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theo1006 Says: Unlike in Dili, the destruction wrought by the militias in 1999 is still visible everywhere in Oecusse. All buildings constructed during the Indonesian occupation from 1975 to 1999 have been throughly burnt, only the brick walls left standing. Some historic buildings were...
theo1006 Says: Also on the road to Lifau we saw this Indonesian monument, which has outlasted its purpose.The gate commemorates: "50 years of Indonesian independence" and "19 years of East Timor integration".Four years after it was built the Timorese chose independence.
theo1006 Says: Behind the crosses on Lifau hill, our riders pointed out this heap of rock said to be the grave of a priest killed by disgruntled Timorese.One has to take their word for it. And come to think of it, how many Timorese have been killed by their colonizer?
Lifau Stations of the Cross hill
theo1006 Says: The Portuguese who landed here in 1515 probably climbed this hill to look over their newly discovered island.If you are religiously minded, follow the path along the stations of the cross. Otherwise one can take shortcut uphill.Or, for a little extra pay, your motorcycle boy...
theo1006 Says: A must to see, although actually there is not much to see.But one cannot go to Oecusse without having been at the spot where the Portuguese set foot on Timorese soil in 1515.Do not leave without climbing the adjacent hill with Stations of the Cross. The views from up there...
Apartamente Lifau: Being renovated
theo1006 Says: Apartamente Lifau we found closed for renovations. By the look of it the same standard as hotel Rao.If neither hotel should be of your liking, the remaining option is to ask around for people who offer homestay.
Hotel Rao: The only one available
theo1006 Says: There are only two hotels in Oecusse's capital Pante Makassar, which would be classed as 'Melati' in Indonesia. One of them was being renovated, so we had little choice but to stay at Hotel Rao.Here we got a room with a single bed for USD 15, they added a mattress on the...
theo1006 Says: If you have flown to Dili, you can take the ferry for a side-trip to the enclave Oecusse. But we started out in Indonesia, so we tried the route overland from Kupang via Kefamenanu to the border and Pante Makasar on the Oecusse coast.Once in Kefa - by bus or otherwise - one...
theo1006 Says: The boat from Dili arrives before daybreak and leaves again in the afternoon. We were advised to buy tickets at the office which is at the beachfront west of town. But when we arrived there, a crowd was thronging at the one window and soon we learnt that the tickets were...
theo1006 Says: The only public transport around town in Pante Makassar are the ojeg's, riding piggyback on a motorcycle. It is easy to find one, boys with motorcycles hang around near the beachfront and on street corners. Standard fare for a ride in town is USD 1,-, including a ride to the...
Miscellaneous: Be sure to bring enough money to Oecusse, USD in small notes. There is no ATM and the one bank office serves local customers only. USD 50 p.p. a day will do: accommodation USD 15, food USD 15, transport USD 10 (an ojeg ride in town costs USD 1, the same for a microlet ride out of town), reserve USD 10.
Updated Mar 8, 2010
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