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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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Showing posts from April, 2025

Posts

Mrs. Cheang Hong Lim nee Madam Yeo Kum Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div D +0 Family - Cheang Hong Lim

Block 3 Div D Family - Cheang Hong Lim

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Qing Ming 2025 - Yap Geok Song revisited

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Qing Ming with the descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Lim Hwee (Bukit Brown)

Lao Sua Pauper Section 4 Division 2 +0 qingming

Lao Sua Pauper Section 4 Division 2 qingming

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Qing Ming with the descendants of Mr. Seow See (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div B Hill 3 +0 qingming

Block 3 Div B Hill 3 qingming

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Miss Ong of Lao Sua

Died Young +0 Lao Sua

Died Young Lao Sua

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Earliest known photograph of Bukit Brown Cemetery Temple ?

Bukit Brown +0 temple

Bukit Brown temple

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Bukit Brown968
Hill 3323
Hill 1185
Hill 4169
Died Young149
decorative tiles135
Block 3 Div D133
Block 4 Div A117
Hill 298
Block 3 Div B89

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

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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(2022)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

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

Rojak Librarian+ (other Rojak matters)

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Popular Post

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 ( branc...

Qing Ming with the descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Lim Hwee (Bukit Brown)

It was a stab in the dark request from the great grandson of Mr. Lim Hwee who was searching for his great grandfather tomb since last year. The key information was provided in his unsolicited message to me. Mr. Lim Hwee passed away at the age of 68 and was buried on 10 September 1935. The location of burial - Pauper 4 Division 2, plot 1111 . My instinct led me to believe that his request was sincere and from the heart (and this wasn't a scam attempt). We started a conversation and long story short, within the same week, I met Vincent Lim (the great grandson of Mr. Lim Hwee) together with his parents, uncle, his sister and brother at the tomb of Mr. Lim Hwee. I found out that they had visited Mr. Lim Hwee before but due to COVID and the fog of time, they could not find the tomb in recent years. It was a celebration of filial piety and desire to reconnect with his great grandfather and i do believe that heaven played its part in getting us to be instruments of a bigger grander...

Qing Ming with the descendants of Mr. Seow See (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Seow See came from Kinmen like many young Chinese migrants to Nanyang searching for a better live and prospects. He settled in Singapore and did what he was skilled at, fishing. Mr. Seow See was a fisherman. He was a Singapore Pioneer that left a legacy of love and filial piety remembered by those present today, with the youngest being the 6th generation of Seow ! Mr. Seow See passed away at the age of 80 and was interred in Block 3 Division B, plot 1B at Bukit Brown on 26 June 1932. Today, i am so fortunate to be able to bump into his descendants during their Qing Ming ritual. Earlier on they were cleaning the tomb and removing all undergrowth that has almost covered the tomb of Mr. Seow San. I only managed to catch up with them when they finishing burning the paper offerings and were about to leave. I was pleasantly surprised when they greeted me with warmth and shared so easily the stories of their ancestors. I was also allowed to take the group photo that you are see...

Qing Ming at the tomb of Lee Peng Seng (2025)

I left Bukit Brown today knowing a bit more about Mr. Lee Peng Seng thanks to his grandchildren present today during their Qing Ming visit to Bukit Brown. What i can see for sure is a man and the legacy he left behind. It was a legacy of love and filial piety that have lasted almost a hundred years and hopefully. His grandchildren and 1 great grandchild was present today and i am grateful in their generosity in sharing what they know about him and especially the rare photos of him and his family. Lee Peng Seng was a merchant who came to seek for fortune like many others before him. The grandchildren present do not have much details about the name of his chop (company) nor who Lee Peng Seng parents are but they do have with them, a wealth of photos which some were shared with us. This included pictures of 2 of his wives. From the number of photos shared, i guess the Lee Peng Seng was well to do with the ability to manage his company as well as a growing family. The family photo tha...

