TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
King Salman loves Bali, extends vacation
Change Size
Indonesian Navy personnel patrol waters near St. Regis Bali Resort in Nusa Dua on March 7. Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is staying at the resort during his vacation on the Island of the Gods. (Antara/Wira Suryantala)
T
he beauty of Indonesia's most popular tourist destination, Bali, has captivated Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as the monarch has decided to extend his stay for a few days.
The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia said in a notification letter to the Foreign Ministry that King Salman wanted to extend his vacation in Bali until March 12.
King Salman has been in Indonesia since March 1, when he began a three-day state visit in Jakarta. The initial Bali vacation plan was from March 4 to 9. The king and his entourage of 1,500 people booked out the upscale St. Regis Resort Bali and several other upscale hotels in Nusa Dua.
Bali Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Hengki Widjaja also confirmed the extension, saying that the police had received the information on Monday.
"Yes, it has been confirmed that he will extend his holiday. He loves it here," he said as reported by kompas.com on Tuesday.
(Read also: King Salman, tourists all enjoy Bali beach)
Since his arrival in Bali on Saturday, King Salman had been reportedly enjoying Geger Beach in the beachfront St. Regis hotel. The hotel has erected a bamboo fence at the beach to ensure privacy for the king. The beach remains open to the public.
There have been no reports of the king visiting tourist attractions. Police and military personnel and pecalang (traditional Balinese guards) have been deployed to protect the king and his entourage during their stay. (rdi)
