Dili, Timor-Leste

 

A small gallery of photographs of Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste (East Timor).

Mirror ornaments on a cracked taxi windscreen. Dili's young taxi drivers like their windscreens half shaded, and cruise the streets at a sedate 15kmph.

A 'pole' fish vendor heads for regular customers off the Rua Cesar Maria Deserpa. These vendors must criss-cross the city quickly and sell successfully so that the catch stays fresh.

Outside Dili city, on the way to the aldeia (village) of Becora.

In the districts, transport is infrequent, so anything that can be tied to a cosmetically challenged bus like this one becomes cargo.

Art installation or environmental statement? Both actually. This humorous tableau from waste is at the Permatil foundation in Dili.

A dry riverbed just west of Dili. This was early November and the rains should have begun. The riverbed is being mined on a small scale for sand, probably for construction.

Passing the modest container depot of Dili harbour, a boy pushes a cart with eggs for sale.

 

The carefully tended memorial to Padre Brito, who left Portuguese Goa in 1954 to minister to the Timorese.

Even in the 'distritos' (the districts), simple homes are embellished with art.

Dili from the air moments after taking off. The high hills of Aileu can be seen in the background.

Football ground on the Rua Jacinto Candido with the hills in the background. Two - or was it three? - matches were being played at the same time. The boys are serious about their uniforms.

When in Timor-Leste, choose Timor Telecom, for there is no other. Making phone calls from out of Timor is expensive, but boys selling $5 and $10 recharge strips are to be fonud on every street corner. This characterful building is apparently is the Timor Telecom head offfice.

One of the elderly and imposing fig trees along Dili's lovely promenade. This one is opposite the Casa Europa, and in its shade loll dozens of youngsters enjoying the early evening sea breeze.

A mouth-watering selection of yams, roots, potatoes and tubers. This was on a stand at the beachfront fruit and vegetable market.

Public health and nation-building messages at a leafy intersection in Dili.

Art meets environmental campaigning on the wall of the Haburas Foundation in Dili. One of Timor-Leste's oldest green NGOs, Haburas encourages a variety of local crafts and produce in Timor-Leste.

A group of schoolgirls illuminated by the evening sun on Dili's promenade. Timor-Leste has one of the largest youth populations, as a percentage of the total, in South-East Asia.

The best advertisement for Timor Telecom's peerless (see above) cellphone service. This scrapyard relic is a handy place upon which to rest a bottle.

A pair of skiffs bob close to shore. Further away coastal tramp vessels await their next cargo. The island in the background is Atauro, part of the district of Dili.

A 'microlet' at work. The young men hanging out on the footboard of the struggling vehicle get the breeze in their hair, the cramped persons inside get a seat.

On Dili promenade, a cyclist idles near the collection of four antique cannon. Were they from a large warship or from a ruined fortress?

Those are mangoes dangling from the vendor's bamboo pole, sold one at a time. This gentleman has regular customers along the Rua Jose Maria Marques.

A fish vendor preparing to set off on his rounds. They also sell fish from baskets placed by the road side, the fish vendors being mostly men

Nice graffiti on a compound wall along the Avenida Salazar. Timor-Leste has a thriving and active artists' community.

The spacious and inviting vegetable market, which is right next to the beachfront by the Avenida Salazar. Look for an excellent variety of tubers, yams, sweet potatoes and roots.

Lovely art and a great selection of goods for sale, snacks and Timorese coffee. If only it would open for business. This kiosk is on the Avenida Presidente Nicolau Lobato.

A pile of fuelwood bundles for sale. These piles are a common sight in Dili, for bottled gas is expensive and so is kerosene.

Dili promenade, coconut vendors

Dili promenade, coconut vendors and fishing boats

Dili harbour

Dili, Toko Lay 1959

Dili, near Resistencia Arquivo e Museo

Dili, young vendor in front of resistance memory posters

Dili, vendor outside Resistencia Museo

Dili, Sport Dili e Benfica

Dili, Nova Tropical, Rua Bairo Formosa

Dili, Avenida Bispo Madeiros

Dili, Centro Recipe

Dili, storefronts

Dili, in Bairo Central

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