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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Tan Ean Kiam (Bukit Brown)

July 01, 2013

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Bukit Brown, Our roots, Our future (An exhibition)

June 26, 2013

Bukit Brown cemetery

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Nature in Bukit Brown

June 23, 2013

Bukit Brown nature reserve

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Peranakan Tiles of Bukit Brown

June 16, 2013

Bukit Brown decorative tiles

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Lim Cheng Tee (Bukit Brown)

June 08, 2013

Block 3 Div B Bukit Brown Hill 3

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Chew Bah Kah and family (Bukit Brown)

June 06, 2013

Bukit Brown Division B Hill 1

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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

birdwatching83
Block 1 Division B81
Block 4 Div C78
Lao Sua78
kopi sua69
Block 3 Div A68
Block 3 Div C66
Greater Bukit Brown55
former bidadari cemetery44
Hill 543
ubin37
Bidadari33
Block 1 Division C30
Block 1 Division F30
St. Michael's Catholic Church Ipoh Cemetery30
singapore29
Ipoh27
whitley cemetery27
pegged26
Stories from the Stones24
war24
Block 2 Division B23
Toa Payoh cemetery23
cemetery23
qingming22
Block 1 Division G21
Block 2 Division F21
Gelong Pah21
Images from the Past21
Plus Codes21
exhumed21
Block 2 Division C19
Teochew Tomb19
tomb mason19
Banking18
Family - Ong Sam Leong18
seh ong18
sikh guard18
heritage tour17
Lornie Highway16
nature reserve16
Block 1 Div A14
Block 5 Division B14
Family - Cheang Hong Lim14
Malaysia14
WW2-Tours14
WWII14
Kinmen13
Street Name after Pioneers13
Block 1 Division E12
Block 5 Div C12
Division B12
Early Entertainment12
Family - Tan Kim Seng12
Pasir Ris Park12
former Alexandra Cemetery12
heritage trail12
Architecture11
Block 2 Division D11
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Division A11
Division C11
UNESCO11
Youtube Shorts11
exhumation11
sungai buloh11
temple11
Block 1 Division D10
Division D10
Japanese Koki Calender10
book review10
tampines eco green10
Birding9
Doctor9
Suicide9
kranji war memorial9
nature trail9
nostalgia9
Block 2 Division G8
Block 4 Div B8
Murder8
Nature Society Singapore8
choa chu kang christian cemetery8
hornbill8
pengerang8
railway8
unique name8
war hero8
Aerial view7
Block 5 Division E7
Changi Village7
Elliot Collection7
Family - Lim Nee Soon7
Penang7
newspaper mentions7
queenstown7
sungei buloh7
video7
Block 3 Division A6
Family - Lim Khiam Soon6
Family - Ong Ewe Hai6
Family - Tan Piah Eng6
Family - Tan Tock Seng6
Harrison Forman Collection6
Merchant6
St. Joseph Church Cemetery6
accident6
butterflies6
chek jawa6
choa chu kang cemetery6
circus6
contractor6
eagle6
exhibition6
ktm6
ong burial ground6
tan gulong6
tombkeeper6
Block 1 Division A5
Christian Tomb5
Epitaph5
Family - Choa Giang Thye5
Family - Ho Siak Kuan5
Family - Lim Liak5
Family - Pang Cheng Yean5
Family - Tan Gim Wee5
Family - Tan Kim Ching5
Pauper Section 15
bird behaviour5
garden of remembrance5
japanese tomb5
kheam hock road village5
oriental pied hornbill5
All Saints Memorial4
Family - Chia Hood Theam4
Family - Khoo Teng Hin4
Family - Oei Bok Sien4
Family - Tan Ean Kiam4
Heritage Houses4
Kapitan Cina4
Nesting4
Police4
Stories from the tiles4
alexandra4
block 2 Division H4
botanic gardens4
filial piety4
history4
johor4
kranji marshland4
old changi hospital4
