Obama misses nasi goreng
Mr Yudhoyono said he asked Mr Obama if he could squeeze in a stopover to Jakarta, to which the president-elect responded: 'Visiting Indonesia is very important, and I miss nasi goreng, bakso and rambutan.' -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
JAKARTA - US President-elect Barack Obama is eager to come to Indonesia, the tropical country he once called home, saying among other things, he misses the local cuisine, newspapers reported on Wednesday.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was quoted as saying he had spoken by phone earlier this week with Obama, who will be in the region for next year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Mr Yudhoyono said he asked Mr Obama if he could squeeze in a stopover to Jakarta, to which the president-elect responded: 'Visiting Indonesia is very important, and I miss nasi goreng, bakso and rambutan.'
Nasi goreng, or fried rice, is one of the country's most popular daily dishes, often served with fried egg, meat, vegetables or seafood. Bakso, a local meatball is usually eaten in soup. And rambutan is a red, tropical fruit native to South-east Asia and closely related to lychee.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, is unabashedly Obama crazy, partly because he lived here during his childhood. He is fondly remembered by former teachers and classmates, who describe him as fun and hardworking. -- AP
Mr Yudhoyono said he asked Mr Obama if he could squeeze in a stopover to Jakarta, to which the president-elect responded: 'Visiting Indonesia is very important, and I miss nasi goreng, bakso and rambutan.' -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
JAKARTA - US President-elect Barack Obama is eager to come to Indonesia, the tropical country he once called home, saying among other things, he misses the local cuisine, newspapers reported on Wednesday.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was quoted as saying he had spoken by phone earlier this week with Obama, who will be in the region for next year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Mr Yudhoyono said he asked Mr Obama if he could squeeze in a stopover to Jakarta, to which the president-elect responded: 'Visiting Indonesia is very important, and I miss nasi goreng, bakso and rambutan.'
Nasi goreng, or fried rice, is one of the country's most popular daily dishes, often served with fried egg, meat, vegetables or seafood. Bakso, a local meatball is usually eaten in soup. And rambutan is a red, tropical fruit native to South-east Asia and closely related to lychee.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, is unabashedly Obama crazy, partly because he lived here during his childhood. He is fondly remembered by former teachers and classmates, who describe him as fun and hardworking. -- AP
