Raymond Goh (Photo: Bianca Polak)
Join the Tomb Whisperer as he sweeps you away with his passion and knowledge of Bukit Brown.
Sunday 2 June 9 am – 12 pm
Meet under the ole raintree on your left as you enter the gates.
Disclaimer:
By agreeing to take this walking tour of Bukit Brown cemetery you understand and accept that you must be physically fit and able to do so.
To the extent permissible by law, you agree to assume any and all risk of injury or bodily harm to yourself and persons in your care (including child or ward). Dogs are welcome but must be leashed.
==========================
Come visit Bukit Brown Heritage Park and see for yourself why this place is currently ranked among the top ten attractions of Singapore by tripadvisor.com.sg
Why: It is history, heritage and habitat concentrated in an area 173 acres, that can be worthy of a Singapore heritage site worthy of preservation.
Where: Under the large and beautiful, and possibly endangered, rain tree, at the Roundabout. After the main gate, go ahead another twenty metres.
How to get there and handy tips – http://bukitbrown.com/
==========================
Registration:
Our weekend public tours are FREE …
Optimally the group size is 30 participants (15 individuals/guide).
Please click ‘Join’ on the FB event page to let us know you are coming, how many pax are turning up, or just meet us at the starting point at 9am. We meet there rain or shine.
==========================
The tour:
Bukit Brown Heritage Park is about 173 acres in extent, bordered by Lornie Road, Thomson Road and the Pan-Island Expressway. It lies just to the south of the Central Catchment Forest, being separated from it by Lornie Road and includes Singapore’s only Chinese Municipal Cemetery. With more than 100,000 graves, Bukit Brown is also one of the largest Chinese cemeteries outside of China.
Don’t forget to bask in the peaceful surrounds, and also chat with your guides and make friends with other participants. We are amateurs and volunteers, but we are passionate and serious about what we do at Bukit Brown, and we encourage sharing of knowledge.
Here is a map of the grounds:
http://bukitbrown.com/
==========================
Please take note:
1. We will be walking mainly on paved roads. But there are hill treks so dress appropriately, especially your footwear.
2. Wear light breathable clothing. Long pants and long sleeves if you are prone to insect bites or sunburn. Bring sunblock and natural insect repellent.
3. Wear comfortable non-slip shoes as safety is important. Walking sticks are recommended.
4. Do read up on Bukit Brown before going so you have a better understanding of the place (e.g. BukitBrown.com)
5. Do bring water, light snacks, poncho/umbrella, sunhat and waterproof your electronics.
6. Please go to the toilet before coming. There are NO facilities anywhere there or nearby.
7. Carry your own garbage out for disposal.
==========================
How to get there by MRT / Bus:
Bus services available: 52, 74, 93, 157, 165, 852, 855.
From North: Go to Marymount MRT and walk to bus-stop #53019 along Upper Thomson Road. Take Buses 52, 74, 165, 852, 855
Alight 6 stops later at bus-stop, #41149, opposite Singapore Island Country Club (SICC), Adam Road. Walk towards Sime Road in the direction of Kheam Hock Road until you see Lorong Halwa.
From South: Go to Botanic Gardens MRT and walk to bus-stop #41121 at Adam Road, in front of Singapore Bible College. Take Buses 74, 93, 157, 165, 852, 855. Alight 2 stops later at bus-stop, #41141, just before Singapore Island Country Club (SICC), Adam Road. Cross the bridge, walk towards Sime Road, follow the road until you see Lorong Halwa.
By car:
Turn in from Lornie Road, to Sime Road. Then, turn left into Lorong Halwa.
Parking space available at the largish paved area near the cemetery gates.
Dateline: Sunday 17th March, 2013 – 2pm-4pm
Project: A Community Service by Pack 3017 of the Cub Scouts of America (age 7-11 years) to “spring clean” the tombs on Hill 1, supported by the Brownies.
The project began with showers of blessings, that came and went. Undaunted, about 30 cub scouts accompanied by their parents cleaned up some 40 tombs on Hill 1.
Their timing was perfect, 2 weeks before the annual Qing Ming festival when descendants spruce up tombs to honour the memory and contributions of their ancestors.
Thank you Cub Scouts of America for honouring the pioneers of Singapore at rest in Bukit Brown A meaningful job well done.
Collecting their cleaning kits which included “green” brooms from the branches of a fallen tree at BB (photo Gan Su-Lin)
Gloves on! We are handling diluted chemicals needed for a good scrub without eroding stone or inscriptions (photo Gan Su-Lin)
Eternal scout, Lim Su Lin -the wandering minstrel of Bukit Brown, sending off the cubs (photo Raymond Goh)
Marching on…(photo Gan Su-Lin)
Demo by Victor Lim and Sugen (photo Gan Su-Lin)
Attention! (photo Gan Su Lin)
Spray cleaning liquid, then give it a firm scrub down, followed by some water (photo Gan Su-Lin)
And voila!, the beautiful marble beneath .(photo Gan Su-Lin)
A daunting task! (photo Gan Su-Lin)
Finally, the cleaning begins with much vigour and diligence!
