Missing Mom, Returning Home to Bang Bo 7/15: Dead End! The True Story of the Canal People Today - Water Hyacinth Chokes the Bridge Neck

Missing Mom, Returning Home to Bang Bo 7/15: Dead End! The True Story of the Canal People Today - Water Hyacinth Chokes the Bridge Neck

Bang Bo, Samut Prakan Province, my hometown mr.hotsia, deeply connected to the Samrong Canal for a long time. Today I return again with extraordinary firsthand stories. The story of Bang Bo Canal where I grew up alongside the famous Pla Salid fish and a once peaceful lifestyle full of warmth among the canal-side villagers. Today it has become a dead end, not just for boats that cannot pass, but also reflecting deep changes in the community.

I paddled a small boat along Samrong Canal connecting to Bang Pakong River. This route, once the lifeline of the villagers, is now densely covered with water hyacinth. The thick mats of water hyacinth reaching the bridge necks block boats from passing. This situation reminds me of the 150-year-old Bang Phli Old Market, not far away, which amazingly still preserves its traditional riverside market charm.150-Year-Old Bang Phli Old MarketIt is an example of adaptation and conservation of canal-side lifestyles that still breathe life, but Bang Bo faces new challenges waiting to be solved.

The dense water hyacinth is not just about lost beauty; it impacts the villagers' way of life who depend on water and canals deeply. Many Bang Bo villagers still fish and raise the famous Pla Salid fish known nationwide and internationally. The Pla Salid of Bang Bo, where I used to swim in the Ban Rakat canal as a child, has a unique delicious taste due to the brackish water that supports the growth of red worms, the favorite food of Pla Salid.Pla Salid of Bang Bowhich I have shared in previous articles

But when the canal is filled with water hyacinth, water flow decreases, causing water quality to worsen. It is like closing an important pathway of the canal lifestyle that has long been relied upon. I saw villagers' boats having to change routes and turn back because they could not pass the bridge neck covered with water hyacinth. The wooden bridge, once a connection point between two canal banks, has become a trap with no way out.

In the past, Bang Bo villagers mainly traveled by boat—to markets, shopping, or even to Wat Luang Pho To Bang Phli Yai, they had to paddle through this canal. The canal-side community had a close relationship with water and boats, which were both transportation and food sources.Fishing Competition with Mr. Hotsia’s Foolish Trap - Anne On Tour at Bang BoMy fun experience fishing in my home canal also reflects the lifestyle deeply connected to the waterways.

But today, the changed canal condition raises the question: how can we preserve these lifestyles? Managing the rapidly growing water hyacinth requires attention from relevant agencies and the community to help restore the canal to clear water and usability as before.

I, mr.hotsia, though traveling to many provinces and countries, my heart remains tied to my hometown Bang Bo. I invite everyone interested in history, lifestyle, and nature along the canal to follow the stories and help preserve Samrong Canal for future generations to witness the beauty and vitality of this community.

For those who want to experience the atmosphere of an old riverside market, I recommend visiting150-Year-Old Bang Phli Old Marketwhich still retains the charm of an ancient market, and try the famous Pla Salid of Bang Bo.Pla Salid of Bang Boa legend I am proud to present.

For the story of water hyacinth in Bang Bo Canal that I share inthe video Missing Mom, Returning Home to Bang Bo 7/15: Dead End! The True Story of the Canal People Today - Water Hyacinth Chokes the Bridge Neckyou will clearly see the problems villagers face along with hope to restore the canal’s life again.

Finally, I, mr.hotsia, want to say that although my hometown has changed over time, love and attachment remain. I will continue to return and share true stories from the field so everyone can understand the lifestyle of Bang Bo canal people genuinely.