In the capital of East Timor, Dili, in April or May, depending on the rainy season, the annual Carnival de Timor festival takes place. It is the concentration of all the culture and art of the locals. At the festival-carnival, the most interesting costumes of various national minorities are presented, all this is accompanied by national music and dances. East Timor is located at the very base of the famous Coral Triangle, which is famous for the largest variety of corals and reef fish in the entire Earth. East Timor is also interesting with over 10,000 years of cultural heritage, which is an incredible cocktail of Papua, Indonesia and Portugal. The country is also famous for eco-tourism due to the fact that much of it remains untouched by man. In the east of East Timor is The Nino Konis National Park, which contains both ancient archaeological sites and rich tropical lowland forests with a coastal strip. The tropics of East Timor are rich in endemics, for example, about 32 species of birds live exclusively here and nowhere else. The islands of Atauro and Jaco will be of interest to lovers of snorkeling, diving and virgin tropical nature. Local attractions are the fishermen’s villages, which still use traditional and ancient fishing technologies. Atauro is also famous for its wooden sculptures, and there is an artisan village where you can buy all kinds of handicrafts. The remnants of the Portuguese colonization are scattered throughout the country, there are churches, and fortresses, and much more. It is also interesting to visit the coffee plantations of East Timor as local coffee is becoming more and more popular all over the world. The largest plantations are Ermera, Maubisse, Manufahi and Liquisa. You should definitely visit the markets of Dili, here you will find a lot of amazing things, including Portuguese antiques. The markets also sell famous natural fabrics from East Timor’s 13 districts, most of which are produced and hand-dyed with natural dyes. here you will find a lot of amazing things, including Portuguese antiques. The markets also sell famous natural fabrics from East Timor’s 13 districts, most of which are produced and hand-dyed with natural dyes. here you will find a lot of amazing things, including Portuguese antiques. The markets also sell famous natural fabrics from East Timor’s 13 districts, most of which are produced and hand-dyed with natural dyes.
National cuisine of East Timor
According to Findjobdescriptions, the cuisine of East Timor mainly consists of such basic products as pork, fish, basil, tamarind, legumes, corn, rice, root vegetables and tropical fruits. The national cuisine of the country traces the tastes of Southeast Asia, the influence of Portuguese cuisine as a result of many years of colonization, as well as details of the cuisine of Papua. The East Timorese, like the citizens of Indonesia, cannot do without rice and spices. Extremely popular dishes here are spiced fish and various types of curries. Among the drinks in East Timor, coffee stands out, which is also produced here. A distinctive feature of the people of East Timor is a high tolerance for almost all cuisines of the world, which is why local restaurants are so popular. Chefs here can prepare dishes with amazing combinations of European,
Transport
You can arrive in the country from Indonesia or Australia by plane to East Timor’s main airport – Comoro Airport, located in Dili, the capital. When departing from Dili, a US$10 tax must be paid. The best means of transport in Dili, the capital of East Timor, are taxis, presented here in huge numbers. The price of any trip is not high, from 1 to 3 US dollars, bargaining is possible. Arriving in East Timor by land or sea is problematic, as in this case you must obtain a visa in advance. You can get to East Timor by land from West Timor, which belongs to Indonesia. The main land border crossing is at Motain on the Indonesian border, 115 km west of Dili. By sea, you can arrive in East Timor from Surabaya, Bali (Indonesia) or Australia on a trading barge. As for internal transport, renting a car will cost $85 – $120 per day, a motorcycle – $25-35 per day, but the almost complete absence of road signs, difficult traffic and the quality of roads do not contribute to comfortable independent driving in East Timor. In the capital, there is a speed limit of 40 km / h, outside it – 50-60 km / h, which may seem too strict to a foreigner. Between major cities such as Dili, Baucau (Baucau), Maliana (Maliana), Los Palos (Los Palos) and Suai (Suai), Indonesian-style van buses, mini-basses and “angoonna”, open-body trucks, which are the most popular for intercity transportation. There are also city buses in Dili, they are paid directly at the exit from the driver. From the Tasi Tolu bus station in Dili, transport departs west to Liquica and Bobonaro, and from the Becora bus station, east to Baucau and Los Palos. You can go to the south of the country to Ermera and Maubisse from the Taibessi bus station. The cost of the trip is from $3 to $10 depending on the distance. The Oekusi Enclave and Ataúro Island are connected to Dili by good sea links, with ferries and boats running between them. Although there are airports in Baucau, Suai and Okusi, domestic air service in East Timor is not developed and flights are not regular, aircraft are more often used for medical evacuations.
