Phang nga: Admire the water lilies, nicknamed the “Queen of the River,” a rare and endangered aquatic plant native to Kuraburi District, Phang Nga Province, and Suk Samran District, Ranong Province. Water lilies are in full bloom in Ta Sem Canal. “Ta Sem Garden” is a popular spot for viewing water lilies in Kuraburi District, located in a large canal with cool, clear water. Bamboo forests and large, shady trees line the canal banks, creating large and full-fledged water lilies and flowers.

According to Thai News Agency, this is the season when the water lilies begin to bloom, filling the canals. This year, the water level in the canals is very high, causing the water lilies to bloom three times already, and they are expected to bloom until January of next year. Tourists are invited to come and see them for free. The Khlong Ta Sem Water Lily Viewing Point is full of water lilies. Ta Sem has been conserving the water lilies continuously for over 10 years. Interested parties can call 061-206-5250 or 086-275-8284.

The water lily, or Crinum thaianum, is the only aquatic plant in the world that is distributed in Phang Nga and Ranong provinces. It has been found that its quantity has continuously decreased. The causes are from dredging of canals, natural disasters, and illegal digging out of the area. Until the working group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) agreed to classify the water lily as an endangered plant and animal in 2011.