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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 decorative tiles

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Neo Chiew and family (Bukit Brown)

February 01, 2026

Block 3 Div D decorative tiles

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Madam Ng Wai Sim (Bukit Brown)

January 31, 2026

Block 4 Div C decorative tiles

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Mrs. Tok Hong Kiat nee Madam Tan Chin Neo (Bukit Brown)

January 18, 2026

Block 4 Div C decorative tiles WWII Youtube Shorts

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Madam Tay Kim Noi (Bukit Brown)

January 12, 2026

Block 2 Division F decorative tiles Died Young Teochew Tomb

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Lim Teow Nam's daughter (Bukit Brown)

December 06, 2025

Block 2 Division F decorative tiles Died Young video

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Chiew Eng Hoh (Bukit Brown)

December 02, 2025

Block 3 Div C decorative tiles

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Mrs. Chia Cheow Beng nee Lee Guat Goh (Bukit Brown)

October 26, 2025

Block 3 Div C decorative tiles

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Madam Maria Khoo Siew Neo (Bukit Brown)

October 23, 2025

Block 3 Div C decorative tiles

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Tan Thoo Khian alias Tan Siew Jian (Bukit Brown)

October 20, 2025

Block 3 Div C decorative tiles

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Madam Chan Ah Moey (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div C ceramic photo decorative tiles

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Madam Low Siok Imm (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div C decorative tiles Epitaph video

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Mrs. Koh Kong Leng nee Goh Choo Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div C decorative tiles Died Young marble

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Bukit Brown911
Hill 3332
Hill 1187
Died Young178
Hill 4164
decorative tiles163
Block 3 Div D148
Block 4 Div A120
Block 3 Div C107
Block 4 Div C104

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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

Together to the grave - a doctor and his mother (Bukit Brown)

In one of my trips to Bukit Brown, Block 3 Division B, plot 450, i came across a cluster of family graves, with a fence and gate. The way the plaques or memorial stones were laid out got me curious and what i uncovered was a tragic story. Double tragedy A family dinner for the Tan's at a house by the sea in No 135/136 Pasir Panjang Road on 7 February 1968, ended on a sour note, when Madam Siew Lin Neo, 72 years of age suddenly collapsed after dinner. Desperately trying to revive Madam Siew Lin Neo was her eldest son Dr. Essel Tan Sin Lian, 47. He did not manage to save his mother. Grief stricken, he was heard repeating "It's no use being a medical man, if i can't even revive my own mother" . He took the death of her mother very personally, so much so that he blamed himself and he took it as a personal failure. He also subsequently collapsed and was brought to the General Hospital where he died at 3:45 am, 8 hours after the death of his mother on 8 February 196...

Funeral expense of Madam Goh Kim Neo (Bukit Brown)

I do get questions on how much it would have cost for a funeral in Bukit Brown. There are some examples of estimate cost, but today i found a detail example of this for the funeral of Mrs. Lim Chia Teck nee Madam Goh Kim Neo who passed away at the age of 70 on 20 July 1939. The below is a close-up of an entry from the notebook of Mr. Chia Keng Tye (son-in-law of Madam Goh Kim Neo and son of Mr. and Mrs. Chia Hood Theam ) dated 20 July 1939. Breakdown of cost for the funeral expense of the late Madam Goh Kim Neo Chia Keng Tye's handwriting was very clear and gave a detail breakdown of the funeral expense of Madam Goh Kim Neo who passed at the age of 70 on 20 July 1939. The cost came down to $1436. The breakdown includes Grave Plot $60 Burial Fee $15 Malacca Coffin $180 Ang Chin Huat $500 Various Other expenses $301 Making Kubor $380 There is so many interesting nuggets from this breakdown including the cost of the coffin ($180) and how they used the service of Ang Chin Huat...

