Summary of article in Billed Bladet #44, 2015.
Written by Trine Larsen.
With some 250 million inhabitants and having a growing economy making Indonesia the 10th largest in the world, it's a very attractive export market for DK, not least in regards to infrastructure, energy and sanitation. As such 62 companies accompanied the Regent Couple on this visit.
Actually the Regent Couple (RC) arrived the day before the official visit was to start. They drove straight from the airport to Hotel Raffles, where the RC stayed for the duration of the visit.
After a few hours of rest the RC met with the Danish delegation and Danish expats with whom they had a formal dinner.
This was QMII's first visit to Indonesia while PH has been there some seven times before.
It was also the new Chief of Court, Michael Ehrenreich's first state visit abroad - but things seemed to have worked well.
However, the RC are getting older and QMII's back isn't what it used to be. She can sit for quite a while, but standing that's a strain on her, so a chair was kept nearby at all times when she needed to sit down.
Jakarta is now a seriously big city and that means the traffic can be reduced to a crawl, so the RC and the delegation were transported around in 50 car convoy, not to mention the countless escorting bikes.
The President, Joko Widodo, is being compared locally with President Obama, partly because the two physically resemble each other, partly because of their similar politics.
He and the first lady, Istana Merdeka, received the RC at the presidential palace for the gala dinner. All that included the usual speeches and entertainment by performers from both countries.
At the return dinner at Hotel Raffles, it was the Vice President, Jusuf Kalla, as the guest of honor.
During the three days the RC saw a lot of things! It was a quite impressive schedule but the RC seemed to be doing fine. That included a lunch with the Sultan of Yogyakarta (Jakarta and surroundings) at his palace. A man QMII later described as a very exciting and unusual man.
Here Princess Pembayun, who is the oldest of the Sultan's five daughters presented QMII with a piece of specially made batik. Batik cloth and clothes are a thing Indonesia is very well known for and such a piece of cloth can easily take six months to make by hand. And QMII did indeed buy more cloth when she attended a show during the visit.
A visit to the huge Gadjah Mada University - that is working on establishing mutual links with Danish universities.
And also a visit to a more modest part of Jakarta, where QMII visited an activity center for children and young who have modest means. That included LEGO which the local children were busy building with. QMII, who now has some experience with smaller children and no doubt LEGO as well, sat down and demonstrated a couple of her interpretations in building stuff.
But is wasn't just QMII who got the attention. PH was in fine form and goofed and made fun where he went, that is when he wasn't busy teasing his wife.
He went solo on a couple of occasions. At some point he was a guest cook, helping a couple of local chefs making ice. But something went wrong and the ice became harder than steel and when tasted the ice he pretended to drop on the spot, amusing those present.
Tennis is a
big thing in Indonesia! So when PH was to put focus on health and excercise and watched a tennis match he soon took off his jacket and revealed a polo shirt from the 2012 Olympics and together with the Minister for Environment and Energy, Lars Christian Lilholt, took on a couple of local players. Now, PH has played a good deal of tennis beforehand but it wasn't serious this time and whether he thought the Minister's effort was lacking is everyone's guess but the very tall Minister got a little whack on top of the head with PH's racket.
The RC stayed on in Indonesia for a couple of days after the visit, for a little private sightseeing.
Because there was plenty too look at. Like the Buddhist Borobudur Temple, which is the largest Buddhist monument in the world. And to ensure peace and quiet for the RC, the whole temple was simply cordoned off. The temple is otherwise visited by tens of thousands of guests each day.
During the press conference the RC were asked to pose in front of the Prambanan Temple. PH thought that was a good idea a brought out his own mobile and took up position in front of QMII to take her pictures. QMII said: "You won't dare". PH retorted: "I can also stand over here and photograph you". And went over to the photographers. But they did pose together in the end.
At the interview QMII said: "It's always nice to experience something together and we have had some fantastic days and experiences. I haven't been here before, but my husband have after his travels talked so warmly and vividly about the country that I have looked very much forward to experience it together with him.
It's very, very amusing to come here. It's a fine place with many tremendously sweet people, who have given us a warm and friendly welcoming. It's also amusing (QMII's all time favorite expression) to experience such a huge city as Jakarta. It doesn't look like anything one is used to seeing at home, that you can safely say".
PH will travel on to Vietnam, While QMII returns home, there is work waiting for her at home: "I would hardly have time for staying here longer. It would have been difficult to find the time. My husband's travel will be long and I simply couldn't find the time for that".
BB's coverage:
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https://app.box.com/s/bcdx7g1e0mzlamp5xt82f06jnauuc9l7
and about the Pregnancy of Kate Middleton,too!)
You are welcome. 
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