Tag Archives: Timor Leste

Brief Encounters in Timor Leste

When visiting other countries it is only courteous to respect local people and ask their permission before taking their photographs, and to recognise that in many places the majority simply do not want to be photographed. The people of Timor Leste are an exception. Seeing you with a large camera, they will often invite you […]

My Favourite Travel Photos of 2016

My partner works in international development, which means I am fortunate to be able to join her from time to time in exotic locations and indulge my passion for photography. In 2016 I have visited Morocco, Bali (twice) and Timor Leste. With some difficulty, I have chosen my ten favourite photographs from these trips. I […]

Street Traders, Dili, Timor Leste

One of the pleasures of my full day’s walk along the coastline in Dili, Timor Leste, was the number of bars and restaurants along the shore. These were very welcome, given that the temperature quickly reached 35°C, necessitating breaks for water or orange juice every couple of kilometres. As well as bars and restaurants, there […]

A Walk on the Shore in Dili, Timor Leste

I last visited Dili, the capital of Timor Leste in 2011, at a time when the streets were still patrolled by UN vehicles. Returning in September 2016, there were many changes to be seen, including more traffic, mainly lorries using the port and 4x4s, which the locals use to navigate the surrounding mountains. Dili remains, […]

Daily Life and Commerce in Timor Leste

It is now two years since I visited Timor Leste, though I often look back through the photographs I took of daily life. At that time the UN presence was very visible, though this ended on 31st December 2012. Here are a few selective photographs, chosen to give a feel of life in the capital, […]

Timor Leste: By the Shore at Dili

Timor Leste has had a very troubled history, up to its independence in 2002, following 24 years of Indonesian occupation and centuries of Portuguese rule. Prior to independence nearly 70 per cent of all buildings, homes and schools were destroyed, and an estimated 75 per cent of the population was displaced. Internal political tensions, which had […]