Obama to enjoy nostalgic vacation in Indonesia

FILE – US President Barack Obama. AFP PHOTO / ZACH GIBSON

Former US president Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Indonesia to open the 4th Indonesian Diaspora Congress initiated by the Indonesia Diaspora Network Global in Jakarta in early July. He has also been invited by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to visit the Bogor Palace in West Java prior to the congress.

Apart from the events, the 44th US president will reportedly also enjoy a vacation in the archipelago.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya says Obama’s trip will be highly nostalgic as he will enjoy his favorite foods, such as fried rice and bakso (meatball soup), and visit some tourist attractions.

“I think he will go to his favorite places,” said Arief to kompas.com, adding that Obama will visit Menteng in Central Jakarta and Borobudur Temple, though the detailed schedule of Obama’s holiday in Indonesia is still unknown.

One of the places Obama is likely to remember is public elementary school SDN-01 Menteng in Central Jakarta, which he attended during the two years he lived in Jakarta. Jakarta Post