Dili Highlights
-
Port
Dili, East Timor
-
Activity Level
Easy Activity
-
Excursion Type
All
-
Wheelchair Accessible
No
-
Starting At (prices in USD)
$200
-
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
-
Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
-
Meals Included
Meals not included
Leaving the ship, you'll travel south through the central business district of East Timor's laid-back capital of Dili, which has taken on a new lease on life since Independence in 2002. The city is nestled into the base of the surrounding hills, which are lush and green in the rainy season. Watch for the many historical buildings, monuments and religious places that line the streets, including the Government Palace, Casa Europa (which was the original Portuguese military garrison built in 1769), and the Prince Henry the Navigator Monument.
Your first stop is at the Xanana Cultural Center -- originally the Xanana Reading Room. It is home to a public library, bookshop and exhibition spaces showcasing a permanent collection of photographs and paintings. Xanana was a resistance fighter whose trenches were the rugged jungles and mountains of East Timor. He was imprisoned in Indonesia during the 1990s and is a National Hero.
Your guide will point out the National Parliament building and the Timorese Resistance Archive & Museum. The latter was built in 2005 and is dedicated to the Timorese Resistance's 24-year struggle for Independence from Indonesia.
With a brief stop at the local fruit market, glimpse a vibrant hub of activity, bustling with colorful displays of fresh produce. Stalls line the streets, showcasing a variety of fruits meticulously arranged to attract customers. Amid the chatter and bargaining, the market exudes a sense of community, where locals gather to socialize and share in the abundance of nature's bounty.
A snack of Timor coffee and home-baked cakes is served at the Australian World War II Memorial & Museum located in Dare. The memorial was built in 1969 by the Australian Diggers -- veterans of World War II. It was dedicated to the Timorese people for their support for the Australian soldiers against the occupying Japanese forces from 1942 to 1945.
Please Note:
Vehicles used for transportation are not air-conditioned and offer only limited legroom. Wear comfortable walking shoes.