Bali officials on the hunt for tourist seen meditating naked at Hindu temple

Balinese officials are on the hunt for a man who was filmed meditating naked at a Hindu temple, with his indecent act infuriating locals.

The clip gained widespread attention after it was posted by community group “canggu_bali” and then reported by influencer and Balinese shoe designer Ni Luh Djelantik.

In it, the foreigner can be seen sitting in front of a shrine with his legs crossed as he appears to meditate wearing nothing but a necklace.

He seems to inhale some smelling salts before continuing with his relaxation.

Djelantik slammed the tourist, labelling his actions as “disrespectful” as she called on authorities to act immediately.

“Meditating naked on our temple? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR F—KING MIND?” she wrote.

“How could you do this, humiliating Balinese and their beliefs?

“Immigration officer please get this person, we’ve had enough! This is a humiliation to us Balinese people.”

Djelantik shared several posts about the incident with one that included text that read: “This video has gone viral. But sadly not in a positive way. Let me give you some context before you judge me.

“I met this Balinese rice farmer who was struggling to maintain his personal finances. I wanted to help him so I offered a loan. We agreed that he would put up his land as collateral.

“After he defaulted payments, legally the land was mine. As a compassionate digital nomad and content creator I decided to be kind.

“After taking his house, field, and temples I decided to let him and his family stay in the one-bedroom guesthouse while it was being renovated to be put on Airbnb.

“So when others say I am meditating naked at a holy site, I want to let you know that they are wrong. I am actually meditating naked on MY OWN GOD DAMN LAND.

“People are so quick to judge these days. It’s important to be compassionate.”

The foreign national has been identified by authorities but his name and nationality have not been publicly disclosed as the search continues.

Meanwhile, the exact location of the clip and who took the video also remains undisclosed.

“We are in coordination with the Directorate of Intel and Security of the Bali Regional Police,” Denpasar Immigration head Tedy Riyandi said on Tuesday, according to Antara news agency.

“We are working hard to track down the whereabouts of the foreigner and determine the time and location of the incident,” he added.

Bali has vowed to crackdown on misbehaving tourists including the release of a dos and don’ts list in June that aims to restore “quality and dignity” to Bali’s tourism sector.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster warned tourists that don’t abide will face severe consequences, including penalties and legal proceedings as prescribed by Indonesian law.

There is a total of 20 rules — 12 under dos and eight under don’ts.

The list includes not trespassing on sacred places, climbing sacred trees, taking indecent or nude photos at sacred places, littering, using non-recyclable plastics, misbehaving in public, working or doing business illegally, and trading illegal goods.

Other measures in Bali’s crackdown on foreigners have included establishing a hotline for anyone to dob in misbehaving tourists, as well as a special task force to monitor foreigners’ activities (Bali Becik), and a tourist tax.

The influencer’s clip continues to circulate on social media with many expressing their fury over his act.

“We don’t need this kind of tourist in our island,” one local wrote on Instagram.

“Kicking out the tourists with no manners and attitude. Bali doesn’t need them!!!” another wrote.

More than 200 people have been deported from Bali in the first eight months of the year, including 12 Australians, compared with 188 for the entire year last year, as the popular holiday island cracks down on visa violations and unruly tourists.

Ravindra Singh Shekhawat, general manager of Indonesian operations at Melbourne-born company Intrepid Travel, told news.com.au last month it was extremely important for Aussie travellers to be aware of local laws.

“Now that anyone can report travellers on the hotline, there are several things travellers need to be mindful of to avoid potential issues,” he said.

Singh Shekhawat’s Bali travel tips included complying with all the rules and regulations of the destination like visa requirements, having all the necessary travel documents in good condition to avoid unwanted attention, understanding and respecting the local customs, traditions, and culture, and avoiding confrontations or disputes with locals.