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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. There are many articles on Bukit Brown, exploring the cemetery's past and present, the lives of the people buried there and the social and cultural significance of the site. I also cover about nature and Birdwatching in some of my articles.

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Showing posts from August, 2021

Posts

Lim Siew Jian (Bukit Brown)

August 30, 2021

Block 1 Division D Bukit Brown Hill 1

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Ong Kim Chye (Bukit Brown)

August 30, 2021

Block 1 Division D Bukit Brown Died Young Hill 1

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Chua Toh Leong (Bukit Brown)

August 30, 2021

Block 1 Division D Bukit Brown Hill 1

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Wee Kuan Yew (Bukit Brown)

August 29, 2021

Block 1 Division G Bukit Brown Hill 1

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Mr. Lee Tiang Seng alias Supeye (Bukit Brown)

August 28, 2021

Block 1 Division D Bukit Brown decorative tiles Hill 1

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Seet Chee Beng (Bukit Brown)

August 28, 2021

Block 1 Division D Bukit Brown Hill 1

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Madam Geow Bee Neo (Bukit Brown)

August 28, 2021

Block 1 Division B Bukit Brown Hill 1

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Madam Goh Chin Neo nee Mrs.Lim Kim Tian (Bukit Brown)

August 26, 2021

Block 4 Div C Division C Hill 4

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Tan Tee Cheng (Bukit Brown)

August 22, 2021

Block 4 Div C Bukit Brown Hill 4

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Madam Lim Geok Kim (Bukit Brown)

August 22, 2021

Block 4 Div C Bukit Brown decorative tiles Hill 4

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Lim Pang Kiah and Teo Poh Tian (Bukit Brown)

August 19, 2021

Block 1 Division C Bukit Brown decorative tiles Hill 1 Teochew Tomb

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Ee Keng Beng (Bukit Brown)

August 10, 2021

Block 3 Div C Bukit Brown Hill 3

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Mrs. Choo Ewe Beng nee Chia Beo Neo (Bukit Brown)

August 10, 2021

Block 3 Div D Bukit Brown Hill 3

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Madam Lee Tak Poh Neo nee Mrs. Goh Ching Moh (Lao Sua)

August 09, 2021

decorative tiles Lao Sua

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Kuek Boon Tye (Lao Sua)

August 07, 2021

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Seet Cheng Chye (Lao Sua)

August 07, 2021

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Madam Kwa Kwan Neo (Lao Sua)

August 07, 2021

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Madam Tan Poh Neo (Lao Sua)

August 07, 2021

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Lee Boon Poh (Bukit Brown)

August 07, 2021

Block 3 Div D Bukit Brown Hill 3

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Chang Yang Hak and family (Bukit Brown)

August 06, 2021

Block 3 Div D Bukit Brown Hill 3 Teochew Tomb

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Wee Beow Chwee and Lim Seok See (Bukit Brown)

August 05, 2021

Block 3 Div D Bukit Brown Hill 3 tomb mason

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Labels

Bukit Brown948
Hill 3301
Hill 1181
Hill 4149
Block 3 Div D128
decorative tiles126
Died Young118
Block 4 Div A100
Hill 294
birdwatching83

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Rojak Librarian: Nature has a lot to teach us, if only we stop to pay attention.

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Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Newspaper mentions (2017)

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

Newspaper mentions(2020)

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

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

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Popular Post

Paying respects to Tan Chwee Lam during Qing Ming (Kopi Sua)

We meet a nice gentleman at the end of the tar road at Kopi Sua. He smiled and spoke to me first, curious to find out we we doing here as we were exploring Kopi Sua. The gentleman was Mr. Tan Kian Seng and he was there with his family to pay respects to his father, Mr. Tan Chwee Lam who passed away in 1955. Mr. Tan Kian Seng is the youngest son of Mr. Tan Chwee Lam. They already finished their Qing Ming and was about to head back when i met them and initially i didn't want to disturb them from leaving. I was again very fortunate because his sons (Tan Chee Wee and Tan Zhi Aun) just like their father were friendly and kindly stayed on for a short while allowing me to chat with them. Their cousin, Tan Cheng Lan was also present in the group in demonstration of the family's filial piety. Just like some families, they are concerned that their parents are getting older and will have difficulty paying respects in the future. Their concerns are real of course and exhumation to relocat

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 Pah

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

Revisiting 6 years old Thng Mooi Mooi for Qing Ming (Bukit Brown)

The moss gathered damaged marble tomb of Miss Thng Mooi Mooi who passed away at the age of 6 on 6 October 1937 at Block 3 Division 3, plot 127A reveals little of who she was in her brief moment of existence. The significance of the tomb of Miss Thng Ah Mooi (her name in the burial registrar), a 6 year old Hokkien girl to me was that it has help provided material and concrete evidence of clusters of plots which are often unmarked, that are reserved for children who died young or for babies born stillbirth in the Pauper Sections of Bukit Brown. The search was made possible back in March 2019 with heaven sent help from knowledgeable tomb keeper Queenie Quek who despite been busy during Qing Ming helped me in my quest. In subsequent years, i could not find her tomb again in my searches. A tree fell and made the place overgrown again and i gave up. For this year's Qing Ming, i thought i will try again to pay her a visit with my friends to help and guess what ? Deja Vu - Queenie

Mrs. Ang Kim Soon nee Koh Geok Kin (Bukit Brown)

