A Portuguese Surprise in Bangkok! Santa Cruz Church and more!

A Portuguese Surprise in Bangkok! Santa Cruz Church and more! Everybody associates Bangkok with its magnificent Buddhist temples, but along the Chao Phraya River in the heart of Bangkok are a series of beautiful Catholic churches. Most of them going back hundreds of years when European countries were first making contact with Thailand, or the Kingdom of Siam as it was called then. Portugal was the first European nation to make contact with the Kingdom, in 1511 in what was then the capital city: Ayutthaya. Portuguese became dominant foreign traders, and established a presence there. Until today the community around the church is proud of their heritage and besides the church there is a Catholic school, a museum dedicated to their history and there is even a Portuguese delicacy that is still baked in the traditional way at several bakeries in the area! The so called “farang kudeejeen“ is a sweet dessert from an old Portuguese recipe passed down from generation to generation and still made till this day by Thai bakeries who mix the flours, duck eggs, sugar, raisins and other preserved fruits into the dough which -after rising- is then baked above a traditional charcoal fire. This is done everyday in the little local houses all around the Santa Cruz church. If you want to see, smell and taste these delicious pastries as well as be amazed by what else this city has to offer in hidden treasures and unforgettable experiences, please join us on one of our tours and See the Real Bangkok with Co van Kessel Bangkok Tours! * 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. 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. Join us on Social Media