When we think of South-East
Asia the obvious things that come to mind are the beaches of
Thailand, full moon parties, Aussies getting drunk in
Bali, or sunset drinks on sunset islands in the Philippines. South-East Asia is very much way on the beaten track but there are still a few fairly untouched gems out there, and one of them is East Timor.
Pristine beaches and sacred sites
Closer to the capital there are a plenty of white-sand beaches that remains pristine and unspoiled. Areia Branca and Dollar beach are some of the famous beaches. There are some east and west of Dili which usually does not see much crowd. For a swim, the south coast is best avoided owing to the presence of giant saltwater crocodiles. To spend some night time at the beach, opt for one of the night tours that include dinner on the beach.
The first National Park of East Timor called Nino Santana National Park comprises of forested mountain ranges (known for its many species of orchids), Lake Ira Lalaro and Jaco Island. A trip to this park will also make accessible the many sacred sites, limestone caves, and ancient rock arts. The reef system that is adjoining the Park is part of the world-renowned Coral Triangle. Divers here can spot high diversity of coral species and marine wildlife.
Breathtaking biking
If the driving is too hair-raising, or expensive car rentals are not cheap, starting at around $70 per day, partly due to the sketchy state of the roads and often erratic local driving, then it is time to get on your bike. You will need to be fit, as there are the steep climbs and steeper temperatures (around 30 C most of the year, though it is cooler at night in the mountains).
The upside is that you will have more opportunity to take in the views than you would if driving, when vigilance is needed.
The Timorese roads are sometimes a challenge for even the most robust four-wheel drive, so no surprise, then, that the Tour de Timor has already acquired the reputation for being one of the world's most arduous bike races.
Best diving spots
The tropical marine water of Timor-Leste, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands are roughly in the shape of a triangle and is called the Coral Triangle. It is home to approximately 500 species of corals and the sites in East Timor are undisputedly one of the best for diving.
The untouched reef and marine life is any diver’s dream come true. Atauro Island is considered one of the top diving spots in East Timor with abundant sea life such as reef sharks, frogfish, turtles, whales, and more. Many Dili based diving companies offer international standard diving courses ranging from recreational to technical for the interested. If you are in scuba diving, then you should definitely check fantastic diving sites around East Timor. Another great news is that the country is not filled with tourists, so you can expect to have diving tours only for yourself.
Calm life and silent nights
East Timor does show that there is such a thing as too laid-back. Taxis often potter along at 20 kph despite empty roads, putting the mission-(beach) bound among us at risk of an embolism.
But this does also mean that East Timor is less crowded, less hectic and less built-up than the rest of Southeast Asia, partly down to the country's troubled past and slow pace of economic development a decade after independence.
Great street food
In case you had the missed the memo YPT kind of like street food a lot, and Dili has something even better than street food, it has BBQ located conveniently on the beach. Come here and kick back at the weekend to see how the Timorese like to knock a few back.
Read more:
Do not miss these fascinating destinations around Asia in 2019
Source Internet
