"Torpedo Boat" Adventure Ride

What is it?
Just a boat ride. On a boat with no outriggers (katig). With a "faster-than-usual" engine. On a river still pristine. In a jungle - one of the remaining rain-forests of this country. Is it really an adventure? By the dictionary definition of "adventure" yes it is! Mainly due to river portions taking various forms like shallows, rapids, cascades, narrow passages, etc.

Where is it??
The jump-off area is at Brgy Tenani, Paranas, (Western) Samar. The river where this ride takes place is called Ulot River, sometimes also spelled Olot. Ulot and Olot, btw, means monkey! Yes nga ulot ka! The ride is just within a short portion of this 90km-long river.

How and Why?!
You just sit on the boat as it zooms through the river, then, OMG! It is uniquely one of the best nature tours in this country. But at the same time, a crazy adrenaline pumping ride, you won't believe you did it - until you see your videos after the ride. That's why!

This goes downstream on departure, for about an hour of a scenic ride, with little jumps and slides among rapids and shallows. There are waterfalls and other natural wonders along the riverbanks. The return takes longer (can even be 2hrs depending on water level), and the jumps are more breathtakingly pronounced as the boat fords upstream!


Now my story...
The past months (of work), I've been passing by Brgy Tenani, and I often saw signage about the "Torpedo Boat Adventure Ride". I got curious, even went as far as researching about it on the worldwideweb, and asking responsible authorities for more information.

So today, on my way from Tacloban to Catbalogan, I thought might have been the most opportune time to make a quick and wet detour! Therefore I went there and did it!

End of story hahaha!


My random notes, for you:
When I reached the place, residents guided me on where to pay, wear the lifevest, attend the briefing, take the ride. Not sure if I was asked to sign a waiver. I think I was, and did.

There are no touts! This is a tourist attraction yes, but you do not see pesky vendors of anything and everything pushing their wares to your nose! That is, as of now anyway.

There are also no "massage ma'am", "massage sir" who holler loudly even if you are on the phone with your boss, or, you are talking to companions. Again, as of now anyway!

The boat is for maximum 5 passengers. Anything less than that, you still pay for the 5-passenger capacity. So, I did, because I was alone. However, the area where they asked my driver to park the car, seemed to be a safe place. Thus, I dragged my driver along!

We became 2 passengers and 3 crews. One is the "engine-man" or the real boatman. Another is a "front-man" who helps steer the boat with a paddle and his feet from up the bow. Yes, his feet! Then the tour guide - who can't say anything during the ride because the engine is so loud. But once at the destination, the tour guide is very useful not only about information on the area but even on food preparation and where to "settle down"!

The briefing is about safety of your entire trip. You should all listen. Don't brag about your Sydney jet boat ride and forget about the briefing. This is different and important.

Examples of things discussed during the briefing:

• Always wear your helmet when the boat is moving! Ganun?! Me helmet sa tubig?! Yes, and I'm not telling you why. So you will listen to the briefing.


• Never touch or hold parts of the boat that is not colored Light Blue! What does that mean, aber? Thus, you will really have to listen intently on that briefing.

Those are just two things covered by the briefing. There are others equally important!

I'm telling you more, but promise yourself you will listen to that briefing! Here I go:

Will you get wet? Natural! As in yes na yes! This is a river adventure, don't expect to come off it crisp and dry. Going downstream, you may not really get that wet. Returning back upstream however, it will be a miracle if you remained dry! Well, miracles happen!

Besides, remember this is Samar - it rains even on the hottest day of the driest month!

Will your gadgets get wet? YES! So better use water resistant cameras or cellphones. Or put those together with your wallets, purses and other valuables in waterproof bags or containers. Oh, unless you're using them to shoot, leave tablets at home on in your car.

On the way downriver, you can even use your gadgets to shoot the beautiful sceneries here and there. You could even catch eagles and big birds hovering flying or perching. Of course you will need your gadgets to shoot memories at the destination (picnic area). But on the return run, you will encounter a lot of splashes as your boat literally climb rapids and cascades at times as high as a meter or more! Waterproof gadgets are best.

Oh picnic! Can you bring food and eat in this place? Definitely! Although, the tourism management (provincial government) also offers catering services for and at this area. You just need to call a day before. I think that is better, so you need not bother preparing and transporting, then later cleaning up trash. I hear its a boodle fight that they offer!

