Mother’s Day – volunteer Guides Claire and Keng Kiat found half a dozen participants under the old rain tree despite the drizzle.
The day starts off with an alert from Hock Chuan that Hill 3 was not passable by cars:
Fortunately we are not heading that way.
The tour:
The Bukit Brown area is about 233 hectares 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.
We start with a safety briefing and quick history and geography of the grounds, and show what is believed to be the largest single tomb in the area, Oon Chim Neo’s grave in Seh Ong Cemetery.
Back at Bukit Brown, we kick off with an introduction to Tay Koh Yat and Fang Shan, covered in notes here.
We will proceed to Block 5 to visit Lee Guay Eng, grandmother to one of the most important man in Singapore. She is none other than the paternal grandmother of the sitting president.
We take a leisure stroll to Block 2 to pay respect to Song Chwee Neo, a smiling matriarch.
We walk over to greet See Tiong Wah, the Municipal Commissioner whose delicately carved tomb will be removed for the proposed highway, which astonished the participants. In Keng Kiat’s view, this is the second most important tomb to be lost to the project (the most important being Khoo Seok Wan’s). Claire explained the Song Dynasty panels as she too lamented the loss of such heritage.
The special for the day was introducing Lee Kim Soo, the matchbox entrepreneur.
We come around Block 1 and drop by Methodist Girls’ School first Chinese girl and Singapore’s first female doctor, Lee Choo Neo.
We also had the privilege of having Chew Keng Chuan with us to introduce his grandfather, the eldest son of Chew Boon Lay whose grave was found last month:
His grandfather died the year he was born so his sisters’ names are on the tomb’s headstone, and as he noted with humor, he is remembered as “etc”! There is a reference to K.C. on the tomb but it refers to the Kungfuzhi (Confucius) calendar.
***
We are amateurs and volunteers, known as Brownies, but we are passionate and serious about what we do at Bukit Brown, and we encourage sharing of knowledge. Please share with us as you see fit.
The Beautiful Hill 2 of Bukit Brown Cemetery is resplendent history: tomb stones carved in China with facial relief so expressive they will speak to you through your guide Yik Han, whilst your other guide, Peter Pak will reveal hidden in green nooks, tombs guarded by Angels and Sikh Guards. And if you are lucky macaques may swing above in the canopy of trees and birdsong fill the air, as Hill 2 overlooks a beautiful valley. Sadly the proposed highway will sliced through here. So enjoy Hill 2 while you can.
Tombs of note on Hill 2 can be found here
This tour’s highlight is however the newly cleared and cleaned up tomb of Lee Kim Soo , an early manufacturer of match sticks.
Volunteer guides, Peter and Yik Han, were joined by other Brownies on this May 12 guided tour.
The tour: Video here. (Credit: Albert Ong)
***
Also on the same day, after guiding, the volunteers aka Brownies helped some descendants re-unite with long-lost relatives:
Ms Teresa has found her grandfather, whose tomb Ah Lim helped to rebuild. On the same day, she found her grandmother too:
Miss Teresa is re-united with her grand mother. This find was done with the help of Suki, Peter Pak, Chew Keng Kiat. Miss Teresa thanks the Brownies sincerely from the bottom of her heart.
In the meantime, the descendants at what is commonly called the “naked angels’ tomb” finally turned up to solve the mystery of who this man was. We discover his two other wives are buried in front of his tomb. Now to find the other relatives.
***
The Bukit Brown area is about 233 acres in extent, bordered by Lornie Road, Lower 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 one of Singapore’s oldest Chinese cemetery. With >100,000 graves, Bukit Brown is also one of the largest Chinese cemeteries outside of China.
The volunteers, also known as Brownies, do research, plan the logistics and organize tours to help raise awareness of what is to be lost. Today’s Brownies were: Peter, Catherine, Raymond, Victor with his wife Doris, Keng Kiat and our honorable Sikh guard, Suki. Not in the photo: Yik Han (pictured below) and the photographer Ee Hoon.
((Compiled by Claire Leow, with information provided by Suki Singh and Khoo Ee Hoon.)
Come celebrate Mother’s Day morning with our volunteer Guides: Claire and Keng Kiat (97903886), as they walk you around Bukit Brown and introduce you to some outstanding members of the fairer sex. Come with your grandmother, mother, daughter, granddaughter, etc, and find out that behind every successful man is … fill in the blanks yourself.
