Essential Bali Issue 3 Jan/Feb 2015 | Page 22

22 Jan/Feb 2015 65-year-old Jan Rilatt was full of praise. “I loved the boat trip over to the island of Nusa Lembongan and thought we’d landed in paradise when we arrived at the bay; it was awesome. It was a fun day, very well (and discreetly) organised and one that can be as active or relaxing as you want, whether swimming in the super pool, relaxing under the shade of the trees, snorkelling or paddling in the wonderful sea. “The concept for a day out is great, especially for families as most of the activities and food are included and they are not paying out all the time. Lunch was wonderful and you could eat as much as you wanted. My favourite bit apart from the boat trip was the banana boat as I’d not done that before.” 44-year-old Jason Hutton joined the tour with his wife Caroline and their only regret was leaving the kids at home. “It’s our first time in Bali and we left our three boys, aged 5, 8 and 11, with friends and family for a holiday of their own – from their parents,” says Jason. “The one and half hour boat trip breezed past and as soon as we arrived and saw the beachside pools we both guiltily said to each other ‘the kids would love this’. “Next time we return to Lembongan, we’ll definitely be staying longer… and yes we’ll bring the kids.” Everyone had a slightly different story to tell and yet all enjoyed the cruise as a group and that’s the beauty of a day trip such as this. Its variety means any group, no matter how diverse, can enjoy a day together while creating their own individual itinerary. You can take out of it exactly what you want and ensure that you get to do whatever floats your particular boat, whether that’s a catamaran or a banana. DO IT OUR WAY We cruised to Nusa Lembongan with Bali Hai Cruises on the Beach Club Cruise that costs US$105. Further activities include parasailing (US$25), scuba diving (US$45-85), Aquana