located at 761 North Bridge Road and was said to have more than 20 years of experience in this field. The company encounter financial issues and on 28 July 1960 there was an article of Chua Ah Kim trading as Chua Kim Hee Elec...

Unique tomb with Immortals (Bukit Brown)

I have walked and combed Hill 2 in the vicinity of See Tiong Wah's tomb many times. In this particular trip, i explored the tombs downhill towards the direction of the stream. A tomb which was exhumed sometime ago caught my eye. The guardian statues that flank it looked very different from the rest of ones i seen in Bukit Brown before. Taking a closer look, true enough -it was statutes of 2 men ! With the help of Bukit Brown community, i found out that they represented two of the Eight Immortals (八仙). The statute on the far left is Iron-Crutch Li ( Li Tieguai) 鐵拐李 while on the right is Han Zhongli (Zhongli Quan) 钟离权 Iron-Crutch Li (Tieguai Li)鐵拐李 Han Zhongli (Zhongli Quan) 钟离权 I am not familiar nor i am expert with the stories and legends about the Eight Immortals, so what i will do is highlight some of the resources online that i found useful. The tomb occupant: Poh Soon Cheow Poh Soon Cheow was born on September 24, 1874 and died on July 13, 1928....

Seow Eng Tin (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Seow Eng Tin was a Manager and was a Director of the Chinese Commercial Bank, Limited and owned land in Johore. Mr. Seow Eng Tin passed away at the age of 55 on 17 October 1929. His address was stated as 75 Neil Road. He leaves behind a widow, two sons, Messrs. Seow Tiong Teck and Seow Tiong Soo, one daughter, Mrs. Koh Kong Guan, one grandson and 2 granddaughters. When Mr. Seow Eng Tin passed away the left a large amounting to $190,000 in Singapore and $152,000 in Johore. Seow Eng Tin Mrs. Seow Eng Tin, nee Madame Tan Keng Neo, died at her residence. No. 75, Neil Road, Singapore at the age of 56 on 11 September 1935. Madam Tan Keng Neo leaves behind two sons, Messrs. Seow Tiong Teck and Seow Tiong Soo (both of the Universal Motor Accessory Co.) and one daughter, Mrs. Koh Kong Guan, 1 son-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law and 4 grandchildren. Madam Tan Keng Neo Bold Impersonation A chinese hokkien man sporting a mackintosh and fashionable f...

Madam Tijah - Beloved Nursing Mother (Bukit Brown)

After up righting the fallen marble headstone, i was truly stunned. It was something i never encountered before after more than a decade exploring Bukit Brown and reaffirms that fact there is still new discoveries to be uncovered. The headstone with lead etching reads; No. 93 G, In Loving Memory of Madam Tijah Beloved Nursing Mother of Madam Peck Swee Eng Swee Kim & Swee Geok Died 24th August 1928 Chinese 10th Day of 7th Moon Madam Tijah - beloved nursing mother This is an amazing discovery from so many angles ! From the burial registrar, Madam Tijah was 56 years old when she passed away. So many questions went through my mind Was Madam Tijah a malay woman buried in Bukit Brown or Tijah was just a nickname ? Was this tomb erected by Madam Peck Swee Eng, Peck Swee Kim and Peck Swee Geok to honor Tijah as their nursing mother or was Madam Tijah the nursing mother of this women's children? It is my first time seeing the words - NURSING MOTHER etched on th...

Mrs. Choa Kim Keat nee Tan Hoon Neo (Bukit Brown)

Madam Tan Hoon Neo is the wife of Mr Choa Kim Keat. She passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on 1 February 1935 in 149 Neil Road. She is survived by 1 son, Choa Joon Hean , 2 daughters, 1 adopted daughter and 25 grandchildren. On her tomb, her date of birth is listed as 11 Day of 2nd Chinese Moon. The names of her children and grandchildren listed on the tomb are as follows; Son: Choa Joon Hean Daughters: Choa Yong Neo, Choa Poh Neo, Choa Hah Neo Grandchildren: Choa Watt Chiang Eric, Choa Watt Seng Walter, Choa Kwee Neo Jean, Choa Kim Neo, Nancy Tan Hoon Neo is the daughter of Mr. Tan Kim Ching, grand daughter of Mr. Tan Tock Seng. Mrs. Choa Kim Keat nee Madam Tan Hoo Neo Husband: Choa Kim Keat Choa Kim Keat was the only son of Choa Kai Hoon who came down from Malacca to Singapore and joined Choa Boon Buan & Co. (chop Khye Guan Tong), a Commission Agent in Boat Quay. Choa Kai Hoon eventually succeeded his brother Choa Chuan Ghio as the Manager ( bran...