Time: 9am to 12pmMeeting Place: Under the big and beautiful, and possibly endangered, rain tree, at the Roundabout. After the main gate, go ahead another twenty metres, to the right of the SLA office
For information on how to get there and handy tips please visit
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.
==========================
The tour:
The Bukit Brown area is about 233 hectares 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.
We will start with a safety briefing and quick history and geography of the grounds, and show you what is believed to be the largest single tomb in the area, Oon Chim Neo’s grave in Seh Ong Cemetery.
We will proceed to Block 5 to visit Lee Guay Eng, grandmother to one of the most important man in Singapore.
We will take a leisure stroll to Block 2 to pay respect to Song Chwee Neo, a smiling Matriach, and a lady closely related to two very important gentlemen.
We will come around Block 1 and drop by Methodist Girls’ School first Chinese girl, Singapore’s first female doctor, and a Malay lady buried in Bukit Brown as well.
The pace is leisurely so you can 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.
Special feature, just for this weekend only! A visit to Lee Kim Soo’s recently cleared tomb!
FB event page:
https://www.facebook.com/
Please take note:
1. We will be walking mainly on paved roads.
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.
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.
==========================
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.
My Ancestry at Bukit Brown by Lim Su Min.
Saturday 21 April,9 am – 11 am.
I am Lim Su Min, a retired doctor and grandfather to 5 children. I have identified 7 direct ancestors buried at Bukit Brown going back 5 generations for me, 7 generations for my grandchildren. My ancestors reposing at Bukit Brown include the parents and grandparents of Dr. Lim Boon Keng and Tan Tock Seng’s son and grandson, Tan Kim Ching and Tan Boo Liat respectively.
Dr. Lim Boon Keng himself was buried at Bidadari, disintered and ashes at Mt Vernon.
Tan Tock Seng’s tomb cluster stands out along Outram Road. Tan Boo Liat is the father of my grandmother Polly Tan, and Tan Kim Ching is grandfather of Tan Boo Liat. Into this alliance of two great families is the Seow connection. Mrs Seow Watt Chye is mother of my grandfather Seow Poh Leng;
Confused? Let me, Lim Su Min attempt to unravel for you my ancestry by sharing with
you personal stories on my heritage run to visit the tombs of my direct ancestors who are buried in Bukit Brown, share something about the surrounding habitat and some of the neighbours who are buried in the same location. I have invited tomb whisperer Raymond Goh to share some of his insights.
The Route for Lim Su Min’s Ancestry Trail at Bukit Brown Saturday 21st April 2012 covers the TAN- SEOW- LIM Family Connection scattered over various blocks in Bukit Brown.
The tomb stops include :
Tan Kim Ching, GGGGF (great,great,great, grandfather)
(neighbour to Cheang Hong Lim )
Seow Watt Chye GGM (great grandmother)
Tan Boo Liat GGF
Mr & Mrs Lim Mah Peng GGGGF/M
Mr & Mrs Lim Thean Geow GGGF/M
Highlights:
Tan Kim Ching (陳金鐘) (1829 -1892. ) Tan Tock Seng’s eldest son who recommended Anna Leonowens, as the teacher for children of King Mongkut of Siam ( King Rama IV) Buried in Changi, transferred to Bukit Brown (1940). One of Singapore’s earliest “diplomats” and much respected in the Siam court.
Tan Boo Liat, (1875-1934) built his home Golden Bell Mansion,10 Pender Road on Mount Faber, naming it after his grandfather. He was a strong supporter of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and member of the Singapore T’ung Meng Hui along with Lim Boon Keng. In 1920 he was awarded the title Phra Anukul Sayamkich by the Siam court.
Tan Boo Liat’s daughter Polly was the template for Emily of Emerald Hill, written by my sister Stella Kon ( nee Lim). To know that Polly was the niece who eventually married her aunt’s husband 12 years her senior, when the aunt passed away is to understand the complex forces at play in creating “Emily”
We are resuming weekend public tours as promised after Qing Ming from 21st April to May 13th. Our committed band of volunteer guides who will guide in pairs will be conducting tours over the next 4 weekends with standard times from 9 am – 11 am, meeting at the ‘ole raintree just as you enter the gates of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Please look out for updates on this page.