Avoid too much movement as the boat cruises. When you see the boat, you will anyway understand why hehe! In fact, once you are 'successfully' on the boat, you will naturally avoid movement as you will likely freeze in fear of it capsizing hehehe hikhikhik! Duu!

Don't freeze to death though! When that boat goes full speed, you will notice you can actually move, like raise your hands, twist your body to take a photo and so on, without tilting the boat that much. BUT, no body parts outside the boat. Its in the briefing!

Here are some techniques:

To enter the boat without turning it over hehe, walk on the water to the side of the boat - walk on water daw o?! sino ka si Hesu Kristo sa Galilea?!

I mean the boat is 'parked' on a shallow edge of the river (see 1st photo above), so you walk on the shallows, to the outside part of boat directly beside your seat assignment (there are only 5 seats, wag ka maghanap ng 41A window side emergency exit)! Then...

Lift one foot, toes facing front of boat, and step with it directly in the middle (floor) of the boat. Once that foot is firmly planted on the floor, raise your other foot in and sit.

When I say sit, that means sit down and freeze. Reaching out for/to anything/anyone will tilt the boat, and, goodbye ka! Well, you can even try standing, and see what happens!

Do not (you are not allowed anyway) get off the boat unless boatmen tell you. Just sit tight in there. Even if it is shallow, and even if they themselves are out pushing the boat.

To get off, just reverse all of the above. Otherwise, lean on one side so that boat will flip over and spill all of you on the water. Easier that way hehehe! But if you do that, you won't know what the boatman will do (to you) hahaha. Mahirap galitin ang mga waray!

Alright, here is a concoction of video clips I took during the downstream ride:
Note: this video is only 7++ minutes (just highlights). The ride takes about an hour!

Final destination is still part of Ulot River in the middle of a jungle. Normally, you would picnic here and/or explore the area (forest). In my case, I enjoyed swimming and jumping on this mini-waterfalls formed by a big drop in the river. This is the reason why the ride is just until this point, since you'll have to carry the boat if you want to go further down!

This mini whitewater pool (parang Jacuzzi!) is deep enough for anyone to dive safely!

That is our boatman about to jump head-first into the water! Wohoo!

Wearing the #9 jersey on the right is our front-man waiting for his turn to jump! Me?! I jumped (feet first lang) from every side of those rocks unto that frothy giant Jacuzzi!

There he goes again! Flying in the air, before dropping down to the water! Inggit ako!

But I am not good at jumping head first from such a height unto any water hehe

Oh, water exits in a (very) strong rush via this canal-like crevice on the rocks...

But they have a safety gadget somewhere on the left edge of this photo. It is a big nylon rope permanently laid across two boulders that you can latch on to if being washed down and fast by the current! Don't worry, the 3 of them are watching your every move!

Why is that important? Try walking further down there... it is another drop, a waterfall!

Mind you, they tell us that smaller boats (without engines) were the mode of transport here, when roads were not yet the technology of the time. They just paddled along the Ulot River that reaches as far down as the town of Can-avid in Eastern Samar!

Depending on the season or the kind of 'weather of the day', the river could be calm or rampaging! But, naturally, the return ride going upstream is more OMG fun than going downstream - because your boat is literally climbing against very strong river flow!

And here are clips on the return ride that I stitched into a 12++ min video:

On this return ride going upstream, we saw that big bird...An eagle!

There are many wonderful things to see - if you can get your eyes off the boat hehe!

Ah, after the ride, I did not forget to take a pic of our boat...

See the many scratches? Listen to the briefing so that won't happen to your skin!

Okay, I know you're eyeing boat 125 at the back. Don't squint anymore. Here it is...

Comedy relief ba?! At least we know what it means. And let's not debate if they spelled that name correctly. The mis-spelling may have occurred during birth or baptism hehe!


Final tip, and I strongly advocate you do this:
There are many parts of the river where there are no rapids, cascades or rampage. Just flowing but serenely placid waters. The boatmen will know where these are.

Preferably on your way back upstream, tell the boatman to shut his engine and let the boat float freely for about a minute. It will drift nicely and safely just for a few meters.

Make that as your minute of silence. Pray if you must. Thank the heavens for your safe adventure. Say your message of atonement to the spirits. But in that minute of silence, listen to your surroundings. It is eerily silent here, with only the pure sounds of nature. Your boat's engine had been loud, your shrieks and screams have disturbed the peace.

This is paradise...