It has been almost a year since my last post. Last night, with the company of two of my closest friends, I remembered the reason why I started blogging. I felt the sudden urge to write again.
While nothing has changed with regard to my crazy schedule and it has been even crazier these days, I now commit to myself to continue to write about my experiences while I can still remember them.
The challenge, as it has always been to me, is time. Because time is still scarce as of this writing (hopefully not for very long), I've decided to write about the highlights of my experiences instead of writing about a whole trip at a time.
To get started, I'm about to write about one of the most amazing and exciting experiences that I've had in all my adventure travels...
Ulot Torpedo Boat Extreme Ride - Samar
July 25, 2012
Our home base for the trip was Tacloban. Throughout our travels, it has never been easy to get to any of our destination. This is no different. From Tacloban city, we rode a series of public transportation - tricycle, a multicab, a jeepney, a van (with an option to ride a non-airconditioned bus as well) and a motorcycle.
As we rode the van, R has been trying to contact the local tourism personnel in charge of this attraction with no luck. By then, we were halfway through and it was too late to go back so we just tried our luck.
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| The famous and extremely beautiful San Juanico bridge - finally after 29 years! |
The driver dropped us off the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office for the Samar Island Natural Park office.
As we approached the gate, we saw that it was chained and locked. UH-OH!!! There was also no phone signal so we couldn't try to call the DENR officer again. In my mind I was saying over and over..."You've got to be kidding me!".
Since we commuted a long way, there was nothing left to do but to climb to the side of the gate and hope that we will not be charged for trespassing. It was quite a walk towards a building where we tried to call for anyone in the area.
An old man greeted us and called someone thru his radio to take us to the jumpoff point. As we waited for our ride, we were briefed on what to expect and the history of the project. The project had a soft opening in late 2009. Although they know that this is unique and has much potential, they still lack the budget to build structures and properly promote it in the country.
We rode a motorcycle for about a kilometer or two. Yes, I was in a sun dress riding a motorcycle. Something I have gotten used to when in remote provinces over the years.
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| DENR office slowly trying to maximize the little budget for the attraction by building structures one at a time |
The DENR office is slowly trying to maximize the little budget for the attraction by building structures one at a time. As of our last visit, they had a comfort room slash shower facility. It is very basic but I appreciate their effort in trying to maintain its cleanliness. I also appreciate the effort in giving uniforms to official boatmen and their polite nature.
After gearing up and as the motor was attached to the boat, we were ready to go.
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| Yes naman, talagang nakapambahay lang ah! |
The boat is carved from a tree trunk with a very narrow V shape. It could fit 6 passengers with only one person per row. The carving is very deep so the edges of the boat is on the chest level when seated. Half of the boat is submerged in water. This makes you feel like the boat is almost sinking...setting you up for a VERY EXCITING boat ride.
The ride was a combination of rough whitewater, calm and wide green and blue water, upstream-upstream-downstream over and over.
There was thick green vegetation all around with big birds flying above the cloudy skies and colorful birds resting on tree and bush branches. The breeze is very cool. Alongside the river there were people washing their clothes and spear fishing and some just going about their usual day passing by the river on the way to their school or work.
Since this is a nature park, no one is allowed to live within miles of the forest. It is clean, clean anywhere you look. Not a single trash floating. Just pure and plain nature at its finest.
We got to the point where the boat could no longer proceed. We walked for 15 minutes to get pass the rocks. This part is a much calmer side that almost resembles a pool. This is where guests usually prefer to have lunch and dip into the cold river water. The current may be too strong so the guides tied a rope across for safety purposes.
We rested for a while and went on our way. Going back to home base (Tacloban) is a long commute in reverse, this time involving a 20 kilometer tricycle ride in the middle of nowhere to the bus stop hoping to catch a van.
Click here to view my video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Mj6dGRMygI
My sweet ending in the bus stop was a Php10.00 rice cake with melter caramelized brown sugar. It was still hot off the steamer when I bought it and wrapper in a big green leaf.
