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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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Crimson-Winged or Banded Woodpecker?

January 05, 2008

singapore ubin woodpecker

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A nice morning walk in Ubin

November 24, 2007

Changi Village hornbill ubin

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Chek Jawa - Part II

August 16, 2007

chek jawa singapore ubin

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Chek Jawa revisited -Part I

August 16, 2007

chek jawa singapore ubin

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Sime Forest Butterflies

August 06, 2007

butterflies sime forest singapore

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Sime Forest Amphibians

August 06, 2007

amphibian sime forest singapore

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St George's Church, Singapore (Red-brick building)

Church Red-brick building St. George

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Python having lunch

botanic gardens Python singapore

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The old Commando building revisited (Changi Village)

Changi Village Commando nostalgia

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Brahminy Kite

brahminy kite eagle nature reserve singapore sungai buloh

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Trip to Sebana Cove, Pengerang Johor to watch fireflies

firefly johor pengerang

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Library Assistant jailed

November 20, 2006

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Penang -the sights and mostly Penang laksa

August 03, 2006

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Collared Scoop owl "captured" in the afternoon

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Interesting unknown tree along Tampines St 12

roadside trees wayside trees

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The end of the old Changi General Hospital ?

Changi Village nostalgia old changi hospital

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Labels

Bukit Brown958
Hill 3316
Hill 1184
Hill 4163
Died Young141
decorative tiles134
Block 3 Div D130
Block 4 Div A113
Hill 297
Block 3 Div B86

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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)

The Stories Behind: Birdwatcher turned grave hunter reunites families with forgotten tombs of their ancestors(2022)

Rojak Librarian+ (other Rojak matters)

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Popular Post

Mrs. Lim Choon Leng nee Ong Swee Neo (Bukit Brown)

Madam Ong Swee Neo passed away at the age of 27 at her residence No. 52 Cornwall Street on 5 May 1927. She is the wife of Lim Choon Leng and sister-in-law of Lim Leong Geok. She leaves a widow and 5 children to mourn her loss. Listed on her tomb are the name of her children; Sons: Lim Teck Kim, Lim Teck Kuan, Lim Teck Lee, Lim Teck Hock Daughter: Lim Cheong Neo Husband: Lim Choon Leng There was mention of thanks by Mr. Lim Leong Geok whom thank relatives and friends who paid respects to the funeral oof the late Mr. Lim Choon Leng (reported on 27 January 1930). Daughter: Lim Cheong Neo alias Baby The engagement is announced between Chia Chee Hong ( second son of the late Mr. Chia Yew Siang and Mrs. Chia Yew Siang) to Miss Lim Cheong Neo (Baby), eldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lim Choon Leng, Singapore ( 17 September 1940). Mother-in-law: Ong Chai Neo Ong Chai Neo passed away at the age of 55 at her residence No. 52 Cornwall Street on 23 October 191...

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 Pah...

Muslim tombstone at Bidadari Park

I have been visiting again Bidadari after the Bidadari Park reopened to residents surrounding the neighbourhood as well as the birding community. I haven birding in that area before its closure almost 8 years ago and during that time, i still do see remnants of old batu nisan at the Muslim section at the cemetery. While bird watching today, i also kept a look on the grounds to see if any headstones remain and to my surprise i found one large one which documented. This was found on the park grounds closer to Bidadari Park Drive and surprisingly just next to the walking path. Muslim tombstone / Batu Nisan at Bidadari Park - 18 December 2024 Past Discoveries Below are some of my observations of the space during 2012 to 2016 time line. Grave stone markers (E404 and G 239 ) Past post on Bidadari Trumpter Hornbill in Bidadari (April 18, 2016), posted on April 19, 2016 Birdwatching in Bidadari (January 10, 2016), posted on January 20, 2016 Birdwatching in Bi...

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...

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...

