Ketut Liyer, Wayan Nuriasih, Tutti

Since I'm an Indonesian, I was very excited about a book and movie titled "Eat Pray Love". I'm sure you've heard this title before. It's a story about a woman named Elizabeth Gilbert (Liz), who made her journey to three countries, to find something meaningful in her life. Since her life was super complicated, she needed something to refresh her mind, or maybe her life.

The countries are Italy, India, and Indonesia. The third place should be Bali. But, just in case you don't know, Bali is one of the most beautiful island in Indonesia. So, as an Indonesian (though I don't live in Bali), I'm really proud of this story. That's why I really wanted to watch this movie. Because it tells about my country, Indonesia!

When I watched this, I wanted to watch the Indonesia's part only. I just wanted to know how a Hollywood movie can show my country to all people around the world. Well, I just watch the movie. I don't read the book. I'm not a novel reader.

However, after watching the movie, I think Eat Pray Love is really a great story. The story is deep. I like a deep story, which makes me think after watching it. The author (Liz) is really great in combining both her broken feeling and logic into a story titled Eat Pray Love. Especially for you who is broken-hearted now, this story is very inspiring.

Also, the most exciting thing about Eat Pray Love is, it's based on a true story. I mean, Liz really experienced her journey to these three countries, including Indonesia. It's really great. All the story you read or watch on Eat Pray Love really did happen in this real world before, so is Liz's story in Bali.

Okay, back to the Indonesia's part! I'm writing this post because I want to talk about the Indonesia's part.

In this story, you can find some original characters from Indonesia (Bali). Three characters who are most prominent are Ketut Liyer, Wayan Nuriasih, and Tutti. They had their contributions in making how great the story is. Then, I just thought, "If all the story is real, these people are also real. They really exist and live in Bali." So I googled these people, searched information about them, and yes I found them! That's why I'm writing this post now! :)


1. Ketut Liyer
First, Ketut Liyer. I can say he really has a big role in the story. He has role for the beginning and the end of the story. Well, Ketut Liyer is a Balinese old man. He is a medicine man. Based on the story, he can guess people's fortune. He tried to guess Liz's fortune, and it was right. He said Liz would lose everything, then she would come back to Bali. And that's what really happened to Liz.

This photo is the real Ketut Liyer, not Ketut Liyer on the movie. Because of Eat Pray Love, this man is really famous now. Many people around the world go to Bali to meet him. Of course, because they want to be like Liz. They want to know their fortunes.

Based on the information I got, he is not as good as Ketut Liyer people know from the story. He can't really guess people's fortunes. Many people came to him, and they were disappointed. I searched some stories from people who have met him, and they said he told the same message to everyone. So, it's like pointless. Some people call him 'Ketut Liar'. Well, I don't know whether it's true or not. But even though he's not as good as his character in the story, I'm quite amazed this man is real. He met an international writer and changed her life. It's really great.


2. Wayan Nuriasih and Tutti
The second and third character are Wayan Nuriasih and Tutti. Tutti is Wayan's daughter. On the movie, Wayan Nuriyasih was played by Christine Hakim, a popular Indonesian actress. Well, these two characters' roles are not as big as Ketut Liyer. But I'm quite interested to search and know more about them. Wayan Nuriyasih, a Balinese woman, had similar experience with Liz. She was divorced, and she lived alone with Tutti. At least both Liz and Wayan were once broken-hearted. And they shared about what they have been going through. In the end, Liz gave money for Wayan and Tutti to build a house for them. If a Balinese man (Ketut Liyer) changed Liz's life, on the other hand, Liz changed a Balinese woman and her daughter's lives.

They are the real Wayan and Tutti. I didn't get many information about this mother and daughter. Based on what I got, this woman is more difficult to meet than Ketut Liyer.

After all, I feel like "Hey, These people in the story are really real." It's great to know all of them really live in this real world. And it's amazing to know how a writer from America just came to that island, interacted with them, and suddenly it became a great story on the book and movie.


Maybe you're an ordinary person. But when you meet a writer, don't be surprised when the writer can write a great story about you, and suddenly it changes your life. Writers always write everything they see, they hear, they feel. And it just happened to Ketut, Wayan, and Tutti. It's amazing.