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The updated and expanded 2nd Edition of the Utopia Guide to Indonesia surveys the gay and lesbian scene in 43 cities. Listings include organizations, bars, discos, spas, accommodations, restaurants, and more. A special section highlights venues that are especially welcoming for women. Click here to order

• Indonesia AIDS/HIV organizations and information
• Institut Pelangi Perempuan
  Email. Center for information and community for lesbian Indonesia.
• Lembayung Dewata, P.O. Box 269, Singaraja, Bali 8110
• MitraS
  P.O. Box 3308/JKP, Jakarta Pusat 10033.
• Swara Srikandi
  Email. Established in Aug, 2000, to build positive relationships among Indonesian lesbians.
• Arus Pelangi
  The Indonesian Federation of LGBT Communities. An advocacy group involved in campaigning and educational activities.
• Jaringan Waria/LSL Lampung (JAWALA)
  cp. Edwin Saleh, 0815-4099-9642, email: kpakbandarlampung@yahoo.co.id

BALI -- area code (62-361)

The Balinese are Hindu/animist, unlike the rest of predominantly Muslim Indonesia. They are self-assured, genuinely friendly, curious, and always make time to chat. Some of your most memorable experiences will come from warm interaction with local folk. Everyone here seems to be an artist of some kind and daily offerings and rituals are a way of life. While men and women no longer wander about in innocent nakedness, you will certainly encounter unselfconsciousness at the morning and evening bathing hours at rivers, pools, and public baths (Balinese become invisible when they slip out of their sarong).

While Bali may be one of the most tolerant and gay-friendly destinations on the planet, you will not find much in the way of open gay lifestyle except in the touristic Kuta/Legian area. Open gays you encounter will usually come from neighboring islands. Many Balinese mythical figures celebrated in music and dance have androgynous characteristics. That, together with the high visibility of many gay visitors to the island and a quiet acceptance among the indigenous communities, mean that most Balinese are aware of homosexuality. However, for Balinese, marriage and the union of opposite genders is a requirement for their full participation in village life. That said, homosexuality is certainly not a serious matter or one requiring a moral judgement. Interestingly, murals in The Hall of Justice in the Taman Gili, which luridly depict the punishments of hell, represent a wide range of sins from incest and bestiality to gossiping and farting -- but no proscriptions against homosexuality are recorded.

Not surprisingly, Bali has been a famous haven for homosexuals, and a number of its renowned foreign residents lead comfortable, open lives here. Respected artists like Rudolf Bonnet, Donald Friend and, most famously, Walter Spies, all contributed to the thriving cultural synthesis that is Bali today. The spectacular kecak monkey chant, perceived by millions of tourists as a glimpse back in time to the "real" Bali, was actually re-choreographed by Spies, who combined several languishing performance traditions, increased the number of male performers, stripped them to loincloths, and set them in a circle around a central fire light.

On the topic of sex, it needs to be said that the Balinese are not especially given to going out and having a few drinks at a bar and getting picked up. These are people who believe you can go into full-fledged demonic possession at the sound of a gong, and being drunk is not a happy feeling for them. On the other hand, they are not shy about physical contact between people of the same gender. Friendly encounters may lead to a chance to get better acquainted, but you are likely to be disappointed if you arrive with the expectation of finding a holiday girlfriend. Knowing a little Indonesian, and the gentle art of teasing and flirting, will go a long way towards making friends.

The population of Bali is about 2.5 million (that's 100,000 Utopians).

• Balispirit.com
  44 Jln Hanoman, Ubud, (62-361) 970-992, email. A centralized registry of Bali's holistic venues including accommodations, healthy foods, yoga and meditation retreats, health and spas. Lesbian-friendly, Earth-friendly, socially responsible and health-mind-body conscious. Utopia Member Discount

• Bali Gay and Lesbian Business Association (BGLBA)
  Email. The BGLBA was created to provide a positive and dynamic environment in which to expand social and business interactions among its members and provide information and assistance to visitors.

• AquaMarine Diving - Bali
  Jln Raya Seminyak 2A, Kuta-Seminyak, 730-107, FAX 735-368, email. Gay-friendly dive specialists and Bali's only British owned and managed dive company, PADI R-6344. They offer day trips and custom-made diving and accommodation packages to Bali's best dive sites. They also offer PADI courses and introductory diving programs. See their website for full information on Bali's dive sites. Utopia Member Discount
• Dive the Rainbow
  081-7974-7268, email. Introducing the beautiful underwater world of Bali to gays and lesbians in a relaxed and easy community atmosphere. They offer the whole range of PADI dive courses as well as dive trips and dive safaris to any spot in Bali.

South Bali: DENPASAR, KUTA BEACH, LEGIAN, JIMABARAN, NUSA DUA, SANUR, and SEMINYAK

Click here for South Bali accommodations.

Bandung (Jawa Barat Province)

The population of Bandung is about 2 million people (that's 80,000 Utopians).

• L. A. Discotheque
  15 Jln Asia Afrika, 423-0760. Wed night "jeans night" attracts gay clientele and some lesbians.

