Beach People’s Life After Sensational News of Cowboys in Paradise

Taken from the article of Jawa Pos by Eka Prasetya, Thursday, 13 May 2010
Translated by Putu Wiwid Budiastra


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Ignored, Just Disappointed TV Blurred Their Faces

The sensation of the documentary film Cowboys in Paradise makes many people go to Kuta, Bali. Rumors that say beach guy as a gigolo teased partly of beach people community. But, what is the reaction of those “cowboys?”

By Eka Prasetya, Kuta

A group of beachboys enjoy a conversation in the afternoon. The other beachboys play the guitar with tourists, pleasantly, without any strained situation. All of them look so relaxed.

From their conversation, we can hear no complaints: they just talk and make jokes. They laugh.

They still welcome everyone around them. Indeed, if any tourists that want to join, they offer them drinks. They are unphased about sensation of the documentary film Cowboys in Paradise which shows them as gigolos.

“Nothing’s changed. Look, there are some guys having fun playing guitar under the tree. Tourists also still interest to get together with them. This is our job every afternoon. Sit on the beach. Some of us playing guitar, also do some sports. Nothing’s changed,” Joko says (he is a senior surfing instructor in Kuta).

One man with bleached hair says that one thing that has changed is the Kuta Task Force (beach police). In previous times, beachboys skulked around tourists and offered surfing courses without permission (from the task force). Now, they can’t do this.

“They are rules that say when tourists sunbathing are not allowed to be offer anything. If they are walking around, we are allowed to offer. Before, we can skulk around, we are pretending after shower on beach, then find tourist for offering them to rent our surf board. Now, we can’t do that,” adds this guy (he is from Jember, East Java).

Some beachboys that appeared in the film’s thriller also ignore it. They still come together to find prosperity. Arnold only has made decision to absence after this incident. “But sometimes he just sits here doing nothing. Maybe he will be back to work in several days,” Joko said.

Now, beach people not really concerned about the film, they don’t think too much about it. Just one thing that spragged them is about electronic mass media which blurred their faces.

“Honestly, we are disappointed with one of the television news that blurred their faces. If they do that, they are looks like real gigolos. Just let their real faces without blurred. They are not gigolo. What’s more, they want to be interviewed and let their faces be recorded,” Bobby sigh; he is coordinator of beachboys in Kuta Area.

Based on their income, they never complaint too. They still have income in similar grade. “If rain, quite. If fair weather, will be busy. Nothing changed. We are still in middling life. Our rent room, if rain will be leaky. Be understanding, room only two hundred thousand in a month,” Joko talks.

In Ubud, Gianyar: The villagers ask permission to investor to enter a temple

Taken from Bali Post, Wednesday, 11 January 2009
Translated by Putu Semiada

Pura Dalem Suargan which is located in Jambangan, sayan Ubud, Gianyar is likely going to be demolished by an investor. This is because the temple is in the location of 13 hectare property has been conquered by PT. Bank Permata. The property was previously a village. A sign which forbids any party to enter the property without a permission from the investor is found there which has caused the pengemong (custodians) are worried.

It is said also that the villagers who would like to do ceremonies at this temple are often intimidated by the investor by mobilizing armies with long guns. The worst situation happened on 9 September 2009 when a temple ceremony was being conducted and the villagers were not allowed to enter the area.

One of the Banjar Pande traditional leader, A.A. Oka Adnyana said that the temple has been there for hundred years. He also said that the property was a village before, called Jambangan village, complete with Kahyangan Tiga Temples and a cemetery. This temple is one of the Kahyanagan Tiga.

It is said that some years ago plant disease attacked the village which made the villagers panic. Some of them then moved to other villages, e.g. Blahkiuh, Badung and Kelabang Moding, Ubud. But some of them remain staying at the village until now and become member of Banjar Pande community.

Intimidated by land Broker

The people who lived in the village were intimidated by land brokers so decided to leave their village.

