Driving along
the Pan-island Freeway near Thomson
Rd is one of the few hints that it is there.
Elsewhere it is obscured by homes, shops and yet more roads and freeways. Bukit
Brown is the largest cemetery in Singapore and since it was closed
in 1970 it has reverted to forest so as to become an abode for the living
rather than the dead – for numerous species birds, butterflies, monkeys and
other wildlife. The oldest grave so far found in the cemetery dates from the
1830s, most date from the early 20th century onwards. There are
about 100,000 graves altogether and of trees, ferns, creepers, orchards, mosses
and grasses no one can say. Unfortunately, parts of the cemetery are marked for
destruction to make way for a four-lane highway. During a recent visit to Bukit
Brown I noticed that remains are already being disinterred and many graves have
markers indicating that they too are soon to go. What a pity that such
beautiful old graves, the wildlife and the greenery had to give way for yet
more asphalt and exhaust fumes.
The first picture
is of me amongst the Dieffenbachia.
Fourth picture; during the British period wealthy Chinese used to employ Sikhs
to guard their homes and businesses so
it only made sense to employ then in the afterlife. The Sixth picture is of a
Jade Boy. Such young men used to serve Chinese emperors and so many graves have
these figures to serve them in the afterlife. Eighth picture, lovely Asplenium nidus find a home on the limbs
of large trees.
To find out more
about Bukit Brown have a look at http://bukitbrown.com/main/
Some lovely photos, Bhante. I feel the same about those roads: always more, carving their way across the land, and in their wake comes urban expansion. I recall being so inspired by reading the biography of a forest monk (Ajahn Tate, I think) I decided I'd like my next existence to be lived out like him. But the rate nature is being stripped away I'd have find another planet to have any success!
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