The word “sailing” may conjure up images of conquistadors supervising deckhands under a sprawling canvas sail as they cross the ocean to a new world, or the navies of the Roman Empire as they glide into battle on the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Though the imagery is archaic, the spirit of those grand voyages is alive and well on the fully rigged ship of The Waka Sailing Catamaran.
The moment you board your 16 meter sailing catamaran in Benoa Harbour, you begin your unique Waka sailing experience. As you sail out into the Badung Strait, relax and enjoy a breakfast of fruit juice, soft drink, coffee, and fresh-baked pastries. Soon, your Balinese crew will hoist the massive mainsail to carry you across the seas to your private beach resort on Lembongan Island.
All you have to do is settle back and relax to the sounds of the sea, and the wind in the sail. On the way, we often see dolphins playing in the warm tropical waters, or we troll for surface fish, blue-green mahi mahi or gun-metal tuna, which become an incredibly fresh addition to your delicious BBQ lunch on the island. We share the glittering open waters with fishing prahus carrying their cargoes to the smaller islands, and you see the great volcano, Gunung Agung (which the Balinese call “the Navel of the World”) emerging from the clouds.
It’s an image of idyllic bliss -- leafy coconut palm trees sway in the ocean breeze, and white-sand beaches, sparkling in the tropical sun, stretch for miles and absorb the ebb and flow of the ocean tides. Clear turquoise waters race forward, foam and slowly recede, their soothing “shwooshes” almost hypnotic in their rhythms.
It’s this tranquility and beauty that make Lembongan one of the most popular cruise destinations in Bali. Year-round balmy weather and blissful beaches are a main draw for cruise passengers. In addition, a water sports crew is on hand to encourage passengers to enjoy the sea with snorkeling, at ports where Waka Cantamaran is anchored offshore.
One of the most unique attractions on Nusa Lembongan Island is the underground house. Owned by Made Byasa, the house was built underground using only a hammer, chisel and intuition as guidance. It took 15 years to complete this incredible labyrinth, which includes a bedroom, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and sacred meditation room.
Wandering the streets and enjoying the scenery in Lembongan, the sea weed farm, followed by a day of snorkeling and sunbathing, will help ease you into the end of your voyage aboard the Waka Kantamaran. You will arrive feeling refreshed and relaxed back in Bali.
Sailing no longer invokes just a collection of images from history books. It’s also a reminder of an unforgettable personal experience. Like those ancient sailor images, glide across the sparkling Badung Strait and stand under sprawling canvas sails as you discover a new world -- the world of small-ships, luxury cruising that awaits on every Waka Cantamaran cruise.
THE WAKA
Benoa Harbor, Bali 80361
Ph. +62 (0)361 723 629, 723 659
Fax. +62 (0)361 722 077
email: reservation@the-waka.com
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