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

Home
Bukit Brown
Bidadari Christian Cemetery
Rojak Librarian+
Sitemap

Home
Bukit Brown
Bidadari Christian Cemetery
Rojak Librarian+
Sitemap

Showing posts with the label exhumed

Posts

Koh Chong Keng and Yeo Gek Neo (Bukit Brown)

August 03, 2025

Block 4 Div C +0 exhumed

Block 4 Div C exhumed

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Lim Choon Leng (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div B exhumed +0 Hill 3

Block 3 Div B exhumed Hill 3

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Lim Leong Geok (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div A exhumed +0 Hill 4

Block 4 Div A exhumed Hill 4

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Wee Ban Cheng (Bukit Brown)

February 11, 2025

Bukit Brown +0 exhumed

Bukit Brown exhumed

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Madam Tan Kepok (Mandai Columbarium)

January 14, 2025

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery + Mandai Columbarium

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery Mandai Columbarium

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Madam Lim Bee Neo and Lee Siew Fong (Mandai Columbarium)

January 12, 2025

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery + Mandai Columbarium

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery Mandai Columbarium

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Wee Chim Yean revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

January 12, 2025

exhumed Family - Wee Boon Teng +1 former Bukit Brown cemetery Kapitan Cina Mandai Columbarium

exhumed Family - Wee Boon Teng former Bukit Brown cemetery Kapitan Cina Mandai Columbarium

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Ho Siak Kuan cluster revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

January 11, 2025

exhumed Family - Ho Siak Kuan former Bukit Brown cemetery + Mandai Columbarium

exhumed Family - Ho Siak Kuan former Bukit Brown cemetery Mandai Columbarium

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Tan Huck Khong revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

January 11, 2025

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery + Mandai Columbarium

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery Mandai Columbarium

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Poh Cheng Tee and family revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

January 11, 2025

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery + Mandai Columbarium

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery Mandai Columbarium

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Labels

Bukit Brown949
Hill 3343
Hill 1192
Hill 4172
Died Young163
decorative tiles153
Block 3 Div D138
Block 4 Div A119
Block 3 Div B100
Hill 2100

Show more Show less

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

Total Pageviews

7588676

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 157

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

Support My Efforts

Popular Post

Serendipity encounter with Chia Hian Neo (daughter of Chia Seng Quee and Chua Kim Neo) at Bukit Brown

We arrived Bukit Brown slightly late (as it rained earlier in the morning). We were lucky as Soh Ah Beng who was waiting for us chatted with a family and we were told by Ah Beng that they could not find a tomb at Bukit Brown Hill 4 Section A. Striking a conversation with them and looking at the picture from their phone, i was pleasantly surprised it came from my blogpost on Chia Seng Quee ! What coincidence and good luck as they were just about to leave empty handed. Among the descendant present was no other than Chia Seng Quee's daughter ! - Madam Chia Hian Neo. She is 91 years old, sharp as ever and fit enough to make the long climb up to visit her father. She indeed is an inspiration to me as she still actively participates in community activities and is a Dance Instructor. It was one of her dance student /partner that encouraged her to visit her father, something that the Chia family have done in the past together with their mother, Mrs. Chia Seng Quee nee Chua Kim Neo but due...

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...

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...

Too Nam (Cheras Christian Cemetery)

A Cantonese teacher by the name of Mr. Too Nam (杜南) who taught the late Dr. Sun Yat Sen in Honolulu and maintained their friendship since then, has passed away at the age of 86 years old on 5 October 1939. Mr. Too Nam of No. 1 Old Pudu Road taught Cantonese in Honolulu and California in his younger days and several Malayan Government officials studied under him. Among them were Messrs. Sansom, Fairburn, P.B. Shelly, Pountney, Ridgeway and Rev. Horley where some of his pupils. When the Anti-Opium Society was formed, Mr. Too Nam was one its pioneers. He helped to form the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and was its Secretary for many years. He had a namesake school, the Too Nam School, where many students graduated and went on to public servants and post also in mercantile firms. Other than being a teacher, Mr. Too Nam studied Perpetual Motion, a system where with perpetual motion can be realised and once realised used for the elimination of the disasters to which the earth is subjected...