Parents got into the act (photo Gan Su-Lin)
Roar……. a cub tackles a lion (photo Gan Su-Lin)
“Bonding” (Gan Su-Lin)
“So what do you think, Dad?” (photo Gan Su-Lin)
“Not yet, Dad, I haven’t quite finished” (photo Gan Su Lin)
Replenishing water needed to wash down the tombs. An estimated 10 tubs of water had to be transported from main taps at the entrance. (photo Gan Su Lin)
“Look at me if you don’t believe me, I did a good job over there” (photo Gan Su Lin)
And indeed, the whole pack did a brilliant job in the final reveal
Cleaned tombs marked by windmills for a job well done! (photo Gan Su-Lin)
Part of Hill 1 now planted with windmills (photo Gan Su-Lin)
The tomb of Siow Cheng Watt (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)
A close-up of Siow Cheng Watt (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)
When this photo was posted on the Bukit Brown Facebook Group, Madelene Seow said “Please send my appreciation & thanks to the cub scouts.” She is the great great granddaughter of Siow Cheng Watt.
The beautiful tiles of Tan Joo Khoon’s tomb brought to light by the cub scouts. He was the chief clerk at the Master Attendant’s office and acted also as a Chinese interpreter. (photo Raymond Goh)
Victor Lim on the left with some of cub scouts. Victor planned the logistics and prepared materials for this project ( photo Ai Loon)
Before and After (photo Ai Loon)
The smiles say “Tombs Cleaned – A Community effort by the Cub Scouts of America & All Things Bukit Brown” (photo Gan Su-Lin)
The supporting cast of Brownies (photo Gan Su-Lin)
From left to right: Peter , Yik Han, Danny ,Hang Chong, Zen , , Anna ,Ai Loon, Catherine, Ee Hoon and last but not least Victor Lim who organised logistics and materials needed. Not in photo Sugen and Su-Lin (who was behind the camera).
Su-Lin sheltering her camera from the elements (photo Victor Yue)
Here are 4 videos by Khoo Ee Hoon on cubs with parents ar work.
The preparations behind the scene:
45 cleaning kits, containing gloves, brush and good morning towel. Water Spray bottle and green brooms prepared separately ( photo Ai Loon)
Tags designed by Ai Loon with inputs by Sugen (photo Ai Loon)
Finishing touches by Sugen (photo Ai Loon)
Ai Loon with the finished windmills (photo Ai Loon’s camera)
A group of 0ver 60 turned up for the “themed” tour which focused on intricately craved tomb panels and their symbolic meanings. The lead guide Yik Han also gave an introduction to “Tomb Cons” – how tomb contractors go about building the tombs based on the requirements of their “clients”
Some comments from participants on the tour:
Participants gathering at the “ole raintree” (photo Raymond Goh)
Enjoying nature as the group make their way to the largest tomb in Bukit Brown (photo Cheng Pei Yun)
Lead Guide, Yik Han showing the way to the first glimpse of Ong Sam Leong’s spectacular tomb visible from google earth
( photo Kelly Cheng)
The Earth Deity at Ong Sam Leong (photo Cheng Pei Yun)
The “shelf display” cabinet carved on the Earth Deity was explained (photo Yik Han)
Keng Kiat explaining one of 24 stories on filial piety (photo Victor Lim)
Checking out the anatomically correct male lion (photo Cheng Pei Yun)
Other tombs visited included Oh Sian Guan’s ([photo Cheng Pei Yun)
A story from the Chinese classic “The Three Kingdoms” om General Guan Yu (photo Cheng Pei Yun)
The trio of guides, Fabian, Yik Han, Keng Kiat (photo Cheng Pei Yun)
For more on the tour, read Cheng Pei Yun’s report
Participants during the Deepavali Tour conducted by Keng Kiat with back up team Peter Pak and Andrew
Look Up! … (photo by Keng Kiat)
Brownie Guide Andrew holds forth on new “terracota warriers” additions (photo Keng Kiat)
A tour participant saying hi to a regular 4 legged visitor (photo by Keng Kiat)
Instructions say “do not remove” (photo by Keng Kiat)
11 Nov, Late Afternoon Tour with surprise guide Walter Lim
Surprise guide Walter Lim turns up ( photo Keng Kiat)
“yes they are going to build an 8 lane highway here” (photo Keng Kiat)
(photo Keng Kiat)
Children on Tour , Yeah! (photo Keng Kiat)
Chew Hock Seng ( grandson of Chew Boon Lay) needing some pruning (photo Keng Kiat)
PLEASE NOTE EVENT HAS BEEN SOLD OUT
An offsite event with veteran Brownie Alex Tan Tiong Hee on his memories of Singapore circa 1950s of “Girls, Gangsters and Gentlemen Clubs.
Alex who usually holds court in Bukit Brown will be at Select Bookshop for event (photo Catherine Lim )
What was life like in Singapore when the Maria Hertogh riots of December 1950 broke out; when Mr Lee Kuan Yew became the Prime Minister in June 1959; and when the Beatles became the leading pop group in 1964? Alex Tan, the treasure trove of tales from bygone times, will bring us back in time, and indulge us with, among other things, the glitzy world of the gentlemen’s clubs at Club street: the China Weekly Entertainment, Goh Lor Club and Ee Ho Hean; and the social life of youth in the 50s and 60s – the dating scene, ferocious gangster scene, popular music and more.
Alex Tan Tiong Hee is the second son of Tan Yeok Seong a man with a deep interest in Nanyang or Overseas Chinese history and who in 1964 gave his entire book collection known as the Ya Yin Kwan Collection to the National Library for the purpose of (in his words) “reaching out to the minds of future generations of Singaporeans that they would know more about who they are and how they come to be where they are today”.
Please sign up here
http://
Recent Comments