TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on Sunday (16/10) made an impromptu visit (blusukan) to Cinderejo village by Kalianyar river, Solo, where he spend his childhood.
Jokowi was also accompanied by a number of foreign journalist.
"I was asked (by the foreign journalists) to show where I lived when I was a child,” Jokowi said.
Jokowi walked fast along small alleys until he arrived by river bank, while residents in Cinderejo village welcomed him and walked behind the Presidential group.
Once a while, Jokowi stopped to talk to some foreign journalists who came with him.
Jokowi also gave away books to children in the village.
"I used to baht in this river,” Jokowi said, adding that living near the river made him a good swimmer.
Today, however, the location where Jokowi’s house used to stand has now become a traditional market.
Bandi, a resident, said that he used to swim along Jokowi in the river.
"We used to look for eggs of wild ducks,” he said.
Bandi said that Jokowi and his family used to live in an area that has now become a traditional market and his family had to move because their house was evicted.
AHMAD RAFIQ