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back to East Timor

 

Text Box: The 3km/2-mile walk down to Baucau’s beach follows the fresh water spring as it flows under enormous banyan trees, over short waterfalls and along the way irrigates coconut groves and bright green rice paddies studded with traditional thatched houses.   Text Box: These people thought the baby carrier is our basket for shopping to the market.  They were wondering why would we do that to Alec-- Vemasse Text Box: We bought couple of swords from this traditional blacksmith 'shop'.  Within seconds, the whole neighborhood came watching Sean swinging one of the swords--- Text Box: Important guide for Baucau travelers!  If you see this statue sign said "to Baucau-turn right", don't believe it.  Turn left instead---(Trust us!) Why? Go figure! Text Box: This is President Gusmao's village.  We can't help noticing the foundation of this flag pole-- Text Box: Street cafes offer relaxation and food for travelers from and to Baucau. Text Box: A very sturdy, fancy looking Catholic church.  Very contrast with the poor neighborhood-- Text Box: Another housing surrounded by coconut trees--- Text Box: After passing Manatuto, Vemasse-- the rice county, is the next village.  This hill alone, is a village, part of Vemasse.  With a half of the hill guarded by coconut trees surrounded by rice paddy--   Text Box: You can tell that even though these people don't have electricity, they still trying to make their house look nice with small garden of wild flowers. Text Box: When we passed this village on the way to Baucau, we felt like we are passing by the Shire from the Lord of the Ring.  They have small lake with many huts, and small garden.  Text Box: One of many beautiful beaches in Kota Lama,  Baucau Text Box: Traditional housing in Kota Lama surrounded by coconut trees.  I can't help worrying if the coconut fell off the tree when the kids play near by them--- Text Box: Pousada de Baucau, the hotel we stayed in.  Very "Valentinenish"---arguably the plushest hotel in the country (with a very good restaurant and great views over the Savu Sea. Text Box: We stay for couple of days and went back home through the scenic, gorgeous view.  We got home just in time to decorate Easter eggs and celebrate Easter in Dili.     BaucauText Box: April 2004 We spent 4 days Easter weekend by going to Baucau.  There are two sections to Baucau, New Town (kota baru) and - logically - Old Town (Kota Lama). All the interesting bits are in Old Town, which lies below Old Town at the foot of a steep limestone cliff -although still a thousand feet above the sea - and is built around a gushing fresh water spring. A number of very pretty colonial buildings have survived here in various states of repair.