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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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My Photo of the Month (March 2023)

decorative tiles Nature of Bukit Brown + Photo of the Month

decorative tiles Nature of Bukit Brown Photo of the Month

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Hammerhead worm in Bukit Brown

February 26, 2023

Bukit Brown +0 Nature of Bukit Brown

Bukit Brown Nature of Bukit Brown

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White-crested Laughing Thrush of Bukit Brown

October 17, 2022

+0 Nature of Bukit Brown

Nature of Bukit Brown

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Bukit Brown968
Hill 3322
Hill 1185
Hill 4168
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Hill 298
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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

Ulu Pandan War Cemetery

On 12 July 1955, a cemetery for British servicemen was opened by Major-General D. D. C. Tulloch at a site along Ulu Pandan Road near Clementi Road. He received the keys to the cemetery gates from Mr. W. E. Warr, the Garrison Engineer. The 2.5 hectare cemetery had different burial plots for Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Protestants and Roman Catholics. The cemetery commemorates many of those who gave their lives in the defense of Malaysia and Singapore during: The Malayan emergency 1948-1960 The Indonesian Confrontation, 1964-1966 In 1975, arrangements were made for the cemetery’s 1,587 graves to be relocated to make way for urban redevelopment. Some of the exhumed remains were later reburied at the Kranji War Memorial. From one article, it was said that a total of 748 were reburied at Kranji War Memorial, 838 were cremated and 1 was privately buried. Ulu Pandan War Cemetery (source: National Archives Australia) Layout of the Ulu Pandan Military Cemetery Gates of Ulu Pandan British W...

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 Pah...

Chua Tian Poh (Lao Sua)

Chua Tian Poh passed away at the age of 62 on 11 November 1954. From his tomb, the name of his children; Sons: Chua Ah Gong, Chua Ah Lai, Chua Soh Lai Daughters: Chua Bee Neo, Chua Cheot Tee, Chua Bong Chee, Chua Puteh, Chua Peck Choo, Chua Ah Pong, Chua Peck Heok, Grandsons: Chua Goo Kiah, Chua Tee Kiah Granddaughters: Chua Gek Neo, Chua Choo Neo Chua Tian Poh married Madam Teo Kim Neo (daughter of Mr. Teo Hong and Madam Ang Cheok Neo ). I also heard from his descendants that Mr. Chua Tian Poh was an employee in one of Mr. Teo Hong's company. Chua Tian Poh command of chinese was poor, so he communicated with his wife Teo Kim Neo and children in a mixture of Malay and English. I also found out that Mr. Teo Hong wasn’t happy when he knew his employee, Chua Tian Poh was courting his daughter. Teo Kim Neo fell out with his father but remained in good terms with her mother, Madam Ang Cheok Neo. When Madam Teo Kim Neo passed away, she left behind four apartment units along Eng Hoon Roa...

Seow Poh Quee and family (Bukit Brown)

Seow Poh Quee (蕭寶貴) passed away at the age of 61 on 28 March 1965. The names of his children listed at his tomb are; Sons: Seow Soo Jin, Seow Cheng Jin, Seow Kim Jin, Seow Ong Jin Daughters: Seow Wee Lian and Seow Gek Lian. Seow Poh Quee Family Mother: Madam Yeo Boey Neo nee Mrs. Seow Chye Watt Madam Yee Boey Neo (Mrs Seow Chye Watt) passed away at the age of 70 on 23 February 1929. In the obituary notice, Mrs Seow Chye Watt (nee Yeo Boey Neo) departed this life at "Oberon", 117, Emerald Hill Road on 23 February 1929 age 70, leaving her 3 surviving sons, 3 daughters, 3 sons-in-law, 4 daughters-in-law and 26 grandchildren. Mrs. Seow Chye Watt nee Madam Yeo Boey Neo Wife: Mrs. Gloria Seow Poh Quee / Lim Guat Chwee Madam Lim Guat Chwee passed away at the age of 88 on 1 December 1992. on her obituary notice the names of her children are as follows; Children: Arthur Seow, Donald Seow, Mrs. Irene Tan, Walter Seow, Charles Seow, Mrs. Diana Lee Sons-in-law / Daughters-i...

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...

