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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 with the label Nature of Bukit Brown

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Mrs. Koh Cheng Kiat nee Madam Lim Keok Neo in 2025 (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div C Family - Koh Cheng Kiat Nature of Bukit Brown

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Bukit Brown Flora and Fauna

AI Bukit Brown Nature of Bukit Brown nature reserve UNESCO

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My Photo of the Month (March 2023)

decorative tiles Nature of Bukit Brown Photo of the Month

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Hammerhead worm in Bukit Brown

February 26, 2023

Bukit Brown Nature of Bukit Brown

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White-crested Laughing Thrush of Bukit Brown

October 17, 2022

Nature of Bukit Brown

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Bukit Brown962
Hill 3343
Hill 1192
Hill 4172
Died Young162
decorative tiles153
Block 3 Div D138
Block 4 Div A118
Block 3 Div B100
Hill 2100

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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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Popular Post

Ong Kee Soon and Family (Seh Ong)

Ong Kee Soon is the second son of Mr. Ong Chong Chew. His father, Ong Chong Chew passed away in 1888 and was buried in his private cemetery in Telok Blangah before relocated to a cemetery nearby Bukit Brown. In 1872, 3 Ong clansman from Bai Jiao (White Rock) village, Ong Ewe Hai (王友海) ,Ong Kew Ho (王求和) and Ong Chong Chew (王宗周) each contributed 500 dollars totalling 1,500 dollars bought a piece of land 221 acres for the Ong Clan to settled. Part of it became cemetery land and part of it became Bukit Brown when around 1918/19 the government acquired part of the Ong clan land, which was 98 acres for Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery. Ong Kee Soon passed away at the age of 58 on 11 March 1925 at No. 6 Scott's Road. He leaves behind his widow, 2 sons, Ong Siew Kiam and Ong Siew Jiang, 1 daughter, Ong Seok Choo (Mrs. Chew Chew Lak). Ong Kee Soon (source: The Journey from White Rock) Family Wife: Mrs. Ong Kee Soon nee Seow Pin Neo Mrs. Ong Kee Soon nee Seow Pin Neo passed away a...

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...

Madam Lee Lai Neo (Toa Payoh Cemetery)

The marble tomb of Lee Lai Neo is all in English. Madam Lee Lai Neo passed away at the age of 62 on 22 February 1947. Listed on her tomb are the names of her children; Son: Ong Kee Choo Daughters: Ong Chwee Lian, Ong Lian Neo Grandsons: Stevan Ong, Freman Tan Granddaughters: Whylin Tan, Everline Tan, Roselin Tan Location Its location can be access from a path along Hill 3 Division C that forks to a dirt track that leads to Gymkhana. Right at the start of that path is a tombkeepers hut that goes to Toa Payoh Hokkien Cemetery or colloquially known as Gelong Pah 黎弄吧.

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...

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...

A kidnap bid foiled in the Shaw family - Bukit Brown connection

This week's news was abuzz with first, the passing of Sir Run Run Shaw (CBE, GBM), the legendary movie mogul. He died on January 7, 2014, aged 107. He is survived by 2 sons ( Shaw Vee Meng, Shaw Vee Chung, Harold ), 2 daughters (Dorothy Shaw, Violet Shaw ) , 2 daughter-in-laws ( Josephine Kho, Diana Wee) and many grand and great grandchildren. His wife was Lady Lily Shaw (deceased ) and years after his first wife passing married Madam Mona Fong. The second news that captivated many Singaporean's was the kidnap attempt of a 79 year old woman, Madam Eng Lai Poh. She is the mother of Mr Lim Hock Chee, Chief Executive of public listed company Sheng Siong, a supermarket chain. The ransom sought by the kidnappers was $20 million. Mr. Lim Hock Chee called the police who helped tracked down the kidnappers and caught the suspects. Bukit Brown connection to Shaw and kidnapping You may be wondering how this week's two story is related to Bukit Brown? Rewind back to October...

Ng Boo Bee (Taiping)

Ng Boo Bee (1853-1921) 黄务美, was born and educated in Fujian, China before making his way to Malaya, first in Penang before eventually making a name for himself in the State of Perak. His father is Ng Koh Sung and mother, U Choot Kwah. He started out as a brick manufacturer and timber merchant under the name of Chop Swee Bee in Taiping, Ipoh and Teluk Anson. In Taiping, he acquired the tender contract as a railway contractor under Mr. C.R. Hanson, Resident Engineer for Perak Railways and was probably responsible for the building of the first railway in Malaya which connected Taiping to Port Weld. It was during this time he shrewdly acquired land around Kamunting. Ng Boo Bee Millionaire tin miner The land purchases around Kamunting made Ng Boo Bee a millionaire and with that he acquired also various houses in Taiping and also Penang. The Governor of the Straits Settlement, Sir John Anderson visited Ng Boo Bee tin mine in 1908 which had at that time, employed 4,500...

Lim Leong Geok (Bukit Brown)

Lim Leong Geok was the managing partner of the Straits Typewriter Agency and President of the Change Alley Rubber Communication Office. He was also actively involved in the Eng Hoe Kok Association. Lim Leong Geok passed away at his residence, 72 Cornwall Road at 9:30 am at the age of 50 on 14 March 1937. Lim Leong Geok left behind his widow, 5 sons: Lim Teck Swee, Lim Teck Siong, Lim Teck Chye, Lim Teck Whatt, Lim Teck Hin 5 daughters: Mary Lim, Lily Lim, Helen Lim, Lucy Lim, Susie Lim 4 nephews: Lim Teck Kim, Lim Teck Khuan, Lim Teck Lee and Wee Cheng Kow 1 niece: Lim Cheong Neo 1 adopted daughter: Winne Ng. The tomb of Mr. Lim Leong Geok Family Mother: Madam Ong Chai Neo Madam Ong Chai Neo passed away at the age of 55 at her residence No. 52 Cornwall Street on 23 October 1919. Madam Ong Chai Neo is the mother of Messrs. Lim Leong Geok and Lim Choon Leng Son: Lim Teck Swee (1915 - 6 Jan 1978) Lim Teck Swee took over the managing of the Straits Typewr...

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...

Tai Thean Khew Circus - Mr Sun Si Ting (Bukit Brown)

Mr Sun Si Ting passed away at the age of 61 in 1944, age 61. What caught my eye was the inscription in English that states that he was the owner of Tai Thian Kew Circus, Nanking China. On the tomb are inscribed the following: Tombstone of Mr. Sun Si Ting, Proprietor of Tai Thian Kew Circus. Nangking China. Erected by his sorrowful sons, Thian Chok and San Keng. D aughters, San Pow and See Eng sons-in laws, Peng Sang, Su Pai and Grandsons, Ming Chuan and Ming Lee Year died 10th day of the 4th moon 33 year of the Chinese Republic. Sun Si Ting Mr Sun Si Ting Circus in Singapore While skimming through the old paper archives i discovered, interestingly enough, that this circus donated a lion to the "new Johore zoo" in 1965 indicating probably its shows traveled beyond Singapore and covered Malaysia as well. In fact after reading through various sources, this circus troupe has traveled widely beyond this s...

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