Not your Typical Venue for Lunch

Who doesn't love to eat, right?

Although every human being gravitates towards different kinds of cuisine to satisfy their discerning taste buds, does the accompanying environment also affect the culinary experience? It surely does!

Apart from normally savoring our meals at home, at the workplace, outdoor restaurants, and other convenient places, wouldn't it be truly amazing to seldom enjoy food at unusual locations?

This spur of the moment sparked one unforgettable lunch date I had with friends in the province of Bohol, one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the Philippines.

To be more specific, I won't be focusing on the mouthwatering food I ate on this beautiful island. Instead, join me as I show you one of Bohol’s leading cultural attractions: the Loboc River cruise onboard a state-of-the-art floating restaurant!

Well, if you look closer at this peculiar watercraft (see cover image), it’s not only a remarkable eatery that rests over water and designed like a vernacular Filipino house, but the entire vessel actually moved with the help of a motorized boat engine attached to its rear. Isn't that interesting?

Our 2-hour lunch escapade started at the river’s mini port, facilitating tourists and other passengers through various boarding gates depending on the assigned cruise vehicle.

As we departed from the port’s docking stations, we would appreciate its Spanish-inspired architecture from a distance while our eyes were also fixed at the huge water bubbles that roared wildly beneath our aquatic vehicle, caused by its powerful engine.

As the boat cruise gained speed along Loboc River, we were immediately greeted by Mother Nature's refreshing breeze, cooling the watercraft’s interior and its excited passengers.

Not too long after that welcoming embrace, lunch was ready to be served in buffet style. And to add to our culinary enjoyment, a live band was simultaneously playing music for a more enriching experience inside the floating restaurant.

There were plenty of delicious food and refreshing drinks to choose from, and while we were stuffing our hungry tummies, we likewise encountered fellow tourists on other similar floating restaurants passing by our vessel. It was such a spectacular sight that we couldn't help but wave our hands as a friendly gesture to them.

As we traveled deeper into the enchanting river, we were enveloped by the gorgeous splendor of its natural environment - clear blue skies, lush jungles and fertile vegetation everywhere, plus the evergreen allure of the marine habitat.

Minutes went by fast and then all of a sudden, our watercraft docked beside a riverside platform that featured a cultural presentation of songs and dances as performed by the friendly locals. It was clearly a priceless treat as we were serenaded by their entertaining show. It was also an unexpected surprise because we assumed that our river cruise would only consist of the lunch package and the boat ride. It was obviously one of the most delightful highlights of our short voyage.

As we continued further, we were openly bathed with more of the marvelous beauty of nature. We simply couldn't stop capturing photos of the heavenly surroundings that captivated us along the way while having lunch.