It’s confirmed: The Pretty Woman herself, Hollywood actress Julia Roberts, will begin filming in Bali next month for the film adaptation of the best-selling book “Eat, Pray, Love.”

The Balinese provincial government confirmed on Friday it had issued the permits needed to shoot the film, with Roberts being scheduled to appear on set from Oct. 16 to Nov. 6.

“We have issued the permit to shoot in Gianyar. Their preparation is complete,” said Ida Bagus Puruvita, the Gianyar cultural office’s chief of permits and films.

The shoot is planned to take place at the traditional markets and Monkey Forest in Ubud, along with the nearby villages of Demayu and Tegalalang, and in Badung, Uluwatu and Nusa Dua.

Permits for these locations were obtained by the official representative of the production crew, Tino Taroengallo.

Puruvita said the government would supervise the shoot to ensure the crew did not take any unnecessary pictures related to local traditions or religion.

The screenplay will be written by American television writer Ryan Murphy, and produced by Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment production company.

Roberts is an Academy Award-winning actress who has starred in many Hollywood films, including “Notting Hill” and “My Best Friend’s Wedding.”

“Eat, Pray, Love” is the best-selling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert. It tells her story of overcoming a deep depression after a painful divorce during a journey of soul-searching and self-discovery. In her search for peace, she spends a year traveling in Italy, India and Indonesia.

While in Bali, the author learns how to balance earthly delights with spirituality and discovers the meaning of love.

The book has been the subject of much controversy in Bali because of passages about a Balinese medicine man the author met in Ubud. The man reportedly helped Balinese housewives with infertile husbands get pregnant by arranging sexual trysts with drivers and gigolos.

But Puruvita said he hoped the movie would promote Bali to the world. “Why impede it? After all, it will also promote [tourism] in Bali,” he said.

By Made Arya Kencana

Source: Jakarta Globe

Which is the best beach in Bali? We haven’t been before and want to get it right. We like nice sand and clear water of course, some palms if possible, but nothing actually deserted ­ a beach bar and somewhere to walk to lunch would be great. And not a huge drive from the airport please.

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: I’d say to avoid Kuta Beach, which is great fun for a day, but not for a week, and Nusa Dua, which in fencing out local people and culture from its enclave of hotels, has rather passed its sell by date.

So Sanur is the one for you. It’s a lovely stretch of white sand, with a mild surf, and a much more villagey atmosphere than its brasher cousins around Kuta. It seems sleepy at first, on first squint, and it¹s true that it doesn’t have the beach parties and surfie goings on of the western beaches, but it has some terrific hotels and restaurants, a more relaxed and less hassley ambiance, and walking along the pathway at the back of the beach is a real pleasure.

If you need a burst of Kuta it’s only five miles away, and easily reached by taxi ­ the airport is a little farther on past Kuta.

On the downside though, it is on the eastern side of southern Bali, so while it’s perfect for sunrise gazing, the sun sets behind tress and hotels. For something even quieter, and more secluded, you might try Candi Dasa beach.

It’s about 30 miles to the northeast. There are good hotels and restaurants, but the beach has suffered terrible erosion thanks to the landside development and destruction of much of the reef as building material.

By Richard Green