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 story behind the iconic fig tree in Bukit Brown- Teo Chye Neo found

Madam Teo Chye Neo who lived in 40-A Onan Road was stab in the face and neck after a quarrel with a 16 year old Hylam Boy by the name of Yeo Tin Keng alias Ah Neok (Little Boy) who was employed as a cook in the deceased 's house at 10am in the morning of 23 June 1933. She died as result of extensive hemorrhage. It was also understood that Teo Chye Neo (who was married to Tan Siang Hee) had been pregnant for 7 months. Teo Chye Neo passed away at the age of 27 and was buried in Bukit Brown on 25 June 1933. Her burial entry is at Block 3 Section D, plot 373. Today we tried to find Teo Chye Neo and her unborn child. We found that a huge fig tree, a landmark in Bukit Brown hill 3 as taken over. Tombkeeper Queenie confirmed that there used to be a tomb there when she was young but even back as young lady, the fig tree with it aerial roots hanging down its branches has slowly enveloped the headstone. The fig tree that has engulfed the tomb of Madam Teo Chye Neo The fig tree w...

Funeral of Tay Koh Yat at Bukit Brown

I am fortunate to get a glimpse of rare photos, this time of a gentlemen who was well loved by the people during his lifetime - Mr. Tay Koh Yat (鄭古悅) (1880-1957) , recipient of the Certificate of Honor, Order of the British Empire. This rare photos that i selected for this article were of his funeral procession at Bukit Brown and the photos came to light because it was donated by the family of Tay Soo Choon (one of Tay Koh Yat's son) and made available online via National Library Board (NLB) . For those who are not familiar with Tay Koh Yat, his story is one of rags to riches, eventually becoming the Proprietor of Tay Koh Yat Bus Company. He was also a war hero, a community leader and staunch anti-communist. He was conferred the Order of the British Empire in 1952 for his courage in keeping the bus service in operation despite Communist threats and repeated arsons. Tay Koh Yat passed away at midnight, 29 January 1957 (Chinese New Year eve) at his home at No. 58 Tras Stre...

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...

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...

Khoo Kay Hian (Bukit Brown)

During the rubber boom of the 1910, Khoo Kay Hian / Khoo Kay Hean was well positioned and made money as a rubber broker based in The Arcade. He went on to be the founder of one of the best known stock broking firm in Singapore bearing his namesake, Kay Hian and Co in 1921. He was also a committee member of the Singapore Sharebrokers' Association (this was before it became the Singapore Stock Exchange). Throughout his career, he held various positions and they included: Assistant Secretary of the Ee Hoe Hean Club (1918) ; Management Committee of the Garden Club (1920) Chinese Lantern Procession (1922), Joint Honorary Secretary together with Lim Kee Cheok. (Lim Chwee Chian was the Chairman) and also Committee member of the Singapore Chinese Girls School (1925). He contributed to various causes and some of them include: Kampong Martin Relief Fund (1916), Chinese Halifax Relief Fund (1917), Sir Arthur Young's Portrait Fund (1919), St Andrew's Hospital Building (1920), Nanyang U...

Sheums Circus

Shanghai-born, Mr. Sheum Cheng Fook first started out as a strongman in an acrobatic show in Hong Kong at the age of 19. In 1927, when the troupe performed in Penang, he decided to start his own circus in a small way- with a pair of tigers he bought with his life savings. Sheum Cheang Fook held a reception on 1 August 1941 at the New World to celebrate the grand opening of his circus in Singapore where more than 50 Chinese artistes will perform. Mr. Sheum's circus is back again in Singapore after an absence of 3 years where it tour China and the Philippines. The longest place it stay during this particular was in Hong Kong were it stayed for 11 months. After the war, a penniless Mr. Sheum went to Thailand and gave acrobatic shows. With the earnings and help of friends, he managed to re-built his circus again post war. Veteran Malaysian circus owner and performer, Mr. Sheum Cheang Fook announced his retirement at the age of 70 after spending 51 years of his life at the big top. He h...

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...

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