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East Timor

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor (Tetum: Timór Lorosa'e), is one of the world's newest countries: after a long struggle, it gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 and is now an off-the-beaten-path destination for diving and adventure.

East Timor sits at the transition area between Southeast Asia and Oceania. Most countries would call East Timor as being part of Southeast Asia, except the people from East Timor themselves who would consider themselves as being part of Oceania. A former Portuguese colony, it is one of only two countries in Asia with a Roman Catholic majority, the other one being the Philippines.

Cities

 * – the not-quite-bustling capital of Timor-Leste

 * – a city that once accommodated an influx of overseas jets and planes during the country's political instability
 * – the once-former capital of the East Timorese community is situated in one of Timor's most beautiful highlands
 * – the capital of the Ermera District situated in a beautiful valley
 * – a small district just to the west of Dili
 * – the capital of Lautém district
 * – Timor-Leste's third largest city near the eastern Indonesian border
 * – contains many traditional fishing villages dating back to Portuguese colonial times

History
The eastern half of the island of Timor, East Timor, is a former area of Portuguese trade and influence which Portugal declared a colony in 1702. After the overthrow of Portugal's right-wing dictatorship during the Carnation Revolution in April 1974, the country's significant colonial empire experienced a wave of decolonisation. Portuguese Timor declared itself independent on 28 November 1975. On 6 December, US President Gerald Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger met with Gen. Suharto in Jakarta, where they gave approval for the Indonesian "integration" of East Timor. The next day, Indonesian forces invaded and occupied East Timor, beginning a disaster of genocidal proportions.

By July 1976 it had been annexed as the province of Timor Timur. During this time, there was some support for Timor to become an Australian state, fearful of Indonesian integration, although the idea was rejected by the Australian government. Over the next two decades, Indonesia integrated the colony, with many significant positions of authority being occupied by Indonesians rather than the East Timorese. An estimated 100,000-250,000 individuals are believed to have been killed during a campaign of "pacification" during this time.

The United Nations supervised a popular referendum on 30 August 1999, in which the people of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. After the results were announced, gangs of independence opponents, supported by the Indonesian military, terrorised the population in a civil war that destroyed much of the country's infrastructure. Nevertheless, Indonesia grudgingly accepted the result and withdrew their forces in favour of a United Nations peacekeeping force led by Australia that was sent in to re-establish a civil society and reconstruct the nation.

On 20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as an independent state under the official name of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. However, the country is more commonly known as East Timor in English-language contexts outside Australian (and local) usage.

Unfortunately, today, unemployment is rampant and one third of the nation's 1.3 million citizens lives in poverty. Other widespread problems include hunger, malnutrition and the deaths of children at the hands of preventable diseases. East Timor suffers from what economists call "the resource curse", due to its dependence on royalties from its offshore gas and oil deposits. The country's "Petroleum Fund" provides for 80% of the government budget, but could run dry by 2030. Development has been uneven, leading to the neglect of infrastructure and education, which are needed to diversity the economy into tourism and agriculture for a more sustainable future. The country also receives foreign aid, particularly from Australia, and has signed up to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which have helped underdeveloped sectors, but have not provided jobs for East Timor's people. By visiting East Timor, tourists stimulate demand for tourism-related businesses, which provides a diverse array of employment opportunities for locals.

Climate
East Timor has a hot and humid tropical climate. November to May is the wet season. The dry season lasts for about 6 months from June to October. The temperatures average 30°C year round in areas close to sea level, though the weather is far cooler at higher altitudes.

The wet season can damage the roads in East Timor, making travel to remote areas difficult.

Talk
Tetum (understood by almost all East Timorese) and Portuguese (understood by a minority of people, but the number is increasing) are the official languages, but Indonesian, which is widely spoken by adults, and English, which has a reasonable number of speakers in Dili but not many in the rest of the country, are working languages according to the constitution. There are also about 37 indigenous languages; Galole, Mambae and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people.

A person who is proficient in Indonesian can get around quite easily, while those who speak English or Portuguese will be fine in Dili but will face difficulties in remote areas.

Entry requirements
Citizens of all Schengen Area countries do not need a visa to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Citizens of Indonesia and Cape Verde do not need a visa to visit for up to 30 days. Everybody else requires a visa.

