Let's eat, pray and love in Bali , the island of love

Bali throws party for ‘Eat Pray Love’ premiere
The Jakarta Post, Kuta

Hollywood movie Eat Pray Love, which features Bali as one of its backdrops, hit the island’s theaters Tuesday evening, drawing enthusiastic responses from viewers.

Local officials and businesses expect the movie to promote tourism on the island.

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika said he was proud that the island’s beauty was perfectly depicted in the movie.

“This movie is very good, especially for Bali. It has successfully promoted this island’s beauty,” said Pastika after watching the movie with a group of local officials.

“We’re very proud to be ‘the island of love’, since love is part of every human being in the world,” he said, adding that this new nickname was expected to raise Bali’s image and attract more tourists.

The movie, starring top Hollywood actress Julia Roberts, premiered on the same day as the opening of the annual 4th Balinale International Film Festival, which this year showcases 29 films and runs until Sunday.

Several consulate generals, local administration officials, council members, tourist operators, journalists and noted actors and actresses attended the premiere.

“The film not only features Bali’s beautiful scenery, but also shows the world that Bali has a spiritual power,” he said.

Thanks to the movie, the governor added, Bali was now nicknamed “the island of love”, as well as “the island of gods”, “the island of paradise”, and “the island for peace and democracy”.



Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) is a modern woman on a quest to marvel at and travel the world while rediscovering and reconnecting with her true inner self in Eat Pray Love. At a crossroads after a divorce, Gilbert takes a year-long sabbatical from her job and steps uncharacteristically out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life. In her wondrous and exotic travels, she experiences the simple pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of love in Bali. Based on an inspiring true story, Eat Pray Love proves that there really is more than one way to let yourself go and see the world.