However, the downpour failed to deter thousands of students and residents who were keen to catch a glimpse of King Salman and chose to stay until the king and his entourage had entered the Bogor Palace at 1 p.m. local time.
Upon arrival, King Salman was greeted enthusiastically by the students and residents who had thronged the streets of the Bogor city center in the midst of heavy rains since 9 a.m. until the entourage of state guests from Saudi Arabia entered the palace at 1 p.m. local time.
The students, in their respective uniforms, some wearing the traditional Muslim cap, Peci, were already seen lining the streets, holding the national flags of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.
Not only the students but the citizens of Bogor also demonstrated enthusiasm regarding King Salmans visit to the Bogor Palace.
Some people have expressed curiosity over the Saudi King heading directly to the Bogor Palace following his arrival, as it is an uncommon practice.
"This is an honorable visit to Bogor. Moreover, King Salman is on a visit to invest in Indonesia, so we should welcome him proudly," Rizal Rahmat, a high school student from Bogor, remarked.
Similar views were also echoed by Reagung Mulyawan, a middle school student, who along with around 500 school mates had thronged the street to welcome the Saudi king.
"King Salman, arriving with his convoy, is a state guest, so we are asked to welcome him," he noted.
Mulyawan said he was not compelled to do so but instead felt proud that he could come along with thousands of fellow students to welcome King Salman in Bogor.
(O001/INE/B003)
EDITED BY INE
(T.SYS/A/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
