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Rojak Librarian

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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Koh Kang Swee (Bukit Brown)

October 27, 2026

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Gwee Kim Keng (Bukit Brown)

October 27, 2026

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Mrs. Kam Ah Chin nee Madam Lee Guat Neo (Bukit Brown)

October 25, 2026

Block 3 Div B decorative tiles

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Mrs. Lee Eng Chew nee Madam Tan Koon Neo (Bukit Brown)

October 25, 2026

Block 3 Div C floor tiles

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Tan Kim Neo (Bukit Brown)

October 25, 2026

AI Assisted Translation Block 3 Div B unique name

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Madam Tan Kow Neo (Bukit Brown)

October 25, 2026

AI Assisted Translation Block 3 Div B unique name Youtube Shorts

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Tan Soo Wha (Bukit Brown)

October 05, 2026

AI Assisted Translation Block 4 Div C Teochew Tomb

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許成溪 - Koh Cheng Khee (Lao Sua)

October 04, 2026

AI Assisted Translation Lao Sua tomb mason Youtube Shorts

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黃狗屎 (Lao Sua)

October 04, 2026

AI Assisted Translation Lao Sua unique name Youtube Shorts

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Madam Wee Tuah Nya (Bukit Brown)

October 03, 2026

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Peck Cheng Bong (Bukit Brown)

October 03, 2026

AI Assisted Translation block 2 Division H

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Mr. Red (紅) ? - Ang Peng Siong (Bukit Brown)

October 02, 2026

AI Assisted Translation block 2 Division H marble unique name

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Madam Neo Ging Neng (Bukit Brown)

October 02, 2026

block 2 Division H marble

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Lee Keng Chin (Bukit Brown)

September 29, 2026

AI Assisted Translation Pauper Section 4 Division 3

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Pauper 4 Section 3 - plot 592

September 27, 2026

AI Assisted Translation Mutual Help Associations Pauper Section 4 Division 3 Youtube Shorts

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Madam Tan Seok Neo (Bukit Brown)

September 27, 2026

Pauper Section 4 Division 2

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Children buried together in the Pauper Section 4 Division 3 (Bukit Brown)

September 26, 2026

Died Young Pauper Section 4 Division 3

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Chua Hood Kye (Bukit Brown)

September 26, 2026

Died Young marble Pauper Section 4 Division 1 Youtube Shorts

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Labels

Bukit Brown884
Hill 3327
Died Young201
Hill 1183
decorative tiles182
Block 3 Div D152
Hill 4151
Block 4 Div A142
Block 3 Div C132
Block 4 Div C108

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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

Madam Tan Kow Neo (Bukit Brown)

Madam Tan Kow Neo passed away on 13 July 1931. From the burial registrar, she was 58 years old when she passed away. Her name is very interesting and caught our eye as etched in chinese, her name literary translates to Dog Lady . Madam Tan Kow Neo Central Column: 箂門陳氏狗娘 Literal Translation: Lai Family, Madam Chen (Tan), Kow Neo Explanation: • 箂門 (Lai Family / Lái mén): This indicates her married family or ancestry line. • 陳氏 (Chen / Tan clan): Her biological surname is Chen (pronounced Tan in Hokkien/Teochew). • 狗娘 (Kow Neo): Her actual given name. Kow Neo (狗娘) literally translates to "Dog Girl/Lady." Possible explanation: In early Chinese communities, it was very common to give children humble, earthy, or self-deprecating childhood names to ward off bad luck or evil spirits. Right Column: 民國辛未年五月廿九 Literal Translation: Republic of China Year of Xinwei, 5th Lunar Month, 29th Day This corresponds directly to the Gregorian date July 13, 1931 carved at the top. The Xinwei...

Lao Khian Siew and family (Bukit Brown)

Lao Khian Siew worked for 38 years with the P. and T. Singapore and on 1 January 1929 was granted 3 months vacation leave before his retirement. He first saw service in the Secretariat before he was transferred on promotion to the Postal Service. The last substantive appointment he held was Assistant Superintendent, M.O.B and Savings Bank. In short, Lao Khian Siew worked for the General Post Office Singapore. Lao Khian Siew passed away at the age of 81 on 13th June 1955 at 343-1 Upper East Coast Road leaving behind; 3 sons: Low Yuen Lin, Low Kong Lin, Low Yong Lin, 2 daughters: Low Gek Neo, Low Kuan Neo 3 sons-in-law: Tan Kay Boo, Ko Eng Poh, several grandchildren and 1 grandson-in-law ( Johnny Tan Bee Chuan). The executor of his estate was Low Kong Lin of 34 Siglap Plain. It looks like his eldest son Dr. Low Piang Lin, predeceased his father. Mrs. Lao Khian Siew (Nyonya Tengah) passed away at the age of 61 at her residence,85 Clemenceau Avenue. She leaves ...