Generally visitors from any country can easily obtain a 30-day tourist and business visa on arrival to East Timor at Dili Airport or Dili Seaport by filling in a simple form and paying US$30 in cash. "Visa on arrival" is not available at the land border, where most travellers apart from Indonesian and Portuguese nationals must have obtained a visa or "visa application authorisation" in advance. In May 2015, Timor-Leste signed an agreement with the EU that allows passport holders of Schengen countries to enter Timor-Leste without a visa at any entry point, including land borders.

As of April 2023, Visa on Arrival is available for US citizens at the Mota'ain land border with Timor-Leste. No special paperwork needed, just US$30.

There is a poorly publicized government policy that you need at least 2 blank pages in your passport when arriving (the visa on arrival stamp takes up one whole page). It is usually not a problem at immigration, as long as you have one whole blank page; however, airlines have been known to reject people with fewer than 2 blank pages.

Check out the Immigration Department of East Timor, and specifically the link to the Tourist Visa page for details on visa requirements, and for details on how to apply for a "visa application authorisation" (which may be obtained via email before you travel), or how to apply for a visa at an Embassy or Consulate should you want to enter at a land border crossing.

Apart from Tourist & Business Visas, other visas that are available include the Transit Visa, Work Visa, Study Visa, Cultural, Scientific, Sport & Media Visa and Residence Visa.

Tourist Visa requirements as stated by the Immigration Department of East Timor are as follows:

The applicant must:
 * Demonstrate intention of a genuine visit (as tourist or business trip).
 * Demonstrate sufficient funds for period of proposed stay (access to US$100 on entry and US$50 for each day).
 * Demonstrate accommodation arrangements.
 * Hold a return ticket, or show ability to fund own departure.

Applicants must also be assessed as being of good character and health before they will be granted the visa and/or permitted to enter East Timor.

All foreigners seeking to enter East Timor on a temporary visa are required to have a valid national passport with an expiry date not less than 6 months from the date of entry into East Timor and must have at least one blank page available for Visa stamp.

Where applied for on arrival, the visa will be granted for the duration of stay up to 30 days, and is only valid for single entry. Extension after arrival – US$35 for each extension of 30 days, or US$70 for extension of 60 days. Extension of a tourist visa beyond 30 days requires a sponsor, East Timorese citizen or work-permit holder, to complete a Termo de Responsabilidade, guaranteeing your conduct and compliance with East Timorese laws for the duration of your stay.

Those who apply in advance for a tourist visa at an Embassy or Consulate, or who apply by email direct to the Immigration Department for a "visa application authorisation" may request a visa allowing up to 90 days stay, with single or multiple entry.

Visitors are advised to hold the necessary amount for the payment of visa fees in U.S. dollars cash upon arrival at the border. There are no ATM or credit card facilities inside the airport or at border posts, hence visitors must have US$30 in cash to pay for their visa.

By plane

Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport, formerly known as Comoro Airport, is the main international airport of Dili and is the only international airport in the country.

Dili is served by the following airlines:
 * Aero Dili flies from Denpasar and Singapore
 * Airnorth and Qantas both fly from Darwin
 * Air Timor flies from Singapore
 * Citilink from Denpasar

No airport departure tax is charged.

By land
The main land border crossing with Indonesia is at Mota'ain (or Motain), west of Dili. The nearest East Timorese town is Batugade, 3-4 km away. The nearest Indonesian town of consequence is the West Timorese town of Atambua. There are also land border crossings at Salele (near Suai) on the south coast, and into Oecussi at Bobometo (Napan on the Indonesian side) and Wini on the north-east coast of Oecussi.

As of July 2016 it was not possible for most passport holders to cross the border at Wini: Indonesian and East Timorese passport holders could cross the border at this location. However, in August 2015, a new visa waiver rule for passport holders of countries in the Schengen Agreement meant that those travelers can enter Timor-Leste without a visa at any entry point, and travelers at that time reported no problems at the Batugade border point. See the Immigration Department's Tourist Visa link for details on how to apply for a "visa application authorisation" (which may be obtained via email before travel) or how to apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate should you want to enter at a land border crossing.

There are East Timorese consulates in Bali and in Kupang where you should be able to purchase visas.

The same problem exists in the other direction. Even though people of many nationalities can get Indonesian visas-on-arrival when flying into Bali or other Indonesian airports, they cannot get them when traveling from East Timor to West Timor by land, and are required to have visas in advance.

