<b>Dili</b>: The New Capital on the Block

Dili: The New Capital on the Block

Best Of IgoUgo

Overview

Quote:

"A most miserable place"Alfred Russell Wallace (1861)Wallace clearly wasn’t impressed by Dili, and in the nearly 150 years of war and strife that have followed since his visit, things seem to have only gotten worse.A half-hour stroll along the Waterfront will allow you to see pretty much everything the city has to offer, which isn’t much, and you might be able to stretch it out to an hour if you head to Downtown Dili. After that, the only thing to do is grab a beer at the Monkey Bar and start planning to move on.There are a number of diving agencies in town, and being a recently qualified diver, I had hoped to go...Read More

"A most miserable place"
Alfred Russell Wallace (1861)

Wallace clearly wasn’t impressed by Dili, and in the nearly 150 years of war and strife that have followed since his visit, things seem to have only gotten worse.

A half-hour stroll along the Waterfront will allow you to see pretty much everything the city has to offer, which isn’t much, and you might be able to stretch it out to an hour if you head to Downtown Dili. After that, the only thing to do is grab a beer at the Monkey Bar and start planning to move on.

There are a number of diving agencies in town, and being a recently qualified diver, I had hoped to go for a quick dip in what are allegedly excellent waters, but even this was impossible, as red algae was clogging the island. This is apparently a regular occurrence, so it’s worth checking ahead before you get your hopes up.

Quick Tips:

There is currently no Tourist Information Centre, although plans are in place to establish one at Expo Experança. In the meantime, for help and information, ask at East Timor Backpackers, on Estrada de Balide, or at Harvey World Travel, on Rue José Maria Marques.

Telephone and Internet facilities are available at the Timor Telecom compound, on Rua Antonio Heifor. A book exchange and lending library is available at the Xanana Gusmão Reading Room, on Rua Belamino Lobo. There is even a Cirrus/Maestro ATM available at the ANZ Bank, on Rue José Maria Marques.

The situation in East Timor is still pretty tense, and as frustration with the UN builds up, it often seems to explode into violence; indeed, there was a very serious riot the week before I arrived. If you are a white person, you will automatically be taken for a UN worker, so keep your wits about you and stay informed at all times.

Best Way To Get Around:

The infrastructure in East Timor beyond Dili is still pretty shaky, and if you wish to explore more of the country, you will probably need your own transport. One of the best options is to hire one of the old Australia Post motorcycles available at East Timor Backpackers on Estrada de Balide for /15 per day.

Bus and taxi services can take you to the UN-controlled border for crossing over into Indonesia. Air North runs daily flights to Darwin, Australia, for around US, with tickets available at Harvey World Travel, on Rue José Maria Marques. Other than that, you ain’t going nowhere.

Read Less

Cheer!
Flag

East Timor Backpackers

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel

Quote:

Recently reopened, this is the only hostel in town, so if you’re a budget traveller, this is where you’re going to end up, so get used to it.There are four dorm rooms with around six bunks in each, but they are quite spacious, particularly as they are never full... well, I was the first guest since it had reopened. The rooms were spotlessly clean but a little musty, although, again, I was the first guest since it had reopened. All rooms are equipped with a much-needed ceiling fan.There is a little lounge with all the usual facilities: TV (usually showing news coverage of recent riots), book exchange (not much choice yet), etc. There are also kitchen facilities available, but since ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 11, 2006

East Timor Backpackers
Near The Tiger Fuel gas station
Matadouro, Dili, East Timor
(670) 7238121

Cheer!
Flag

The Monkey Bar

Attraction

Quote:

This pleasant little sports bar, just out of town and rather handily on the road to the East Timor backpackers, is a pleasant haven from the stresses of this overwrought little country.This Aussie run sports bar has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, with numerous tables spread out under the rustic canopies, and several large screen TVs dotted around. Stubbies of ice cold VB (Victoria Bitter), and Bundy Rum and Cokes are the drinks of choice.The clientele are almost exclusively UN ,and other international workers, all of who are friendly and always happy to see an unfamiliar face. In fact, as the first independent traveller any of them had ever seen in town I was particularly welcom...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 11, 2006

