Directory - Bali and Lombok - page 163

expats to 'foster friendship and mutual un-
derstanding' and meets monthly to organise
support for local charities. It also works to
help members integrate into local life.

the limits of a 30- or 60-day tourist card. It's
illegal to work if you've entered Indonesia
on a tourist card, and you'll have to leave the
country to change your visa status. Even if
you do get work, typically teaching English,
payment is often in rupiah, which doesn't
convert into a lot of foreign currency. Under-
the-table work, such as dive shop and bar jobs,
is typically poorly paid .

Yakkum Bali ( Yayasan Rama Sesana; www.yrsbali.org)
Dedicated to improving reproductive health for women
across Bali.
YKIP (Humanitarian Foundation of Mother Earth; www.ykip
.org) Established after the 2002 bombings, it organises
health and education projects for Bali's children.

Australian Volunteers International (www.aus
tralianvolunteers.com) Organises professional contracts for
Australians.
Global Volunteers (www.globalvolunteers.org) Arranges
professional and paid volunteer work for US citizens.
Voluntary Service Overseas (www.vso.org.uk) British
overseas volunteer programme accepts qualified volunteers
from other countries. Branches in Canada (www.vso
canada.org) and the Netherlands (www.vso.nl).
Volunteer Service Abroad (www.vsa.org.nz) Organises
professional contracts for New Zealanders.

Kuta Cowboys
In tourist areas of Bali (and Lombok), you'll
encounter young men who are keen to spend
time with visiting women. Commonly called
Kuta Cowboys, beach boys, bad boys, guides
or gigolos, these guys think they're super cool,
with long hair, lean bodies, tight jeans and
lots of tattoos. While they don't usually work
a straight sex-for-money deal, the visiting
woman pays for the meals, drinks and ac-
commodation, and commonly buys the guy
presents.
It's not uncommon for them to form long-
term relationships, with the guy hopeful of
finding a new and better life with his partner
in Europe, Japan, Australia or the US. While
most of these guys around Bali are genuinely
friendly and quite charming, some are preda-
tory con artists who practise elaborate deceits.
Many of them now come from outside Bali,
and have a long succession of foreign lovers.
Be healthily sceptical about what they tell you,
particularly if it comes down to them needing
money. Always insist on using condoms.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
Another possible source for long-term paid
or volunteer work in Bali or Lombok are the
following agencies. Volunteer & Aid Work

LOCAL ORGANISATIONS
Ubud is a hub for nonprofit and volunteer
organisations. Bali Spirit ( 0361-970 992; www

.balispirit.com; 44 Jl Hanoman) is part of a café (Kafe,
see p196). It has information on a number of
non-profit and volunteer groups located in
Ubud, including the Indonesian Develop-
ment of Education & Permaculture (IDEP),
Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) and
Volunteers & Interns for Balinese Education
(VIBE) which are listed below. The Pondok
Pecak Library & Learning Centre (Map p188 ;

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0361-
976 194; [e-mail]; Monkey Forest Rd) also has
info on local charities.
BIWA (see p347) is a useful clearing house
for information on local charities.
The following organisations have need
for donations, supplies and often volunteers.
Check their websites to see their current
status.
East Bali Poverty Project (www.eastbalipoverty
project.org) Works to help children in the impoverished
mountain villages of East Bali.
IDEP (Indonesian Development of Education &
Permaculture; www.idepfoundation.org) A large Ubud-
based organisation that works on environmental projects,
disaster planning and community improvement. Runs the
Bali Cares shop (p198).
JED ( Village Ecotourism Network;

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Lombok
Traditionally, women on Lombok are treated
with respect, but in the touristy areas, harass-
ment of single foreign women may occur.
Would-be guides/boyfriends/gigolos are often
persistent in their approaches, and can be
aggressive when ignored or rejected. Clothes
that aren't too revealing are a good idea -
beachwear should be reserved for the beach,
and the less skin you expose the better. Two or
more women together are less likely to experi-
ence problems, and women accompanied by
a man are unlikely to be harassed. It is better
not to walk alone at night.
WORK
Quite a lot of foreigners own businesses in
Bali - mostly hotels, restaurants and tour
agencies. To do so legally, foreigners need
the appropriate work or business visa, which
requires sponsorship from an employer, or

0361-735320; www
.jed.or.id) Organises highly regarded tours (p363) of small
villages. Often needs volunteers to improve its services and
work with the villagers.
PPLH Bali (

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0361 281684; www.pplhbali.or.id; Jl
Danau Tamblingan 148, Sanur) Located with the Hotel
Santai (see p142), organises a broad range of
environmental and education programs.
SOS (Sumatran Orangutan Society; www.orangutans-sos
.org) An Ubud-based group that works to save endangered
species throughout Indonesia.
VIBE ( Volunteers & Interns for Balinese Education; www

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