Mrs. Ang Kim Soon nee Koh Geok Kin tomb caught my eye because of an important word - Bukit Brown ! It is very rare for Bukit Brown to be mentioned on the headstone and this is what makes this simple tombstone located at Block 3 Division plot 135 very unique. Madam Koh Geok Kim, wife of Ang Kim Soon of the Malaya Tribune Press, Ltd., Singapore passed away at General Hospital at 11:30 pm on 3 May 1934. She leaves behind her husband, 2 sons and a daughter. The cortege left from No. 6 Onan Road for Bukit Brown Cemetery. (Malacca and Sarawak papers please copy). Fortunately from her tomb, we can see the names of 2 of her children; Ang Jin Bin and Ang Gee Bin. From the burial registrar, i gathered that Mrs. Ang Kim Soon nee Koh Geok Kim was 36 years old when she passed away. Another interesting nugget is her nickname. Madam Koh Geok Kin alias Burok. In another obituary notice from the newspaper archives, Koh Geok Kin name is spelt as Koh Geok Kim. Mrs. Ang Kim Soon nee Madam Koh Geok K

Paying respects to Goh Chiew San during Qing Ming (Kopi Sua)

The Goh siblings were struggling to cut a path due to a fallen tree to pay respects to their uncle, Goh Chiew San (plot 2146) who came down from Taiwan but passed away in Singapore. We were exploring in Kopi Sua (Whitley Road Hokkien Cemetery) when we saw movements among the bushes. I was a bit worried it was wild boar, but when we heard voices, we walk closer to the other side and saw a lady and 2 guys clearing a path to the tomb. We helped as much as we can by sawing off the obstructing branches and cutting the vines before making our way to explore further. My heartiest respect to the filial piety to the Goh siblings who didn't give up despite having a tough time clearing and in making access to pay respects to their deceased uncle. Paying respects to their uncle, Mr. Goh Chiew San The Goh siblings are able to access and pay respects after clearing

Passing down the Qing Ming tradition at Chia Hood Theam's tomb (2024)

I am very fortunate to meet today the descendants of Chia Hood Theam who came down to pay respects. Being curious, i wanted to find out from which branch they are from and thanks to their sharing, i found out that they are from the branch of Dr. Chia Keng Hoe and more specifically, the grand and great grandchildren of Mabel Chia. It is very heartening to see the younger generation present in the cleaning of the tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Chia Hood Theam and reassures me that such acts of filial piety will continue especially when the young are involved. Mr. and Mrs. Chia Hood Theam are indeed blessed ! Mr. and Mrs. Chia Hood Theam being clean by their great great grandchildren (many levels down the family tree) ! Mr. and Mrs. Chia Hood Theam's tomb being cleaned during Qing Ming 2024 Offerings for Mr. and Mrs. Chia Hood Theam (photo courtesy of Pam Tan) Mr. and Mrs. Chia Hood Theam Chia Hood Theam was a Straits-born Chinese and was the son of Chia Leong Chuan. He studied in Raffle

Francis Thomas (All Saints Memorial)

While exploring the niches in All Saints Memorial i came across this niche with a lovely wedding picture that you see below. The niche belongs to a western man and a chinese lady. Not knowing the person, i took a picture to read up further on Francis Thomas and Catherine Eng Neo Thomas. Born in April 1912 in Westcote, England, Francis Thomas (1912-1977) was the fourth child in a family of six children of Rev. J A Thomas and Mrs. Thomas in Westcote, Francis was the third son in the family. The others were Mary (eldest), David, Michael, Anthony and Christopher). Francis Thomas was a well known Educator, Politician and Minister. He became a member of the Labour Party of Singapore in 1948, President of the Labour Front (1950) and became the Minister of Works and Communications (1955-1958) in the Labour Front Government under Mr. David Marshall and later Lim Yew Hock. He resigned in 1959 and returned back to his teaching position. He was the Principal of St. Andrew's School in 1963, su

Tan Swee Hoe mansion in Batu Pahat

The status of Tan Swee Hoe's mansion at 160 Jalan Kluang, Batu Pahat was finally revealed! The mansion that was once owned by Tan Swee Hoe's descendants was sold and the rumors circulating at one point of time was it was going to be demolished. In fact various readers of my blog sent me pictures of the mansion after it was sold where the rooftop of the building and the interiors was completely stripped. Tan Swee Hoe's mansion (minus the roof) Well it was finally revealed in various Malaysian papers ( Sin Chew Daily , Johor China Press ) that it was purchased by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, the Sultan of Johor. It was reported in the papers that the Sultan of Johor plans to restore the building and turn it into a Heritage Centre featuring the artefacts of the Johor Chinese community as well as as artefacts from China as a strong symbol to reaffirm the long relationship between the Johor Sultanate and China. About Tan Swee Hoe Tan Swee Hoe T

Chua Guan Chui and family (Bukit Brown)

Mr Chua Guan Chui ( Chua Guan Chwee or also spelt as Chua Guan Swee ) from what little information i gathered was a property owner who bought property and rented them out. In a Strait Times article dated 1994, there was mentioned of two bungalows at No. 31 and 33 Scotts Road that in the 1920's belonged to the estate of Chua Guan Chui before it was eventually acquired by the Government in 1981. Chua Guan Chui Death Mr. Chua Guan Chui passed away on January 1, 2603 ( Japanese Koki year for 1943) at the age of 67 at 9:45pm Tokyo Time at his residence at No 152 Cairnhill Road. He is survived by 2 wives, 2 sons, Chua Hock Seng and Master Chua Chye Seng, 7 daughters, 3 son-in-laws ( Wee Thiam Lock, Khoo Tiang Seng and Lim Chong Min ) , 1 daughter-in-law (Mrs Chua Chye Seng nee Lily Tan ) and 12 grandchildren to mourn his loss. His tomb is located in Hill 2 Division F, plot 313 On his tomb, listed are his sons: Chua Hock Seng, Chua Chye Seng, adopted son: Wee Yeow Heng, daugh

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