Hello Hiveians!
This was one of my most unforgettable experiences when we were in Bohol. Aside from seeing the Chocolate Hills for the first time (which I just saw in many textbooks and postcards since I was young), the culinary adventure with a dash of cultural immersion with the ethnic tribe in Bohol culminated our escapade. Bohol had made tourism one of its sources of income, but with respect to nature and to the culture of the indigenous people living in the area. This made me wonder what Bohol would look like if I come back some time in the future. In the meantime, let me share this experience with you.
This was last leg of our Bohol adventure. If you haven't check my posts about our Bohol escapade, you can head out to the following posts below:
On our last day in Bohol, we decided to go back to Loboc River to try the river cruise, but while on the way, Darryll (@legendarryll) searched in the internet and found out that Loay River Cruise is much better compared to Loboc River Cruise. So, instead of going back further inland to Loboc, we decided to stop at Loay, a coastal town in the south of Bohol.
Loay River Cruise starts at Rio Verde Floating Resto - located in Poblacion Ubos, Tagbilaran East Road, Loay, Bohol. It's under O.B. Clarin Bridge, the bridge at the mouth of Loboc River. The cruise will go upstream to the Ati Tribe "settlement". We arrived at the site at around 10:30 AM. It's amazing that they were able to make use of the space under the bridge and convert it to a makeshift dock where the floating restos are stationed. Once we settled the payments (c/o @legendarryll), we immediately boarded our designated floating resto.
The moment we boarded the floating resto, we were told that we can immediately grab a plate and start munching those fresh local foods. They're not that fancy or high-end as in many restaurants, but they're definitely a true Filipino taste. It was said the the local produce in the area are used in the dishes, all Pinoy dishes.
After all the guests have boarded, the cruise started at around 11:15 AM. Because of the volume and the depth of Loboc River, coupled with high tide, the river appears to be a steady emerald highway that's really ideal for cruising. On the opposite banks of the river are mostly nipa palms. Loboc River meanders going upstream and it has this calming and soothing effect as all you see are shades of green. Halfway through the destination, a local singer plays acoustic Bisaya songs which added to chill and relax vibe, while we were still eating until we were full.
Further upstream, as we were nearing the Ati Tribe area, we saw children swimming and jumping into the river. It reminded me so much of my childhood when we spent most of our weekends in the river.
Ati Tribe
More than the food, which was great for me, and the cruise itself, I think this was the highlight of the trip. Getting acquainted with the original dwellers of the area is an experience in itself that's worth sharing. This makes Loay River Cruise much better than its Loboc counterpart. Their smiles, their positivity, and their very welcoming nature are the reasons why interacting with the Ati people lifted my spirit. You can take pictures with them, you watch them playing drums and other musical instruments, or you can just simply wander around, rest assured that you will a feast of your senses.
We were told to stay in the area for about 15 minutes only before going back to the floating resto. The moment we entered the village, the familiar tribal beat of the drum can be heard. As you can see in the photos, the village is fabricated and made as a cultural center by the town of Loay. It's in the middle of a forest near the border of Loay and Loboc and can only be accessed through the river.
Some would argue that the natives have lost their sense of identity as they embraced commercialism, but for me, it's a way of adapting to changing times. It's better than forcing them to relocate and be cut off from the modern world. They can still practice their culture in the area and share them with the visitors. The donations and the earnings from their handcrafted souvenirs could be used to provide for their needs.
I'm sure there were some agreements put in place to protect the natives and their ancestral land from exploitation. I just hope that those agreements are honored by all parties. I'm hopeful for this because Bohol is known to be one of the pioneers in eco-tourism, wildlife conservation, and integration of tourism to the local community. So far, I have seen the advancements of Bohol in these areas in a way that's sustainable and with consideration to all stakeholders.
The 15~20 minutes was too short and we had to go back to our floating resto and then cruise back to Clarin Bridge. After docking, we had some photoshoot near the area.
Final Thoughts
For me, you shouldn't miss Loay River Cruise if you happen to visit Bohol. You can also try the Loboc River Cruise, but most of the reviews stated that Loay River Cruise is a way better than one in Loboc. Since it's buffet, the food can definitely fill your stomach until you can't take another bite. It's fresh, local, hearty, and definitely Pinoy taste. The serene river, the relaxing cruise, and the lush green vegetation in both banks of the river adds to the other reasons why this is an experience. Meeting those native people opens up to a different culture that's way too far from the modern world. Overall, it's one-of-a-kind experience.
I guess that's all for this post and I hope you'll consider Bohol to be part of your list once you visit the Philippines. As the slogan says' "it's more fun in the Philippines". See you in my next post!
Note: Photos were taken by @legendarryll and used with permission.
Kim Ybañez
Welcome to Kim's small corner in Hive. He is a chemical engineer by profession, but a blogger by passion. He is a wanderlust and an adventure seeker. Join his quests as he visits secluded destinations, climbs mountains, tries new and exotic dishes, and explores his country (The Philippines) and the rest of the world even if he's still a poor corporate slave with tons of bills to pay and two siblings to support in college.
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Thank you so much!
You're welcome @ybanezkim26! Awesome to see you are doing so great!
cheers, liz
The world will be quite different once we come out of this pandemic. I am sure a lot of people are not able to manage food because of this pandemic, let's hope for the good.
That's true. It will really change the way we approach things in ways we have never imagined. But it doesn't mean everything will stop. Life will continue. Let's hope for the good indeed.
Everything will not stop, but it will take a lot of time to be back where we were in 2019, but I do hope it should be as soon as possible.