Bali's Beach Boys Reject Gigolo Slur

"Women don't want to be women anymore and instead they want to be feminine, so I can understand why they come here and they're searching for something and suddenly this environment provides that."

Asked whether the beach boys were gigolos, another Western woman interviewed for the documentary added: "No I don't think they're really gigolos. I just think they love women and there's nothing wrong about that, and when you're here and when you have a boyfriend it's for real".

Police spokesman Sugianyar admitted it would be difficult proving any prostitution charges against the detained "cowboys".

"Like many places in the world, there are indications of male prostitution in Bali. This has been happening for some time but it's hard to prove as the men are discreet," he told AFP.

"They don't have sex on the beach, they do it elsewhere. The beach is only a meeting place for them and their potential clients.

"We can't get rid of them 100 percent. There's a supply because there's a demand. It takes two hands to clap."