Checkpoints in Dili

The police are running checkpoints around Dili in a bid to clamp down on the carrying of illegal weapons. Police are also checking for correct motorcycle and vehicle documents.
I was riding pillion on the back of a friend’s motorcycle on the airport road yesterday, near Dili Backpackers. We came to a checkpoint and the police [...]

Yes, Dili has beaches

There was a NY Times article a few years ago that said that Dili has beaches like Bali. While it would be great to be so positive about Dili’s beaches, they aren’t quite on a par with Bali’s, but they’re pretty close. Dili isn’t your typical beach destination. Unlike in Bali, you won’t be hassled [...]

Malae!

After a few days in Timor-Leste, most foreigners will have heard the word “malae” (pronounced ma-lie) several dozen times. Similar to the use of the word “farang” in Thailand or “gringo” in Mexico, malae is how the locals refer to foreigners. Even if you become sick of being called malae, don’t take it to heart; [...]

The statue of Pope John Paul II

Dili has a number of statues of historic importance. One of the most recent to be erected is the statue of Pope John Paul II.

The Jesus statue

The Jesus status is one of the most poignant images of Dili. Stood atop a hill in the east of Dili, you can see the statue from all over. The statue was given as a gift to the Timorese by the Indonesians, although some say that the Indos built it to deliberately face Jakarta. The [...]

Catching a taxi from Dili Airport

When people arrive at Dili Airport, there’s usually some confusion over how to get to their hotels. Taking a taxi is just about the only option available to most people. However, a lot of travelers find themselves being ripped off before they’ve had time to unpack their bags. Don’t catch a taxi from the entrance [...]

Our Lady of Fatima statue

On the coast of Dili, just around the corner from the Palacio Do Governo, there’s a statue stood high atop a column in the middle of a small park. Our Lady of Fatima, which commemorates the Virgin Mary’s apparition in 1917 in the Portuguese village of Fatima, arrived in Dili from Portugal as a gift [...]

Palm wine

If you’ve ever wondered what the locals in Dili drink for kicks, then wonder no more. The preferred tipple of our good Timorese friends is palm wine. You may have seen it sold on the side of the street. The unboiled version is a dirty-white liquid that looks and smells like raw eggs.

If you’ve never [...]

How to get to Dili Airport

Dili is served by one international airport. It’s not quite as flash as some of Asia’s other airports, but it has a runway where planes can land; what more do you need? The departures building is simple enough, with only a handful of check-in counters. There’s no need to trundle for miles along moving walkways [...]

Lest we forget the mighty mikrolet

In Dili you have a few options when it comes to how you get around. Borrowing, renting or buying a bicycle, motorbike or car is one option. A large portion of the locals use Dili’s famous mikrolet service. Mikrolets are small minibus-type vehicles that look like oversized breadbins. You can’t miss Dili’s mikrolets; they always [...]