Walking around East Timor is an option if you do not have
a fixed itinerary in mind. You can do this on the first day or on the last day,
or whenever you are free. Dili is not really that big, and you could see most
of the notable landmarks in just a few hours. However, make sure that you have
the necessary protection. The weather in Dili is hellish and the sun could be
quite merciless. Apply enough sunscreen in the morning. Apply enough mosquito
repellant in the evening. You are all set!
Again, Mikrolet #10 is your friend. A Mikrolet is a small van converted into public transport, pretty much serving the same purpose as the Filipino jeepney, albeit smaller. With a fixed fare of just USD0.25, this is the mode of transportation of choice for most locals, and you might have to compete with them for space inside the vehicle. The good thing is that most of them are friendly to foreigners, and would most likely yield. There have been three instances when I was given the space next to the driver’s seat.
Mikrolet #10 plies the route stretching across the main
highway, if you could call it that. This means that you could ride it going
west to the airport or as far as east to Cristo Rei. This is also the right one
if you intend to go to Timor Plaza, which is perhaps the only mall they have in
this city. It doubles as a hotel, and most locals and tourists alike frequent
the place for the wealth of Wi-Fi choices available care of the hotspots of the
country’s mobile carriers.
If you are staying for a week or two in Timor-Leste, then
you could go to the nearby districts and explore the likes of Liquiça where
there is supposed to be some sort of Portuguese ruins, or Baucau which could be
your jump-off point to the island of Jaco, which they say is just as stunning
but not as crowded as nearby Atauro. If not, then around three days in the
capital is enough for sightseeing at a leisurely pace. As for me, I only had
three days and I already saw Cristo Rei when I arrived. The last day was
reserved for strolling then.
I frequented Timor Plaza because of the food choices
available. Dili could be very cheap if you opt to eat like the locals do,
stopping at various roadside eateries offering local cuisine. My stomach is not
as adventurous, however, so I had to stick to the familiar. In East Timor, the
familiar meant Burger King, because that seemed to be the only Western fast
food outlet you could find there. Aside from the one at Timor Plaza, there is a
new branch near Largo de Lecidere. Timor Plaza also has a cinema, by the way.
How much would you be spending on food at Timor Plaza,
then? The damage would usually be upwards USD5 per meal. Okay now, enough food
and more travel! On my third and last day, I took the USD0.25 Mikrolet ride to
Timor Plaza, and decided to walk all the way back so I could take photos and
observe everyday life on the island. There us just so much potential here yet
to be reached, but for now it seems like a once sleepy town that has suddenly
burst to life.
Most of what you would see in terms of the urban
landscape would be the various government buildings and monuments scattered all
around the city, but mostly along the main highway. Walking back all the way
from Timor Plaza, the first government building that might pique your curiosity
would be the Ministry of Defense. It looks unique enough to stand out but not
that attention-grabbing for most people to give a damn, but just snap that
photo!
Now approaching the guesthouse, there is basketball court
and a small park where locals spend the afternoon despite the scorching heat.
The said park has a monument with two Timorese holding their national flags.
What makes it notable, though, is the backdrop of the mountains far inland,
which somehow reminded me of Coron. Given the comparably slow internet
connection, the analogy is rather spot-on.
Walking farther ahead you would reach another park with
many locals holding on to their laptops. I suppose that it is a Wi-Fi hotspot
of sorts, because seeing people with laptops in a café is normal, but in open-air
parks? A popular hotel could be found nearby, and they say that there is a bar
frequented by locals there because of the ambiance and the food. Unfortunately,
I was not able to try it out.
Follow the street where that hotel is on and you will
eventually find yourself in front of a museum which seems to be brimming with
patriotism and history. I think it is closed on Sundays, which meant no history
lesson for me. I think it is okay, though, given the wealth of information
available online. I did some research prior to arrival this time around, you
know! Anyway, from here the other buildings that might be of interest to you
are clustered around a small perimeter that would not require much walking.
The Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e is just across
the parliament. In case you are interested, the Instituto Camões, which is in
charge of the propagation of the Portuguese language across the world, is located
here, or so said the poster I saw there. As you know, learning Portuguese in
Asia is quite an uphill battle with the lack of resources. If you want to learn
in-country and you think Macau would just not do, then maybe you can do it
here. Good luck dealing with the boredom, though. No casinos here!
If I am not mistaken, the national government palace is
just behind the parliament; and these two government offices are just right
across the Portuguese Embassy; and the Portuguese Embassy is just in front of
the yellow Casa Europa, which is just across the main road separating it from
the bay area. Did I mention that Dili is really small?
The bay area is long and stretches all the way up to
Areia Branca where you would find Jesus on the cliff. Walking all the way to
Cristo Rei is good exercise if you have the time and the stamina to endure the
heat of the sun. Otherwise, take a cab for around USD3. Anyway, this area is a
popular hangout for locals having a chat, fishing, or just admiring the beauty
of the sea. This is also your jump-off point to Atauro if you are going with
Compass Charters.
I noticed the absence of Mikrolet #10’s going back to the
center of the town, which prompted me to walk around and find them. This
brought me to Largo de Lecidere, which is just a part of the long stretch with
some fancy shaded areas. Taking one of the side roads, I ended up in the new Burger
King branch I mentioned. I found Mikrolet #10 after crossing a few more streets.
And that is where my day stroll ended. You might want to take a shower
afterwards, if only to make the sticky feeling go away.
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