TIMOR LESTE

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KRAVESCAPE

ASIA

Raw Beauty

For another less crowded destination in the tropics, fly over to Southeast Asia and visit East Timor (a.k.a. Timor Leste) at the easternmost side of the Lesser Sunda Islands. The recently independent country reflects a range of cultures and languages, including Portuguese, Roman Catholic and Indonesian traits.

Despite having an extensive history of rulers since its first settlement in 1520 by the Portuguese, the country displays a lot of opportunities for infrastructure development! It’s a wonderful place for those looking for a more authentic island experience, where you can go snorkeling, diving, hiking as well as exploring historical attractions!

Dili

Dili, the capital city of East Timor, is a charming compact city with a definite twist of Portuguese influence. Famous for its long stretch of waterfront, you’ll catch a glimpse into Dili’s local life, from children kick around half-deflated soccer balls to boatmen deciphering the weather conditions for their next trip out to sea. From afar, visitors will also be able to see the world’s 2nd largest Jesus Statue at Cape Fatacuma (a.k.a. ‘Cristo Rei’) which has drawn many hikers to climb to the summit it stands on!

Baucau,.

Perched on a steep hillside 100km east of Dili lies Baucau, East Timor’s 2nd largest city. Despite having much of its infrastructure destroyed following the referendum, there survives a few relics from the colonial era such as colonial houses, churces and public buildings overlooking sea views... Drive on the roads leading downhill from the pousada, through the lush ravines to the palm-fringed seaside village of Osolata for a private beach experience.

Maubisse (pronounced Mau-Bee-Say) is an amazing place... The valley is surrounded by hills all the way around, and the road from the range serves a beautiful view into the quaint little town down below. Being set within a circle of mountains, it serves as a perfect place to grow all kinds of coffee, with plantations exporting 17.000 tons per year! It is about a 3-hour carnival ride from Dili, with oncoming traffic and hundres of potholes and limited guardrails but the drive will be worth it.

Maubisse

Atauro Island

Travel 30 kilometers from Dili's shores and you'll find yourself on Atauro Island, where you are almost guaranteed to encounter dolphins on your diving excursions. You can also access the area through the Berlin Nakroma ferry that runs only on Saturdays for $5, or you can try negotiating with surrounding local fishermen for $10. No doubt a place we would recommend scuba aficionados; being almost untouched, it is said to be amongst one of the best barrier reefs in Asia, if not the world.

At the summit of Tatamailau (a.k.a. Mount Ramelau), hikers will be greeted by the placid, alabaster gaze of the Virgin Mary which stands as one of East Timor’s most striking spectacles. Begin your hike in the early dawn and experience the star-spangled skies slowly change disappear before your eyes as the sun crest peaks through the horizon, casting its rays along the mountainous mountains, cascading its purple and blue shadows along the landscape. It will be a surreal experience, definitely not to a sight miss...