A day out on one of Bali's cruise ships is a fun day out in the sun and sea with any diversions to satisfy every need, be it cultural interests, water sports or a day of relaxation and curling up with a good book. Each company offers full services, which include delicious buffet lunches with a wide spread of Indonesian barbecued delights of sates and seafood, tempe, fresh salads and fruit. All also include complimentary snacks and drinks and Wakalouka's lunch buffet includes alcoholic beverages. Bali Hai and Island Express offer a range of cruises and prices vary accordingly. Most trips depart from Benoa in mid-morning and the return timed to take in a stunning Balinese sunset, offering about four or five hours at Lembongan, which is ample time to enjoy both the water sports and island tours. Each company offers daily cruises, which are easy to arrange through hotel and tourist agents or by contacting the company directly.

OMBAK PUTIH

Ombak Putih, which translates from the Indonesian as white wave, is a newcomer to the short cruise outing. Launched last year as a longer excursion provider of six to 10-day trips to Indonesia's Eastern exotic ports, this year Ombak Putih added a two-day excursion to its schedule. If you don't have the time to participate in the longer trips, the two-day sail is a wonderful introduction to this boat and will surely inspire you to plan a longer excursion in the future. Just sighting this stately white ship moored in Benoa Harbor arouses a promise of ocean adventure and magical journeys.

The Ombak Putih is a traditional two-mast, seven-sail Buginese schooner, a 450-ton ironwood masterpiece, which took 16 months to handcraft in the traditional fashion on the coast of Kalimantan. The Buginese schooner holds a rich place in Indonesia's past as favored cargo ship to sail among the Spice Islands. It also has a more colorful and nefarious reputation as having been the favored boat among the archipelago's pirates and it is said that the scary term 'bogey man' hails from the cries of 'Bugis men' from besieged and fearful Dutch and British sailors of centuries past.

Their short excursion is a smooth sail from Bali to Lombok, with a sightseeing stop along Bali's East coast. Departing from Benoa in the early morning, the Ombak Putih follows Bali's coastline north to moor at Padang Bai. After boarding and meeting the crew, this first leg of the journey offers a morning of exploring the deck, witnessing the birth of her majestic blue sails and adjusting to a two-day life of utter relaxation and wonder as

the coastline breezes gently by. An outing on this boat is an experience in absolute sailing comfort and indulgence. It is fitted with luxurious and comfortable cabins to accommodate 25 people. There is an indoor lounge with a library and a fascinating photo album chronicling the step-by-step construction of the ship and two deck-top lounges that offer an abundance of sun or shade. The crew is friendly and devoted, most having been involved with the boat since the early stages of its design and construction.