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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. There are many articles on Bukit Brown, exploring the cemetery's past and present, the lives of the people buried there and the social and cultural significance of the site. I also cover about nature and Birdwatching in some of my articles.

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Newspaper mentions (2024)

newspaper mentions

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Teo Seng Teck (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div A Hill 4

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Lee Boon Tiang (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div A Hill 4

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Kam Boon Gong (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div A Hill 4

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Mattthias Pang Hock Swee (St. Joseph's Catholic Church Cemetery)

Died Young St. Joseph Church Cemetery

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Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Cheng (St. Joseph's Catholic Church Cemetery)

St. Joseph Church Cemetery

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Maria Chan Ah Choo (St. Joseph's Catholic Church Cemetery)

St. Joseph Church Cemetery

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Pauline Lim Gek Lung (St. Joseph's Catholic Church Cemetery)

Died Young St. Joseph Church Cemetery

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Peter Goh (St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery)

accident St. Joseph Church Cemetery

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Miss Goh Kim Lian (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div D decorative tiles Died Young

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Teo Hock Leng (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div C Bukit Brown Died Young

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Mrs. Ang Kim Soon nee Koh Geok Kin (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div C Bukit Brown Died Young

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Paying respects to Tan Chwee Lam during Qing Ming (Kopi Sua)

kopi sua qingming

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Paying respects to Goh Chiew San during Qing Ming (Kopi Sua)

kopi sua qingming

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Revisiting 6 years old Thng Mooi Mooi for Qing Ming (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div 3 Bukit Brown Died Young

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Qing Ming at Tan Quee Lan cluster (2024)

Block 4 Div A Bukit Brown qingming

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Searching for Seet Soon Kyet of Jambi (Bukit Brown)

Bukit Brown qingming

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Labels

Bukit Brown948
Hill 3301
Hill 1181
Hill 4152
Block 3 Div D129
decorative tiles127
Died Young122
Block 4 Div A103
Hill 294
birdwatching83

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Rojak Librarian: Nature has a lot to teach us, if only we stop to pay attention.

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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)

Archive

2024 52

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 112
- December 13
- November 20
- 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

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Popular Post

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

Chew Boon Lay (Bukit Brown)

Chew Boon Lay (周文礼) (1852-1933) was born in a small village in Changchow, Amoy. He became an orphan in his late teens and decided to take up his uncle's invitation to come over to Siam (formerly Thailand). He laboured hard under this tyrant of an uncle who paid him nothing and made him work from dawn to dust. Chew Boon Lay and Madam Ong Cheng Neo Saved by heavenly intervention On a faithful evening, 3 years after being practically been a slave, a visitor was said to have stole a sum of money and this uncle put the entire blame on Chew Boon Lay and threatened to turn him in to the police. In desperation, Chew Boon Lay came up with an idea to win the money through a stake on a lottery. Borrowing 1 tical from his sympathetic aunt, he prayed before Kwan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy and in a moment of delirium or what is said a miracle, he heard two characters been spoken to him. He won, paid his uncle and with whatever left over vowed never to work for his uncle again and went on to s

Khoo Choon Hoe (Bukit Brown)

Khoo Choon Hoe passed away at the age of 45 at his residence, No. 47 Upper Serangoon Road on 23 March 1939, leaving behind his mother (Mrs. Khoo Boon Seng), wife, 2 sons and 3 daughters. Listed on his tomb are the name of his children; Sons: Khoo Kim Yong, Khoo Teck Jim Daughters: Nellie Khoo, Alice Khoo, Ivy Khoo Tomb of Khoo Choon Hoe Family Parents: Khoo Boon Seng and Madam Soh Jang Neo Khoo Boon Seng passed away on 4th October 1935. His wife, Madam Soh Jang Neo passed away on 17th August 1954. Khoo Boon Seng Madam Soh Jang Neo Daughter: Nellie Khoo Miss Nellie Khoo (eldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Khoo Choon Hoe) got engaged to Mr. Seow Cheng Swee (eldest son of Mr. Seow Kway Fee and the late Madam Lim Kwan Geok). Anthony Seow Cheng Swee passed away on 15 May 1993 at the age of 72. Anthony Seow Cheng Swee Second Lieutenant Joseph Seow of the Armed Forces (son of Mr. and Mrs Cheng Swee) married Miss Lim Seok Lee (daughter of the Mr. Lim Chong Pang and Madam Chia Ch

Loh Kye Wee and family (Bukit Brown)

Loh Kye Wee passed away on 4th May 1934 at 96 Deskar Road (off Jalan Besar). He was a Director of Malayan Broadcasting Co. Ltd. Prior to this he was the Cashier of Jaegar and Co. for more than 20 years. Loh Kye Wee resigned from Messrs. Jaegar and Co and left for Bangkok in 1932 to take up a new appointment but returned to Singapore in March 1934 because of failing health. He is survived by his wife (Madam Chia Geok Neo), 1 son (Loh Hock Seng), 3 daughters, 5 brothers, 4 sisters. (Bangkok and Malacca papers please copy). The burial registrar list Loh Kye Wee's age as 42 years old. Family Brother: Loh Kye Juay Loh Kye Juay passed away at 14 Boat Quay on 3rd March 1937, age 62.He is survived by his wife (Yeo Liang Neo), 4 brothers, 3 sisters, 4 sons, 2 daughters, 1 son-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law and 5 grandchildren. Wife: Madam Seah Geok Whatt Madam Seah Geok Whaatt passed away on 16 September 1939. Listed on her tomb is the name of 1 son: Loh Hock Seng. Son: Loh Hock Seng / Wil