The only exception is the tour on Saturday 28th April which is jointly organised by AWARE – the womens’ group and bukitbrown.com and registration is recorded with a fee of $15 per head. Please scroll down for more information on this.
A reminder that there is a children’s heritage and habitat ramble by Nature Society on 21st April where registration is required
Visit to Bukit Brown
28. April. 2012. Saturday
From 9.30am to 12noon.
Image by Tia of http://urbansketchers-
“Over half of the 20 million migrants who left China from 1840 to 1940 passed through Singapore. Many of them chose to live and work in Singapore. Singapore is thus a critical site in understanding all aspects of the history of the Chinese diaspora. This, in turn will help us to understand the important role of Singapore in the history of Asia over the last two hundred years.The graves at Bukit Brown are an important historical resource that can be found in few other parts of Asia, and in none that are so central as Singapore. It is greatly desirable that they can be preserved.”
Adam McKeown
Associate Professor of History
Columbia University
Come join us on a customised tour of some of the graves at Bukit Brown to understand tomb design, the symbolism for descendants, the inscriptions and what they tell us of Singapore’s early history, hear the stories and enjoy the delicate carvings in a lush setting of towering Albizzia trees, listen to stories about pioneering women and men who were supportive of education and equal rights for women. We will also touch on Bukit Brown as a battlefield during the war, where mass communal graves are found. Bukit Brown is an open classroom, a walk through history, a nature ramble.
This tour is organised jointly by all things Bukit Brown: Heritage. Habitat. History. Their educational blog, bukitbrown.com, is run by volunteers who share information for self-guiding tours and personal research.
This tour is open for AWARE members and volunteers only. Details of the tour are as follows:
Date: 28 April 2012, Saturday
Time: 9.30am to 12.00pm
Venue: Bukit Brown
Fees: S$ 15.00 per person
Please register with Evon at evon@aware.org.sg before 20 April 2012.
For more information on how to get there, safety tips, please click here
For maps that would help facilitate further visits after the introductory tours please click here
At Bukit Brown for week ending 25 March 2012
Saturday 24th Introduction to Bukit Brown Tour by Post Museum, 4pm – 5,30pm, free but must register here
Sunday 25th Tour 9am – 11 am by Raymond Goh. Possibly the last organised public tour before the onset of Qing Ming so as to allow families – some for the last time – more space to pay their respects to their ancestors. Tour covers Blocks 5 and 2 where there are many tombs which are affected by the proposed 8 lane highway. Please check in here for more details and to give organisers an idea of numbers so we can mobilise more volunteers if necessary.
Birdwatching at Bukit Brown with Willie Foo (Open to Public)
Date : 25 Mar 2012
Time : 8 – 10 am
Location : Meet at the cemented open area just after the portal of Bukit Brown at Lorong Halwa. Check in here to register interest.
For useful information on how to get there and what to wear check in here
With uncertainty as to what access there will be to Bukit Brown once plans are announced on the start of work on the building of highway, various volunteer groups are revving up to answer requests for tours which have been received from the public and private organisations. There is only we fear a small window of opportunity to appreciate Bukit Brown in its full glory before the highway slices it into half.
Tours are available on special requests depending on availability of volunteer guides from various groups. Weekday tours are subject to an honorarium. Volunteer guides hold full time jobs and need to take leave to conduct these tours. Here are the contact details:
Post-Museum conducts gentle introductory tours to Bukit Brown’s culture, history and habitat which lasts about an hour. They can also customise art activities at Bukit Brown. Please email admin@post-museum.org
a.t.bukitbrown co-ordinates requests for Raymond and has volunteer guides who can provide a more in depth introduction to culture and history. Tours can be customised to cater for specific interests on request. Tours are between two and three hour in duration. Please email a.t.bukitbrown@gmail.com
Nature Society Singapore has nature rambles with delightful flora and fauna highlights as well as bird watching tours. The tours are between two and three hours in duration. Please contact hangchong@gmail.com
A series of Family Day events are in the works for the March school holiday weekends 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th are in the pipeline. Watch this space!