Anne Culas (St. Michael's Catholic Church Ipoh Cemetery)

Anne (wife of J.M. Morais) was born on 26 July 1905 and passed away on 1 May 1945. Fortunately, with the name of Anne's husband name there i was able to find her full name and also link this tomb to the tomb of John Angelus Morais (her brother-in-law ). J.M. Morais of the Anderson School, Ipoh got engage in India in 1926 to Miss Anne Culas (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Culas of Port Trivandrum. The marriage will take place on 10 February 1926 at St. Anthony's Church, Port Trivandrum. J.M. Morais was the President of the Perak Teachers' Association. Anne Culas / Mrs. J. M. Morais John Emile Morais (14.9.1927 - 30.5. 2006 ) Tomb Mason S.S.M.W 16 Belfield Street, Ipoh References Social and Personal. (1926, January 30). Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle, page 6

Mrs. Seow Chye Watt nee Madam Yeo Boey Neo (Bukit Brown)

Mrs. Seow Chye Watt nee Madam Yeo Boey Beo passed away at the age of 70 at "Oberon", 117 Emerald Hill Road, Singapore on 23 February 1929. She leaves behind 3 sons, 3 daughters, 3 sons-in-law, 4 daughters-in-law and 26 grandchildren. Sons: Seow Poh Leng, Seow Poh Hin and Seow Poh Quee. Mrs. Seow Chye Watt nee Madam Yeo Boey Neo Family Son: Seow Poh Leng /萧保龄 (1883-1942) Seow Poh Leng (second son of Seow Chye Watt) was born in 1882, studied in a Chinese School and later Anglo Chinese School. He competed for the Queen's Scholarship in 1902 but did not get it. From there, he was a chemist' assistant, a schoolmaster, a law clerk, stock-broker, insurance agent and company clerk, cashier to John Little and Co. and General Manager of Ho Hong Bank Seow Poh Leng married Miss Polly Tan Poh Li, daughter of Tan Boon Liat). Seow Poh Leng Son: Seow Poh Quee Seow Poh Quee passed away at the age of 61 on 28 March 1965. The names of his children listed at his t...

Mrs. Koh Chin Joo nee Madam Lim Hong Neo (Lao Sua)

Mrs. Koh Chin Joo nee Madam Lim Hong Neo passed away at the age of 78 on 26 November 1967 leaving behind 4 sons, 2 daughters, adopted daughter (Madam Lim Sim Kee), son-in-law (Cheong Chee Hock), 2 daughters-in-law and several grandchildren. The cortege left from 507 Havelock Road. Sons: Koh Sian Poh, Koh Sian Cheng, Koh Sian Swee, Koh Sian Hoe Daughters: Koh Gek Choo, Koh Gek Eng Grandson: Koh Kim Seng Granddaughters: Koh Kim Choo, Koh Kim Suan, Koh Kim Lian, Koh Kim Guat Mrs. Koh Chin Joo nee Madam Lim Hong Neo Family Husband: Koh Chin Joo Mr. Koh Chin Joo of 507 Havelock Road was a clerk employed by Messrs. Fraser and Neave Ltd. Mr. Koh Chin Joo passed away at his residence, 507 Havelock Road at the age of 64 on 13 March 1951. He leaves behind his widow, 4 sons (Koh Sian Poh, Koh Sian Cheng, Koh Sian Swee and Koh Sian Hoe, 2 daughters (Mrs. Cheong Chee Hock and Miss Koh Gek Eng, Rosie) and 1 adopted daughter (Mrs. Koon Kim Leng), 5 grandchildren, 2 sons-...

Tan Swee Hoe mansion in Batu Pahat

The status of Tan Swee Hoe's mansion at 160 Jalan Kluang, Batu Pahat was finally revealed! The mansion that was once owned by Tan Swee Hoe's descendants was sold and the rumors circulating at one point of time was it was going to be demolished. In fact various readers of my blog sent me pictures of the mansion after it was sold where the rooftop of the building and the interiors was completely stripped. Tan Swee Hoe's mansion (minus the roof) Well it was finally revealed in various Malaysian papers ( Sin Chew Daily , Johor China Press ) that it was purchased by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, the Sultan of Johor. It was reported in the papers that the Sultan of Johor plans to restore the building and turn it into a Heritage Centre featuring the artefacts of the Johor Chinese community as well as as artefacts from China as a strong symbol to reaffirm the long relationship between the Johor Sultanate and China. About Tan Swee Hoe Tan Swee Hoe T...

Qing Ming - Five-colored paper

During Qing Ming, even if you are passive observer, you will noticed visited tombs with colored papers placed on tomb mount an/ or the headstone. Some are just strewn randomly behind while others follow a pattern of 5 color papers being grouped together. Whatever the individual descendant family practice, from what i read from online sources and asked through oral accounts from descendants is the act of placing the colored papers (called ya zhi (压纸) ) on top of the headstone is symbolic of the fact that this tomb is well taken care of by the filial descendants. The paper typically have 5 colors, representing the 5 elements (Fire, Earth, Gold, Wood and Water) and / or the 5 cardinal directions (North, South, East. West and Centre). 5 colored paper with stones to hold them down Five colored paper on the grave as well on top of the headstone 5 colored paper on headstone Note: None of the perspectives expressed here represent singular truths given the syncretic nature of Chinese...

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Oriental Honey Buzzard in Bidadari Park - Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak)
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