Riding in a carriage with Jokowi, Jan Ethes sits in front

President Jokowi spent his leave with his grandson in Yogyakarta. They got on a carriage and went along Malioboro.

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/VICO

President Joko Widodo enjoyed a holiday with his grandchildren, Jan Ethes and La Lembah Manah, in Yogyakarta on Friday (24/5/2024). They rode an andong cart to enjoy the night at Malioboro.

Holiday time with family is a special day. President Joko Widodo also took advantage of family leave to spend time with his grandchildren.

Jan Ethes Srinarendra and La Lembah Manah, two grandchildren of President Jokowi's son his eldest, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, was present at Gedung Agung, Yogyakarta, Friday (24/5/2024). The President also invited the two of them to ride andong and enjoy the nightlife around Malioboro.

An Andong with license plate number K174KTB was pulled by a brown-furred and green-eyed horse with blinders. "I want to sit here," said Ethes, who chose to sit in the front seat, next to the coachman. President Jokowi and La Lembah Manah were behind him.

From the Presidential Palace in Yogyakarta, the carriage carrying the President and his grandson rode through Reksobayan Street, Jogonegaran Street, and Malioboro Street. The night atmosphere during the holiday season was quite lively.

Also read: Eid holiday, President Jokowi Invites Grandchildren to Love Animals

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

The horse-drawn carriage drivers are waiting for their horses to be checked for fitness at Sultan Agung Stadium, Bantul, Yogyakarta Special Region, on Wednesday (5/12/2018). These carriages usually operate in the Malioboro tourist area.

Residents passing by on a tricycle or those who happen to cross paths while enjoying the night in Yogyakarta call out, "Mr. Jokowi, Mr. Jokowi." Many also capture the presence of the President and his grandchild in their photographs.

Occasionally, Jan Ethes, the first grandchild of the President, also joins in distributing t-shirts to the people they meet. President Jokowi also often distributes black shirts with his name written on them during official visits.

Also read: President Jokowi's Visit, Relief After Eight Years

This souvenir is usually taken wherever one goes. Sometimes, small gifts like notebooks are given to school children or shawls to mothers. However, the t-shirt never misses out and always appears in every work visit of the President, including this time during the President's trip with his grandchildren on a horse-drawn carriage.

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/VICO

Residents immortalized the presence of President Joko Widodo riding a carriage with his grandchildren in Yogyakarta, Friday (24/5/2024).

Zainuri, a horse and carriage driver, was happy to have the President and his grandchildren as passengers. "Well, if it's our fate, where else would we go? Alhamdulillah, we went around with his grandchildren," he said.

Not only that, the President also had a light chat with Zainuri. The President asked about the condition of Malioboro which was busy. "If it's a weekend night or tomorrow's holiday, yes, it's busy. "I had fun chatting with Pak Jokowi," added Zainuri.

Zainuri was also happy to see the President's closeness to his grandchildren. "Very familiar, like me and my own grandchildren," he said.

Also read: Now, President Jokowi has five grandchildren

Andong is indeed one of President Jokowi's favorites to spend time with his grandchildren. During the year-end holiday in 2017, for example, the President, who spent his time at the Yogyakarta Palace, used an andong to explore Malioboro. Of course, the President brought along Jan Ethes, who was accompanied by his father, Gibran, and mother, Selvi Ananda, as well as Jokowi's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep.

BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/RUSMAN

President Joko Widodo, together with Mrs. Iriana Joko Widodo, enjoyed an evening with their family by riding a traditional horse carriage and touring Jalan Malioboro, Yogyakarta City, Yogyakarta Province, on Saturday (7/1/2023) evening.

Last year, the President also enjoyed Malioboro by riding an andong with Jan Ethes and La Lembah Manah. Not only his two grandchildren but also Mrs. Iriana, Gibran, and Selvi joined the ride. The busy night of Malioboro became a family entertainment.

Also read: Preserve Yogyakarta's Axis of Philosophy as a World Cultural Heritage

This time, eight-year-old Ethes chose to sit in the front, next to the coachman, like in the song "Naik Delman" created by Ibu Sud.

On Sunday I followed my father to town

I sat in a special carriage in front

I sat next to the driver who was working

control the horse so that it walks well

Hey, tuk tik tik tik tik tik tik tik tuk tik tik tik tuk...

The atmosphere depicted in the popular song is similar to Jan Ethes' experience when he accompanied his grandfather, who was serving as the President of the Republic of Indonesia, to the city of Yogyakarta. Riding a horse-drawn carriage, Ethes sat in the front, right next to the coachman who was working to deliver the President and his grandchildren.