Tourist amazed with the hospitality of the locals

Hindang, Leyte---

No less than the skipper of the cruise ship L’ Austral was amazed and overwhelmingly amazed by the hospitality of the residents of the Island of Himokilan and Mahaba tendered to his tourist passengers during their trip to the two islands on Wednesday.

Skipper Erwan Le Rouzic, in an interview said that his first impression to Himokilan Island is that it’s beautiful and the people are very welcoming and the place is very nice and very clean. He said that the dance presentation and the singing presented to the tourist were very amazing and emotional. He added that the reaction of his tourist passengers after the presentation showed how impressed they are when they give the presenters a standing ovation.

At the fishing village where fish net and boat making was presented the tourist who are unaccustomed to the industry was told by a French interpreter that they tourist are astonish to see the nature of their living. The tourist ask the local fisher folks thru the French interpreter what kind of wood was used for the boat hull and why. The local told the tourist thru their interpreter that the wood specie is a Lauan that they bought from the town proper and they use this because it will live long in seawater.

The tourist then went to the weaving production where they bought some table mats, bags from the product of Romblon plants which is endemic to the island. Later the tourist went to the Tuba (Coconut wine) production where they were explained how the production starts by climbing up to a coconut tree and collected the juices place at bamboo container and transfer this to a plastic gallon for fermentation. Many of the tourist tasted the Tuba (Coconut wine) and said that it’s very delicious but one French tourist ask if it contains alcohol because she felt dizzy several minutes after drinking.

The ship then proceeded to Mahaba Island in the afternoon where they made a relaxation in the area swimming and sunbathing at the very fine white sand of the beach. (Text and photos by: Roberto C. Dejon)