Saudi king shocked Indonezians by huge luggage
Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud is heading to Indonesia this week for a nine-day visit. It will be the first time in 46 years that a Saudi king has visited the world's largest Muslim nation, and it comes at a time of heightened attention on the economic links between the two nations.
But Salman has come prepared. According to reports in the Indonesian press, the Saudi royal is expected to bring 459 tonnes of cargo with him on his trip - including two Mercedes-Benz s600 limousines and two electric elevators.
Adji Gunawan of the airfreight company PT Jasa Angkasa Semesta (JAS) told the Antara news agency that his company had been appointed to handle the cargo, which had already arrived in the country. Adji said that his company was employing a total of 572 workers to deal with the Saudi monarch's luggage.
Saudi royals are often known for travelling in grandiose style. Salman booked out the entire Four Seasons hotel in Georgetown when he visited Washington in 2015. The hotel, one of the most luxurious in the area, has 222 rooms.
That same year, the king was criticised by some locals after his 1000-person entourage forced the closure of a beach on the French Riviera for three days due to privacy and security concerns. The local mayor also complained to the French president that the Saudi group had poured concrete directly onto the sand in an unauthorised attempt to install an elevator.
Source: smh.com.au