Jackie Chan wows Aceh children

Jackie Chan wows Aceh children

The faces of children at the Lampeuneurut Children's Center in
Banda Aceh light up. Their waiting game ends when they spot the
familiar face of Hong Kong action movie star Jackie Chan.

"The one in orange is Jackie Chan," an awed nine-year-old
Muhammad whispers to his two friends.

The star of Shanghai Noon and Rush Hour made a brief visit to
the tsunami-hit Banda Aceh on Monday, as part of a goodwill
gesture to victims of the Dec. 26 massive disaster.

To their frustration, Muhammad and other children could at
first only watch their idol from a distance as Chan was mobbed by
journalists and a throng of adult fans.

However, later when a photo session was held in a tent,
several lucky children finally got to stand next to the star.

Fitrah, 10, could not hide her happiness when posing with her
idol. "He looks very different from the movies, he's much more
good looking in reality," said the girl, who said she loved
Chan's kung fu movies.

Fitrah and Muhammad were two children who regularly attended
the center's programs to help them recover from the tsunami
trauma.

In his tour of Aceh, Chan -- who was accompanied by Miss World
2005 Peruvian Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia, British Olympic gold
medalist athlete Daley Thompson and several other Hong Kong movie
stars -- distributed US$4.8 million in donations.

At the children's center, he was welcomed with an Acehnese
dance and later looked at the photos of children who were still
searching for their missing families.

Chan also watched a documentary featuring Acehnese children
and smiled as a child in the film said: "I want to be like Jackie
Chan". (JP/Nani Afrida)