Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) took a ride on an "andong," or horse-drawn carriage, to travel around Yogyakarta's iconic street Jl. Malioboro, on Thursday evening.

Along with his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, and his grandson, Jan Ethes, Jokowi took the "andong" from Mal Malioboro to the Gedung Agung Presidential Palace where his family spent the Idul Fitri holiday.

At the mall, Jokowi accompanied Jan Ethes, who was playing, and bought him three toys.

After some 30 minutes at the mall, three "andongs" picked up Jokowi and his entourage.

People around the street were thrilled to greet Jokowi. They called out his name hysterically and attempted to click pictures when they learnt about the president taking an "andong."

Andong rider Tri Wahyono, 43, had never expected to be the one transporting President Jokowi, his grandchild, and his youngest son. A member of the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) had made an impromptu request to Wahyono to prepare his carriage when he was in front of Mal Malioboro.

"It was spontaneous. I did not expect to take RI 1 (the president). I was a bit nervous, but it was interesting," Wahyono stated.

Wahyono was unwilling to reveal the amount of money that the president had paid for his service but admitted to having received a T-shirt and Lebaran "angpao" money gift from the president.

"(The amount of money) is secret," Wahyono, who wore traditional "blangkon" and blue "surjan" clothes.

Earlier in the afternoon, Jokowi had distributed three thousand food staple packages (sembako) to the residents of Yogyakarta at the Gedung Agung Presidential Palace.

The package comprised sugar, cooking oil, rice, and tea.

Translator: Luqman Hakim/Yashinta Difa Pra
Editor: Sri Haryati
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