Madam Kwek Hwee Teck (Bukit Brown)

When i saw the tomb, it was covered with creepers with a huge trunk of a fallen tree that narrowly missed hitting it and initially i thought it was an exhumed tomb as well, as it was small. But cleaning further, it was totally intact just the headstone itself was short and not of typical Teochew design shape although the engraving style made me assume that it was Teochew. Three names were etched on the headstone but who was buried here ? That is the most common question we have for Teochew tombs. The most important clue was the date of birth and death at the altar table. Born 28 July 1878 - Died 28 June 1949 . From the burial registrar i can confirm that the person buried here is Madam Kwek Hwee Teck. Madam Kwek Hwee Teck passed away at the age of 76 on 28 June 1949. Her dialect is Teochew. From the newspaper archives, i found a record of a Mrs. Lee Kee Sin nee Kwee Hwee Teck who passed at the age of 77 at her residence, 90 Wilkinson Road, Singapore. She leaves behind; 1 son; Lee ...

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...

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...

Chia Thian Hock and family (Bukit Brown)

The beautiful large ceramic picture of a tomb in Hill 3 Division B, Plot 170 caught my eye. After some cleaning up, it was the tomb of Mrs Chia Thian Hock ( Chia Thiam Hock),born on February 5, 1888 and died on September 5, 1930 at the age of 42. The obituary confirmed with what is inscribed in the tomb, that Mrs Chia Thian Hock nee Lee Siew Hiok passed away at the age of 43 at her residence in No. 69 Cuppage Road on Friday, 5th September 1930. She is survived by 8 sons: Chia Poh Eng, Chia Poh Chiang, Chia Poh Koon, Chia Poh Leng, Chia Poh Yian, Chia Poh Yong, Chia Poh Chuan, Chia Poh Chye, 5 daughters: Chia Siew Gim, Chia Siew Kim, Chia Siew Wan, Chia Siew Hong, Chia Sia Kim and 1 daughter-in-law. There was an acknowledgement by Mr. Chia Thian Hock thanking those who attended the wake at his residence in No. 69 Cuppage Road. Mrs Chia Thian Hock nee Madam Lee Siew Hiok Mrs Chia Thian Hock Chia Thian Hock (Chia Thiam Hock) of chop Hiap Thye Chiang is a p...

A visit of rediscovery and closure (Bukit Brown)

The tomb request came in to help a descendant (Tan Lay Hoon) to reconnect the tombs she once visited with her recently deceased father in the past in Bukit Brown. Thanks to the photos and information from her previous visit that she documented very well, finding the tombs was not too difficult (of course made easier with Soh Ah Beng). The only exception was the search for the tomb of her grandmother, Madam Sim Geok Kim which ended taking a bit longer as we were initially searching in the wrong division. It was at the tomb of Madam Sim Geok Kim tomb i was told about the story of Lay Hoon's father, Mr. Tan Yam Cheng and that he was only about 2 years old when her mother passed away. Yet i can see from the tomb of Madam Sim Geok Kim it was refurbished in the past well visited by her family. For me, this visit in my personal opinion seems to brings some closure to Lay Hoon seeing that now, her dad is now reunited with his mother, Madam Sim Geok Kian and their fellow family members som...

Chua Kim Teng and family (Lao Sua)

One of the interesting cluster of tombs in Greater Bukit Brown is the cluster of tombs that belong to Chua Kim Teng (蔡金鼎) (1865 - 1944), his father, Chua Eng Cheong /Chua Ying Chiang (蔡應昌) and Chua Kim Teng's second wife, Seow Geok Lian (萧玉銮). Chua Kim Teng was said to have made his fortunes in rubber and property and produce imports from Pontianak, Dutch Borneo. Chua Kim Teng was the sole proprietor of a private market in the East Coast Road area (mention in the papers in 1930). This came to light in a suit by Chua Kim Teng against the Municipal Commissioners who wanted the market closed and eventually managed publicly. He was once the Vice-President and subsequently the President of the Cheng Kee Hean Association (founded in 1893) and his house played host to its gatherings including its Silver Jubilee in 1918 and its 28th Anniversary celebration in 1921. Chua Kim Teng passed away during the Japanese Occupation in 1944. He had 3 wives , the first two were sisters (first wife...

Rojak Librarian +

Latex cup found in the jungles of Greater Bukit Brown - Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak)
Oriental Honey Buzzard in Bidadari Park - Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak)
Dog-faced Water Snake (Pasir Ris Park) - Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak)
Buffy Fish Owl (Pasir Ris Park) - Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak)
Common Bluebottle butterfly (Kopi Sua) - Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak)

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