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Obama Goes Water Rafting and Visits Rice Terraces in Indonesia, His Childhood Home

Obama Goes Water Rafting and Visits Rice Terraces in Indonesia, His Childhood Home

Barack Obama has kicked off a 10-day family holiday in Indonesia that will take in Bali and Jakarta, the city where he spent part of his childhood.

The casually dressed former president arrived in Bali with wife Michelle and their two daughters for five-day vacation on the Island of the Gods. 

They have reportedly visited several tourist attractions during their Bali holiday so far, including the Agung Rai Museum of Art, the Jatiluwih rice terraces and Ayung River.

Obama in museums. Image: The Obama Diary
Obama visitsAgung Rai Museum of Art. Image: The Obama Diary

 

During their surprising museum visit, the Obamas witnessed children traditional dance rehearsal Pendet and Tumbuk.  

“It is daily activities here. I am surprised,” said Agung Rai to tempo.co, the museum owner commenting to wether it was prepared specially for Obama.

According to tempo.co, the former president expressed an interest in a 1930s painting by I Gusti Nyoman Lempad.

The next day, the Obamas reportedly went to Jatiluwih village in Tabanan. Known for its breathtaking views of rice terraces, the area is located around 54 kilometers from Denpasar and is included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.

Former US president Barack Obama (center) and his entourage take a break after a walk through the field while visiting the Jatiluwih tourist site in Tabanan on Bali island on June 25. Image: AFP/STR
Former US president Barack Obama (center) and his entourage take a break after a walk through the field while visiting the Jatiluwih tourist site in Tabanan on Bali island on June 25. Image: AFP/STR

 

Obama and his family reportedly walked through the 500-meter hiking route circling the paddy fields. They then visited Pura Subak, meeting local farmers.

Obama and his family members also made their way to Ayung River in Bongkasa Village, Badung, which is located a stone’s throw away from their hotel, the Four Seasons Resort Ubud. Kompas reported that Obama and his entourage spent two hours cruising the river, using six boats accompanied by five professional guides.

Next week, the family is slated to depart for Yogyakarta, where they are expected to visit ancient Borobudur temple. They will spend two days there before flying to Jakarta.

Obama in Ayung River, Bali. Image: Desa Rafting
Obama in Ayung River, Bali. Image: Desa Rafting

Obama spent four years until 1970 as a boy in the then sleepy capital of Indonesia after his divorced mother married an Indonesian.

Many Indonesians felt a strong bond with Obama because of his exposure to Indonesia and its culture, even making him a 2m bronze statue that was placed in his former school.

Indonesia's foreign ministry said Obama's visit to holiday in Indonesia came after several invitations from President Joko Widodo.

While in the capital, Obama will meet the president on June 30 and give a speech at an Indonesian diaspora convention the next day.

 

Indah Gilang Pusparani

Indah is a researcher at Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Daerah Kota Cirebon (Regional Development Planning and Research Agency of Cirebon Municipality). She covers More international relations, tourism, and startups in Southeast Asia region and beyond. Indah graduated from MSc Development Administration and Planning from University College London, United Kingdom in 2015. She finished bachelor degree from International Relations from University of Indonesia in 2014, with two exchange programs in Political Science at National University of Singapore and New Media in Journalism at Ball State University, USA. She was awarded Diplomacy Award at Harvard World Model United Nations and named as Indonesian Gifted Researcher by Australian National University. She is Researcher at Regional Planning Board in Cirebon, West Java. She previously worked as Editor in Bening Communication, the Commonwealth Parliament Association UK, and diplomacy consulting firm Best Delegate LLC in USA. Less
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