Without the connections of Facebook, my brother Alvin and cousin Anthony, I don't think I would ever meet the Brownies of Bukit Brown that found my Great Great Grandda... Chia Ann Siang and Chia Keng Sia, (4th son, my great grandpa), Chia Keng Beng (1st son) and the
mysterious lady... Thank you Raymond Goh and my Brownie friends! I was also very fortunate to meet Victor Lim, Tile Anthropologist, who was the catalyst to meet the Brownies in person at a Bar-BQ party. What fun group they are and indeed serious about their passion.
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| Brownies with Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and spouse, Jane Yumiko Ittogi |
What an honor... They are so passionate about their love of keeping our Singapore Heritage alive and our ancestors that it is soooo amazing. In their persistence and perseverance thorough research, drawings, tours about the pioneers of Singapore, campaigns they put out to get the public awareness, films about the hills of Heritage, writing letters to plead for a hearing... is so inspiring and incredibly special.
With Singapore's high rise buildings and more to be established, we need a breather of quiet that we can reflect and think of who and what made us the way we are today. Our ancestors have toiled hard in the past and we must not forget what they have done. Dead and forgotten? No way! As long as we have something to remember, our ancestors are not dead and gone. This heritage land Bukit Brown is a historical landmark of discovery. We do not want to be remembered as simply a shopping and eating paradise but there is more substance than what is perceived. Our ancestors who has toiled hard and contributed their livelihood to this country and economy. We should be very proud of that - Bukit Brown, the land of heritage and ageless beauty is Singapore.
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| Goofing Around in the Park |
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| Peaceful Tranquility... Bliss |
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| Resting Peacefully |
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| In Solitude... to remember... to rest... to contemplate... |
