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Published: January 12th 2013
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Answers to question 7
Picture 2 of the last blog - was outside the perimetre fence of Mt Faber Reservoir! A little over the top I think, but hey, water is a previous commodity here so I guess they have to take good measures to protect it. **
Picture 3 of the last blog advertises an eyebrow shaping shop - see (pic Question 7).
Picture 4 was a sign found at Ikea - I found it fun how they just adapted their products to HDBs Question 8 - 1 point
Bukit Brown Cemetery is Singapore's largest burial ground with 100,000 traditional Chinese graves. However, 3,700 of these graves are about to be exhumed - see (pic Question 8). Why is that?
** The issue of water supply has been a long standing conflict between Singapore and Malaysia. In 1961 and 1962 the Federation of Malaya signed two agreements giving Singapore the right to draw up to 336 million imperial gallons ( 1,490,000 cubic metres) per day with effect through 2061. Both agreements stipulated the price of 3 Malaysian cents per 1,000 imperial gallons- and this price was never indexed. The Malaysian government has stated that agreements were signed during a different time and the price should increase. But Singapore has refused (obviously!!). Malaysia has often used threats of cutting off the water supply to pressure Singapore politically. Seeking greater political independence and freedom from such pressures, Singapore has pursued a costly strategy of developing self-sufficiency of water sources, pursuing its Four Tap Strategy of sourcing water from rainwater, recycling, desalination and importation. By the expiry of the 1962 water agreement in 2061, the necessity for Malaysia water import should be eliminated.
source: Wikipedia Now, back to Bukit Brown Cemetery. Our friend Linnet recommended we went before they start exhuming graves for......see question 8 above (answer in the next blog). THANK YOU so much Linnet! What a find! We had a fabulous visit with Tony, Cynthia and Nadine (yes, them again!!). Now, I've seen a few cemeteries around the world, from the dreary ones behind four walls in France, to the war cemetery in Washington DC and the gorgeous Waverley Cemetary on the Bondi to Coogee walk in Australia. But this is another kind alltogether and so different than any other I've seen. So these 100,000 traditional Chinese graves are dotted among the trees in a Bukit Brown
Access road stunning 233ha rainforest. Closed in the 1970s, many parts of the cemetery are now overgrown which adds to its charm. The first grave dates back to 1833 and many Singaporeans whose names are part of the city today are buried there:-
- Chew Boon Lay (
1851-1933 early pionneer and successful businessman. He bought large tracts of land in the West on which he culivated pepper, gambier and rubber)
- Tan Kheam Hock (
1862-1922 Chinese businessman who migrated from Penang to Singapore. Starting off working with the Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, he is then involved and/or connected to the Opium and Spirit Farm, supplying up to 2,500 coolies a day to the Tanjong Pagar Dock Co, the Perak General Farms and the Society of Arts in London. He is also a man of progressive ideas supporting the cause of education for Chinese girls).
- Chew Joo Chiat (? - 1926 a Chinese migrant turned wealthy philanthropist, made his fortune as a trader before becoming a plantation owner who cultivated gambier, nutmeg and coconut. In the early 1900s, he acquired considerable amounts of land in the Katong/Joo chiat area.
The cemetery has also become one of the city's prime spots for birdwatchers and nature lovers with 90 resident and migrant species watching over the graves, including the critically endangered white-bellied woodpecker - and before you ask, no, we didn't see it!
You'll see on my pictures, the graves with a red number near them are marked to be exhumed. So in some areas, one grave will be saved, just 3 metres away from one that won't! Oh, but it's ok, the Government has instigated a full historical documentation of the graves to be exhubmed and a detailed exhumation plan for relatives! Great! Whilst many graves are ornate and decorated, there are also some so run-down you can barely see them through the leaves. Andrew even spotted an HDB area - High Density Burial!! ;-) I wish I knew how to read Chinese characters as we couldn't even read the age of the dead. I think I'll look into a guided tour with someone who knows. When I find one, I'll bring you more details. We saw just one team of gardeners consisting of 4 people. Hmmm, good luck! Enjoy the pictures! On another note, we've employed Melinda, a Filipino DW (Domestic Worker). Her current employers Kim, Steven and Sarah are heading home to Belgium at the end of the month, after three years in Singapore. Shame really as we met twice and hit it off immediately. It's making her transfer to us very easy and stress free. Thanks Kim!
The recruitment and work permit application processes are a bit surreal and quite unbelievable at times. This will definitely be the subject of a future blog, as I get to know Melinda better. Linnet also has some interesting stories as I'm sure other friends here do too. Many of you are reading my travel blogs. I hope they are informative enough and interesting. If you have questions, please do ask. With Julia at school and Melinda starting, I'm hoping to do more exploring. Bye for now. Katrina's dream feed is calling. Delphine
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