Wat Thong Thammachat | Why Co van Kessel chose this temple
This video is part of a new series we are making about Buddhism. This video is an introduction to this temple and Buddhism.
Co van Kessel arrived in Thailand in 1974 and lived more than 30 years in Bangkok. During this time, one of his main passions was to explore the Thai way of life. After some time, he realized that much of the core foundations of Thai culture (ie. kindness, generosity) came from their religion of Buddhism. From that point on, Co became a converted Buddhist.
This place, called Wat Thong Thammachat, was one of his favorites Buddhist temples, and he often came here to meditate. As such, he made it a point to include this temple as a destination on his popular bicycle tour routes such as the 3-hour Co Classical Tour or the 5-hour Co Combo Tour. During these stops, he would take pride in sharing his passion and knowledge about Buddhism and the Buddhist way of life.
In 2012, while battling the illness that finally took his life, Co expressed the desire to enter the ‘after-life’ as an official Buddhist. With the help of his long time friend, Miss Nong, Co built this yellow stupa here as his final resting place. It serves as an expression of the gratitude for what Buddhism and it’s beliefs gave him in his life and his desire to share this gratitude to the local community as well as visitors from around the world.
Today, the yellow stupa and statue of Mr. Co van Kessel is a main feature in this area of Wat Thong Thammachat. It has become a permanent legacy of the founder of Bicycle Tourism in Bangkok and his ongoing relationship with the religion that transformed his life.
Wat Thong Thammachat
Temple Info: Address: 141 Somdet Chao Phraya Rd, Khwaeng Khlong San, 10600 Klong San, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10600
Phone: 02 437 9067
www.google.co.th/maps?rlz=1C1...
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Looking for an authentic and unique adventure? Co van Kessel bike tours and boat tours provides a refreshing alternative to the tired tourist experience. We do not battle the crowds at clichéd destinations promoted in guide books, but turn your attention to quaint local communities and charming excursions into the fascinating lifestyle and culture of real Thai people. Every day is different and every tour is a surprise as we focus not on destinations, but lose ourselves in the enchantment of the journey itself.
Co van Kessel, an innovative and adventurous Dutchman, pioneered bicycle tours in Bangkok more than 30 years ago. As a longtime resident and self-professed lover of Bangkok, he understood very well the picture of accelerated urban development (gridlocked traffic, concrete towers, and choking pollution) that has plagued the recent image of the city. He also had a hunch that this was not what Bangkok or Thailand was all about.
Making it his goal to re-discover Bangkok, Co spent thousands of hours on his mountain bike exploring the vast network of local streets, alleyways, footpaths and canals between the main urban thoroughfares. What he found, lurking behind the facade of modernization, were hidden worlds of peace and tranquility, a picture of “real” Thai life that has remained unchanged for countless decades; an identity of a city that is true to the Thai people, yet largely unknown to outsiders.
Whether it’s the colorful sights and smells of the local markets, the fascinating life of locals along the canals, or the surprising existence of bountiful green belts, Co discovered the essence of what makes Bangkok one of Asia’s most captivating cities. Since then, it has been his mission to share these discoveries with the rest of the world.
What we do
Our mission at Co van Kessel Bangkok Tours is to provide our guests with a singularly unique travel experience in Thailand. All our tours use Co’s extensive topographical knowledge of the greater Bangkok area as well as his keen eye for the interesting to take you where nobody else can or will.
We aim not to bore you with talk, but to immerse you in an experience where your individual fascinations emerge.
Bicycles, boats, and our feet become the tools we use to gain access to the previously inaccessible, behind-the-scenes lifestyle of the Thai. Here the roots of an ancient culture will become evident in a way you never could have imagined.
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