Playboy Publishes 2nd Edition from Bali

You really have to give the publishers of Playboy magazine in Indonesia full credit for their latest initiative. They have released the 2nd edition of Playboy from their new office in Bali.

After getting slammed on the island of Java for their publication and having their offices trounced, they upped stumps and moved to Bali opening an office there. At least on the tolerant island such a publication can be accepted being sold on the streets.

I have followed this situation ever since it started and I really cannot understand what all the fuss is about. There are no lewd photographs of nubile young ladies with their mammaries hanging out or even the slightest hint of a loin-stiring story. Candika's brother did manage to see a copy of the 1st publication and he commented that there was more advertising than articles.

It's all in the name and the reputation the publication has in western countries.

I can remember when I was in Yogyakarta in the 90s, there was a pocket- size handbook available for sale throughout the island on the best hotspots in Jakarta. The predominant entries in the small tome were of brothels and the best places to score with ladies of a particular persuasion. Go figure.

Here is a related article for you to peruse:

Playboy publishes 2nd edition from Bali

A second edition of Playboy hit the streets of Indonesia Wednesday as the local publisher moved its offices to Bali island two months after Islamic hardliners threw rocks at its Jakarta offices following the magazines debut.

The magazine has been toned down for publication in the worlds most populous Muslim nation but the first edition nonetheless drew violent protest from hardliners who say the contents are immoral and violate criminal codes. Frightened advertisers responded by pulling their ads.

The magazines new Bali offices opened Wednesday.

"The safety and convenience of our employees comes first" publisher Erwin Arnada said of the decision to relocate offices to the Hindu majority island of Bali, a haven for foreign tourists. "People in Bali are more open to ideas and they are more adaptable."

Erwin who is also the magazines editor-in-chief said 100,000 copies of the 160 page edition void of photos of naked women and advertisements were being printed.

The magazine which was being hawked car to car on crowded intersections of the capital, features an interview with Fabianus Tibo - a Christian hardliner on death row for an attack on a Muslim boarding school - and follows the history of the local wine culture.