railway bridge4
reservoir4
Alexandra Cemetery3
Block 2 Division A3
Block 3 Div 33
Block 5 Division A3
Bricks3
Catholic3
Church3
Earth Deity3
Family - Chua Soon Leong3
Family - Lee Hoon Leong3
Family - Lim Ho Puah3
Family - Tan Jiak Kim3
Family - Tan Kheam Hock3
Family - Tan Kim Tian3
Family - Teo Hock Jin3
Fraser Hill3
Nature of Bukit Brown3
Old Jurong Road3
Parsee3
Photo of the Month3
Raptor Watch3
Rubber Estates3
St. Andrew's Church Mission3
Yeo Clan Burial Ground3
bukit timah3
choa chu kang parsi cemetery3
kranji3
nparks3
old photo3
opera3
peck san teng cemetery3
peranakan3
peranakan museum3
railway station3
shipowner3
Batam Bricks2
Batu Pahat2
Block 2 Division E2
Block 3 Division 72
Burial Receipt2
Burial Registrar2
Choa Chu Kang Jewish Cemetery2
Circular Road2
Civil Servant2
Colugo2
Communal Trench2
Family - Ang Choon Seng2
Family - Chao Chuan Ghiock2
Family - Cheong Koon Seng2
Family - Chew Boon Lay2
Family - Chew Geok Leong2
Family - Gaw Boon Chan2
Family - Hoe Hoon Seng2
Family - Khoo Phee Soon2
Family - Koh Sek Lim2
Family - Kwa Siew Tee2
Family - Lee Pang Kok2
Family - Ngo Yam Bee2
Family - Oh Sian Guan2
Family - Oon Chin Soon2
Family - Peck Chin Kiat2
Family - Song Ong Siang2
Family - Tan Beng Gum2
Family - Tan Keong Saik2
Family - Teo Hoo Lye2
Family -Choa Eng Wan2
Family -Tan Tock Seng2
George Town2
Grey Heron2
Hong Ka2
Industrialist2
Japanese2
Japanese Cemetery2
Jurong Brickworks2
Lawyer2
Lorong Buangkok2
Malaysia Nature Society2
Maritime and Port Authority2
North Bridge Road2
Outreach2
Parsi2
Pauper Section 1 Division 92
Sago Lane2
Say Tian Hng2
Tin Miner2
Tongmenghui2
binoculars2
books2
ceramic photo2
chinese2
commonwealth2
crocodile2
dawson2
deities2
fire dragon2
hearse2
keppel2
kluang2
labrador2
lorong halus2
macritchie2
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moth2
mount vernon columbarium2
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national day2
parrots2
raffles lighthouse2
red jungle fowl2
rituals2
school2
sime forest2
soldiers2
tanglin halt2
tanjong pagar2
trader2
wayside trees2
woodpecker2
日本2
11 milestone Jurong1
A1
ACRES1
Art Deco Tomb1
Black-crowned Night Heron1
Block 11
Block 2 Pauper Section1
Block 3 Division 21
Block 4 Division 61
Block 4 Division 71
Choa Chu Kang Columbarium1
Church of St. Teresa1
City Hall1
Commando1
Confucius Calendar1
Crypt1
Division 31
Division F1
Division G1
Division H1
Educator1
Family - Chan Kim Boon1
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Family - Chia Ann Siang1
Family - Choa Chuan Ghiock1
Family - Choo Eng Choon1
Family - Chua Cheng Hock1
Family - Chua Kim Teng1
Family - Dr. Lim Boon Keng1
Family - Gan Eng Seng1
Family - Jacob Low Kiok Chiang1
Family - Kho Keng Chuan1
Family - Khoo Kay Hian1
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Family - Khoo Tiong Poh1
Family - Koh Cheng Kiat1
Family - Lee Choon Guan1
Family - Lim Eng Keng1
Family - Lim Kwee Eng1
Family - Lim Pye Lan1
Family - See Ewe Boon1
Family - Tan Kah Kee1
Family - Tan Tye1
Family - Tan Yong Thian1
Family - Teo Eng Hock1
Family - Wee Bin1
Family - Wee Boon Teng1
Family -Choo Eng Choon1
Family -Ee Eng Wah1
Family -Lim Lan1
Family -Ong Sam Leong1
Family -See Eng Wat1
Family -Song Hoot Kiam1
Family -Tan Kheam Hock1
Gaylads Minstrels1
Golden Bell Minstrels1
Golf1
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National Gallery Singapore1
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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)

