 The young, open and optimistic face of the new nation of East Timor |
Before 1975, Dili, the capital of Portuguese East Timor, was part of an overland Asian trail to Europe that included Burma, India, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey and Yugoslavia. A pleasant and decidedly sleepy small tropical colonial town with a long curving waterfront dotted with villas, public buildings, and even the odd cannon, Dili had an easy, welcoming tone and was peopled by fine folk with an innate love of music. Now, on the streets of Dili, a city goes about its daily business, conscious of its tragic near-past but more concerned with the positive urgency of the present. A fledgling tourism industry is enticing back the adventurous, offering fine beaches, comfortable guest houses, natural beauty and a rich culture.
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