Miss Ong of Lao Sua

If you happen to walk on original Lorong Halwa trail that leads to the so-called "Avatar Tree" and beyond, you might encounter the tomb of Baby Miss Ong. She was only 2 years old when she passed away in 1960. Her tomb number is No. 1076. A few years ago, Miss Ong would have a fellow "peer" buried nearby, Mary Chua (died on 10 May 1951 at the age of 5, but Mary Chua has since "moved house" at the wishes of her brother . Back to Miss Ong, her "house" this year has a new coat of paint that you can miss ! I was told her brother, now in his mid-70's recently came down and gave her little sister a loving new striking paint. This is so touching to see. Miss Ong ( 2 years old, 1958-1960) Tomb of Miss Ong (2 years old, 1958-1960) taken at April 2025

Qing Ming 2025 - Revisiting Chew Geok Leong

Chew Geok Leong’s tomb in Bukit Brown stands out for its painted and imposing Sikh guards. A former Qing official who fled China, Chew Geok Leong settled in Singapore and opened a Chinese medical practice and shop. He planned his “live” tomb meticulously, commissioning it from China. The vibrant Sikh guards, ranked as 'Naik,' represent “Home Guard” and “City Guard.” The tomb celebrates Chew Geok Leong's legacy and i was told that his ties to a total of 6 generations of Chinese physicians (the last one being his son, Chew Siew Hai ). It's very heartening to witness descendants of Chew Geok Leong paying respects to him. They (especially Cecilia Chong and her uncle James Chew) have been supporters of the Bukit Brown cause for many years and i am very fortunate to be able to bump into Cecilia as she went about paying respects to her ancestors. There were such beautiful and well selected offerings for Mr. Chew Geok Leong, her daughter, Madam Chew Chwee Eng and son-in-law, ...

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...

Earliest known photograph of Bukit Brown Cemetery Temple ?

As i was searching for more online resources, i come across this rare photograph from the Lee Brothers Studio Collection with the following caption, A Chinese funeral. The coffin being carried into the hearse by several coffin bearers. The date provided was 1911-1935. If you look closer at the temple just behind the hearse, a lot of it structural features seems to match closely of the one in Bukit Brown including the position of the offerings burner. You can see how clear the background of Hill 1 was too assuming this place is indeed Bukit Brown. What do you think ? Do you agree with me that the above picture was possibly taken in Bukit Brown ? . Leave a comment with your opinion or thoughts ! The coffin being carried into the hearse by several coffin bearers (source: NLB ) Close-up of the temple (partially covered by hearse) Known Old Photographs for Comparison The previous oldest photo uncovered was from the Stanley T Tanner Collection from the National ...

The school in the jungle off Kheam Hock Road (Chin Chung Public School)

I have long known that there was a school that existed near Bukit Brown since its mentioned back when there was an exhibition about Bukit Brown ( Bukit Brown: Documenting New Horizons of Knowledge 2014 ). The name of the school was called Chin Chung Public School (振中学校) and it's address was No 25, Jalan Berahi, off Kheam Hock Road, Singapore 11 (The postal code was only 2 digits !). The interest came back recently when Soh Ah Beng, a friend and fellow explorer showed me his school report card and that spurred me to ask this question, where is the original location of the school and is it still there? Today's discovery was a very exciting one because we manage to find out the foundations of Chin Chung Public School was very much still intact and the road that led to the school was still intact as well ! Chin Chung Public School Report Card of Soh Ah Beng Chin Chung Public School no longer exist but the foundation and the steps leading to the school from Jalan Berahi is ...

Qing Ming - Five-colored paper

During Qing Ming, even if you are passive observer, you will noticed visited tombs with colored papers placed on tomb mount an/ or the headstone. Some are just strewn randomly behind while others follow a pattern of 5 color papers being grouped together. Whatever the individual descendant family practice, from what i read from online sources and asked through oral accounts from descendants is the act of placing the colored papers (called ya zhi (压纸) ) on top of the headstone is symbolic of the fact that this tomb is well taken care of by the filial descendants. The paper typically have 5 colors, representing the 5 elements (Fire, Earth, Gold, Wood and Water) and / or the 5 cardinal directions (North, South, East. West and Centre). 5 colored paper with stones to hold them down Five colored paper on the grave as well on top of the headstone 5 colored paper on headstone Note: None of the perspectives expressed here represent singular truths given the syncretic nature of Chinese...

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