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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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Madam Wee Cheet (Bukit Brown)

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Phua Oen Wee and Tan Guak Sim (Bukit Brown)

benches Block 3 Div D sikh guard

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Mr. and Mrs. Tan Kim Teat (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division E Block 3 Div A

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Lim Keng Seng (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division E decorative tiles

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Qing Ming 2026 - with the descendants of Madam Tan Gim Neo

Block 1 Division E qingming video

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Elaine Ng Siew Nyuik (former Bidadari Christian Cemetery)

Died Young former bidadari cemetery

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Archibald Maclean (former Bidadari Cemetery)

elephant former bidadari cemetery marble

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Madam Yeo Hian Neo (Bukit Brown)

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Chan Pek Eng alias Yew Hai (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div C marble

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Chan Cheng Kiat (Bukit Brown)

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Jalan Besar Stadium (Images from the Past)

Aerial view Images from the Past

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Mr. and Mrs. Wee Teong Chai (Bukit Brown)

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Paya Lebar Airport and Airport Road (Images from the Past)

February 28, 2026

Aerial view Images from the Past

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Dream Clue to 11 Year Mystery - Finding Boey Kai Hong

February 25, 2026

war

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Bukit Brown905
Hill 3330
Hill 1186
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Hill 4161
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Block 4 Div A128
Block 3 Div C109
Block 4 Div C106

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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

Rojak Librarian+ (other Rojak matters)

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Popular Post

Another beautiful set of tiles uncovered

The latest discovery of this tiles on a tomb that had already been exhumed left us puzzled, reminding us that much still lies hidden, waiting to be uncovered. Although we have encountered many decorative tiles on tombs, this example stands out as something entirely new to us. Because the tomb was previously exhumed, we cannot date with certainty when the individual passed away—though it may have been in the early 1900s. Our first impression was that the piece resembled Delftware or transparent print tiles, given its thickness and finish. Alongside it, the panel also contained a relief-moulded flower tile of unknown origin, a type we have seen before Rare decorative tiles uncovered ! - Pig and Piglet / Flower and Floral sprig Note: using Claude AI to provide description below The pig and the piglet tile A large-format single figurative azulejo tile (known in Portuguese as "azulejo de figura avulsa") depicting a sow (mother pig) with a piglet, with a wooden fence in the backgr...

Phuah Chong Wah (Bukit Brown)

Phuah Chong Wah passed away at the age of 58 on 13 December 1935 at No 572 Geylang Road (opposite Lorong 31). He is survived by his widow, Son: Phuah Cheng Hoe Daughter. Phuah Guek Im Tomb of Phuah Chong Wah Family Parents: Phuah Kee Soon and Seah Watt Neo Phuah Kee Soon passed away in June 1909. His wife Madam Seah Watt Neo passed away at the age of 72 on 6 November 1928. The children listed on their niche are as follows; Sons: Phuah Chong Bee, Phuah Chong Tin and Phuah Chong Wah Madam Seah Watt Neo passed away at the age of 73 on 6 November 1923 at No. 4 Peck Seah Street. She is the mother of Messrs. Phuah Chong Tin and Phuah Chong Wah. She leaves beside her 2 sons, 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren to mourn her loss Phuah Kee Soon and Seah Watt Neo Phuah Chong Bee The information provided on the niche of Phuah Chong Bee is a rare gem and gives context of how many times they had to "move house". It shared that Phuah Chong Bee and his parents, Ph...

