Indonesian youth group says Russia trip shattered 'cold and unfriendly' stereotype

Representatives of TIDAR, the youth wing of Indonesia's ruling Gerindra party, say a trip to Russia overturned their image of Russians as cold and unwelcoming, RIA Novosti reports.

The eight delegates attended an international youth festival in Yekaterinburg and then travelled to Russian regions to learn about local culture.

One delegate said Russians' readiness to help showed in everyday moments - people opened doors for guests carrying luggage. "Before the trip we pictured you as very cold... we thought you rarely smile," he admitted.

Maria, a delegate who visited Kazan, praised her hosts' hospitality: organisers respected her wish to attend Friday prayer and waited for her even though she missed part of the programme. "I felt as if I had known them all my life. Now they are like a new family to me," she said.