JAKARTA

The population of Jakarta is about 9 million people (that's 360,000 Utopians).

• Ardhanary Institut (women LBT)
  Email: ardhanaryinstitute@yahoo.com
• Institut Pelangi Perempuan (lesbian youth)
  Email: pelangiperempuan@gmail.com Indonesia lesbian youth center. A place to hang out, make friends and gather information about lesbian Indonesia. They have Kongkow Lez, a monthly edu-fun-tainment event, and a tri-monthly CD magazine, KLIK.
• LPA Karya Bhakti (gay and lesbian)
  Jln Griya Wartawan, No. 53 RT14/05 Cipinang Besar Selatan Jakarta Timur, 9852-0440, email: lpa_karyabhakti@yahoo.co.id
• Yayasan Intermedika (gay and lesbian)
  Rusun Benhil II, blok B2, No. 1 Jln Penjernihan Raya, Bendungan Hilir, Jakarta Pusat, 9827-2195, 081-811-0651 email: intermedika_yim@yahoo.com

• Comedy Café Indonesia (mixed)
  G/F 06 Pasar Festival, Jln HR Rasuna Said, Kuningan. Popular hangout for gays where they may socialize freely. Many gay staff (chubs mostly). Lots of local celebs.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Comedy Cafe is the best gay and lesbian meeting place. A nice place and fun atmosphere where most of the staff and entertainers are gay and the guests are freely doing what they like: singing, stand up comedy on stage, chatting (even kissing each other). This place is also near the Pasar Festival Swimming Pool and Gym which are well known gay meeting points. Sat and Sun I saw many lesbians in the crowd. Foreigners and staff from the embassies also like this place. See you there." -- pogi, Aug 17, 2006

• Heaven (mixed)
  Jln Darmawangsa IX (above Centro), South Jakarta. Fri and Sat gay night. Sun lesbian night.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Formerly called La Dolce. Heaven will now open on Sun for lesbians." -- goya, Jul 5, 2005

• Matra (mixed)
  Grand Menteng Hotel, Matraman Raya St.. Day and night. Mostly lesbian.
• The New Moonlight (mixed)
  Intersection of Hayam Wuruk and Mangga Besar Streets. Particularly gay and lesbian on Sat nights. Mixed ages.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "We like to go to the Nine Muses Club, mostly on Fri and Sat. Great jazz performance by a noted female pianist/vocalist and nice crowd (some good looking lesbians)." -- Athena, Oct 14, 2005

LOMBOK (area code -- 62-370)

Click here for Lombok hotels and accommodations.

• Club Tropicana Dancing Bar (mixed)
  Sengiggi-Lombok, email. The best dance club in town. Welcomes visiting and local GLBT and their friends.

MEDAN (Sumatera Utara Province) -- area code(62-61)

The population of Medan is nearing 3 million (that's about 120,000 Utopians).

Comments from Utopians:

"Recently I saw lots of lesbian & gays hang out at Sun Plaza, Thamrin Plaza & Perisai Plaza (gays mostly). At night they're usually gathering at Merdeka Walk, Kesawan Square & plazas. Medan is a wonderful city (my ;D hometown). But still shy for our community." -- Canly, Sep 30, 2005

Surabaya (Jawa Timur Province)

The population of Surabaya is over 3 million (that's 120,000 Utopians).

• GAYa NUSANTARA
  Jln Mojo Kidul I/11A, Surabaya 60285, 591-4668, email. Providing personal contacts, HIV/AIDS counselling, community outreach and gay awareness workshops. Publishes a monthly magazine under the same name. GAYa NUSANTARA coordinates the Indonesian lesbian and gay network, consisting of lesbian and gay organizations and individual activists throughout the nation. Many of the organizations in the network comprise transgendered people (waria) and lesbians. Other coordinating bodies are IPOOS/Gaya Betawi for the Jakarta metropolitan area and Sumatra, Gaya Dewata for Bali, Nusa Tenggara and East Timor, and Gaya Celebes for Celebes, the Moluccas and Irian Jaya (West Papua).

• Taman Remaja
  Near the stage. Thurs night drag show. Transgenders, gay men, lesbians.

YOGYAKARTA -- area code (62-274)

The population of Yogya is about a half million people (that's about 20,000 Utopians).

• Pelangi
  Email. A bulletin and organization whose mission is the advocacy of LGBT in Yogja and Indonesia.

• L-United
  0859-2743-2502.
• Lesbian Independent
  0819-0425-8515.

• Merapi Tour and Travel
  No 2 Jln Melati Wetan, Baciro, 561-303, FAX 561-303, email. Gay and lesbian friendly travel agent. A travel partner of Dusun Jogja Village Inn (G&L friendly hotel in Yogja). Utopia Member Discount

Click here for Yogyakarta hotels and accommodations.

• ViaVia Travelers Cafe and Restaurant
  Jln Prawirotaman 30, 386-557, email. Gay and lesbian-friendly travelers café and restaurant within the spirit of community-based and sustainable tourism. World kitchen, alternative tours and courses, loads of information, art exhibitions.