Dili may feel like a sleepy city – more of a lazy stopover than a destination of its own – but the capital of the small country of Timor-Leste is actually an up-and-coming city that’s reinventing itself with flashy new shops and plenty of restaurants with fantastic ocean views.
The Cristo Rei statue
Anyone who flies into Dili will immediately see the imposing Cristo Rei (Christ the King) statue located standing on top of a globe welcoming visitors with his open arms. The statue marks the easternmost part of town. The Indonesians built the statue as an attempt to pacify the Timorese resistance, but its construction was filled with pro-Indonesia symbolism. The statue of Christ is facing towards Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, and stands tall at 27m – representing the 27 provinces of Indonesia, which included East Timor. Today, the short hike to the statue is popular among locals and expats, and offers great views of Dili.
The waterfront
But most of the happening in Dili occurs further west, in the waterfront. This is a great place to experience local life – from the local fishermen arriving with their daily catch, to children playing football, and locals taking an afternoon stroll. On the east side of the waterfront are some of the city’s top restaurants, offering stunning views of the sun setting over the ocean. On the west are extravagant rooftop bars which overlook the city.
The beaches
Another commodity to delight the visitors of Dili is the incredible selection of beaches, which most of the time feel very pristine (except during the weekends when they receive many sunbathers from the city). But just a few kilometers away from the city, it is fairly easy to find almost untouched beaches. One of the most popular is One Dollar Beach (named after the fee imposed on foreigners visiting the beach during the peak of the UN presence in the country, though now it’s free to visit).
A little about the crocodiles…
Despite the easy-going nature of the town, one has to be vigilant, crocodiles are ubiquitous in Timor-Leste. Increasing numbers of crocodiles have been seen lurking around the beaches in Dili. In Timorese mythology, crocodiles are extremely important and are even linked to the genesis of the country itself. According to a local legend, a giant mythical crocodile became an island and as it grew older, its back and scales became the rugged landscape of the Timor-Leste. Also today, crocodiles continue to be an important part of Timorese culture. One example are the billboards, where the wise crocodile advises Timorese citizens to pay taxes and help develop the nation!
Beside strong beliefs connected with the crocodiles, Dili also maintains many other ancient traditions. Walking through some of the older neighborhoods, one may see traditional gates such as the ones above!
Colorful tais
And finally, what to bring home as a memory or a gift from such a place? With a little search in the Tais Market, it is possible to find some beautiful tais, a cloth of traditional weaving. Reportedly, the best tais come from the eastern regions, but every district makes its own special patterns, and not two tais are the same. Their elaborate designs with traditional images and patterns make for excellent and affordable souvenirs.
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