Christian Cemetery Serangoon Road Burial Receipt (Syonan Tokubetu Si)

Thanks to the community contribution of Ben Yew, i now managed to get another glimpse of a Burial Receipt that was used for Bukit Brown Cemetery - but there is a twist to this - the burial receipt was originally printed to be used for the Christian Cemetery, Serangoon Road but it was strike out ! Unlike the previous burial receipt that used Syonan Tokubetu (even though the receipt post dates the Japanese occupiers surrender ), this particular receipt is dated 2604 -2 -19 or 19 February 1944 (if we translate that back to Gregorian Calendar, which was during the Japanese occupation still). My theory was there was more burials in Bukit Brown cemetery and thus needing more receipts, the Christian Cemetery, Serangoon Road (possibly Bidadari) ones was reused. The burial receipt was for Ang Kah Peck who passed away on 19 February 1944 and is buried in the Pauper Division, Block 4 Division 2, plot 734 B. The burial receipt clearly states: nil (Free Burial). As Ang Kah Peck was buried in t...

Madam Tan Kiok Neo (Kopi Sua)

Madam Tan Kiok Neo passed away at the age of 74 on 15 December 1949. Sons: Lee Chong Bee, Lee Chong Kung, Lee Chong Tin Daughters: Lee Siew Eng, Lee Siew Hiong Grandsons: Lee Eng Soon, Lee Eng Seng Granddaughters: Lee Suat Ngoh, Lee Suat Chen, Lee Chuay ?, Lee Guat Ngoh, Lee Eng Guan, Lee Eng ?, Lee Eng Hoon In an article dated 25 September 1958, there was mentioned of a Peter Lee Phuay who passed away at the age of 84. He is the father of Mrs. Cheong Ah Khoo, Mrs. Tan Chong Eng, Leong Chong Nee, Lee Chong Kang, Lee Chong Tin. The cortege left from No. 25 Lorong 15 for Queen of Peace Church and after that Bidadari. (This is one possible lead i have). Madam Tan Kiok Neo Madam Tan Kiok Neo What is interesting about this tomb which i learned from Raymond Goh is the meaning of the words beneath her age which is hokkien for the ancestral town or village she is from Hokkien Tang Owah Kwao Bauy Hung Hai Pee Khoo Tan Por Aw Pee Sia Location...

Phua Kiong Aik and Lee Oh Yee (Bukit Brown)

Phua Kiong Aik was the manager of chop Guan Teck Hin. He was also a Vice President of the Amicable Athletic Association (1936-1937). Phua Kiong Aik passed away at the age of 39 on 12th January 1943. Madam Lee Oh Yee passed away at the age of 31 on 14th August 1938. Listed on their tomb are the names of their children; Sons: Phua Khek Yam, Phua Khek Beng Daughters; Phua Soh Khim, Phua Soh Cheng Phua Kiong Aik, the manager of chop Guan Teck Hin of 2, Telok Ayer Street claimed trial on 3 charges of selling rice at higher price than that fixed by the Government in 1939. Location of tomb Block 4 Section A,

Wee Thiam Kee and family (Bukit Brown)

Wee Thiam Kee, Wee Thiam Siew and Wee Thiam Leong were partners in the business of Cigars, Cigarettes and Tobacco Dealers under the firm name Ban Leong and Company at 229, Rochore Road. On July 1, 1930, Wee Thiam Kee left this partnership to form his own company under the company name Chop Hong Leong. His two brothers, Wee Thiam Siew and Wee Thiam Leong continued the partnership under the name of Ban Leong and Company. There is not much information about his career, but because he passed away intestate (i.e, without a will) in 1939, it lead to a probate suit which gave me more information about him, his wife and three secondary wives. His first wife was Madam Ang Boey Neo and secondary wives are Khoo Ah Kow, Tan Beng Choo and Koh Cheng Keow. Wee Thiam Kee Secondary wives legal widows In a court case that span several days, the defendant, Madam Ang Boey Neo (alias Ang Meow Neo) contended that the 3 women were just mistresses and not lawful widows. Wee Thiam Siew (broth...

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