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...

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...

Wee Kiong Chiang of the Chinese Labour Corps (Kranji War Memorial)

The below picture is the military grave marker for Wee Kiong Chiang, who served in the Chinese Labour Corps and died during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore on 9 April 1945. His service number was CL/48. He is the husband of Madam Sim Kiew End of Bedok, Singapore. The Chinese characters (when read together from right to left (traditional Chinese reading direction) on the tombstone are 鞠躬盡瘁 which translates literally as "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH". Another eloquent translation: Be loyal and devoted to the end. The full phrase is 鞠躬尽瘁死而后已 which can be traced from the 3 kingdom stories which describes the devotion of Zhuge Liang to the Shu Han cause at the death bed of Liu Bei. To me what is most interesting is the Chinese Labour Corps. I didn't know there was there even one. Who were they and what did they do during the war. Read on for my basic research and what i discovered so far. (Do note there is also ample research for the Chinese Labour Corps but that vers...

Bukit Brown Burial Receipt (Syonan Tokubetu Si)

The Syonan Tokubetu Si Cemetery Certification for Registration burial receipt caught my eye in a facebook group post recently. It was a Certification for Registration receipt issue for payment for burial under the Syonan Tokubetsu Si (Municipal Administration for Singapore as it was known during Japanese Occupation). The receipt has the word Bukit Brown written on it and the other important thing was the date - 2nd December 1945 . We know that the Japanese occupiers surrendered on 14 September 1945 and yet this receipt post-dates that significant date. Was there a mistake in the year ? Unlikely as 1945 is written twice in this receipt. It is more likely that post war, office supplies were still rare to come by, so the Municipal Administrators continued using the old receipts. But to be very certain, we looked at 2 things - the burial registrar of Bukit Brown and of another the actual tomb itself ! Burial receipt (photo courtesy of William Teo) The Bukit Brown burial r...

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...

Cheong Hock Chye (Kopi Sua)

Born in Singapore to Mr. and Mrs, Cheong Koon Seng , Cheong Hock Chye was an auctioneer and valuer like his father and started his own auction firm, Cheong Hock Chye and Co, Ltd at 1-A, Raffles Place in 1940. He played an active public role and was a member of the Singapore Rural Board. Other committees he was in included the Boxing Board of Control, Rent Conciliation Board, Singapore Rotary Club, Committee of the Straits Chinese British Association, Rate Payers Association and Hon. Director of the Oleh Oleh Party. Cheong Hock Chye stood for elections as a Progressive candidate for Rural West. He lost to Mr. Balwant Singh (an Independent candidate). When Cheong Koon Seng passed away on 20 March 1934, probate of his will was granted to Cheong Hock Chye and Chia Siew Tin. Cheong Hock Chye Death Cheong Hock Chye, J.P. of Messrs. Cheong Hock Chye & Co., Ltd. passed away at the age of 49 on Sunday 27 February 1949. He leaves behind his beloved widow, 3 sons:...

Madam Sim Ah Tah (Kopi Sua)

Madam Sim Ah Tah passed away at the age of 70 on 9:30 am, 7 July 1949 at No. 761, North Bridge Road leaving behind 3 sons, Messrs. Chua Ah Kim (proprietor of Chua Kim Hee, Electric Co.), Chua Kim Seng, Chua Kim Suan, 3 daughters-in-law and several grandchildren. From Madam Sim Ah Tah tomb, Sons: Chua Kim Hee, Chua Kim Seng, Chua Kim Suan Grandsons: Chua Hai Chwee, Chua Hai Hee, Chua Hai Bin, Chua Hai Hoe, Chua Hai Kow Son: Chua Kim Hee / Chua Ah Kim Chua Kim Hee's company - Chua Kim Hee Electric Co., was the company that provided the Electric, Gas & Sanitation for the The New 7-Storey Hotel & Restaurant at Rochore Road which had its grand opening on 26 April 1953. (That building no longer exist). Chua Kim Hee Electric Co., was located at 761 North Bridge Road and was said to have more than 20 years of experience in this field. The company encounter financial issues and on 28 July 1960 there was an article of Chua Ah Kim trading as Chua Kim Hee Elec...

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...

Relocated tombs from Heng San Teng (Kopi Sua Cemetery)

If you visit the Whitley Road Cemetery also colloquially known as Kopi Sua, there lies a cluster of tombs, each close to each other and each with only headstones. Many of this stones dates back to late 1800s and are from the Heng Sang Teng Cemetery at Silat Road where the Singapore General Hospital is now. What is also interesting are jars that store skeletal remains of the exhumed dead are also visible in concrete container holding areas. The Heng San Teng temple and its public cemetery was established by Seet Hoot Keh (1793-1847) a prominent Hokkien. Born in Malacca, he made his wealth in tin mining before setting business in Singapore during the time when Singapore began to prosper as a British colony and port of call. In 1828, Seet Hoot Keh established the Heng San Teng temple. He eventually retired in Malacca and pass away in 1847. and is survived by 6 sons and 11 daughters. Among them are his grandson, See Ewe Lay (owner of the first Chinese paper, Lat Pau) and his great gra...

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...

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