Newspaper mentions (2024)

白友源 started visiting Bukit Brown Cemetery more than 10 years ago and has recorded about 1,000 grave owners so far, and has also helped many people find the footprints of their ancestors.白友源 (51 years old, technology project manager) is a nature lover. He first came into contact with Bukit Brown in 2010 when he went to the jungle near Ronny Road for bird watching activities. "There was a group of people gathered around the tomb, so I asked them about it out of curiosity and began to learn about the long history there." He also learned that the government planned to build an expressway there , so he decided to work with like-minded "brownies" (people who are keen to unearth the historical treasures of Bukit Brown Cemetery) to preserve Bukit Brown. Over the years, 白友源 has recorded about 1,000 grave owners on his blog " Rojak Librarian ". He looked for clues from the name, year, children and other information on the tombstone, and searched a large amount of i

Kam Keng Siang (Bukit Brown)

Kam Keng Siang was born in China at 12 noon on Monday 30 October 1865 and passed away at the age of 61 at 4pm on 11 January1926 at his residence in No 22 and 22-1 Kerbau Lane. He leaves behind his widow, four sons; Kam Swee Hin, Kam Swee Guan, Kam Swee Beng, Kam Swee Kiat, two daughters; Kam Swee Neo, Kam Swee Bee, a son-in-law, Chua Cheng Quee and several grandchildren. I found out from oral conversation in 2024 from their descendants that Mr. Kam Keng Siang was a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner and proprietor of Chop Ban San. Mr. Kam Keng Siang and Madam Tay Choo Neo Mr. Kam Keng Siang and Madam Tay Choo Neo The No 22 and 22-1 Kerbau Lane was a property he bought in 1913 at the Ching Keng Lee & Co. property auction at 3204 sq feet for $4150. Probate of his will was granted to Tay Choo Neo, Kam Swee Guan and Kam Swee Beng who were appointed to be trustee to Kam Keng Siang's estate. Family Wife: Tay Choo Neo Tay Choo Neo was born in China at 7pm on

Paying respects to Tan Chwee Lam during Qing Ming (Kopi Sua)

We meet a nice gentleman at the end of the tar road at Kopi Sua. He smiled and spoke to me first, curious to find out we we doing here as we were exploring Kopi Sua. The gentleman was Mr. Tan Kian Seng and he was there with his family to pay respects to his father, Mr. Tan Chwee Lam who passed away in 1955. Mr. Tan Kian Seng is the youngest son of Mr. Tan Chwee Lam. They already finished their Qing Ming and was about to head back when i met them and initially i didn't want to disturb them from leaving. I was again very fortunate because his sons (Tan Chee Wee and Tan Zhi Aun) just like their father were friendly and kindly stayed on for a short while allowing me to chat with them. Their cousin, Tan Cheng Lan was also present in the group in demonstration of the family's filial piety. Just like some families, they are concerned that their parents are getting older and will have difficulty paying respects in the future. Their concerns are real of course and exhumation to relocat

Teo Seng Teck (Bukit Brown)

Teo Seng Teck passed away at the age of 51 on 27 April 1936. Children listed on his tomb are as follows; Son: Teo Chuan Seng, Wee Hoe Choon Daughter: Teo Ding Neo Not much information, but following a possible lead, i saw an newspaper article of a Madam Seet Bee Keow alias Niah Chee Tua Gong (mother of Mr. Wee Kim Hoe) passed away at age of 72 at her residence M22 1018D Flower Road via Hillside Drive, Upper Serangoon Road on 25 January 1934. She left behind 1 son, 2 daughters, 2 son-in-law (Messrs. Teo Seng Teck and Oh Siew Hee), 2 daughter-in-law and several grandchildren. Buried in Bukit Brown. Teo Seng Teck Tomb of Teo Seng Teck Block 4 Division A, plot 275

A kidnap bid foiled in the Shaw family - Bukit Brown connection

This week's news was abuzz with first, the passing of Sir Run Run Shaw (CBE, GBM), the legendary movie mogul. He died on January 7, 2014, aged 107. He is survived by 2 sons ( Shaw Vee Meng, Shaw Vee Chung, Harold ), 2 daughters (Dorothy Shaw, Violet Shaw ) , 2 daughter-in-laws ( Josephine Kho, Diana Wee) and many grand and great grandchildren. His wife was Lady Lily Shaw (deceased ) and years after his first wife passing married Madam Mona Fong. The second news that captivated many Singaporean's was the kidnap attempt of a 79 year old woman, Madam Eng Lai Poh. She is the mother of Mr Lim Hock Chee, Chief Executive of public listed company Sheng Siong, a supermarket chain. The ransom sought by the kidnappers was $20 million. Mr. Lim Hock Chee called the police who helped tracked down the kidnappers and caught the suspects. Bukit Brown connection to Shaw and kidnapping You may be wondering how this week's two story is related to Bukit Brown? Rewind back to October

Lee Boon Tiang (Bukit Brown)

Lee Boon Tiang passed away at the age of 59 on 18 June 1936 Son: Lee Choon Yan, Lee Siew Yan Daughters: Lee Eng Neo, Lee Leng Neo, Lee Chan Neo, Lee Lek Neo, Lee Bong Neo Tomb of Lee Boon Tiang Location of tomb Block 4 Division A, plot 366

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