By Marie Tonette Grace Marticio Inopacan, Leyte — At least 200 tourists from France and Australia have experienced the island life on Himokilan Island in Hindang, Leyte and enjoyed the powdery white sand beach on Mahaba Island here, during the second visit of a luxury French cruise ship on Wednesday. Compagnie du Ponant’s L’austral Cruise Ship guests were entertained by festive dance from the school children and Samleyaw Dance Company, as local delicacies such as suman, biko and empanada paired with fresh tanglad (lemon grass) and buko (young coconut) juice quenched their hunger and thirst in their first stop at Himokilan Island. They were led by the local guides to five stations where they witnessed how ‘banig’ products were made from harvesting Romblon, the leaves used for mat weaving to making wine bags, accessories, purse and table mats. The tourists were also eager to try the locals other source of livelihood such as coconut wine (tuba) gathering, fishing, boat making and fishnet weaving. They were able to experience how the local “tuba” was made and have tasted it themselves; while others opted to pair them with freshly grilled fish and soda like what the locals do after a long day's work. In Mahaba Island, the island vibes were completed by Kuhahig's (local ethnic band) music from instruments made of indigenous materials. Rina Apostol, Department of Tourism's accreditation officer and Tourism Development Area Manager for Leyte, Biliran and Southern Leyte shared that they have only received positive feedbacks from the crew, tourists and handler from its first visit in March this year, which is a good point for cruise tourism in Eastern Visayas.