Timor-Leste is made up of 13 municipalities, and Oecusse is completely surrounded by the Indonesian side of the island. I had heard from others who had been there that it was quite beautiful and that the views along the coast during the drive were equally impressive. I finally had a chance to visit now that we have started a new project in Oecusse.
When the Portuguese discovered the island of Timor, they landed in Oecusse. This year is the 500th anniversary of their arrival.
When the Portuguese discovered the island of Timor, they landed in Oecusse. This year is the 500th anniversary of their arrival.
During my time in Timor, I've visited 10 of the 13 municipalities, and I've been amazed at how different each one is from the others. This beach was one of the nicest I've seen here.
The hills inland were also striking and different from the rest of Timor-Leste. They were more steep but also farther inland than in other municipalities.
OK -- we didn't actually have lunch at this restaurant, but I had to take a picture because it was perched on a hillside.
Gorgeous sunset...
It's still quite common to see thatched roof huts in the rural areas, and I've been fascinated with how those roofs are constructed.
A traditional house in Oecusse. In other districts, people build their homes on stilts, and some are built with squared-off roofs. For a small island, their is a lot of variety from municipality to municipality, even language can be different.
