A Quick Tour of Tambaan Farm Cafe

Happy Thursday Hivers!

Tambaan Farm Cafe is one of the tourist spots you can find in Hilongos, Leyte.It’s located just about a 5-minute ride from the town proper, making it an easy and convenient place to visit.

If you're planning to visit and don’t have your own car or motorcycle, you can simply ride what they call a "Racal", a local public motorcycle service- to take you to the farm. Just tell the driver “Tambaan Farm Cafe,” and they’ll know exactly where it is.

While we were traveling to the farm, I found myself enjoying the sight of the lush green rice fields, the vibrant leaves were so refreshing to the eyes. As I took in the peaceful view, a thought crossed my mind: maybe this is why people who live in the province tend to live longer. They get to breathe fresh air every day, surrounded by a calm environment. The only sounds you hear are the chirping of birds, and the view around you is simply beautiful. This is like a natural medicine.

Finally, we arrived at Tambaan Farm Cafe. As soon as we got there, someone from the farm welcomed us and assisted us. She collected a total of 40 pesos for the entrance fee — 20 pesos per person.

Welcome to Tambaan Farm Cafe, dear Hivers!

I remember back in 2021, during the pandemic, when I first saw posts about this place on Facebook. The farm had just recently opened at that time. I would often see photos of their watermelon plants, and tourists could pick their own and simply pay afterward.

According to my mother, the watermelons here are said to be extra sweet, which is why many customers keep coming back for more.

As we entered the farm, the first thing we saw was their restaurant. There’s also a photo area within the restaurant where visitors can take pictures.

The place was very quiet, there were no other guests aside from us. A group of tourists had just left as we arrived.

My mom and I didn’t eat anymore since we were still full. We had lunch at 12 noon, and we arrived at the farm around 2PM, so we went straight ahead with the tour around the farm.

I was a bit disappointed, I had completely forgotten that it wasn’t watermelon season, so there were none at the farm during our visit.

My mom shared that when she came here before with her friends, this area was filled with watermelons.

We walked further ahead because the sunflowers caught our attention. Sunflowers are truly beautiful, no wonder many people love planting them, as they really add charm and color to the surroundings.

That’s when we realized we had come at the perfect time, early enough that there weren’t many people around. It was peaceful and quiet, which made it easier for us to take photos without any distractions.

A bit further ahead, we came across a wide area planted with eggplants. There were so many of them growing in neat rows.

Selling their fresh produce doesn’t seem to be a problem, as many vendors come directly to the farm to buy and resell the vegetables in Hilongos town proper.

We also saw newly planted rice in some areas. By the way, Leyte is one of the provinces in the Philippines with vast rice fields.

On the other side, there was another rice field that looked nearly ready for harvest, probably just a few more months to go.

It reminded me of the times when my mom’s grandmother was still alive. I used to help out during the rice harvest since she owned a large rice field. Back then, harvesting was more exhausting because everything was done by hand, unlike today, where the process is much faster and more efficient.

Ever since I returned to work, I haven’t really had the chance to travel. My daily routine has just been office and home, which honestly makes me feel grumpy sometimes. Traveling truly hits differently — you get to witness the beauty of the outside world, connect with locals, and experience things you’d never see or learn within the four walls of an office.

It’s a simple life, but one that feels fulfilling. That’s how my short visit to Tambaan Farm Cafe with my mom.

How about you? How have your recent travels been?

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

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