The traditional Balinese medicine man that rocketed to fame on the Ubud tourist trail following the success of ‘Eat Pray Love’ has reportedly passed away.
Ketut Liyer was known for his psychic healing readings that he would conduct from his home in Ubud, reading palms and predicting his guests’ destinies.
American author Elizabeth Gilbert wrote in depth about her life-changing time living in Ubud and working with the cheeky and charming Liyer in her 2006 memoir ‘Eat Pray Love,’ which later hit the silver screen in 2010 starring Julia Roberts. This no doubt ignited the flames for the healer’s fame amongst international tourists—his healing sessions became so in demand that visitors would often report of waiting in super-long queues all day, just to get some time in with him.
Following his death, family and community members started gathering yesterday at Liyer’s Pengosekan home, while a ceremony was scheduled for earlier this afternoon, his family said.
I Nyoman Latra, 64, apparently the only child of Liyer, told Tribun Bali that his father took his last breath at the age of 100 years old at Surya Usada Hospital on Wednesday night at 10:45 pm.
Latra says his father had been sick for the past year and a half and would often complain of forgetting things and was easily exhausted. In that time, Latra says his father handed over the family practice of healing treatments and consultations over to him.
