Just returned from Dili

Dear all

I returned from Dili five days ago. I live in Darwin NT Australia so found the climate just what I am used to. We were in Dili for the ConocoPhillips sponsored MotoX Exhibition/Race Meeting Sunday 7 December at Delta Speedway. Unfortunately there was a big rain storm halfway through the meet so the meet was cancelled half way.

Both my sons were riding (quads) so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to see this famous place, so I went over to join them for 5 days.

Dili reminded me of Bali in the 1980s, before the crowds and hard sell arrived. The traffic was a delight too, as most people ride/drive around at 30 to 40kmph. Only exceptions were some stupid westerners (including many UN 4wd) who were tearing around at a much faster pace not suitable for the state of the roads. I can understand why there is resentment of the UN presence if this is the way people see them everyday.

It is one of the most multicultural places I have been due to the number of outsiders working for dozens of aid agencies or working as part of the stabilization police/military. Their presence was everywhere in the town.

It is also really expensive, surprisingly so. Not much competition I guess with many things imported at a premium price. Definitely don%26#39;t expect Bali prices or bargains. I actually ran out of money so was pleased to find an ATM at the Leader Supermarket at Comoro which let me take out US$200 to keep me going for the next 3 days. I also noticed an ATM at the main ANZ Bank branch in the city centre.

As I was there with a largish group and had to stick with them, we dined at high end places most of the time. I am sure it would be possible to safely dine at the Bakso stalls and smaller establishments and save a lot of money.

Places we visited include Castaway Bar, One More Bar, Dili Club (Comoro), Atlantic Bar %26amp; Grill and the place next to it CazClub. The one restaurant I was really disappointed with was the one at Esplanada (NZ Bar/Kiwi Bar), very expensive and food not good, also service very slow, perhaps they just couldn鈥檛 cope with our large group (20+), but the other places coped fine. I was talking to one of the foreign police and he told me that Dili food places are unpredictable, can be wonderful food one night, and then on another occasion not good.

We stayed at Timor Lodge at Comoro (near the airport). I would rate this as one star. It is safe and secure as it is behind a compound with guards at the gates, but has absolutely no charm at all. It has a nice pool and bar area. Rooms are not very clean. I don%26#39;t think the staff (local) know what cleaning and disposing of rubbish is about. I left some money on the floor under my bed so the first person who actually cleans the floor will get a nice surprise and might keep up the good work.

Apart from the MotoX we also visited Cristo Rei, drove to Liquica and went for a drive up in the hills (lovely cool climate), visited the statue of the Pope on the road to Liquica (this is also overlooking the motorcycle club track 鈥?very basic don鈥檛 expect much), went to the main Tais market, bought some yummy bananas at the markets, and bought some DVDs (similar price to Bali) and went to the Karaoke Idol Final on the Saturday night (this was at a classy function room at Comoro near Rentlo).

There is at least one new hotel being built in Dili, so might be some available accommodation next year. Currently I believe most of the reasonable rooms are permanently let to foreigners working in Dili.

There is a Backpackers place marked on the map (it is at Mandarin in the City) but I can鈥檛 comment on what it is like and what the opportunities for backpacking in Timor might be. (People tell me that in the 60s and 70s East Timor was a major entry point for backpacking to Europe from Australia, before all the troubles in so many countries).

City map (look in the magazine) is available via www.guideposttimor.com

Yes I would be happy to return to East Timor. The situation seems quite stable at the moment (police/military presence keeps stable) and the locals were friendly.

Next visit I will be:

- hiring a scooter to get around on my own (US$20 per day)

- go scuba diving - there are at least 2 dive shops in Dili, both PADI - FreeFlow and Dive Timor Lorosae

- visit Atauro, the large island off Dili

- buy more Tais fabric

Also I was interested to discover that there are at least 3 airlines servicing Dili.

Airnorth (from Darwin, the one I took, very good standard)

Merpati - can fly to Denpasar Bali

Silkair - twice a week to Singapore

Hope this helps.

Just returned from Dili

Hi Chook and thanks for the informative post..Thinking of going there myself in a months time.

Good to read about the Silkair flight as most folks don%26#39;t know it exists and it%26#39;s a good bet i think, if you need to get on out to one of the major airports like Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Else you have to do the multiple flight route via denpasar and jakarta.

Just returned from Dili

Thanks. That%26#39;s a really useful post! I%26#39;ll be going for work so I%26#39;m trying to find out about the place.

Hi Chook59,

Sounds like you had a great time there in Dili. We are going there in a couple on months and would like to know what anti-malarial prophylactics you guys were taking as we would like to minimise our risk to this grim disease. Would appreciate your help with this, not an easy thing to find out.

Mnay thanks and good luck with your next visit.

thedfws

Been living in Dili years ago and still miss to get back