The Monkey Bar
Estrada De Balide
Dili, East Timor

Cheer!
Flag

Downtown Dili

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel

Quote:

A gentle stroll around downtown Dili can turn up a few curiosities.The city centres on a large roundabout, on one side of which is the stadium and on the other is the old Mercado Municipal (City Market). Destroyed in 1999, only the façade of this venerable old building survived, and it now faces the Expo Experança (Exhibition & Conference Centre), soon to be home to a much-needed tourist information centre.Most impressive of the city’s sites is the magnificent Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Opened in 1988 by the Indonesian President Soeharto and blessed in 1989 by Pope John Paul II, it is said to be the largest in Southeast Asia. ...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on March 11, 2006

Downtown Dili
Downtown Dili
Dili, East Timor

Cheer!
Flag

The Waterfront

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction

Chinese Chamber of Commerce Photo - The Waterfront, East Timor, Asia

Quote:

The waterfront is always the showcase of any colonial town as the colonisers attempt to show-off to new arrivals, unfortunately Dili was never much of a priority for it Portuguese masters nor any that have followed them but there are a few interesting gems if you know where to look.Where not to look is the new International Peoples Park, inaugurated in 2002 with a slow-running program of tree-planting and path-laying that has yet to transform the scrub strewn with old rusting landing craft and fishmongers stalls into anything resembling a recreational area. Just across the road is the residence of Bishop Belo. A key figure in the independence movement, this was an important meeting ...Read More

The waterfront is always the showcase of any colonial town as the colonisers attempt to show-off to new arrivals, unfortunately Dili was never much of a priority for it Portuguese masters nor any that have followed them but there are a few interesting gems if you know where to look.

Where not to look is the new International Peoples Park, inaugurated in 2002 with a slow-running program of tree-planting and path-laying that has yet to transform the scrub strewn with old rusting landing craft and fishmongers stalls into anything resembling a recreational area. Just across the road is the residence of Bishop Belo. A key figure in the independence movement, this was an important meeting place until it was destroyed in 1999. The noble-prize winning bishop now gives Sunday dawn masses in the gardens watched over by the 1953 statue of the Virgin Mary. At the end of the road is the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Housed in a typical Portuguese Villa with high arches, pillars painted pink and crimson, and scalloped roof tiles on the eaves, this is one of the best surviving examples of colonial architecture in town.

The old, dark red garrison building with two rusting Portuguese canons outside facing the sea has thick walls and shuttered windows that helped it to survive the destruction of 1999, and it is now being renovated as the East Timor Cultural Centre to house a museum. Two rusting Portuguese canons sit outside facing the sea. The waterfront is dominated by the 1960 Government Building, its imposing facade with wide arched verandas in colonial style is made all the more conspicuous by the heavy barricades erected outside. In front stands a 1960 monument to Prince Henry the Navigator. The integration monument erected by the Indonesian authorities still stands atop a 10m high column in the middle of a dishevelled park. It depicts a Timorese in traditional costume, breaking the bonds of colonialism in a particularly striking pose that has garnered it the nickname Howzat Man from visiting Aussies.

Just off of the Park stands the Rumah Adat Los Palos, a wooden stilt house built in the traditional Fataluka style, and the Igreja Motael. Rebuilt in 1955, in Portuguese style, it is the oldest Catholic church in the country. Standing outside are bronze statues of the holy family, and a priest with a child (presumably not his own). Further up past the busy port you come to Farol Lighthouse, recently restored and solar powered with Japanese help. Outside, somewhat ironically, you will find a statue of Arturo do Cato Rezende, a Portages surveyor who died during the Japanese occupation of WWII after being accused of collaborating with the Aussies. Finally, you past the circular 13 Regions of Timor independence monument before reaching the Rio style Statue of Christ, which has become the symbol of the city.

Now if you really want, you can go for a wander downtown to see more of what Christ is symbolising. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 11, 2006

The Waterfront

Dili, East Timor

Cheer!
Flag

IgoUgo

East Timor Journals

Upload Photos

Write a Review

Create a Trip Plan

Make a Journal

Dili: The New Capital on the Block

Dili: The New Capital on the Block

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

East Timor Backpackers

The Monkey Bar

Downtown Dili

The Waterfront

About the Writer

More Journals by Mutt