However, for those going the other direction, Indonesian visas must be obtained beforehand as there is no VoA (Visa on Arrival) facility at the border. Getting a visa at the Indonesian Embassy in Dili is possible; it takes 3 working days to issue a 30-day tourist visa and it costs US$45. Standard Index B-211 60-day tourist visas seem to be issued on a case-by-case basis and obtaining one is not guaranteed.

Indonesian VoAs and Visa Waiver entries are available at El Tari Airport, and Tenau harbour in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia for nationals of eligible countries. There are no scheduled flights operating between Dili and Kupang.

By bus
There is a direct bus service daily between Dili and Kupang in West Timor, Indonesia. Journey takes 12 hours. There are many land travel minibus services to cater for individuals or groups travel from Dili to Kupang (West Timor) and return. Timor Travel, Paradise Travel, Leste Oeste Travel are few of the minibus companies that provide travel services to several different destinations along the Dili-Kupang route at a very affordable prices.

Non-direct buses
From Dili, catch a bus to the border (US$3, three hours). Once you get off the bus, go through East Timorese customs and immigration, walk across the border into Indonesia, go through Indonesian immigration and catch another bus for your onward journey to Atambua or Kupang.

From Atambua, regular mikrolets (vans) or ojeks (motorcycle taxis) run to the border at Mota'ain Land Border for 15,000-20,000 Indonesian rupiah. Once you cleared immigrations on both sides, you can ask for the bus in the parking lots for a seat to Dili, US$10 per person (as of Dec 2018).

By boat
There are no regular international passenger ferries servicing East Timor.

There are regular barge services for vehicles and goods from Darwin in Australia, Surabaya and Bali in Indonesia.

Recreational vessels often visit Dili harbour.

By bus
Buses, mostly of the small variety found on remote Indonesian islands, run to most parts of the country and main cities like Dili, Baucau, Maliana, Los Palos and Suai are quite well linked. Indonesian-style bemos (vans) anggunas (light trucks with benches at the back) and mikrolets (minibuses) - legacies from its 24-year rule - run from these cities to nearby villages.

Most departures take place very early in the morning and drivers have a tendency of doing keliling (Indonesian for "going round") where they spend considerable time combing the streets and scouting for passengers before actually departing.

Fares depend on the rough distance and mode of transport. For example, Dili-Aileu {{{km|39}}) by Angguna costs US$2, Dili-Maubisse by Angguna is US$4, while Dili-Baucau  by bus costs US$5. Microlets within Dili and Baucau are 25 centavos per ride.

By car
Although Timor-Leste was once a country that drove on the right when it was a Portuguese colony, ever since the annexation of the country by Indonesia, the country switched and Timor-Leste now drives on the left in right hand drive vehicles, similar to its neighbouring countries.

Taxis are one of the best means of transport in and around Dili. Fares are not very steep (US$1-3) and there are lots of them.

You can rent a vehicle (4WD) in Dili for around $85 a day. However, do be prepared for adventure - besides the tricky roads there is the lack of road signs to contend with. It is possible that you will get so caught up with driving that you miss out the great scenery around you. Most reputable car rental companies offer 24/7 roadside assistance anywhere in the country. If you are out in a remote district, your help, dispatched from Dili, will take a while to arrive.

While in Dili you will need to confine yourself to a speed limit of 40 km/h. On open roads you may rev up and touch 50-60 km/h. Tourists from most other places might find the going slow but that is the maximum speed that can be achieved on Dili roads.

Ensure that you are carrying a valid driving license or permit with you. This can be either from your country or you can have it issued in East Timor. Your licence should specify the kind of vehicle you are allowed to drive. Do drive carefully and remember that there is no provision here for third-party motor insurance.

By boat
The Oecussi Enclave, Atauro Island and Dili are well connected by ferry. A boat ride to Jaco Island will prove to be a memorable experience. An added attraction here is that the fishermen also cook fish for you on request.

By plane
Although there are airports in Baucau, Suai and Oecussi, there is no regular domestic air service within East Timor. There are small MAF planes that can be chartered to fly to these destinations, which are normally utilised for medical evacuations.

By motorcycle
Tiger Fuel in Dili, rents motorcycles for US$25-35 per day. You can also rent bikes in Dili from a family business, 'Rental Motor Timor-Leste, +670 7409 0999. Motorcycles/scooters are a good way to see the country: you'll be able to travel wherever you want at any time, and will have a rather small responsibility in terms of a bike to park over night. Bungee cords may be purchased from Star Moto in Baucau to fasten your luggage to the bike.

