Dili is a seaside city that is located on the Northern coast of East Timor. Many tourists flock to Dili to have a glimpse of the Old Portuguese architecture and to sample real Portuguese dishes. There’s a bounty of things to do in Dili, but the most notable among them are
1) Watch the sunrise on Mt Ramelau
2) Explore the ancient caves
3) Visit the Resistance Museum
4) Tais Market
5) Have real Portuguese food
Dili, the capital of East Timor, is a relatively new tourist destination that has become one of the most visited destinations in Asia. Apart from Macau, this national capital is probably the only place where you will come across many examples of Portuguese architecture. Contrary to popular belief, Dili has loads to offer to a tourist but since it is not possible to cover all places in a single visit, we have highlighted the top 5 things to do in Dili.
1) Watch the Sunrise on Mt Ramelau
If you have not yet watched the sunrise from the highest peak in Timor-Leste then you have really missed something. The climb to the top will take around 3 hrs and you will come across a statue of Virgin Mary which is said to be the most photographed attractions in Timor-Leste. If the skies are clear then it is possible to see the North and the South Coast.
2) Explore the Ancient Caves
The archaeologists believe that some 40,000 years ago mankind used Timor as the stepping stone to reach Australia. The ancient caves of Tutuala do show enough evidence to prove that humans lived here some 30,000 years ago. The paintings inside the cave are more or less 5,000 years old. So if you are a history buff then you will surely fall in love with this place. Exploring the ancient caves should be on top of the list of things to do in Dili.
3) Visit the Resistance Museum
The Resistance Museum is a tribute to the struggle against Indonesia which lasted for 24 long years. This is the one and only museum in Dili and it is located near the university. There is a fee of $1 to enter the premises. The museum is quite a good one as it explains quite beautifully the Portuguese withdrawal and the subsequent invasion of Indonesia.
4) Tais Market
Buying traditional cloth in Dili is one of the top things to do in Dili but for this you need to go to the Tais Market. This is an amazing little market and you need to go through a shady looking street to reach here. But the journey will be well worth it as you will come across a huge collection of wonderful hand made clothes. These are very beautiful and you can get one for as low as $12.
5) Have Real Portuguese Food
The country was a Portuguese colony till 1975 and thus the most popular cuisine here is the Portuguese cuisine. You will get good and delicious Portuguese food in Dili near the beaches or near the Jesus statue. The African cuisine is also very popular here but Dili is always the preferred place for sampling authentic Portuguese dishes.
This article was written by Indie Travels . Read the original here.
