Two-Stage Boat Ride to Ban Rakas Temple

Two-Stage Boat Ride to Ban Rakas Temple: A Riverside Experience in Bang Bo, Samut Prakan

I, mr.hotsia, would like to share a personal favorite experience — taking a two-stage boat ride along Samrong Canal to Ban Rakas Temple in Bang Bo District, Samut Prakan Province. The charm of this journey is truly experiencing riverside life. This place is not just a canal but a vital lifeline of the community that preserves the unique identity of locals who have been connected to the water since ancient times.

I remember that day I left the over 150-year-old Bang Phli Old Market, which still firmly maintains its wooden market style along the canal. Despite changing times, grocery stores, traditional medicine shops, local healers, and souvenir shops still sporadically remain, reflecting the community’s deep connection with the waterways. If you want to learn about the old wooden riverside market, you can read about it atBang Phli 150-Year-Old Marketwhich I have previously documented.

I boarded a two-stage boat consisting of a long-tail boat followed by a smaller boat. The boat cruised along Samrong Canal, the main canal leading to the Bang Pakong River and also the route to Ban Rakas Temple, which I was going to visit. Along the way, the water was clear, and I saw gourami fish swimming, reminding me of the famous Bang Bo gourami fish known nationwide and internationally (if interested in Bang Bo gourami, I have shared stories atBang Bo Gourami)

This two-stage boat ride is not just a simple sightseeing trip; it feels like a journey back in time, showing me the old lifestyle of Bang Bo locals. Villagers paddle boats to fish, catch shrimp, or transport goods to the canal-side market. Sometimes, you encounter boats passing each other familiarly. Here, water and people are truly inseparable.

Upon arriving at Ban Rakas Temple, I found a peaceful atmosphere, a sacred place where nearby villagers come to make merit throughout the year. During the ordination ceremony I visited, the atmosphere was filled with warmth from the community and relatives, with laughter and joy from children playing around the temple. Everything seemed simple but deeply meaningful.

The temple also houses ancient sites and folk art that clearly reflect the riverside community’s identity. Experiencing this place reminded me of the lifestyle once present along Samrong Canal and the importance of preserving the riverside community for future generations to learn from and take pride in.

If you want to truly experience riverside life—not just beautiful views but also get to know the community and history of Bang Bo in depth—I recommend trying the two-stage boat ride as I described and then visitingBan Rakas TempleI guarantee you will have a fun experience and unique stories to tell.

And if you enjoy the riverside market atmosphere, don’t forget to stop by the old markets in Bang Bo or Bang Phli, which still preserve their age-old charm and traditional lifestyle well. I have written about it in the articleBang Phli 150-Year-Old MarketThere you will find a variety of food, goods, and community products.

For those interested in Bang Bo gourami, I have several articles sharing stories and secrets behind the deliciousness of these fish. You can read them atBang Bo GouramiandBang Bo Gouramiwhich will help you understand the villagers’ way of life and the nature of the gourami fish even better.

On the day I took this two-stage boat ride, a neighbor and relative, Ajarn Suchart, joined me. We chatted throughout the trip, creating a warm and lively atmosphere. If you want to see the real scenes, you can watch the videoTwo-Stage Boat Ride to Ban Rakas Templewhich I personally recorded.

Finally, I, mr.hotsia, want to say that visiting Bang Bo, especially taking the two-stage boat ride and stopping at Ban Rakas Temple, is not just an ordinary trip but a true immersion into the riverside lifestyle of a community in Samut Prakan that I believe you will never forget.