Paya Lebar Airport and Airport Road (Images from the Past)

From this 1958 aerial photograph from the Royal Airforce, i suspect that this was the photo of the new Singapore International Airport ( Paya Lebar Airport) that was built to replace Kallang Airport. You can see the newly constructed dual carriage road that also leads to the airport. This road is likely Airport Road today. What is fascinating is you can see how Singapore look like in the past with its Kampong's and agricultural farm lands on what is now likely Tai Seng and Ubi Industrial estate area. Paya Lebar Airport / Singapore International Airport (1958) - source: NAS Paya Lebar Airport officially opened on 20 August 1955, replacing Kallang Airport as Singapore’s main international gateway. At its launch, it was hailed as one of Asia’s finest airports, equipped with modern runway lighting, radio navigation aids, and radar. By 1960, the airport was already handling more than 300,000 passengers annually, with 11 airlines operating 125 weekly flights. Throughout the...

Lee Kim Soo (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Lee Kim Soo (8 May 1888-13 December 1933) was an industrialist and proprietor of Elkayes. The company name was derived from the first initials of his name, L.K.S. The company has factories in Singapore, Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Port Swettenham. He had his early education in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. He worked for the Singapore Association of Engineers before finally striking out on his own in 1910 as a merchant providing estate supplies. Mr. Lee Kim Soo's company, Elkayes Work started producing latex cups and pottery products on large scale in line with the rubber plantation boom in Singapore and Malaya, and in no time became the largest. He became a packing manufacturer, producing the wooden cases in which rubber was stored. An industrialist and a man full of ideas, he expanded and pioneered the match manufacturing industry in Singapore. The Elkayes Match factory is modern in design, using modern equipment and operated by a European manager with over 400 Chinese employees. L...

Colugo spotted in Singapore

Finally i got to see a Colugo in broad daylight ! I been to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Sime Forest, Tree-Top walk, etc etc and never got to see this shy mammal who don't make noise and often stationary. I thought i was just plain unlucky. On hindsight, I think i was just trying to hard...haha. I manage to see the Colugo in Mandai, specifically the Singapore Zoo ! Ok, you might be thinking that will be a natural place to see "captive" animals. The Colugo i saw wasn't a captive nor does it seem to have a tag on its body. It's all natural. Reading up on Colugo, it was also called a Flying lemur. However experts out there have disputed this naming convention for the fact that it actually doesn't fly (it glides) and it is not part of the lemur family which are found in Madagascar. The species that is found in Singapore are called the Sunda Colugo. In a 2010 study of its population in Singapore by Norman Lim and Peter Ng reported in the Raffles Bulletin of Z...

Miss Seow Seng Neo (Bukit Brown)

The heart shaped marble tomb belong to Miss Seow Seng Neo who passed away at the age of 13 on 23 December 1936. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Seow Chin Teck. Although the lead etching have mostly dropped off, one can still read the inscription written all in English on the simple tomb after clearing the soil and dried leaves that has accumulated over the years. The tomb reads ; In Loving Memory Of Miss Seow Seng Neo Age 13 - Died 23-12-1936 Beloved Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Seow Chin Teck. R.I.P. 777 Miss Seow Seng Neo is the grand daughter of Madam Lee Siok Loon / Lee Seok Loon . Location of tomb Block 4 , Division A, plot 777 . The tomb of Miss Seow Seng Neo is in front of the tomb of Miss Oh Twa Koh and Madam Wee Cheng Neo .

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Heritage in S'pore and M'sia

All things Bukit Brown
Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录
Bukit Brown Cemetery
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Burial Registrar
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Nature in S'pore and M'sia

Focus Ubin
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Mangrove Flora and fauna of Sg Buloh
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve-Wildlife Singapore
Online guide to Chek Jawa, Ubin

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