06 January 2024

12 — Use of the Large Pond for Swimming, Boating, Fishing


The large natural pond, Dragon's Paddling Pool, at sunset


The large pond can be entered by 5 staircase docks, as shown by arrows on the map

  1. There are various ponds and ditches within the Baan Sammi property, as depicted on the map above, as well as public canals outside the property along the western and southern bordering fences.
  2. There is one rather large pond (Dragon's Paddling Pool) and three smaller ponds: one pond in the northeastern part of the property with a gazebo in the middle (Pond North), a narrow small pond (Pond East), located in the southeastern part of the property, and an oval-shaped pond (Pond South) in the southeastern corner of the property.
  3. The ponds are connected as follows, meaning that there can be water flow between them: The northern end of Pond East connects to the large pond (Dragon's Paddling Pool) by a short intermediate ditch, and to Pond North by a rather long and narrow ditch. In contrast, Pond South is connected by a short ditch, exclusively with the southern public canal, located outside the property. There is water flow from the public canal to Pond South. There is also a barrier between Pond South and Pond East, which is flood-resistant, thus preventing the polluted water from the public canal from draining into the ponds other than Pond South. Water from Pond South can and will be used for plant irrigation only.
  4. Bridges: There are two bridges for the private driveway, the first over the southern section of Pond East and the second over the ditch that connects Pond East with Pond North. There are two further but pathway bridges, the first crossing the northern part of the ditch that leads to Pond North and the second crossing the ditch where a branch of the public canal enters the property leading to Pond South.

Dragon's Paddling Pool: the large natural pond for swimming, boating, and fishing
    The private access to the large pond at
    Tai Saeng Chan Pavilion (top), and
    common access to the pond and boat
    near the laundry hut of Tai Saeng
    Chan Pavilion (bottom)
    — photos by courtesy of C. G.,
    15 Sep. 2016

  1. Only the large natural pond, Dragon's Paddling Pool, is suitable and due for swimming, boating, and occasional fishing. This pond is ninety meters (300 ft) long, twenty meters (65 ft) wide, and seven meters (23 ft) deep, with steep banks, and connection with groundwater. There is no inflow of surface water from public canals. During the long period of the dry season, the water level will not much decrease as groundwater from an own over 100 meters (330 ft) deep well will be pumped into the ponds.
  2. There is plenty of fish of different species in the large pond. The natural self-cleaning of the water is expected to be balanced with the natural input of leaf litter, and not silted up or become overgrown for several decades to come. The trees around the pond are tall, some are over 20 meters (65 ft), so much of the banks and parts of the water surface are shaded. The pond has no algae. As the soil consists of loam and clay, there are tiny particles that can float in the water and do not sink easily, which causes the pond to look turbid with a view not deeper than half a meter (2 ft) from the water level. There is no leech either on land or in water, and there have never been any waterborne diseases.
  3. If you use the large pond for swimming, boating, or fishing, a certain distance to the houses (as shown in medium blue on the map above) should be maintained to respect the protection of privacy, provided that the houses are rented and inhabited. 
  4. Access to the large pond is by staircase docks only, their locations are shown on the above map by arrows: 
  5. Dillenia Bungalow and Chom Doi Pavilion ("DB" and "CDP" on the map): 1 private concrete staircase dock (without railing) is located next to the bungalow. 
  6. Tai Saeng Chan Pavilion ("TSCP" on the map): 1 private concrete staircase dock (without railing) is located next to the deck in front of the living room.
  7. Lychee Lodge ("LL" on the map): 1 private staircase dock, consisting of two rows of concrete stairs (without railing) and covered by a semitransparent roof, is located next to the terrace.
  8. Plumeria Bungalow and Khilek Pavilion ("PB" and "KP" on the map): 1 private concrete staircase dock (without railing), extended by wooden stairs below the water surface, is located near Khilek Pavilion.
  9. There is a community staircase dock with wooden stairs and a single-sided railing next to the laundry and pump hut of Tai Saeng Chan Pavilion ("TSCP" on the map), and these stairs can be used by any tenant or guest to enter the pond for swimming, also for boating (the location of this staircase dock is shown on the above map by a full-colored arrow). The blue boat (which is the unsinkable one) is usually moored at the handrail of this staircase dock. Paddles are stored in the laundry and pump hut of Tai Saeng Chan Pavilion and have to be returned there after use. A bucket to empty rainwater from inside the boat is stored in the hut, too. If a tenant or guest wishes to deposit personal items needed for swimming or boating in the laundry and pump hut, such as a life belt, the tenant or guest should coordinate directly with the Tai Saeng Chan Pavilion tenant.
  10. The large pond is for swimming, not bathing. Swimming in this context means gliding in the water and not standing on or touching the bottom of the pond near the bank. Bathing means not swimming, but at least occasionally standing on the bottom of the pond, which must be avoided in all respects. The pond is 7 m (23 ft) deep and should not be used by non-swimmers. The slope of the banks above and under the water level is steep. Neither the banks nor the ground underwater should be entered or used to stand on, as this would initiate soil erosion causing irreparable damage to the concrete foundation of the staircase docks, and even houses.
  11. The pond does not have a shallow area for children. If a child falls into the pond, they may drown. Adults need to keep an eye on playing children, especially beyond the private garden area.
  12. Watch out for several large tree trunks underwater if you swim or boat in the large pond. Often their bases protrude from the water near the bank, and thus the approximate underwater position of the tree trunks can be recognized. No underwater creepers, and no aquatic plants with thorny stems, such as lotus, grow in the large pond. Please, be aware of the water lilies, which all grow close to the edges of the pond: do not swim near the water lilies, and do not boat into these areas, as this will inevitably cause damage to the water lilies. Do not step on the bank or dock the boat there, as the bank is covered with natural vegetation all over.
  13. A fallen tree

    The entire banks of all ponds and ditches are covered with natural vegetation and should not be entered under any circumstances. These areas are reserved as the main sanctuary for wildlife. Only the large pond can be entered, but only via its staircase docks as described above. The water surface of the small ponds and ditches is covered with tiny floating aquatic plants. These species are mostly Lemna (Araceae), more rarely Azolla (Salviniaceae), which many people mistakenly consider to be algae.
  14. Boating is only allowed with the blue boat and only on the large pond. Any tenant or guest can use the blue boat. The blue boat is stable and unsinkable (whereas the red boat is not). It can only capsize if used completely improperly. The blue boat is permanently based at the community staircase dock (opposite the laundry hut of Tai Saeng Chan Pavilion, where the paddle is kept). The location of this staircase dock is indicated by a full-colored arrow on the above map. After each use, the paddle must be placed back in the hut to dry. The paddle is light and made of softwood. If left wet in the boat and exposed to the rain, it would rot in no time.
  15. A second, smaller boat, colored white with red, is moored on the bank of one of the canals. It is needed for maintenance work along the banks of canals and small ponds. It is unstable and sinkable. Even when used properly, it is almost impossible not to capsize. Under no circumstances may tenants or guests use it. In the rare event that it is used on the large pond, it must be tied to a 10-meter line with a buoyant object on the loose end. This is the only way this boat can be pulled ashore in case it sinks to the bottom of the large pond.
  16. Occasional fishing is possible in the large pond. The best way to fish is from the blue boat, not from the bank. Please see the Fish and Fishing link for more details.