A river runs through it (Torpedo Boat Adventure)

We now open the New Year with an adventure. This has become a tradition ever since we went for an unplanned drive to Silago, Southern Leyte and a trek to Tres Marias falls one stormy day a couple of days after the new year. That was in 2011. And then again, to Lake Mahagnao in 2012. And for 2013, we decided to do the Torpedo Boat Adventure in Paranas, Western Samar.

This was the German’s idea, again. The German is a pseudo-local of Leyte. He moved to Tacloban with his partner a couple of years back and since then has been exploring the province and beyond looking for rare orchids, documenting them for a scientific journal. This is our hometown, but this German knows its nooks and crannies better than any local. So, funny as it may sound to the others, the German is our dependable guide in our own backyard.

The drive to Paranas, Samar from Tacloban took 2 and a half hours. Upon reaching the town, we headed towards the headquarters of Samar Island National Park (SINP). It isanother 16 kilometers along the Wright-Taft road past the junction (ay, we kept asking the annoyed German, are we there yet?) and up a hill. You register, pay the fee, choose a guide and get a briefing before going to the jump-off point. I think the package for 5 persons is PHP 1800 and it includes the helmet, the boat, and the fee for the guide. (The package rate is based on boat capacity- maximum of 5 pax, so if there are six of you, you need to get another boat for 1800. So it’s better to go there in multiples of 5).



The boat ride along 10.5 kilometers (one way) of the Ulot river (total length is 520 km) was scenic, with a lot of wildlife sightings along the way (it’s a bird watchers’ heaven). We saw a couple of waterfalls by the river banks. And there are a few rapids and drops that will satisfy the adrenalin junky. The ride downstream was exhilarating but the ride upstream was even more so since we were going against the current.



The ride culminates at Deny’s point, the designated picnic area where visitors could swim then have lunch by the big stones and boulders lining up the riverbank. Oh, and we dared each other to jump into the raging waters and let the current just take you downstream where the guides wait to pull you back to the riverbank.

It was a good day trip, the perfect start to the year and this 37 for 37 challenge.

(all photos by Mandy Aumento)

(This is trip. no. 1 of the 37 for 37 challenge "