Skip to main content

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.

Search This Blog

Home
Bukit Brown
Bidadari Christian Cemetery
Rojak Librarian+
Sitemap

Showing posts with the label AI

Posts

Bukit Brown Flora and Fauna

AI Bukit Brown Nature of Bukit Brown nature reserve UNESCO

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Labels

Bukit Brown971
Hill 3344
Hill 1194
Hill 4172
Died Young158
decorative tiles147
Block 3 Div D138
Block 4 Div A118
Hill 2100
Block 3 Div B99

Show more Show less

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

Total Pageviews

Subscribe to Youtube Channel

Subscribe to Instagram

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)

Archive

2025 120

2024 188
- December 18
- November 12
- October 26
- September 32
- August 21
- July 7
- June 11
- May 15
- April 14
- March 16
- February 7
- January 9
2023 168
- December 10
- November 7
- October 12
- September 20
- August 10
- July 9
- June 31
- May 18
- April 5
- March 12
- February 12
- January 22
2022 237
- December 11
- November 15
- October 20
- September 6
- August 15
- July 15
- June 12
- May 6
- April 17
- March 37
- February 54
- January 29
2021 326
- December 19
- November 47
- October 36
- September 24
- August 27
- July 31
- June 25
- May 20
- April 17
- March 28
- February 26
- January 26
2020 113
- December 13
- November 21
- October 13
- September 11
- August 8
- July 7
- June 6
- May 8
- April 6
- March 6
- February 6
- January 8
2019 52
- December 1
- October 2
- September 5
- August 4
- July 8
- June 7
- May 4
- April 4
- March 6
- February 4
- January 7
2018 53
- December 2
- November 4
- October 4
- September 5
- August 9
- July 9
- June 3
- April 2
- March 5
- February 5
- January 5
2017 52
- December 1
- November 1
- October 1
- September 2
- August 4
- July 7
- June 8
- May 3
- April 8
- March 6
- February 4
- January 7
2016 52
- December 4
- August 2
- July 8
- June 3
- May 8
- April 11
- March 10
- February 5
- January 1
2015 43
- December 4
- November 5
- October 3
- July 1
- June 5
- May 1
- April 6
- March 6
- February 6
- January 6
2014 92
- December 6
- November 5
- October 7
- September 5
- August 5
- July 11
- June 8
- May 10
- April 8
- March 8
- February 9
- January 10
2013 99
- December 8
- November 9
- October 9
- September 4
- August 4
- July 10
- June 8
- May 8
- April 9
- March 10
- February 10
- January 10
2012 78
- December 7
- November 6
- October 10
- September 5
- August 2
- July 5
- June 4
- May 8
- April 7
- March 9
- February 8
- January 7
2011 44
- December 7
- November 8
- October 2
- September 1
- July 2
- June 5
- May 6
- April 6
- March 3
- February 1
- January 3
2010 29
- December 4
- November 4
- October 8
- September 8
- August 3
- April 2
2008 2
- February 1
- January 1
2007 10
- November 1
- August 4
- June 4
- April 1
2006 11
- November 1
- August 1
- June 3
- March 1
- February 3
- January 2
2005 45
- November 3
- October 3
- May 1
- April 13
- March 25
2004 6
- September 3
- August 3

Show more Show less

Popular Post

Funeral of Mrs. Lim Ie Ging nee Madam Oei Khoen Nio at 13 Scotts Road

Mrs. Lim Ie Ging nee Oei Khoen Nio passed away at age of 62 at 13 Scotts Road on 9 June 1930. Oei Khoen Nio is the sister of Major Oei Tiong Ham. Thanks to Kwee Hongsien, i am able to get a glimpse of another rare picture of the funeral and hearse of the late Madam Oei Khoen Nio before it headed out to Bukit Brown. The photo was taken at the family residence in 13 Scotts Road. It is an amazing rich with details of the family members in mourning clothes as well as slight glimpse on the left of how the house at No. 13 Scotts Road look like. In the picture below, i can make out, Lim Ie Ging and their children, Dr. Albert Lim Liat Juay (1890-1970) , Dr. Harold Lim Liat Hin (1893-1973) , Lim Liat Boen (1896-1962) Funeral of Mrs. Lim Ie Ging nee Madam Oei Khoen Nio (photo courtesy of Kwee Hongsien) Family Photo The family photo below was likely taken in front porch of No. 13 Scotts Road with Mr. and Mrs Lim Ie Ging seated and surrounded by their children and grandchildren. This ...

Miss Goh Hup Neo alias Lye Chim (Bukit Brown)

Miss Goh Hup Neo alias Lye Chim - S. Wife of K.C. Choa Died on 25 July 1929. On the tomb shoulder, it is etched the location and plot - Block A. 1217 From the burial registrar, i found out that Miss Goh Hup Neo alias Lye Chim was 18 years when she passed away. Miss Goh Hup Neo alias Lye Chim Looking at her tomb, it leaves me with a number of questions. Was she engaged to K.C. Choa and died at 18 years old before the actual marriage and hence her title Miss. What is the meaning of S. Wife ? Was she the secondary wife of K.C. Choa ? The tomb of Miss Goh Hup Neo alias Lye Chim is unique to me as it leaves many unanswered questions. Location of tomb Block 3 Section A, plot 1217 Tomb of Miss Goh Hup Neo alia Lye Chim - s. wife of K.C. Choa

