Question

What does "Kow Tahm" mean and who was the founder of the Wat?

Answer

"Kow Tahm" translates to mountain cave. "Kow" is mountain; "Tahm" is cave. There is a lookout in the Monk's area. If you stand there looking at Koh Samui, underneath it is what is called a cave. It's actually a rock overhang, and monks sometimes live underneath there and call it a cave.

Who is the founder of the Wat? The Wat is over one hundred years old. It's been an official Wat for, I think, maybe fifteen years. Mae Chee Ahmon set it up to be an official Wat, but as to the founder of the Wat I'm not sure if that really applies in this case. The land has been in her family's ownership for over a hundred years, and her family allowed monks to stay here. As the monks stayed here, they started building huts. As they built huts, they then built a temple. Slowly it developed into becoming a Wat.

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