Ong Hood Guan (Bukit Brown)

It was a tomb covered with moss and vines. After clearing a bit of the marble shoulder, i could finally make out the words; Leaving behind his wife Madam Tan Kim Neo Son: Ong Teck Hock Daughter Helen Ong Daughter-in-law Chan Poh Leng Grandsons Soon Leong Soon Kee Leaving behind his wife - Madam Tan Kim Neo The person buried here is Ong Hood Guan who passed away at the age of 50 on 13 February 1933. Ong Hood Guan Insights from the Suit over an an alleged lunatic's shares (1935) Tan Kim Neo inherited a considerable amount of property in the Straits and French Indo-China (Vietnam) from the estate of her father (likely to be Tan Keng Ho who passed away on 17 June 1885 - said to be one of the richest Chinese in Saigon who had opium farming concessions ) and managed by the British Malaya Trustee and Executor Co. Ltd. Madam Tan Kim Neo was a patient in the mental hospital from from about 1912 until her death in 1939. In a court judgement dated 26 Febru...

Cheang Jim Hean (Bukit Brown)

Cheang Jim Hean (1873-1901) is the eldest son of Mr. Cheang Hong Lim and his residence was at No 99 River Valley Road also known as Annan Bank. He had owned numerous property and also rented out property and equipment such as a rice mill. Khoo Ek Neo and Cheang Jim Hean Khoo Ek Neo and Cheang Jim Hean 1886 advertisment Cheang Jim Hean Free School Cheang Jim Hean and his father, Cheang Hong Lim founded this bilingual school in the 1892 in Havelock Road. Cheang Jim Hean manage the school which he contributed $1200-2000 every year to its operation. On November 7, 1900 during an annual inspection, the inspectors concluded that after the school standards of teaching was good after examining performance of 97 boys. Unfortunately the school was closed suddenly after the death of Cheang Jim Hean in 1901 with at least 216 students affected. Ad for teacher Cheang Jim Hean Street There was a street named Cheang Jim Hean Street which was renamed to Calcutta ...

Tan Kim Neo (Bukit Brown)

Madam Tan Kim Neo was buried in Bukit Brown on 14 July 1931. She was 42 years old when she passed away. Etched on her tomb is her name - Goldfish . Top Inscription (Ancestral Hometown) 廈門 (Xià mén) / Amoy (Xiamen) It denotes the ancestral homeland or hometown in Fujian Province, China. Likely the Ancestral home of her husband. Central Main Column: 鄭門陳金魚娘墓 The Grave of Madam Chen Jin Yu of the Zheng Family • 鄭門 (Zheng family / Tēⁿ mén): Indicates she married into the Zheng (Teo/Tay/Tee) family. • 陳 (Chen / Tan clan): Her maiden surname is Chen (pronounced Tan in Hokkien). • 金魚娘 (Jin Yu Neo / Kim Gek Neo) Her given name; Jin Yu literally translates to "Goldfish," and Neo (娘) is a classic Peranakan/Hokkien honorific suffix for women. Humble childhood names like "Goldfish" were traditionally given to ward off bad luck or jealous spirits. Madam Tan Kim Neo / Tan Goldfish Location of tomb Block 3 Division B, plot 777 (just beside tomb of Madam Tan Kow Neo aka La...

Kamala Circus - The Great Indian Circus visits Singapore

I heard about the Tai Thean Kew circus from my involvement with Bukit Brown and during one my tours on the Queenstown Heritage Trail , i was told of another Indian circus troupe that existed in the late 1950's and 1960's. Recently, while curating ideas for a Bukit Brown tour on Pioneers of Early Entertainment, i came across a travelling circus troupe by the name of Kamala Circus. Kamala Circus (source: NewspaperSG) Kamala Circus was reputed to be the largest travelling show in the Far East. It boasted over 100 Indian artist and featured acts such as the flying trapeze act, the "Globe of Death" motor cycle act by two young girls, a 30 foot leap by a motorcyclist and the "cat" act. It claims over 300 tons of equipment and animals which include 16 horses, 8 Ceylon baby elephants, an African lion and 2 lionesses, 2 tiger cubs and 3 Indian mountain goats. It came to Singapore in 1947 from India via Ceylon and performed for a month before touring around th...