Ho Siew Tian and Gwee Lip Neo (Bukit Brown)

An early pioneer of Singapore, Mr. Ho Siew Tian (何秀填) came down to Singapore in 1882 and started a firm in his 20's in Beach Road then known as Chop Ho Hock Ann dealing in hardware and building materials. In 1948 it became a limited company and he subsequently was the Chairman until he retired a few years later leaving his company to his children. Mr. and Mrs. Ho Siew Tian ( 何秀填 ) A dinner party was given on 21 March 1950 by Messrs. Ho Cheow Chan, Ho Cheow Hin, Ho Chew Hua, Ho Cheow Chye, Ho Cheow Cheng and Ho Cheow Hock in honour of their father, Mr. Ho Siew Tian for his 81st Birthday at their residence, 47 Lorong 29, Geylang. In fact his birthday parties were mentioned several times in the papers over the years and it was well attended by family and relatives. Ho Siew Tian and family on his 85th birthday Mrs. Ho Siew Tian (alias Madam Qwee Lip Neo) passed away at the age of 77 at her residence, 47 Lorong 29 Geylang on 30 July 1948 at 9 pm, leaving b...

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

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...

Lee Tai Lim - a student murdered by Communist

Lee Tai Lim, 21 years old of Jalan Hock Chye, off Tampines Road - a senior student of the Chinese High School was shot dead outside the Singapore Chinese High Schools Graduates of Arts Association at Cairnhill Road on 17 April 1955. He was taking harmonica lessons when 2 youths entered and ask for him. Lee Tai Lim went downstairs with them and he was shot in his forehead by a single pistol bullet. Rushed to the General Hospital, he died there nearly 2 hours later. The assailants rode away on bicycles which they later discarded to enter into a car and escape. Lee Tai Lim It was reported that this was the first incident to involve the slaying of a Chinese student since the Emergency was declared in 1948. A squad of detectives and policemen from Orchard Road police station search the compound where the the point blank murder took place but failed so far to recover the spent cartridge case. The bullet lodged in the victim head was badly smashed against the skull making identific...

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...

Tyersall Park land swap near Botanic Gardens - a hope for Istana Woodneuk ?

I read with interest of the recent move of land swap - a deal that was agreed between its current owner, the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and the Government of Singapore. I wrote about this land in my blogpost - Woodneuk House - a palace in ruins on 9 April 2014 . On this land, Woodneuk House or Istana Woodneuk lies in ruins will also shift its ownership to the Singapore Government. Woodneuk in 2014 (the roofing gone as a result of a fire in 2006) Tyserall and Woodneuk (source: Handbook to Singapore -1907) Planned Land Swap The land owned by the Regent of Johor is about 21.1 ha and part of it (the parcel of land marked as plot C -13 ha (which is closer to Singapore Botanic Gardens) will be transferred to Singapore, while plot A - 8.5ha which is currently state land transferred to Regent of Johor. A portion of the original land was acquired in 2004 by the state and part of this land is now is part of NParks Botanic Gardens expansion - the Botanic ...

Mr. and Mrs. Tan Teck Bee (Bukit Brown)

The tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Teck Bee was overgrown and long unvisited. But fortunately it contains the information of his son on the right shoulder. The names of their daughter is partially block by the roots of a fig tree but fortunately, can still be seen at the moment from top angle. Indeed fortunate that for now, as both shoulders still visible, allowing opportunity to map most of the family members. Sons: Tan Bong Teck, Tan Chin Bock, Tan Yang Bock Daughters: Tan Geok Neo, Tan Chye Neo , Tan Hock Neo, Tan Lian Neo 3 grandchildren. Tan Teck Bee was buried in Bukit Brown on 4 August 1929. He was 56 years old when he passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Tan Teck Bee Daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Teck Bee Sons of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Teck Bee Family Son: Tan Bong Teck Mr. and Mrs. Tan Teck Bee invited over 200 friends to dinner at their residence, 4 Mohamed Sultan Road on 22 November 1923 on the occasion of the wedding of their son, Mr. Tan Bong Teck. There was a ronggeng in attend...

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...

Support My Efforts

Rojak Librarian +

Heritage in S'pore and M'sia

All things Bukit Brown
Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录
Bukit Brown Cemetery
Bukit Brown Trails
Burial Registrar
Bukit Brown Documentation of Graves
Singapore Heritage Society
Clarity Compass
Bukit Brown Tomb
Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore
Good morning yesterday
Oceanskies
Remember Singapore
Yesterday.sg
Bits & Pieces
Overseas Chinese in the British Empire

Nature Groups in S'pore and M'sia

Bird Ecology Study Group(Singapore)
Nature Society Singapore
Malaysian Nature Society
Singapore Environment Council
S'pore Bird Group
S'pore Butterfly Interest Group
Wild Singapore
Raffles Museum of Bio-Diversity's Habitatnews-
Nature Photographic Society (Singapore)
Oriental Bird Club
Butterfly Circle Checklist

Nature in S'pore and M'sia

Focus Ubin
National Parks(Singapore)
Mangrove Flora and fauna of Sg Buloh
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve-Wildlife Singapore
Online guide to Chek Jawa, Ubin

Bird Database & Resources

Singapore Birds
Singapore Birds Project
Birding in Malaysia
Oriental Bird Images
Xeno Canto
Birder Resource

Daily Moon Phase

Powered by Blogger

2005-2025, All Rights Reserved, Rojak Librarian