Stung by the new documentary “Cowboys in Paradise,” which examines the phenomenon of “Kuta Cowboys” — gigolos working Bali’s beaches and bars — Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika said on Tuesday that he would investigate whether the director had the necessary permits to film on the island. The former Bali Police chief expressed disappointment at the documentary, which he claimed only focused on the negative side of the Island of the Gods. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRgy4wiJVF0&feature=player_embedded
“I thank Kuta’s residents who helped conduct raids against those they suspect of being gigolos,” Made Mangku said, referring to the questioning of 28 well-built men on the beach on Monday. “The main thing is, do not use violence.” News of the documentary has spread across Web sites nationwide, and Bali Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Gde Sugianyar Dwi Putra confirmed that Bali Police were investigating it.
The film, completed last year after two years in production, premiered at the DMZ Documentary Film Festival in South Korea last Wednesday. “We are still collecting some information because we have only seen part of the movie from YouTube. We haven’t seen the whole movie yet,” Sugianyar said, adding that police would coordinate with the supervisory body that issued filmmaking permits.
The film — which documents the relationships between foreign female tourists and male prostitutes, the “Kuta Cowboys” of the title — immediately touched a raw nerve, with Kuta Beach task force members raiding the beach. Amit Virmani, the documentary’s director, said he has received hate mail and threats. In an interview with the Jakarta Globe (see story below) he said he was horrified at the reaction and hoped the film was not used as an excuse to victimize the beach boys.
Kuta traditional village chief Gusti Ketut Sudira acknowledged that “the gigolo phenomenon has been around for some time in Bali, maybe 20 years or so,” and said the footage of Kuta was genuine. But he insisted that no “Kuta Cowboy” featured in the movie was local to the area. The director should be made to identify the men appearing, he insisted. “The movie must contain a detailed explanation on who it actually is referring to as a gigolo,” he said. “I’m positive that most of them are outsiders, not residents of Kuta, as implied in the film.”
Unlike Amit Virmani, who did not seem to find any trouble identifying which of the scores of muscular men hanging out at Kuta beach could be gigolos, Gusti Ketut said it was difficult to identify them. “This community conducts its activities in a secretive manner or through covers, like acting as a food or drink seller or providing other services on the beach he said. “Raids will continue. If we find anyone on the beach who has no business there, we will process them.” Meanwhile, rules must be tightened on filming, he added.
“It is so easy to get permission to film the Kuta area. This is a valuable lesson to us. We will tighten such measures from now on. We will demand recommendations on which film crews can operate. We do not want this to ever happen again.”
The first stop is often in the village of Batubulan to watch a performance of the Barong and Kris Dance. Afterwards you visit the villages of Celuk (silver jewelry) and Mas (wood carving) to see Balinese artisans at work. Ubud, Bali's cultural center, has grown to a busy town with numerous Balinese art galleries and shops. A scenic drive over small roads overlooking beautiful rice terraces brings you to the mountain village of Kintamani (about 5,000 feet above the sea) which offers stunning views of Lake Batur and the volcano. You can then cross the crater-lake below the still active Mount Batur and visit the ‘Bali Aga’ village of Trunyan then return through traditional villages with stops in Tampaksiring to visit the temple of Tirta Empul and to visit the Elephant Cave "Goa Gajah", a hermitage from the 11th. century used by both Buddhists and Hindus.
Drive to Besakih through various villages visiting on the way a weaving factory, see the famous painted ceiling at the old "Palace of Justice" in Klungkung, and visit the school of painting in Kamasan. The "Mother Temple" in Besakih is Bali's most holy and Indonesia's biggest Hindu temple. It was built in the 11th century at an altitude of 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) on the slopes of Mount Agung. You pass picturesque rice terraces on the way to the walled ‘Bali Aga’ village of Tenganan and continue to Candi Dasa on the East coast. On the way back it's recommended to stop at the famous Bat Cave ‘Goa Lawah’ to see the thousands of bats hanging from the walls inside.
After a stop in Sangeh to visit its holy forest inhabited by wild monkeys, drive up into the mountains to Lake Beratan (1,200 meters above sea level) and the picturesque water temple Ulu Danu. Visit the busy flower, fruit and spice market in Candikuning and drive back through small country roads, villages and rice fields, with a stop in an artisan village specializing in gold threaded textiles (Ikat) worn during important ceremonies.
Drive the scenic road via Pupuan through the mountains to Bali's North coast. You'll enjoy beautiful views of picturesque rice terraces and large plantations growing vanilla, chocolate, coffee, cloves and even grapes for Bali’s own wineries. Near the village of Banjar is a popular hot spring where you can take a bath in the natural pond. After a lunch on the black beach in Lovina you pass the old capital of Singaraja on the way to Git Git, famous for its multi-tier water fall. Return over back roads to see the unspoiled Bali. (This tour can be combined with the visit to Bedugul.)
Visit the royal Taman Ayun temple in Mengwi (built in 1624), the holy monkey forest near Sangeh, and famous Tanah Lot at sunset. This picturesque Balinese temple was built in the 16th century on a huge rock 100 yards off of Bali's west coast is surrounded by the sea during high tide.
Visit the artisan villages of Batubulan (stone carving), Celuk (silver & gold jewelry), Mas (wood carving), and Pengosekan (painting). Stop at the "Bali Art Market" in Sukawati to bargain for all kinds of handicrafts and textiles.