Even they don’t live at the village anymore, but they still come to the temple for ceremonies. They even collect holy water from the temple when they have temple ceremony at Blahkiuh, the village where they live now. That’s why they keep looking after the temple. Wayan Wana, the klian (community leader) of Bajar Pande agrees to this. The villagers did not know about the transfer of ownership until they found the sign.

“We are worried about how we can look after the temple,” says Wayan Wana.

The Soekarno Center is Opened in Bali

From Bali Post, November 10, 2008 "Hari Ini the Sukarno Center Diresmikan"
Translated by Putu Semiada

The Soekarno Center will be officially opened on 10 November by the daughter of the late President Soekarno. 10 November is celebrated as the Hero Day in Indonesia.

“The formal ceremony will be held at Museum Blanco, Campuhan, Ubud,” the President of Soekarno Centre, Dr. Shri I Gusti Ngurah Arya Vedakarma MWS said in Jakarta. “During the occasions two international leaders will be awarded the Soekarno Prize 2008, Mahatma Gandhi (India) and Norodom Sihanouk (Kampuchea). The family of them are invited as well.”

According to him, the opening ceremony will be done by Sukmawati Soekarno. She is the right person as she is one of national leaders and a credible person as well. As suggested by an international body, the person lead the opening ceremony should be the one of Soekarno’s children. She even has Balinese blood and emotional relationship to Bali,” he further said.

According to Sukmawati, the Soekarno Center will become the pride of Balinese people. “The Balinese should be proud of Soekarno Center being built in Bali. Now, there is no reason for Balinese for not having a symbol of Soekarno. I’m very proud as the idea of it came from a 28 year youth, Dr. Vedakrama. This is the first symbol of Soekarno with international level,” Sukmawati said.

President SBY shakes hands with Dr. Shri I Gusti Ngurah Arya Vedakarma MWS (the president of Soekarno Center) in a reception in Persidential Palace in Jakarta.

Having noticed dedication and seriousness of Dr. Vedakrama, the Soekarno family support him to build the Soekarno Center. “As I am from old generation, I should support him. The young should make progress,” Sukmawati further said.

Beside the Soekarno Centre, there will be also “Museum Bung Karno” which will be opened on 6th June 2009. 6th June is the birthday of Soekarno.

Count down of Amrozy et al.’s execution

From Bali Post, 30 October 2008
Translated by Putu Semiada

More than 1000 policemen are ready at Nusa Kambangan

An Anti terror and anti bomb truck is sent to Nusakambangan via Wijayapura quay, Cilacap, Central Java, Wednesday (29/10).

More than 1000 policemen have been mobilized to Nusakambangan Island in Cilacap, Central Java which are prepared to look after security before the execution of Amrozy et al. According to some sources, policemen are coming to the island in several different groups. “There are already many policemen there. They are not coming via Wijayapura quay” Says a source.

It is said that the policemen are coming via some different quays with strict security so that no journalists were aware. At the main quay (Wijayapura) only empty trucks were seen passing with no passengers.

Other source says that policemen are seen on street patrolling on street towards Jojok, in anticipating any infiltrator. “Every police post in each prison in Nusa Kambangan is now provided with a Brimob (Brigade Mobile) personnel.

It’s not a revenge!
Wayan Sudiana would never forget what happened six years ago ( 12 October 2002). He and his wife are the victims of Kuta Bomb I. His wife was the cashier at the Sari Club. His wife died together with the other 202 people.

What does Sudiana think of the coming execution of Amrozi et. al. “I just hope that the execution will be done according to the schedule that has been decided by the government. It’s not a revenge, this is about justice,” says the father of two children.

He also hopes that the bombers would remind his followers not to take any similar action. Because if they do so, it would make other people suffer. No religion on the earth permits that kind of action.

The chairman of Isana Dewata, Raden Suprio Laksono whose wife is also the victim of Bali Bom I hopes that the government would be consistent with their decision.