I’ve spent the previous two years touring to twenty nations. Whereas most of those nations — from the Maldives to France — had been among the many world’s hottest, it was the off-the-beaten-path locations that I loved most.
Final month, I traveled to Timor-Leste, a rustic positioned within the South Pacific. The nation includes the japanese a part of Timor Island and two smaller islands. At 5,800 sq. miles, it is comparable in measurement to the Bahamas.
It is also the 14th least-visited nation on the planet and the least-visited in Asia, in accordance with a January report from CEOWorld journal. Some 81,000 vacationers visited Timor-Leste in 2023 — placing it simply forward of Chad and Sierra Leone, per the report.
The shortage of vacationers just isn’t a direct results of the pandemic both. Again in 2019, solely round 80,000 vacationers had visited, per the Nationwide Statistics Directorate Timor. Whereas researching my journey, I struggled to seek out info on-line for vacationers — save for a handful of brief vlogs on YouTube. I ended up having to study alongside the best way.
Listed below are seven issues that shocked me about Timor-Leste.
1. It is tough to fly there — and even more durable to get round.
Marielle Descalsota
Solely a handful of airways fly to Dili, the capital, the place the one worldwide airport in Timor-Leste is positioned. Vacationers can solely fly to Dili from Bali, Indonesia, and Darwin, Australia. I used to be in Bali for 3 weeks, so I made a decision to fly with the Indonesian funds airline Citilink. Dili’s airport is tiny — there’s just one departure gate and one runway.
There are not any ride-hailing providers in Timor-Leste. Whereas there are some taxis to assist vacationers get round, I solely noticed them across the airport and within the metropolis heart. I ended up assembly Fernando, an area, who took me across the metropolis on a scooter. I discovered that touring by way of scooter was the easiest way to sightsee from the coasts to the encircling mountains.
2. There aren’t many choices in the case of lodging.
Marielle Descalsota
Whereas Hilton plans to open a resort in Dili’s enterprise district later this yr, after I visited, there have been no luxurious resorts or worldwide resort chains in Timor-Leste. With solely round 70 inns and guesthouses within the nation listed on Google Inns, lodging selections on-line had been restricted. I booked three nights at Timor Plaza Lodge & Flats, a three-star resort positioned subsequent to a small mall within the metropolis heart.
After chatting with different vacationers, I discovered many had been staying in native guesthouses by the seashore. They’re often a easy set-up, comprising a small room with a mattress, mosquito internet, and a fan. You may spot indicators along with the street displaying if there are rooms out there for the night time. Since there are only a few vacationers within the nation, likelihood is you possibly can negotiate a price and ebook your keep on the spot.
3. Locals use US {dollars} — which suggests it is costlier than different close by nations.
Marielle Descalsota
The US greenback is the official forex. Whereas used interchangeably, The East Timor Centavo is barely minted in cash and pegged to the US greenback at $1 to 100 centavos. This makes Timor-Leste costlier than many different nations in Asia.
In Bali, a plate of nasi goreng — an Indonesian fried rice with satay — prices a median of between $3 to $4.50. In Dili, I paid between $10 and $15 for the same dish. In Bali, renting a scooter for a day can price as little as $3. In Dili, it prices over 5 instances extra, between $25 and $35.
4. Not everybody speaks the identical language.
Marielle Descalsota
Whereas Portuguese and Tetum are the official languages of Timor-Leste, English and Indonesian are the working languages. Nonetheless, solely 13.5% of locals communicate Portuguese, in accordance with the US Division of State.
Nearly all of locals I met in Dili spoke Tetum and Indonesian. Because of the excessive variety of ethnic teams in Timor-Leste, there are at the very least 16 further languages between them.
As I grew up in Singapore and may communicate some Indonesian, when locals did not communicate English, that was my fallback language. Though Fernando, my information, informed me vacationers wanted to watch out when conversing in Indonesian. He famous that some locals might get offended, contemplating the difficult historical past between these nations. I discovered that it was greatest to ask what language they like to talk when unsure.
5. Only a few American chains function within the nation.
Marielle Descalsota
Solely a handful of American meals chains exist in Timor-Leste, principally in Dili’s metropolis heart. I noticed a Burger King and a Gloria Jean’s Espresso outlet subsequent to one another proper outdoors the resort the place I used to be staying — McDonald’s does not function in Timor-Leste. As an adventurous eater, I had all my meals at locally-run eateries and cafés, the place I had Indonesian and Timorese fare.
Just a few shops promote American manufacturers like Head and Shoulders and Maybelline in the case of toiletries and make-up. However no-name manufacturers are extra frequent and are bought for less expensive.
6. The landscapes are a number of the most pristine within the area.
Marielle Descalsota
I discovered that Timor-Leste provided a number of the most scenic views in Asia.
I spent most of my time at Cristo Rei Seaside — which is neglected by an 88-foot-long statue of Jesus Christ — on the northern tip of Dili. It is a pure white-sand seashore with the clearest waters I’ve ever seen — even clearer than the Maldives. I might see the define of the mountainous Atauro Island from the coast, famed for its wealthy, colourful reefs.
After touring the area extensively, I discovered Dili probably the most scenic capital metropolis I’ve seen. Its beautiful shoreline is flanked by towering mountains.
7. You will not discover the native nightlife listed on-line — however you will discover it within the streets.
Marielle Descalsota
On Google Maps, there are only some native nightlife institutions listed — and most haven’t any pictures, opinions, or info. However my information, Fernando, shared that locals love consuming the native palm wine and dancing to Kizomba, a dance style originating from Angola, within the late evenings.
I used to be lucky to be in Timor-Leste on Might 20, throughout Nationwide Day. It marks when the nation gained independence from Indonesia. I discovered hundreds of individuals partying by the seashore and lots of of bikes revving down the coast to have fun the day. The vitality was surprising — and a memorable shock that I will always remember.
