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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 November, 2025

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Sim Ann Kiat (Bukit Brown)

November 01, 2025

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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)

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Dr. Lim Soon Kian (Bukit Brown)

Dr. Lim Soon Kian / Dr. S.K. Lim is the son of Mr and Mrs. Lim Cheng Wee. Lim Soon Kian studied in Raffles Institution and later graduated from the Hong Kong University. Dr. S.K. Lim, M.b., B.S. (son of Mr. Lim Cheng Wee of the P & Co ) married on 26 June 1917 at Bandjermasin to Miss Thio Kim Loen Neo (eldest daughter of Mr. Thio Soen Yang, the Captain China of Bandjermasin and sister of Mr. Thio Kim Chuan of Aik Leong Chan and Co. of Singapore). The reception was attended by over 400 persons, including the Resident of Borneo, his wife and daughters, the Controller and Secretaries and other leading Government officials and merchants. Dr. Lim has for some time was the house surgeon at the Government Civil Hospital of Hongkong. After marriage, they moved to Singapore where he opened us his practice. Unfortunately the marriage did not last long as just a little over a year after their marriage, Madam Thio Kim Loen passed away due to influenza at 56-8 Neil Road on 26 October 1918....

Teo Lily - Moving House (Bukit Brown)

A simple marble tomb with ceramic portrait with a sign board behind alerted me that this tomb is about to "move house". Her descendants have decided to relocated their ancestor to another place. The name of the person that is going to be exhumed is - Teo Lily as per written on the signboard. A quick check of the burial registrar confirms it. Teo Lily passed away on 12 October 1933. She was 26 years old. Teo Lily - 26 years old -moving house soon Location of tomb Block 3 Section C, plot 444

Teo Soon Kim (pioneer female lawyer)

Teo Soon Kim (1904-1978) was a pioneer female lawyer, becoming the first Singapore woman to be admitted to the bar of the Straits Settlements in 1929 and the first woman barrister in Hong Kong. She studied in London and was the second Malayan Chinese woman to qualify as a barrister in England. Her female contemporary during the same period was Miss Lim Beng Hong ( Mrs B. H. Oon ) of Penang, who won the honors as the first Chinese Malayan woman admitted to the English bar and the first woman qualified to practice law in Malaya in 1927. After her came Miss Lucy See (daughter of See Tiong Wah ) and Miss Teo Soon Kim, both from Singapore and finally Miss Lim Beng Teik (younger sister of Miss Lim Beng Hong). Miss Teo Soon Kim went to England in 1926 and for 3 years she studied and was mentored by Dr H. H Bellot, Secretary of the International Law Association and Grotius Society and finally called to the Bar in the Inner Temple. She even found time to travel to America and China. ...

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 Teck Kim and family (Bukit Brown)

Lim Teck Kim was born in Kinmen. He passed away on 28 June 1938 at the age of 55, leaving behind 11 sons and 13 daughters. Lim Teck Kim established the Lim Hoe Chiang Co. , a General Store which marketed the "Global Brand" coffee and W.D & H.O Wills of Bristol and London "Flag Brand" cigarettes at 250 Tanjong Pagar Road. Lim Teck Kim also pioneered Singapore's first amusement park, "Old World (1921) which was later renamed "Happy Valley". Lim Teck Kim's brother-in-law, Ong Boon Tat subsequently opened "New World" (1923). Lim Teck Kim Lim Hoe Chiang Co promoting "Flag Brand" cigarettes The Happy Valley The amusement park was open on 1 February 1924 afternoon by Mrs. Lee Choon Guan, M.B.E . who performed the cord cutting ceremony with a golden scissors at the main gates of Happy Valley just before the Chinese New Year. The main attraction includes a boxing stadium that can be adapted to use for theatrical ...

Madam Cheong Pin Neo (Bukit Brown)

Madam Cheong Pin Neo passed away at the age of 68 at 9:30 pm on 5 April 1936. However, i found an article that states; Mrs. Loo Tian nee Cheong Pin Neo passed away at the age of 68 at 9:30 pm on 4 May 1936 at No. 150-P. East Coast Road. She leaves behind her brother, Mr. Cheong Swee Teck and a grandson, Mr. Loo Boon Kwee. According to the article funeral took place at Bukit Brown. The name, age, year and place matches - however the date she died shows a difference of 1 month. I check with Raymond Goh and he shared with me that the name of the grandson, Loo Boon Kwee is etched on her tomb, so very likely it is the same person. Brother: Cheong Swee Teck For Cheong Swee Teck, there is a Cheong Swee Teck which i wrote about but i can't be sure it is the same person. Grandson: Loo Boon Kwee The address No. 150-P. East Coast Road and name Loo Boon Kwee allowed me to match her grandson. I have written about Loo Boon Kwee before after finding...

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...

Kopi Sua Cemetery left untouched for now

For a number of years i was concerned that with the Mount Pleasant MRT station and Toa Payoh extension plans already announced, this would eventually translate to Kopi Sua Cemetery / Whitley Road Hokkien Cemetery and its surrounding jungles being claimed for this extension and housing. With today's announcement, it seems that this plans have being put on hold for now. The announcement published on the 23 November 2021 titled " New HDB estate with 5,000 flats to be built in Mount Pleasant at Old Police Academy site " gave insight that - "an environmental impact study (EIS) was conducted in January 2019 for the area and its wider surroundings, looking at biodiversity and water quality among others. After the EIS, HDB engaged nature groups to refine plans to minimise potential impacts to the environment. In particular, the proposed road network for future residents was adjusted so the surrounding greenery in Bukit Brown and graves at the adjacent Kopi Sua Cemetery wou...

Rattan furniture industry in Singapore: past and present

Exploring the HDB estate opposite Queensway Shopping Centre, i came across a Rattan furniture shop , Chun Mee Lee Rattan Furniture. It is not often you find a shop in Singapore that sells furniture solely made by rattan and indeed it was a pleasant and nostalgic surprise to encounter.The shop was filled to the brim with rattan furniture and ware, but what was more surprising for me, was to see a lady working on re-upholstering a chair with rattan trimmings. This indicates to me that not all the rattan ware was exported from either Indonesia and Malaysia, some were still done locally. Chun Mee Lee Rattan Furniture( directions here ) Rattan furniture stacked to the ceiling Worker reupholstering a chair with rattan trimmings Fast forward a few weeks, this time in Joo Chiat, i came across another shop called Teong Theng Co ( directions here ) which although wasn't filled to the brim with rattan furniture (there were other types of wood furniture as well), i...

Mrs. Chia Cheow Beng nee Lee Guat Goh (Bukit Brown)

Madam Lee Guat Goh wife of Mr. Chia Cheow Beng passed away at the age of 50 on 24 February 1944. Listed on her tomb are the names of her children; Son: Chia Cheng Siang Daughter: Chia Swee Neo Grandson: James Chia Granddaughter: Elizabeth Chia It is a wartime tomb with beautiful decorative tiles. Mrs. Chia Cheow Beng nee Lee Guat Goh Location of tomb Block 3 Section C plot P147. On the burial registrar, Madam Lee Guat Goh is listed as Hokkien Mrs. Chia Cheow Beng nee Lee Guat Goh with beautiful decorative tiles

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Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录
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Burial Registrar
Bukit Brown Documentation of Graves
Singapore Heritage Society
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Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore
Our Bedok Kampong House
Good morning yesterday
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Remember Singapore
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Overseas Chinese in the British Empire

Nature Groups in S'pore and M'sia

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Nature in S'pore and M'sia

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