This Sunday, we conquer Hill 4, not quite as indomitable as you think. A leisurely stroll of between 15-20 minutes from the Cemetery gates will take you to Hill 4 . Chat with with volunteer guides: Peter and Catherine, as they take you there, to open minds and hearts. Hill 4 is not on the usual tour but it offers the life and times of the poet and revolutionary who coined an early name of Singapore, “Sin Chew”, features a circus family, a family of 5 cats, a small brigade of sikh guards life- sized and hobbit sized, and the illustrious of Chong Pang, Nee Soon, Tan Tock Seng to name but a few. There are graves here which are also staked and slated to make way for the 8 lane highway which will slice Bukit Brown into half.
Date: 3 June Sunday
Time: 9am to 12pm
Meeting Place: Under the large and beautiful, and possibly endangered, rain tree, at the Roundabout. After the main gate, go forward another twenty metres, to the right of the SLA office
For information on how to get there and handy tips please visit
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 Bukit Brown area is about 233 hectares 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 1
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/
We will not cover Ong Sam Leong’s (the largest tomb), nor will we visit Chew Geok Leong (with the coloured Sikh Guards). However, if there is time and repeat visitors who already know the way, they could show you how to get there.
==========================
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 sun block 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. A towel around your neck is a necessary fashion statement at Bukit Brown.
7. Please go to the toilet before coming. There are NO facilities anywhere there or nearby.
==========================
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.
New activity for this Sunday, Eco Stations with Beng Chiak of Nature Society, hunt down ants and insects and understand their relationship to plants and trees, how trees host other living things and nature’s self help system! Check out more details here
Family Day, we did it last Sunday on March 11 and we now know we can do it even better. Up sized buffet of activities from guided tours to treasure hunts, to arts and crafts, haiku composing for all ages and nature gems for the whole family. Adults must be accompanied by children for treasure hunts!
Please read handy tips for a more enjoyable day, there will be a quiz before you can join – just kidding – but do, DO read it for safety precautions!
The event begins at 9 am and will end by 12.30 pm.
Tours will be done differently, instead of one long guided tour, there will be 4 stations to stopover and participants may drop out anytime they want to sample other delights. Student volunteers will usher participants from station to station in 2 rounds of tours one starting at 9 am and the second at 9.30 am. They will also point out directions to those who want to return to the roundabout.
Please download this map and take note that the 4 stations covered in the route are group 1, group 3, group 4 and group 12. Constraint by time guides may not be able to cover every tomb in each group. The estimated schedule if you visit every station is 2 hours. This is the timetable with estimated times and guides :
9.oo at Sikh Station – introduction by Catherine (Second tour starts at 9.30 am if there are more than 10 people and follows the same schedule as tour 1)
a)9.15 at group 1 – by Peter (second tour eta 9.45)
b)9.50 at group 3 – by Raymond (second tour eta 10.20)
c).10.30 at group 2 – by Yik Han (second tour 11.00)
d) 11.10 at group 12 – by Charles, this last station will be capped by a short uphill (easy) to the jewel in crown Ong Sam Leong’s family grave site and group photo. ( the second tour eta 11.50 will be led Catherine and Peter )
This gives you some idea what some of your guides look like:
For the treasure hunts starting at 9.30am, look out for :
Your Emeritus Zoo Keeper of Bukit Brown – She is responsible for collecting “animals” for the treasure hunt and the design.
Watch this space for more details of Family Day activities by co-organisers: SOS Bukit Brown and Nature Society, Singapore
Bukit Brown’s first family day on Sunday 11 March had “children” of all ages exploring nature and culture in the open air classroom of life – Heritage, Habitat,History given full expression
And the reason it was running late was because at the first station, Peter was loathed to let them go, at least not before a group photo!
Meanwhile at the Art Station……
The children had moved on to a spot of Haiku composing
And then children of all ages gathered to hear the story of The Giving Tree
Post script: In her hands she cradles a pair of binoculars, she holds the vision for our future. Let Bukit Brown be her legacy. Give her a chance to decide what she wants to do with this legacy.
Dateline Monday 27 Feb, 2012
Chasing away Monday Blues at Bukit Brown, is our Accidental Photographer aka Georgina Chin. She claims Bukit Brown as her backyard and it is where she is often to be found bird watching, or happily snapping away at other species.
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