Foreigners Join HalalBihalal, Impressed by the Kindness of the Locals

Share:

Two foreigners lost their way to a halalbihalal event on the slopes of Mount Merbabu in Magelang Regency, Central Java. The incident surprised and amused local residents. The two foreigners were Youssef Sabatelli (21) from Luxembourg and Amin Azirar (18) from Germany.

They are both students from RWTH Aachen University Germany who intend to take a vacation in Indonesia.

In a viral video uploaded by the Instagram account @borobudurnews, Youssef and Amin were seen sneaking past the halalbihalal attendees. They then sat at the back while talking.

Halalbihalal is an event held after Lebaran. It is usually held in a big place (auditorium, hall, etc.) by a group of people. There are usually many foods to eat and a chance to mingle with other people in the neighborhood. 

How did these two foreigners get lost? Amin said that they intended to have a vacation in Indonesia. After arriving in Jakarta, they chose to come to Yogyakarta.

The two rented a motorbike to travel around. But, when they arrived in Panggungan, they saw many people eating together. 

One of the foreigners, Amin, thought there was a wedding party. He then asked Youssef to pull over and join the residents.

A resident of Panggungan Hamlet, Mukini (36), told Kompas that the residents were very surprised and amused that a foreigner had strayed into their area. Even so, people getting lost in Panggungan is a familiar incident because it is often mistaken for a hiking route to Mount Merbabu.

Amin and Youssef had intended to continue their adventure to East Java to see Mount Bromo and Kawah Ijen. However, the warm welcome by the locals made them want to stay for two more days. 

“I feel that the people here are very close. In Germany, even Europe, everyone is busy with themselves and always seems to want to fight,” said Youssef.

Enjoyed this article? Explore other content from Social Expat for the latest updates on Travel News in Indonesia!

SEO Writer

Imelda is a content writer specializing in viral news and Indonesian culture. Her work revolves around researching and analyzing current events, social media trends, and popular culture.

Related News

Eclipses Indonesia: Total Lunar Eclipse to be Visible Across Indonesia in September 2025 Indonesia will witness a Total Lunar Eclipse, also known as a Blood Moon, on the night of 7–8 September 2025. According to the Bosscha Observatory, the phenomenon will be visible across the country and can be enjoyed without special equipment. “On 7–8 […]

The Indonesian government has moved to reassure both domestic and international tourists that travel across the country remains safe, despite recent demonstrations in several regions. The Ministry of Tourism emphasised that all tourist destinations continue to operate as normal and that foreign visitors are welcome without restriction. Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana stated in […]

Over the past week, social media in Indonesia has been awash with two unexpected colours: bright pink and bold green. Profile pictures combining these tones, labelled ‘Brave Pink’ and ‘Hero Green’, have spread widely as part of the ‘17+8 People’s Demands’ movement. What may look like a colour trend at first glance is actually a […]

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called on the Indonesian government to launch a prompt, thorough and transparent investigation into alleged human rights violations during a wave of violent demonstrations in August 2025. OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani expressed concern about the escalating violence in protests across multiple cities. […]

Indonesia Guide

Just For Fun

Write For Us

Exclusive Promotions

Event Gallery