South East Asian Trips

East Timor is in Southeast Asia. It deceit 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) district on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the small islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco. Public Holidays: East Timor now has public holidays that remember historic actions in the liberation struggle, as well as those associated with Catholicism and Islam. They are defined in Timor-Leste Law no.10/2005. Talk: Tetum and Portuguese are the authorized languages, but Indonesian and (limited) English are also widely spoken. Sleep: Dili has a number of decent hotels, and prices have come down since the heady days of independence and huge crowds of UN workers. Rooms elsewhere in the country are very limited.

Culture and Religion

The culture of East Timor reflects several influences, with Portuguese, Roman Catholic, and Malayisia, on the native Austronesian and Melanesian cultures of Timor. East Timorese culture is heavily influenced by Austronesian mythology, although the Catholic authority is also strong. Illiteracy is still prevalent, but there is a strong convention of poetry. As for architecture, some Portuguese-style buildings can be found, along with the traditional totem houses of the eastern region. Craftsmanship is also prevalent, as is the weaving of customary scarves or tais. Upon independence, East Timor became one of only two primarily Roman Catholic countries in Asia (along with the Philippines). The population mainly identifies as Roman Catholic (97%), though local animist traditions have a constant and strong control on the culture,

East Timor Cities
Aileu Ainaro Atabae Atauro Island Atsabe Auba Baguia Balibo Baucau Bobonaro Bucoli Dare Ermera Fatululik Fohoren Hatu Udo Laga Lautem	Liquica Lolotoe Lospalos Maliana Manatuto Maubara Metinaro Natarbora Pante Macassar Passabe Quelicai Suai Tilomar Turiscai Tutuala Venilale Viqueque Zumalai