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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 May, 2026

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Aw Seng Geok (Bukit Brown)

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Phuah Chong Wah (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div A decorative tiles marble Youtube Shorts

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Lim Huat Neo (Bukit Brown)

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Madam Lim Yew Neo (Bukit Brown)

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Chan Lian Cheng (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div A decorative tiles

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Another beautiful set of tiles uncovered

Art Nouveau decorative tiles

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Chee Wan Lee Neo (Lao Sua)

Lao Sua Plus Codes

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Chia Poh Siang (Lao Sua)

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Bukit Brown904
Hill 3330
Hill 1185
Died Young179
decorative tiles168
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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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Khoo Seok Wan and family (Bukit Brown)

Khoo Teck Him, better known as Khoo Seok Wan / Khoo Siok Wan 邱菽园 (1874-1941) was born in Haicheng, Fujian, China and is the son of a wealthy rice merchant Khoo Cheng Tiong and a prominent hokkien leader. Khoo Seok Wan came down with his mother at the age 8 but later returned at the age of 15 to take the county imperial exams. In 1894, he passed the provincial imperial exams with grants him with the title of Ju Ren. Further examination at Beijing failed and his dreams of becoming an imperial official came to end with also bad news that his father, Khoo Cheng Tiong was gravely ill. Khoo Cheng Tiong passed away in June 1896 at the age of 76. His son, Khoo Teck Siong and Khoo Seok Wan were trustees and executors of their father's will. Both inherited $700,000.Both brothers did not inherit however their father's business acumen. Khoo Teck Siong's investment in the Opium and Spirit Farm while Khoo Seok Wan speculation in land and house property brought them to nought. Both appea...

Neo Pee Wan and family (Bukit Brown)

The beautiful tomb with decorative tiles in Hill 4 Division C, plot 1342 belongs to Mr and Mrs Neo Pee Wan. Mrs Neo Pee Wan nee Madam Peck Imm Neo alias Kerchee passed away at the age of 47 on 26 April 1939 while Mr Neo Pee Wan passed away at the age of 70 on 14 February 14, 1958. From the tomb, the names of their children: Sons: Neo Poh Chuan, Neo Poh Choon, Neo Poh Cheng, Neo Poh Chong Daughters: Neo Ann Neo, Neo Poh Neo Grandsons: Soon Howe, Soon Kim, Soon Heng, Soon Chye Grand-daughters: Lian Neo, Sok Cheng, Sok Yee, Seok Gek The funeral of Mrs. Neo Pee Wan nee Madam Peck Imm Neo alias Kerchee took place on Sunday from her residences, 35-C, Everitt Road off Joo Choo Place to Bukit Brown. Among those who send wreaths, were Neo Pee Teck. (It is from this and blog mentions that Neo Pee Wan and Neo Pee Tec k are likely brothers). The obituary notice of Nee Peo Wan lists that he passed away on the morning of 14th February 1958 in his residence at 22 Cassia Drive...

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...

Mrs Koh Sek Lim nee Ang Chit Yan (Bukit Brown)

Madam Ang Chit Yan is the wife of Mr. Koh Sek Lim whose legacy is remembered by two road named after him, Koh Sek Lim Road and Xilin Avenue. Madam Ang Chit Yan passed away at her residence Gulega Bedoh Estate, No 655-17, Padang Terbakar, Bedoh (Bedok) at 10:15 pm on Friday, 12th November 1937 at the age of 65. She is survived by her husband, Mr. Koh Sek Lim, 14 sons ( Koh Kong Wee , Koh Kong Wan, Koh Kong Boon, Koh Kong Seng, Koh Kong Sun, Koh Kong Hai, Koh Kong Leong, Koh Kong Hor, Koh Kong Thian and 5 others, 5 daughters-in-law, (Mrs. Koh Kong Wee, Mrs. Koh Kong Wan. Mrs. Koh Kong Seng, Mrs. Koh Kong Sun, Mrs, Koh Kong Hor, 10 daughters, 4 son-in-laws (Yeo Eng Tiong, Wee Swee Seng, Lim Teck Seng, Lim Eng Yong and 30 grandchildren). On her tombstones, the complete names of the sons and daughters include: Sons: Koh Kong Wee , Koh Kong Wan, Koh Kong Boon, Koh Kong Seng, Koh Kong Sun, Koh Kong Hai, Koh Kong Leong, Koh Kong Hor, Koh Kong Thian, Koh Kong Choo, Koh...

Tay Koh Yat (Bukit Brown)

Tay Koh Yat (1880-29 January 1957) C.H., O.B.E, was born in Kinmen in 1880 and came down to Singapore in 1902 at the age of 22 as a poor immigrant and got a job as a $2-a-month clerk in a Chinese shop were his duties include sweeping floors. He then joined Chop Guan Seng Hin as a partner.At the age of 32, he established Guan Soon (branches in Indonesia and Penang), followed by Aik Seng Hin and finally Chin Joo Seng and Co. His name (to a much older generation of Singaporeans) is linked to his namesake bus company called Tay Koh Yat Bus Company. Starting from just 2 buses in 1921, it went on to become one of the largest in the colony. He was also a director of the Chung Shin Jit Poh, a Chinese newspaper and committee member of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Hokkien Huay Kuan. Tay Koh Yat was also a chairman of the Thong Chai Hospital at Eu Tong Sen Street. Tay Koh Yat (source: NLB ) Tay Koh Yat Bus - 1951 advertisement (source: NewspaperSG) War Hero A l...

