Obama missing 'rambutan, bakso and nasi goreng'

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 11/26/2008 10:12 AM  |  National

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held a telephone conversation with U.S. president-elect Barack Obama during his stopover in Seattle, and invited him to visit Indonesia, tempointeraktif.com reported on Wednesday.

When the presidential flight touched down at Nagoya airport in Japan on Tuesday, Yudhoyono made a statement to reporters over the airplane's intercom.

"He addressed me with, 'Apa Kabar Bapak President?' (How are you Mr. President?), in fluent Indonesian," Yudhoyono said.

Obama said he missed several local delicacies such as nasi goreng (fried rice), rambutan and bakso (meatball soup), he added.

Yudhoyono had congratulated Obama's election as U.S. president and suggested he visit Indonesia after attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Singapore next year.

Yudhoyono said they had both agreed to maintain good relations between the two countries.

"I felt his warmth and friendship in the conversation."

During one of his campaign speeches, Obama said he would visit Indonesia within the first 100 days of his presidency. Obama is due to take office on Jan 20, 2009.

Comments (20)  |   Post comment
A  |   A  |   A  |   Mail to a friend  |  Printer Friendly Version |  Digg it!  |  Add to Del.icio.us!  |  Add to Reddit!  |  Stumble it!   |  Share on facebook  

Silly comments (not verified) — Wed, 01/21/2009 - 6:48pm

the 50 states include Alaska and Hawaii

Rahadi Widodo (not verified) — Mon, 12/01/2008 - 5:35pm

Iian....52 states ...you forgot Alaska and Hawaii!!! and count the stars its 52 !!

Keith harding (not verified) — Mon, 12/01/2008 - 4:52pm

I hope he Bans all Indonesian from eating rice in the USA until the liquor isssue here in Indonesia is solved....Tit for Tat

Sheila (not verified) — Mon, 12/01/2008 - 1:10pm

Remember, he's a Democrat. Human rights matter. East Timor got independent when a Democrat President was ruling. Joe Biden was one of senators who questions the validity of Perpera 1969.
So Indonesia, please do not weep if this so-called anak Menteng took West Papua away from you...

Marc (not verified) — Mon, 12/01/2008 - 12:59pm

if Puerto Rico was full of whites instead of latinos, it would have been the 51st state a long time ago

Iain (not verified) — Sun, 11/30/2008 - 9:44am

David K, Indonesia the 52nd state? Where is the 51st state of the US?

As far as I remember, there are only 50 states in the US. If you have time, count the starts on the flag.

David K. — Mon, 12/01/2008 - 12:33pm

Iain, I'm assuming you never spent any time in the United States, but a long standing joke was that Canada was the 51st state of the US if you lived in the Northern parts of the US or that Puerto Rico which is a soveriegn incorporated country of the US.

I'm well aware of the US has only 50 states, and if bored enough could probably name them to you. But is that your only comment to my opinion?

L (not verified) — Fri, 11/28/2008 - 3:39pm

I think if there's anything different about Indonesia, after US elected President-Elect Obama, is that it'll more easily comply to Obama, out of respect of his years living here under his belt, not the other way around.

Don't get me wrong, Indonesia, one of the most populated countries, is important to the world. We just have to know how to better utilize our power in economies of scale. Instead of burning 10% more forest, consider upping 10% of everyone's education, it'll make tremendous impact in how the world perceives Indonesia.

David K. — Fri, 11/28/2008 - 11:18am

I find it amusing coming from Indonesia the support for him is so unanimous, claiming he is superman and should be president of the world. His protectionist views will clearly hurt Indonesia in the years to come under his presidency of the US. What will be the point of his visit? Other then to attack our resource exploitation, carbon emission levels, so called human rights violations, tax importation on US goods to Indonesia, all while still being warm and friendly.

He is a great orater yammering about freedom, and better tomorrow and all that, but don't forget it is for the United States of America, last time I checked Indonesia wasn't the 52nd state of the US.

His core goals and values will be to increase the greatness of the the US, by any means necessary. Think on that as well as look at his economic, political, and social plans for the US as well as the new International policies he will enact as he has free reign with the US government having minimal to none check and balances with the House and Congress firmly in the belts of the Democrats.

Perhaps I'm wrong and he will indeed dance to the tune that everyone is singing about him. If so then I stand corrected, but something that is to good to be true, just may not be true at all.

Yeswecan (not verified) — Thu, 11/27/2008 - 1:27pm

i hope it is true that he plans to visit within the first 100 days of his presidency (or even the first 365 days). he is simply a brilliant guy who is also warm, humble, and tolerant. he could run for the president of the world (if there is such a thing) and he will probably get elected by the people of the world.

12next ›last »

What's On

Corporate News


  • Bridgestone Tire Safety Campaign
    Mr. Agus Sarsisto, Mr. Shigeru Niho (President Director), Mr. Shinya Hisada (Marketing Director), Mr. John M. Arsyad Hold a place in the Tire Safety Campaign, Rest Area 57 KM ...
more