REVIVING PAST GLORIES

A canal-side community hopes to bring its dilapidated area back to life

Story by APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL

Pensri Kiattisakul, a 70-year-old resident of Talad Bang Khen community in Laksi district, gazes out of her window, reminiscing about the days when the Prem Prachakorn canal that passes her wooden house was still clean and clear. Back then, the canal was crowded with boats selling food, fruit and other goods and produce, she says.

Today, the waters that slide past her house are polluted, a wooden boat left deserted and rotting on the shore serves as a reminder of when the klong was a bustling centre of the community, used for travel and trade. But no one travels through its murky waters anymore, says Mrs Pensri.

The trading community once housed hundreds of Chinese and Thai families. But it has slowly been abandoned with a vast area of land developed for a high-end real estate project and multi-million-baht golf course many years ago.

''It's a pity when you think about how large and lively this community was in the past. But now anyone falling into the canal could die because of the diseases carried by the polluted water,'' she says.

''But it's not too late for us to revive our community for future generations.''

Remaining Talad Bang Khen residents yesterday joined the ''Big Cleaning Day'' project as part of revival efforts.

Despite the scorching heat, kids and adults worked hand in hand to clean houses and the community compound.

To promote the historical value of their community, residents also helped renovate ''A Grandfather's Boat'', a century-old wooden boat once used by their ancestors, and placed it as the community's landmark.

Other ancient artifacts and buildings are also being highlighted, including a Chinese vegetarian food hall, the Tin Hua temple, and an old rice mill that dates back over 100 years. These will be preserved to serve as reminders of the heyday of this historic trading community, founded by the Chinese descendants of Tae Chiew and Hai Lam.

Chief of Laksi district Amornrat Krittayanawat said the unique community had the potential to become a tourist spot similar to the old Mon community of Koh Kret in Nonthaburi.

However, Amporn Nilto, head of Ruam Pattana community on the other side of the canal thinks differently.

Mr Amporn, who has been living in the area for 65 years, said the City should focus more on cleaning up the polluted canal and improving the environment first, instead of spending money on developing and promoting tourist sites.

''Rivers and canals were the main means of transportation in the past. Although we have roads and tollways now, we have to revive these waterways, so future generations can learn about their roots and help protect them,'' he said.

Bangkok Post

Saturday March 31, 2007