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Obama and First Family to Wear Sarongs for Borobudur Visit
February 13, 2010

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peterR
7:26am Feb 15, 2010

I can only concur with Roland. I am sure that Obama and his family will be well aware of any sensitivities and customs and there will be problem. I also think that they will have no issue over self importance and will on all occasions 'join in' enthusiastically.

Mr. Governor and Mr. CEO of PT. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, should not base their thought process on their own attitude and self opinion.

Reignmaker
6:59am Feb 15, 2010

POTUS brings all the world's eyes on us. Our seeming obsession with enforcing petty, ill conceived rules. Every American on Air Force One and accompanying flights packing their paid up 30 day visas, Secret Service togged out in their sarong and sandals.

How about a rule that bans children who can't afford to go to school -to also not be allowed to swim in septic, flooded streets ?


Kiai Carita
6:33am Feb 15, 2010

These are new rules anyway ... exactly like Roland says, little Bib is trying to inflate his ego, after all, the people in Central Java don't trust him anymore after he tried to sell them off to a cement factory!

Roland
9:05pm Feb 14, 2010

Living in your little box of self importance comfortable Mr. Governor and especially Mr. CEO of PT. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur?

You set another good example how open minded Indonesia has become...hmmm!

I am confident that President Obama plus family are sensible enough to not visit Borobudur in Short and Mini Skirts but I also do not comprehend that some "underlings" are setting the rules in such a verbal manner...

Hey Mr. CEO, how 'bout cleaning up the garbage in a permanent matter in Borobudur? Or is that too much to ask for?


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Ever imagined you would get to see the most powerful man in the world clad in a Javanese sarong, possibly even donning rubber sandals? A treat is definitely in store for those who have.

According to Central Java Governor Bibit Waluyo, sarongs will remain the order of the day for all visitors to Central Java’s famed Borobudur Temple, including US President Barack Obama, his wife, first lady, Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia.

“I have received information from the Foreign Ministry that the US President, his wife Michelle and two daughters are scheduled to visit Candi Borobudur on March 22. The [state] visit aside, even the US president’s family must follow the existing regulations applied within the confines of the temple,” Bibit said on Friday.

Purnomo Siswo Prasetyo, chief executive of PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko, the company that manages the temple site, confirmed Bibit’s statements, adding that the regulation mandating the donning of a sarong and rubber sandals had been put into effect on Feb. 1, and all those visiting the temple must respect the social and religious norms observed.

“I urge US President Obama, his family, and his entourage to please not wear shorts or miniskirts [for the ladies] or leather footwear. As long as one is inside the temple, it is mandatory that one wears a batik sarong and rubber sandals. The same rule applies for dignitaries from overseas. In fact, they should be the ones setting the example,” Purnomo told the Jakarta Globe.

“We have made the central government aware of these rules and all parties involved in the planning of the US president’s visit to Indonesia. We are relieved that they understand these rules and have no objections to following them.”

As previously reported, local worshippers have voiced serious concern over tourists revealing too much skin or wearing footwear, including high heels, that has ended up damaging the temple’s stonework. The temple was built around 800 AD and is believed to have taken about 75 years to construct.

“We keep getting complaints from locals upset about tourists who wear skimpy clothing at Borobudur,” Purnomo had said earlier. Candra Malik