President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo gave former United States president Barack Obama a modest yet warm welcome at Bogor Palace on Friday.

No reception was held for the former president, who spent part of his childhood in Jakarta, as he was visiting in a private capacity as part of a nine-day vacation in Indonesia that started on June 23.

Only Jokowi, First Lady Iriana and their youngest son Kaesang Pangarep greeted Obama on the terrace of Bogor Palace at 3 p.m.

Like meeting an old friend, Obama rolled his eyes and smiled at Jokowi while offering his hand to shake after he alighted from a Chevrolet Suburban.

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Standing next to the car, Obama exchanged a few words with Jokowi for a few seconds before the President introduced Iriana to Obama.

Jokowi later introduced Kaesang and explained a few things about him to Obama, who later gave a thumbs up to Kaesang for the explanation.

After the brief exchange, Obama, who wore a blue long-sleeved shirt, embraced Jokowi and walked next to him into the palace and into the Teratai Room to sign the guestbook.

Jokowi later drove Obama in a golf cart to the Grand Garden Restaurant, located in the Bogor Botanical Garden, where the two talked for 30 minutes and enjoyed Indonesian food before Obama left for Jakarta. (bbn)