Mrs. Ong Chin Beng nee Madam Mabel Tan (Bukit Brown)

Mrs. Ong Chin Beng nee Mabel Tan passed away at the General Hospital after a long spell of typhoid illness. She was 28 and is survived by her husband and 3 children. The cortege left from No B Lorong 37, Geylang for Bukit Brown. Her tomb was overgrown and after some clean up, we can see the following from her tomb; In Loving Memory Mrs. C.B. Ong nee Mabel Tan who died on 19/12/1935 at the age of 28 Chiloren:- Alice Ong, Charlie Ong and Cwennie Ong. What is of course obvious other than the marble headstone is all in English, is the cross on her tomb. Christian tombs in Bukit Brown are rare as although Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery is a cemetery for chinese of various dialect groups but it is not known to be a cemetery of the Christian faith. Christians are usually buried in Bidadari Cemetery. That being said, i have a few tombs with cross on the tomb in Bukit Brown. Another thing you can spot is the headstone is at the back of the rectangle tomb and there is an obvious spell...

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...

Chee Wan Lee Neo (Lao Sua)

Madam Chee Wan Lee Neo passed away at the age of 79 on 23 October 1951. Sons: Seet Jin Siew, Seet Nam Yong Daughter-in-law: Tan Chit Neo Daughrer: Seet Kim Bong Grandsons: Seet Tiang Hock, Seet Thiam Geok, Seet Teng Hong Granddaughters: Seet Hood Neo, Seet Tham Neo, Seet Buay Neo, Seet Suan Neo, Seet Kiok Neo, Seet Geok Neo Chee Wan Lee Neo Possible connections Husband: Seet Lian Saick / Seet Lian Seck (died 1908) Her husband is Seet Lian Saick (son of See Hood Kee) who married a daughter of Chee Jin Siew and from their union, 2 sons - See Jin Lock, See Jin Siew (source: Negri Malaka -Dhulu-Dhulu. (Kabar Slalu, 3 March 1924). Chee Wan Lee Neo (徐遠理) is the daughter of Chee Kiat Bong 徐吉夢 /Chee Jin Siew 徐仁壽 and Ong Siok Neo (王淑娘). (source: Geni.com). Woman and Son Bankrupt - Nonya's Evidence in Malay An elderly Chinese woman, dressed in nyonya style was stated to possess securities worth $42,000 as when Seet Lian Seck passed away in 1908, Chee Wan Lee Neo was ...

Teo Hoo Lye (Bukit Brown)

Teo Hoo Lye (1853-1933) Teo Hoo Lye (18 Oct 1853- 16 Nov 1933) was born in China and came to Singapore when he was 18. Like many stories of rags to riches of the early pioneers, Teo Hoo Lye worked from ground up, starting as a manual labourer, saving money to open a small grocer business called chop Soon Bee in Rochore Road. At the age of 25 he went to the Natuna and Anambas Islands and got into the copra (extracted for its coconut oil) business which was a valuable commercial product then. This then led him to expand and become a steamship owner (Aing Hong, Flevo, Batavier, Benuit, etc) and he became a consignee of ships for the export of copra, sago, rubber, etc from Natuna to Singapore and also to Sarawak. His company, Teo Hoo Lye S.S. Co. (or Soon Bee Steamship Co.) was eventually liquidated in 1935, for half a million dollars (by his trustees after his death) and 12 steamships such as Willy o' the Wisp, Massima, Huat Chiang among others bought up by Heap Eng Moh Steamsh...

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...

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...

The school in the jungle off Kheam Hock Road (Chin Chung Public School)

I have long known that there was a school that existed near Bukit Brown since its mentioned back when there was an exhibition about Bukit Brown ( Bukit Brown: Documenting New Horizons of Knowledge 2014 ). The name of the school was called Chin Chung Public School (振中学校) and it's address was No 25, Jalan Berahi, off Kheam Hock Road, Singapore 11 (The postal code was only 2 digits !). The interest came back recently when Soh Ah Beng, a friend and fellow explorer showed me his school report card and that spurred me to ask this question, where is the original location of the school and is it still there? Today's discovery was a very exciting one because we manage to find out the foundations of Chin Chung Public School was very much still intact and the road that led to the school was still intact as well ! Chin Chung Public School Report Card of Soh Ah Beng Chin Chung Public School no longer exist but the foundation and the steps leading to the school from Jalan Berahi is ...

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