Jakarta – Making an unannounced visit to a village in Bogor, West Java, on Sunday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was surprised by what he found: gasoline sold in bottles and a frayed national flag.

At Karang Tengah village in Sentul, Bogor, Yudhoyono got an intimate look at the daily lives of villagers, visiting a gasoline kiosk, a small stall selling snacks and other goods, and an elementary school.

During his visit to the gasoline kiosk owned by Rohman Husein, Yudhoyono said he was bewildered gasoline was sold in bottles and jerry cans and asked Rohman who his customers were.

Rohman said the gasoline was for motorcycle taxis and transportation vehicles belonging to locals, and he could sell the gas for Rp 300 more than the official price. "Because the gas station is far from here," he said.

Yudhoyono then inspected one bottle of the gasoline and said he was looking for illicit materials mixed with the fuel. "Don't mix the gasoline," Yudhoyono told Rohman, who said he did not mix his gas with kerosene, a common practice at some kiosks.

At another stall, Yudhoyono spent Rp 500,000 on snacks from Sumarni, before First Lady Kristiani Herawati handed out the snacks to a crowd of gathered children.

When visiting state elementary school Karang Tengah I, Yudhoyono told the principal, Andreas Wasio, to replace the frayed national flag raised at the school. Andreas answered: "We deliberately put up an old flag so people will not steal it."

Yudhoyono then held a discussion with residents, during which he urged heads of local administrations to follow his example and spend time getting a first-hand look at how people are living.

Yudhoyono said only through such field trips would the officials fully grasp whether development programs had reached desired targets. "All governors and regents should make field trips as frequently as possible so they can learn the actual conditions themselves," Yudhoyono said.

Earlier this month, during a meeting with governors and regents from the country's 33 provinces, Yudhoyono asked the local leaders to make regular field trips, on the condition the trips would not strain local budgets.

He called on the local heads to stay at government-owned lodges if necessary to cut costs. After the discussion, Yudhoyono said he would send government staff to research residents' needs including health and agriculture.

"I know this village is in need of help. "And for this visit I didn't inform the governor or regent beforehand... because I want to know the true conditions."