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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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Madam Chew Hong Neo (Bukit Brown)

November 01, 2026

Block 1 Division A

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Mrs. Chan Twee Geok nee Madam Cheong Choo Neo (Bukit Brown)

November 01, 2026

Block 1 Division A marble

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The Debt-Ridden Lawyer: The Story of Kow Soon Kim (Bukit Brown)

November 01, 2026

Block 1 Division B Lawyer marble

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Mrs. Lim Cheng Swee nee Madam Ong Seok Neo (Bukit Brown)

November 01, 2026

Block 1 Division B

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Oh Thian Kew and family (Bukit Brown)

October 31, 2026

Block 1 Division A

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Lee Kim Seng (Bukit Brown)

October 31, 2026

Block 1 Division A

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Tan Wee Hock (Bukit Brown)

October 31, 2026

Block 1 Division B marble

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Mrs. Goh Tiang Lee nee Chua Kim Kianh (Bukit Brown)

October 28, 2026

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Madam Tok Im Neo (Bukit Brown)

October 28, 2026

Block 3 Div C Japanese Koki Calender

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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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Labels

Bukit Brown882
Hill 3327
Died Young201
Hill 1182
decorative tiles182
Block 3 Div D152
Hill 4151
Block 4 Div A142
Block 3 Div C133
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

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Popular Post

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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 ...

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...

The Debt-Ridden Lawyer: The Story of Kow Soon Kim (Bukit Brown)

A simple marble headstone uncovered in Bukit Brown. The marble headstone reads; 437A In Loving Memory of Kow Soon Kim Died 8 April 2602 Age 62 years A simple marble headstone but it possibly helped me uncover a story mostly people have forgotten. With the age and timeline matching, I matched Mr. Kow Soon Kim (高順金) to lawyer Kow Soon Kim who lived during that timeline. When we think of lawyers in old Singapore, we usually think of rich, successful people. But history also has stories of people who struggled. One of these people was Kow Soon Kim, a local lawyer who made a sad confession in court in 1940. Kow Soon Kim From Bangkok to Singapore On 24 February 1906, the Unity Club (of Stra-ts-born Chinese) at Bangkok gave a farewell dinner to Mr. Kow Soon Kim, late marshall of the British Court for Siam on his leaving that port for England where he intends to study law and to read for the bar. Kow Soon Kim was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple on 5 May 1909. Kow Soon K...

Gwee Kim Keng (Bukit Brown)

Gwee Kim Keng passed away at the age of 57 on 16 April 1953. Listed on his tomb are the name of his children; Sons: Gwee Teck Yew, Gwee Teck Jin, Gwee Teck Hai Daughters: Gwee Lian Neo, Gwee Kee Neo, Gwee Koon Neo Gwee Kim Keng Location of tomb Block 3 Division B, plot 678 Possible Connection On 28 November 1922, Mr. Gwee Kim Keng (eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Gwee Cheng Lee ) married Lee Hock Neo (eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Soon Hee) at 45 McCallum Street. Madam Lee Hock Neo is the wife of Mr. Gwee Kim Keng. She passed away at the age of 30 at her residence No. 45, McCallum Street on 19 November 1927. Madam Lee Hock Neo Parents: Mr. Lee Soon Hee and Madam Soh Siok Lian Neo Mr. Lee Soon Hee passed away at the age of 50 on 17 May 1927 at his residence, No. 45 McCallum Street. Madam Soh Siok Lian Neo (wife of the late Mr. Lee Soon Hee) passed away at the age of 48 on 27 September 1927 at her residence, No. 45 McCallum Street. She leaves behind her only...

Madam Tok Im Neo (Bukit Brown)

In Memory of Madam Tok Im Neo Aged 43 Died 28 February 2604 Son: Boon Tat Daughter: Boey Neo Madam Tok Im Neo is interesting as the calendar system follows the Japanese Koki Calendar. 2604 corresponds with 1944. Madam Tok Im Neo Location of tomb Block 3 Section C, plot P168

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Heritage in S'pore and M'sia

All things Bukit Brown
Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录
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Nature in S'pore and M'sia

Focus Ubin
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Online guide to Chek Jawa, Ubin

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