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East
Timor is located in Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia
in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian
archipelago. East Timor includes the eastern half of the island
of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion
of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and
Pulau Jaco
There is something very engaging about this little country that
fought so long and hard for independence. Behind the headlines
of the past few years lies a beautiful land of rugged mountains,
perfect beaches and friendly, outgoing people. Surrounded by
the world’s richest marine ecosystems, its waters offer countless
unexplored reefs teeming with sea life.
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Dive
Services
Dive Timor Lorosae
Dili, East Timor
Tel: Ph. +670 7237092
dive@divetimor.com
http://www.divetimor.com
Dive Timor is East Timor's premier PADI dive centre. With three
dive vessels, full equipment hire, own bar and more fun then you
can have legally DTL will ensure you have the time of your life.
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Travel
and Tips
Air access
Air North flies to Dili, East Timor, from Darwin, Australia, twice
a day. The flight takes one and a half hours. Merpati, the Indonesian
airline, flies daily from Denpasar, Bali.
Documents
US citizens should check with the US Department of State for visa
requirements to transit Australia and Indonesia. No separate visas
are required for East Timor, but passports must be valid for six
months beyond the intended date of departure. Australian citizens
should check with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade.
Climate
East Timor has two seasons, dry and wet. The dry season runs from
May to November and is at its driest on the northern coast, which
becomes quite parched. Rains during the wet season can be torrential
and flooding is frequent. The nicest time to visit is May through
July, when the hills and fields are green and the temperatures
comfortable.
Money
East Timor’s currency is the US dollar. Credit cards are accepted
only at some of the major hotels and a few restaurants in Dili.
Travellers cheques may only be cashed at the Australian ANZ and
Portuguese Banco Nacional Ultramarine (BNU) outlets in Dili (and
only in Dili). The ANZ outlet also has East Timor’s sole ATM machine,
which is only as reliable as the power supply (read: not). Travellers
are advised to arrive with US dollars in cash, which can generally
be safely left in a hotel safe. Transfers may also be made via
Western Union, which has an outlet in Dili.
Accommodation
Dili has some great hotels at every price level. There are really
only two other bona fide hotels in the country, at Baucau and
at Com. But plenty of creative options are available if you don’t
insist on luxury, and these range from guest houses to convents.
The catch is that few of them have phones, far less email, so
you just have to arrive and take your chances. Camping is permitted
but get permission before you set up if the site is near a village
or a private home .
Telephone
East Timor is presently switching over from the Australian network
communications to one of its own, including both land and mobile
lines. The country code will remain 670.
Internet
As at December 2002, public access to the internet was available
only in Dili.
Health
East Timor is prone to many of the health risks present in most
Southeast Asian countries, especially malaria and dengue fever
during the rainy seasons. Check with your physician and at the
Center for Disease Control.
Security
Petty crime is present in East Timor and visitors should take
the usual precautions against pickpocketing and theft. There have
been a few isolated uprisings and demonstrations in different
parts of the country over the past two years, especially in the
area near the border with West Timor - ask around in Dili before
you leave town.
Driving and Road Safety
Traffic operates on the left-hand side of the road. Cars and motorcycles
are available for rent in Dili through Thrifty, Dili Rentals or
a number of the larger hotels. Gas is available throughout the
country but instead of being pumped by an attendant, it’s sold
in jerry cans at roadside stalls. With the exception of the main
arteries to Baucau and Batugade, the roads are rough - only 428km/268
miles are paved of a total of 3,800km/2375 miles. Mountain roads
are steep and winding and are used as much by pedestrians (and
their animals) as by vehicles. Flooding is common during the rainy
season, when parts of the country can be cut off for days at a
time by swollen rivers. Taxis are plentiful in Dili. Mikrolets
(mini-vans) are the main form of public transportation throughout
the country - they’re very cheap but often spectacularly overcrowded.
Time
GMT +8 hours. EST (New York) +14 hours
Electricity
220V, 50 Hz. Australian three-pronged plugs are fairly standard.
The power supply throughout the country is erratic.
Embassies
It's good idea to register with your country's embassy in Dili
upon arrival, if there is one.
Australia: Avenida dos Mátires da Pátria, Dili,
East Timor
tel +670 (390) 322 111 fax +670 (390) 323 615
Great Britain: Avenida do Portugal, Dili, East Timor
tel +670 (390) 723 1606 dili.fco@gtnet.gov.uk
United States: Avenida do Portugal, Dili, East Timor
tel +670 (390) 324 684 fax +670 (390) 313 206
Canadians should register with the Australian Embassy in Dili
or with the Canadian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia at
Tel: +62 (021) 2550 7800 fax +62 (021) 2550 7811
canadianembassy.jkrta@dfait-maeci.gc.ca |
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