Although Barack Obama’s nine-day visit to Indonesia could be considered too little, too late, Indonesia has still warmly welcomed the former United States president.

Obama spent some of his childhood in the country, arriving in Jakarta as a 6-year-old boy in 1967 and living here until 1971 when Jakarta was still chaotic.

His mother, Ann Dunham, took him to Jakarta to live with his stepfather, Lolo Soetoro. His half-sister Maya Soetoro was born in Jakarta in 1970. They returned to Hawaii at a time when Indonesia was in extreme economic and political difficulties.

“Without the money to go to international school that most expatriate children attended, I went to local Indonesian schools and ran the streets with the children of farmers, servants, sailors, and clerks,” he recalls in his autobiography The Audacity of Hope.

While president, Obama visited Jakarta in 2010 and Bali in 2011. However, he disappointed many, especially his former childhood friends in Jakarta because he was preoccupied with bilateral affairs and had no time to meet up with them. It is hoped that this time he will spare time for a nostalgic visit.

The Indonesia Diaspora Network Global (IDNG), the organizer of the fourth Diaspora Congress, earlier said Obama would deliver a keynote speech in Jakarta on Saturday.

Obama wrapped up his family vacation in Bali on Wednesday and flew to Yogyakarta, where he will stay until Friday.

In Bali, Obama with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha explored the culture and scenery of Bali. Arriving in Bali on Friday evening, Obama left the airport with a VVIP escort comprising Indonesian Military and National Police personnel and his own security team, and went straight to the Four Seasons Resort at Sayan in Ubud.

On Saturday, Obama visited the Agung Rai Museum of Art in Ubud. He enjoyed a painting exhibition and a Balinese dance performance and prayed at a temple near the museum. He strolled around the 5-hectare museum while listening to explanations by Anak Agung Rai, the founder of the museum.

The family took a rafting trip on the Ayung River on Monday. The family started the adventure in Bongkasa village in Badung regency and ended at the hotel where they were staying.

They visited two Hindu temples in Pakerisan Valley in Tampak Siring village in Gianyar.

At Gunung Kawi Temple, Obama tried his hand at haggling with a wooden bracelet trader. When the vendor said the price was Rp 25,000 (US$1.90), the former president responded, “Dua puluh ribu [20,000] boleh [OK]?”

 Bali Tourism Promotion Agency chairman Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana said Obama’s visit was a great promotion for Bali. “As a former US president, people all over the world followed his visit here. As the family enjoyed their stay here, people will come here too,” said Tjokorda.

At Wednesday noon, Obama and his entourage arrived in Yogyakarta. He will remain in Yogyakarta until Friday, when he will leave for Jakarta to meet with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at Bogor Palace.

The family is staying at the Tentrem Hotel.

 A few hours after arriving in the city, Obama visited Borobudur temple and spent one hour there. Obama told his host, Edy Setijono, that he had visited the temple as a child. “This time he came with his family,” said Edy.

On Saturday, Obama will deliver a keynote speech to open the fourth Indonesian Diaspora Congress.  He is expected to talk about globalization and pluralism.

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