Report for 28 Sept Morning Walk

It was a good start to the lovely Sunday morning as there were a mix of familiar faces and enthusiastic participants who were there for the first time. 15 participants joined Simone and Steven for a stroll around Hill 3 and visited tombs of some of Singapore’s prominent pioneers; including Tan Keong Saik, Chew Boon Lay and Ong Sam Leong who all have roads named after them.

The group were taken  back to WW 2 , when leading up to the surrender on 15 February 1942, Singapore was bombarded by air raids resulting in over a hundred of deaths per day. Temporary mortuaries were set up in places such as Great World and the Clerical Union’s badminton hall to hold the overwhelming number of casualties. The bodies were  kept for just a few hours to allow identification before being buried. Unfortunately, many were beyond recognition. As a result,  few had proper tombstones erected at their burial site while others were either buried with just a plot marker or in communal trenches.

A numbered stone marks the plot of a buried war casualty

Further back in time, in the 1800s,  Singapore took off as  a thriving free-trade port, when Chinese immigrants traveled to the South Seas or Nanyang almost en mass  because of among other pull factors,  the political and economical instability in China. Many came to Singapore and were put up in coolie quarters with others from a common origin. With their fellow comrades, they form societies of their own. Such was the Chin Kang Association which was co-founded by Luah Kim Kway. He himself started-off as a coolie and worked his way up to being a successful businessman and a  powerful and respected headman of the Chinese society.

Simone in front of the audience at Luah Kim Kway’s tomb

And to finish off the walk, participants were brought (a little) off-site to a newly furbished tomb for a special treat. This is the first time ever that a public group was brought to the tomb of Yap Geok Song at Lao Sua (Old Hill). The tomb was discovered in 2012 by a tombkeeper who then alerted the brownies. It wasn’t until late 2013 when a descendant found out about his great grandfather and later discovered a blog written about him by brownie Peter Pak in the Rojak Librarian. With his help, a group of descendants visited Mr.Yap for the very first time to pay their respects on 17 Aug 2014. 

Steven telling stories of engravings on Yap Geok Song’s tomb panels

And as always, the walk ended with smiles  and growling appetites. Stay tuned for more guided walks this Hari Raya Haji weekend .

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Sun 28 Sep’14: The Sunday Morning Walk with Simone and Steven

Simone and Steven will be sharing some spirited stories and more at the coming walk on Sunday morning. Join them on this nostalgic and hearty stroll.

Sun 28 Sept’14 Time: 9am – 11.30am Meeting place : Gates of Bukit Brown at end of Lorong Halwa.

***We will postpone the tour should AQI/PM2.5 reaches 100.
Kindly check this event page on Saturday after 1pm, to see if the tour is on or off. Thank you*** If you have a FB account please help brownies keep track of numbers by registering here Or if you don’t just meet us at the starting point. We meet there rain or shine or exhumations. Disclaimer: By agreeing to take this walking tour of Bukit Brown Cemetery, I understand and accept that I must be physically fit and able to do so.To the extent permissible by law, I agree to assume any and all risk of injury or bodily harm to myself and persons in my care (including child or ward) Helpful tips and Important information on how to get there Please read if it is your first visit to Bukit Brown : Getting There/游览信息   About Bukit Brown: 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. 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/main/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/API.BBC_.Map_.ver3_4.jpg ======================================== 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, covered 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.