The Abandoned Swan Boat Ride Area

Happy Wednesday Hivers!

Not all businesses succeed, and those that do are not simply “lucky.” What often sustains a business over a long period of time is not luck, but hard work, patience, and strong strategic thinking. Despite the challenges and problems encountered along the way, successful business owners choose not to give up and continue to persevere.

In business, there are many important factors to consider, such as finances, area maintenance, continuous improvement, manpower, and others. Without enough patience and proper strategies, there is a high possibility that the business may eventually close.

We visited a tourist attraction in Bato, Leyte, which is about two towns away from our place. It was quite a distance for us, but we still decided to go after my mother mentioned that the place is very lively and crowded, especially on weekends. She advised us to go early because of the long lines.

Since it was a weekend, we made sure to leave the house early in the afternoon to avoid the rush and enjoy the place more comfortably.

When we arrived at the place, my mother was surprised because it was very quiet and no longer operating. From my side, I also felt a bit disappointed. The tourist spot was actually a swan boat ride attraction, where visitors could ride a swan-shaped pedal boat and tour around the area.

According to my mother, she had visited the place about three years ago with my sister. They brought food and arrived early in the afternoon because of the long lines. When they got there, the place was very crowded, and they had to wait for quite a while before it was their turn to ride the swan boats. She said the children really enjoyed the experience.

However, now the area is empty. I wanted to ask questions about it, but only children were around, skating in the area.

Since the place was no longer operating, we just toured around the area instead. It is a coastal, man-made water area, although I am not entirely sure if “lagoon” is the correct term because it is directly connected to the sea. The water comes from the ocean, so during high tide, the water level rises, and during low tide, it goes down.

There is also a culvert installed that connects the area to the sea, allowing seawater to flow in and out depending on the tide.

Then I noticed an area where visitors are supposed to register, and my mother confirmed that this is where payments were made before. She also said that this is the same area where people used to board and disembark from the swan boats.

We checked the entire area and I noticed that the water inside had a slightly unpleasant smell, possibly because it was no longer being maintained.

While walking around, we saw the swan boats placed along the side. I couldn’t help but feel that it was such a waste of resources, the investment put into the swan boats and the effort behind building and operating the business. I started wondering why it was closed. A thought crossed my mind that maybe the income was no longer enough to sustain the maintenance of the area and the boats, or perhaps there were deeper reasons behind its closure.

But anyway, that’s how business really is. Some succeed, while others eventually close after a few years due to unsustainable cash flow and gave growing stress to the owner.

Whatever the reason may be, I hope this place will somehow be revived again and bring back the joy it once gave, especially to the children who used to enjoy it.

It’s sad to see a place full of memories left quiet, but hopefully, it can find life again in the future.

Thank you for reading and see you on my next blog. Cheers!

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Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.

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