See

 * Carnival de Timor is the annual festival held in Dili in middle of April (sometimes in May, depending on rain season). Initiated by the Ministry of Tourism in 2010, the carnival is all about fun, music and multiculturalism. Both modern and traditional costumes, East Timorese and foreign minorities, even embassies participate in this annual festival. The parade starts at a landmark and ends at Palacio do Governo, greeted by bands and awards for the best dressed group. The crowd continues to dance into the night with live music and other attractions.

Tourists in East Timor are a rare breed. Traveling from village to village, you're likely to hear choruses of "malay" (the East Timorese word for foreigner) and folks will want to engage you in conversation. One could spend several days just enjoying the feeling of being a very welcome stranger.

East Timor is at the end of the Indonesian archipelago, north of Darwin, Australia and at the base of the Coral Triangle, which hosts the highest diversity of coral and reef fish species on earth.

East Timor offers a rich cultural heritage spun from tens of thousands of years of human habitation, the Portuguese and Indonesian colonial periods, and from the depths of a society which has cultural traditions as the fabric of that bonds society together.

East Timor is well positioned for community-based ecotourism, which has been written into the nation's tourism strategic plan. The Nino Konis National Park (situated in the eastern part of the country) is a well protected area and considered as some of the last surviving zones of tropical lowland rainforest in the world with rich coastal environment. The national park accommodates bird-watching, diving, trekking and pre-historic archeological sites.

Atauro Island and Jaco Island in Tutuala attract divers, snorkelers and green tourism enthusiasts. Both destinations provide eco-lodge facilities with some support from local NGOs in the region. A must-see attraction is the local divers and fishermen in Atauro, who fish using only traditionally made goggles and spear guns. Atauro is also well known for its distinctive wooden sculptures and is an excellent place to buy variety handicrafts.

For more adventurous tourists, East Timor offers world-class trekking, which can be experienced near places such as Mount Tatamailau (± 3000 m above sea level), Ainaro, Mt. Matebian (Baucau) and Mt. Kablaki (in Same district).

While trekking East Timor, you can keep busy by looking for some of the 260 species of birds on offer (the entire continent of Australia has some 650 resident species), 32 of which are endemic and 8 of which are exclusive to the island of Timor and found nowhere else in the world.

For example, the Timor Bush Warbler was recognised as a distinct species in 2001 and it is likely that the elusive montane species can be found in the hills of East Timor. The Bush Warbler is one of the many endemic birds that will be the focus for intrepid birdwatchers coming to East Timor.

Portuguese fortresses, churches and other monuments are scattered throughout the nation. For history enthusiasts, East Timor's resistance tourism which worth exploring are the Xanana Gusmao's (current Prime Minister of East Timor) hiding place, Balibo (known for the killing of 5 journalists by the Indonesian soldiers), Santa Cruz (known for a massacre in 1991), Japanese caves in Baucau and many more.

Coffee had been the main export commodity for East Timor since the colonial period. To visit East Timor is to taste its coffee grown in several regions such as Ermera, Maubisse, Manufahi and Liquisa. Travel to the coffee plantations takes you through winding mountainous roads, until over 1,000m above sea level altitude, cool climate (as low as 15°C), and greeted by smiling farmers who are more than willing to welcome you to their homes. Other alternative is to contact one of the organizations dealing with coffee for a field visit to their cooperative farmer member's coffee plantation. They are: CCT/NCBA, ELSAA Cafe, Timor Global, Timor Corp, Peace Winds, PARC-IC and Alter Trade Timor.

Timor's coffee is now well known around the world and amongst organic coffee drinkers. It is sold in Starbucks Seattle as 'Arabia Timor' brand. Several organizations are promoting East Timorese coffee as Fair Trade Coffee in U.S., Japan and South Korea. One Japanese coffee expert praised about Timor's coffee as, 'one of the remaining original species in the world today.' (Horiguchi-san, 2005).

East Timor also produces various types of weaved textiles and products for export and unique souvenir. High end and expensive tais (East Timorese traditional hand-weaved textile) are made from nature-produced colors, while more economical textiles use chemical dye. 13 districts in the nation produce distinct design and colors to another. Tais markets are available in Dili; however, for antique collections, one must visit the districts.