Lim Nee Soon and family (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Lim Nee Soon's wife (Wee Pek Hay) and two of his son's ( Lim Chong Kuo and Lim Chong Pang ) tomb can be found in Bukit Brown, Block 4 Division A. Mr. Lim Nee Soon is not buried there but in Nanking, China. It is however difficult to write a story about Lim Nee Soon family members tomb cluster in Bukit Brown, without first introducing Mr. Lim Nee Soon first. Pineapple King and Patriot Mr. Lim Nee Soon (1879-1936) is the son of Mr Lim Peng Guan and was born in Kampong Glam, Beach Road in 1879. His father died when Lim Nee Soon was only 8 years old and was left in the care of his maternal grandfather, Mr. Teo Lee (Mr Teo Eng Hock's father). Lim Nee Soon received his early education in both St. Joseph Institution and Anglo-Chinese School and therefore proficient in both English and Chinese languages. A Teochew, he started from scratch, working as a shopkeeper assistant at the age of 18 and from there he climbed the rungs by next working for timber merchant Tan Tye a...

Tan Swee Hoe and family (Batu Pahat)

Sometime back in August 2012, i wrote an article about Tan Swee Hoe who is buried in Bukit Brown . Tan Swee Hoe came to Singapore as a young boy and worked his way up, eventually becoming one of founders of Ho Hong Bank, and later a director of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) after it merged with it. He was also for two terms, the president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Batu Pahat, shareholder of Ho Aik Steamships. Tan Swee Hoe was a member of the Council of State, Johore and received a title S.M.J (Setia Mahkota Johore) from the government of Johore in 1929 for his contributions. He owned several property in Singapore and Batu Pahat. Tan Swee Hoe In January 2014, i was fortunate to make a trip with like minded friends to Batu Pahat to visit one of the properties he owned as well as a temple he contributed too and finally the grave of his son. Tan Swee Hoe's mansion First on my wishlist was Tan Swee Hoe's mansion on 160 Jalan Kluang, Batu Paha...

Neo Tiew alias Leong Hou Chou (Bukit Brown)

Nestled in a quiet section of Hill 2 Division B that is still undisturbed by the 8 lane highway is the dual tomb of Madam Lim Jiah (wife of Mr. Neo Tiew) and Madam Ong (his mother) from Lam Ann (南安). It was discovered by Raymond Goh and shared on the Bukit Brown facebook group after he cleaned up the tomb and identified them. Mrs Neo Tiew (believed to be the first wife) née Mdm Lim Jiah, passed away on 23 Mar 1927 at the age of 45. Her distraught husband Neo Tiew was said to have written the epitaph on the very same day of her passing. Neo Tiew's mother Mdm Ong date on the tomb was mentioned as March 29, 1944. Madam Lim Jiah (Mrs Neo Tiew) Epitaph at Madam Lim Jiah Madam Ong (Neo Tiew's mother) Dual tomb recently cleared Kingdom of Neo Tiew Neo Tiew (梁宙) alias Leong Hou Chou . O.B.E. , S.C.H was described as man with hand of iron that ruled over the village of no crime in the Kingdom of Neo Tiew. The 1953 article went on to...

Mrs. Kam Ah Chin nee Madam Lee Guat Neo (Bukit Brown)

Mrs. Kam Ah Chin nee Madam Lee Guat Neo passed away on 27 September 1931. The children listed are sons; Kam Cheng Swee, Kam Cheng Hai Mrs. Kam Ah Chin nee Madam Lee Guat Neo (photo taken in 2025) Mrs. Kam Ah Chin nee Madam Lee Guat Neo (photo taken in 25 October 2026) Location of tomb Block 3 Division B, plot 664. Tomb of Mrs. Kam Ah Chin nee Madam Lee Guat Neo (photo taken in January 2021)

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Rojak Librarian +

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
Bukit Brown Trails
Burial Registrar
Bukit Brown Documentation of Graves
Singapore Heritage Society
Bukit Brown Tomb
Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore
Our Bedok Kampong House
Good morning yesterday
Oceanskies
Remember Singapore
Yesterday.sg
Bits & Pieces
Overseas Chinese in the British Empire

Nature Groups in S'pore and M'sia

Bird Ecology Study Group(Singapore)
Nature Society Singapore
Malaysian Nature Society
Singapore Environment Council
S'pore Bird Group
S'pore Butterfly Interest Group
Wild Singapore
Raffles Museum of Bio-Diversity's Habitatnews-
Nature Photographic Society (Singapore)
Oriental Bird Club
Butterfly Circle Checklist

Nature in S'pore and M'sia

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

Daily Moon Phase

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