Missing Mom, Returning Home to Bang Bo 4/15: Revisiting Bang Kayang Canal, Where My Parents Farmed 35 Years Ago, Now Only Factories

Missing Mom, Returning Home to Bang Bo 4/15: Revisiting Bang Kayang Canal, Where My Parents Farmed 35 Years Ago, Now Only Factories

I, mr.hotsia, have returned to my hometown in Bang Bo, Samut Prakan Province after many years away. This trip has a special purpose: to trace back the history of Bang Kayang Canal, a small canal that has nourished the local people for over 35 years. But today, upon arrival, I found that the beautiful past has almost completely changed. The canal that once provided water for rice farming and raising snakehead fish has mostly become the site of industrial factories.

Bang Bo used to be a fertile lowland area ideal for rice farming and fish raising, especially the famous Bang Bo snakehead fish known nationwide and abroad for its sweet, rich flavor and firm texture. The key factor was the brackish water from Samrong Canal and Bang Kayang Canal, which supported the growth of red worms, a favorite food of the snakehead fish, making the fish here unique and delicious.Bang Bo Snakehead FishI grew up with it; it is part of my childhood memories that I will never forget.

But today, when I look at Bang Kayang Canal, I see only factories and tall buildings surrounding the canal instead of wide rice fields and fish ponds like before. My parents and the locals used to live closely connected to this canal, farming in the wide fields and raising fish in ponds dug around the fields called "Teen Na," a method that helped fish survive during floods and droughts. These ponds provided food and extra income for the villagers.

I still clearly remember swimming as a child in Ban Rakat Canal, a small branch of Samrong Canal, with clear water full of snakehead fish swimming around. This memory remains deeply in my heart to this day. If you are interested in learning about the canal-side lifestyle and the old market in this area, I recommend visitingThe 150-Year-Old Bang Phli Old Marketwhich is not far from Bang Bo. There, traditional riverside shops are still preserved, and locals continue to paddle boats to trade goods just like in the old days.

This time, I also visited Bang Bo Market, which, although smaller than Bang Phli Market, is still lively with fresh produce, fruits, and local foods that remind me of the taste of my hometown. Although daily use of boats has decreased due to better roads, the bond with the water remains deeply rooted in the hearts of Bang Bo people.

Speaking of the canal-side lifestyle, I, mr.hotsia, must tell you about the "Ai Ngo" fishing competition, a fun activity I once joined with friends here."Ai Ngo" Fishing Competition with Mr. Hotsia On Tour at Bang BoThis is a traditional fishing method using a trap called "Ai Ngo" in shrimp fields. The competition is not just a game but a way to preserve the culture and fishing techniques that Bang Bo villagers have used for a long time. The simple yet precise technique requires part of the trap to remain above water to keep the fish alive and placing it on the riverbed to catch as many fish as possible.

The changes in Bang Kayang Canal and the lifestyle of Bang Bo villagers that I experienced made me think about the past and the changing relationship between people and nature. However, I still see the community's efforts to preserve and restore cultural heritage, like the old market that remains and offers tourists a genuine experience of canal-side living.

If you want to feel the warmth of my hometown, this is Bang Bo, Samut Prakan Province. I, mr.hotsia, invite you to stroll, taste local food, try fishing, and take a boat ride along the old canals that still hold stories to tell. Although many factories have replaced the old rice fields, the memories and traditional way of life remain deeply embedded in the hearts of Bang Bo people.

For those interested in Bang Bo snakehead fish and its unique farming methods, I have detailed articles available. You can read more atBang Bo Snakehead Fishto understand why the fish here are delicious and famous, rivaling other places in Thailand.

And if you want to hear the sounds and see clear images of Bang Kayang Canal in the past and present, I recommend the video clipMissing Mom, Returning Home to Bang Bo 4/15: Revisiting Bang Kayang Canal, Where My Parents Farmed 35 Years Ago, Now Only Factorieswhich I recorded myself. It will help you better visualize life along the canal.

Finally, I, mr.hotsia, send my heartfelt longing for my hometown and hope that in the future, Bang Bo will preserve the charm and natural beauty of this area so that future generations can truly experience the beautiful and culturally valuable canal-side way of life.