Missing Mom, Returning Home to Bang Bo 3/15: Visiting Relatives - Uncle Wan is very old, Uncle Luang, relatives, Panmanee, Little Grandpa

Missing Mom, Returning Home to Bang Bo 3/15: Visiting Relatives - Uncle Wan is very old, Uncle Luang, relatives, Panmanee, Little Grandpa

Bang Bo, Samut Prakan Province is my hometown, mr.hotsia, deeply connected to the canal-side lifestyle and family warmth since childhood. This time I returned home. The atmosphere here remains simple and filled with traces of the past lingering in every corner. The riverside village still lives relying on the river and canals as before. No matter how far the world turns, the kindness of Bang Bo people remains as strong as ever.

On the first day back home, I planned to visit warm-hearted relatives, including Uncle Wan who is very old but still laughs cheerfully, Uncle Luang who is like the eldest brother of the house, as well as aunts, uncles, and the community who love each other like close family. Talking and listening to each person's life stories made me absorb the essence of Bang Bo even deeper.

Uncle Wan told me about the past when Bang Bo flourished with rice farming and the famous snakehead fish farming known nationwide. Bang Bo snakehead fish is not just food but a cultural heritage passed down for over a hundred years. I myself used to swim and play with snakehead fish in Ban Rakas canal, the main canal of this district.Bang Bo Snakehead FishHere, the fish are plump and have a special flavor because of the brackish water containing red worms, a favorite food of the fish, making the meat fragrant, sweet, and delicious, known worldwide.

While visiting relatives, I stopped by the homes of Panmanee and Little Grandpa, two siblings preserving traditional ways of life. Currently, the old market in Bang Bo is still lively, though not as bustling as before, but you can still find unique local food and goods easily. The 150-year-old Bang Phli Old Marketnot far from Bang Bois an example of a riverside community market that still preserves its traditional form well. It is full of old community shops selling food, Thai desserts, daily necessities, as well as pharmacies and traditional healers still serving as in the past.

During this homecoming trip, I also had the chance to talk with elders about past lifestyles involving boats as the main transportation and trade means in Samrong canal and its tributaries, the lifeblood of Bang Bo people. With roads reaching more areas, boat use has decreased, but some markets still firmly maintain the canal-side way of life, such as Bang Bo Market, which remains in the memories of the older generation.

One activity I never miss when at home is the 'Ai Ngo' fish trapping competition, a local wisdom passed down for a long time. Here, 'Ai Ngo' traps are used to catch shrimp and fish in shrimp ponds raised alongside other fish species. I have experienced competing in fish trapping with friends like Annae in Bang Bo.Ai Ngo Fish Trapping Competition with Mr. Hotsia and Annae on Tour, Bang BoIt is a fun activity combining skill and deep knowledge of nature.

Also, on free days, I often think of my favorite childhood dish, one of which is the holy basil stir-fry in my hometown style, spicy, fragrant with holy basil, and includes Thai herbs my father used to add, such as kaffir lime peel and some spices. I created the Spicy Holy Basil Sauce to share this experience so everyone can taste the authentic Bang Bo flavor.Spicy Holy Basil Sauce by Mr.hotsiaThat I proudly present

Returning home to Bang Bo this time was not only about visiting relatives but also reconnecting with my roots, sensing the community changes and the lifestyle that moves forward slowly but steadily. I, mr.hotsia, believe this place is an important cultural learning center of Samut Prakan, still waiting for travelers who love sincerity and simplicity to experience it themselves.

If anyone is interested in learning more about life in Bang Bo, try visiting the old market, the riverside market, or even join the Ai Ngo fish trapping activity. It’s a rare experience in big cities. And don’t forget to try the famous Bang Bo snakehead fish, guaranteed to leave a lasting taste as warm as the people here.

For more information and other stories related to Bang Bo and Samut Prakan, follow atBang Bo Snakehead Fishand150-Year-Old Bang Phli Old Marketwhich I have also written about.

See you again on the next journey with mr.hotsia. Thank you for following and traveling together.