Greetings! We recently returned from a very short (day) trip to East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste (country #87), where we were able to get a snapshot of life in Dili, the capital. Unlike most of our other trips, we did not have an official tour or tour guide. Therefore, while the photos are all taken by me, the information was gathered by our own knowledge of the history of the region, as well as from some reputable websites*.
East Timor from the air – it is separated from Australia (to the south) by the Timor Sea
The known history of East Timor dates back to the 1600s, with the invasion of the Portuguese, who set up trade, capitalizing on the local abundance of sandalwood. In 1749, there was a battle between the Portuguese and the Dutch in the land that was primarily known as modern day Indonesia (of which East Timor is a part), and resulted in the Portuguese taking the Eastern half of the land.
National Hero of East Timor
The Japanese invaded in 1942 to fight Australian troops, killing 60,000 people in East Timor. The Japanese maintained control until 1945, and then the Portuguese took charge until 1974, when they started the process of decolonization. East Timor declared independence in 1975 after a brief civil war that followed the withdrawal of the Portuguese administration.
However, shortly thereafter, East Timor was invaded by Indonesian troops, during which more than 200,000 people were killed as a result of fighting, and subsequent famine and disease during the Indonesian occupation. There was ongoing resistance during the Indonesian rule until 1999. In September of 1999, 78% of the Timorese voted for independence, which resulted in an “anti-independence militia campaign of terror.” The United Nations intervened, and Indonesia relinquished its control over the territory in 2002. As a result, on May, 20, 2002, Timor-Leste became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century. They have a president and a prime minister, who share legislative power and responsibilities.
Timor-Leste has a population of 1.1 million people, and their national languages are Portuguese and Tetum, with 30 local dialects.
Interesting Fact: Timor means “east” in Malay (the land is technically part of the Malay archipelago); Leste means “east” in Portuguese.
Most of the citizens of Timor-Leste are Catholic, and they follow strict local traditions, especially in rural areas. East Timor is one of only two Asian countries that is a predominantly Roman Catholic state (the Philippines is the other).
East Timor uses the US Dollar, and exports coffee, marble, petroleum, and sandalwood. However, 40% of the population lives under the national poverty line. Those living in Dili (which is the capital city and houses a majority of the population) are better off than their rural counterparts, but are still significantly less well-off when compared to their international counterparts.
Dili
Dili (a 1.25 hour flight from Darwin, Australia), the capital and largest city of East Timor, is flat land that is surrounded by mountains on the northern coast of the island. It has been the primary port and economic hub since 1769, when it was the capital of Portuguese Timor. One of the main attractions of Dili is the Cristo Rei (Christ) statue, which stands on top of a globe at Cape Fatucama. Dili is also known for its traditional cloths, called Tais.
Dili has weather that is typical of this region, with a rainy season and dry season, and temperatures averaging 31C/88F, year round.
There’s still a lot more to explore on this fascinating island, so, I hope to return one day to see and experience more. Until next time, take care and be well…
*Some of the information included above comes from East Timor country profile – BBC News, Bing Travel, and Wikipedia