Before Resting At The Hotel, Jokowi Buys Noken First From Mamas On The Roadside

Photo via Setkab

JAKARTA - President Jokowi's motorcade stopped on the streets of Jayapura City before reaching the hotel where he was going to rest. Jokowi is interested in the typical Papuan knitted bag known as Noken.

After a flight of approximately five hours, President Jokowi was in Jayapura, Friday, October 1. Jokowi is here to officially open the biggest national sporting event PON.

On the way to the hotel, Jokowi was attracted by the original Papuan knitted bags sold "mama-mama" on Jalan Raya Hawai Sentani.

"What is this bag?" asked the President to Paulina Adi, one of the women selling noken.

"This bag is made of bark, Father," said Paulina.

After looking around and voting, the President then decided to buy two noken.

Besides Paulina Adi, there are also Anastasya Keren and Yulita Tebay who also sell their own knitted noken. They hope that with the XX National Sports Week (PON) in Papua, many people will buy the original Papuan knitted bag.

The Head of State previously arrived at Sentani Airport, Jayapura Regency, Friday, at 16.20 WIT. Arriving at the airport, Jokowi immediately wore a noken. He was also greeted with a welcome dance typical of Sentani to the accompaniment of the drumming of tifa.

The President and his entourage went straight to the hotel for the night, and will continue the work agenda tomorrow, including opening the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON), and inaugurating a number of infrastructures.

Also welcoming the arrival of the President at Sentani Airport were Pangkogabwilhan III Lt. Gen. Jeffry Apoly Rahawarin, Pangdam XVII/Cenderawasih Maj. Gen. Ignatius Yogo Triyono, Papuan Police Chief Inspector General Pol. Mathius D. Fakhiri, and Pangkoopsau III Marsda TNI Samsul Rizal, while the Governor of Papua Lukas Enembe welcomed them at the Hotel where the President was staying the night.