Kwa Siew Tee and family (Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery)

Kwa Siew Tee, a Semarang born Chinese was a Municipal Commissioner (an appointment he held till 1949). He was also the General Manager of Overseas Chinese Bank Corporation Limited, Assistant General Manager of The Eastern United Assurance Corporation, Limited and a Member of the Hospital Board. He received a Certificate of Honour in 1951. Kwa Siew Tee passed away at the age of 89 on 20 March 1977. Group photo of the founding of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation in 1932 Kwa Siew Tee is standing behind. (source: National Archives of Singapore) Family Kwa Siew Tee and family (source: National Archives of Singapore) Wife: Madam Wee Yew Neo Madam Wee Yew Neo is the daughter of Wee Theam Seng . She passed away on 14 May1980. She is survived by; 3 sons: Kwa Soon Siew, Kwa Soon Chuan, Kwa Soon Bee 4 daughters: Kwa Geok Neo, Kwa Geok Lan, Kwa Geok Choo, Kwa Geok Eng. Son: Kwa Soon Hock Kwa Soon Hock is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Kwa Siew Tee. He was a sta...

Newspaper mentions (2024 - Heng San Teng Boundary Marker)

2024 ended with an icing on the cake, with another newspaper mention of us and this time is with regards to a boundary marker that was accidentally discovered by Raymond Goh when we were exploring Kopi Sua on 14 December 2024 in search of tombs based on request on descendants. Heng San Teng Boundary Marker / 恒山亭界碑 Chinese text of the Zabao article: 本地寻墓小组在咖啡山发现约有百余年历史的“恒山亭”界碑，历史学者认为这个界碑提供珍贵的实物史料，证明恒山亭曾搬迁到大巴窑一带。寻墓者吴安全（60岁）与另外三人上星期六（12月14日）在惠德里路（Whitley Road）附近一带的咖啡山寻墓时，无意间发现了一个刻着“恒山亭界”字眼的界碑。由于附近最古老的墓碑立于1890年，他推测这个界碑至少有130多年的历史，相信惠德里路一带的坟山属于大巴窑新恒山亭的管辖范围。 “当时我们受人委托来这里寻找几个墓碑，走了一个多小时的路程，突然发现有一处看起来不像是墓碑的石碑，走近隐约看到恒山二字，再撒上一些面粉才看清刻在碑上的字。其实，我们好几次来这座坟山都没有发现这个界碑，在杂草丛生的情况下，这次能够发现它真的很幸运。” 咖啡山指的是靠近泛岛高速公路的快乐山路（Mount Pleasant Road）和安莱盖路（Onraet Road）那片坟山过去是福建会馆产业；惠德里路一带被高速公路隔开的一小片坟山也属于原本的咖啡山。恒山亭是我国历史最悠久华人古庙之一恒山亭是我国历史最悠久的华人古庙之一，至少在1828年前已建成，是我国开埠初期福建社群的最高领导机构。福建人创办恒山亭，主要负责办理乡侨的丧葬，管理福建坟山。正规的福建人聚会、议事，也都在恒山亭举行。受访本地历史学者柯木林指出，1890年代，原址位于石叻路（今惹兰红山）的恒山亭坟山满额后，福建会馆便另寻新址，包括位于中峇鲁、大巴窑，以及武吉布朗一带的墓地，是为新恒山...

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...

Chua Kim Teng and family (Lao Sua)

One of the interesting cluster of tombs in Greater Bukit Brown is the cluster of tombs that belong to Chua Kim Teng (蔡金鼎) (1865 - 1944), his father, Chua Eng Cheong /Chua Ying Chiang (蔡應昌) and Chua Kim Teng's second wife, Seow Geok Lian (萧玉銮). Chua Kim Teng was said to have made his fortunes in rubber and property and produce imports from Pontianak, Dutch Borneo. Chua Kim Teng was the sole proprietor of a private market in the East Coast Road area (mention in the papers in 1930). This came to light in a suit by Chua Kim Teng against the Municipal Commissioners who wanted the market closed and eventually managed publicly. He was once the Vice-President and subsequently the President of the Cheng Kee Hean Association (founded in 1893) and his house played host to its gatherings including its Silver Jubilee in 1918 and its 28th Anniversary celebration in 1921. Chua Kim Teng passed away during the Japanese Occupation in 1944. He had 3 wives , the first two were sisters (first wife...

Er Woo Amateur Musical & Dramatic Association (馀娱儒乐社) at Temenggong Zhong Yuan Festival

I have watched Teochew Opera troupe performed before and documented them in photos when i was in Ubin, but frankly i never gone beyond that to find out more details. (see my blog post on Faces behind the Chinese Opera (Pulau Ubin) - Part 1 and Part 2 that featured 新新榮和潮州劇團 / Xin Xin Rong He / Sin Sin Yong Hwa Teochew Opera Troupe, an article that i wrote back in 2016). Recently i managed to be able to catch a Teochew Troupe performed again. I gotten insight that the troupe, 馀娱儒乐社 / Er Woo Amateur Musical & Dramatic Association that performed at Temenggong Zhong Yuan Festival 2023 started way back in 1912 not as an Opera Troupe but a musical club visited by Teochew merchants for cultural activities, networking and entertainment. They were 4 musical clubs, but today only 2 remained and such musical clubs also transform over the years due to changes to interest to one that features Teochew Opera. Performers of the Teochew Opera from Er Woo Amateur Musical and Dramati...

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