Scuba diving
East Timor has some of the best scuba diving in the world, and this is a major draw for tourists with East Timor shore diving becoming known worldwide amongst the diving community. Pristine beaches and coral reefs stand in stark contrast to one of the poorest populations on Earth.

Diving Information
Dili offers the diver some great close dives. Only 5 min from the centre of town is Pertamina Pier. One of East Timors best dives for critters, octopus and schooling Barracudas.

10 min west of Dili is Dili Rock (east & west). This is one of Timor's most popular dive sites as it acts as the main training dive site. Known for its easy access and great conditions Dili East also offers great opportunities to see Leaf Scorpion fish, Angler fish and Ghost pipe fish.

As you head further west towards Liquica you come to such dive sites as Bubble beach (known for its amazing bubble fields and spectacular deep dive) the gravel pit and Devil ray point.

East of Dili divers can experience shore diving at its best. Easy access along the coast allows divers safe entry to great wall dives. Secret garden, K41, Bob's Rock and Lone Tree are some of the amazing dives that can be done within an hour of Dili. Approximately 40 min east of Dili the diving starts and continues as far as Com some 200 km away.

The variety of dives along this stretch of road is endless yet K41 and shark point are among the favourites of the local divers.

Without a doubt, Atauro Island is East Timor's most pristine diving area. Around the island is a large variety of dives suitable for every level. Visibility is always excellent, and the abundancy of fish life and coral is simply overwhelming.

There are two major diving companies in Dili Freeflow Diving  and Dive Timor-Lorosae.

Dive site information
Dive Sites of Timor-Leste contains detailed descriptions of all popular dive sites, with links to maps and scuba resources.

Marine life of East Timor
Wikimedia Commons has pictures of some of the stunning marine life at marine animals of East Timor.

Money
The U.S. dollar is the legal tender currency in East Timor and all transactions are in dollars. U.S. banknotes issued before 2000 are not accepted. $5, $10 and $20 notes are the most common and useful. They do not need to be in great condition but may be difficult to use if torn - the exception is $1 notes, which get torn and filthy within a few months of arriving in Dili and can be easily spent in that condition (small notes, or coins, are particularly useful for taxis, warungs and street sellers). Don't bring $2 notes (unless you want to bewilder the locals). Timor-Leste has issued its own coins denominated in centavos, which are equal to U.S. cents. U.S. coins are now rarely accepted.

Coins in East Timor come in denominations of 1-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100 and 200 centavos. These denominations correspond to U.S. coins and banknotes of equal value (1 centavo (penny), 5 centavos (nickel), 10 centavos (dime), 25 centavos (quarter dollar), 50 centavos (half dollar), 100 centavos ($1 notes and coins) and 200 centavos ($2 notes)).

Several banks and ATMs (all dispensing US banknotes) can be found in Dili, for example in the Timor Plaza shopping mall. Overseas withdrawal fee would be $7 per withdrawal, and maximum amount withdrawn per transaction should be US$300. ANZ used to have the most reliable ATMs for international visitors, but it is no longer operating. The next only option is BNU-Loos24 ATMs, which accept Visa and Plus (no ATMs is working with Master Card) (as of Dec 2018). In some cases, the ATMs are not compatible with Asian banks; in this case, it is perhaps recommended to bring the approximate amount of money needed in cash with you, as problems with ATMs can jeopardize your travel plan.

What to buy

Aromatic coffee beans and colourful hand-woven cloth called Tais are the two items that should be on your must-buy list when shopping in East Timor. All convenience stores and even some roadside stalls sell excellent coffee. Just as Scottish clans have specific patterns for their tartans, families in East Timor have Tais in specific patterns and colours.

Roasted coffee beans will be a great gift item. Some countries have strict rules about importing any food item.

Coffee

East Timorese coffee is grown organically and tastes fabulous. Coffee was introduced in East Timor by the Portuguese. The local way of making coffee is to roast the coffee beans till they turn black and let out a great aroma. Low acidity levels ensure the excellent taste of East Timorese coffee.

A few of the coffee varieties like robusta have very high levels of caffeine. A late night cuppa might keep you up for hours, which might put you in a fix, as East Timor doesn't have nightlife options outside of Dili.

Be sure to buy your coffee in a traditional market rather than Dili's grocery stores, where the product will often be pre-ground and very stale.

Tais

Tais come in different designs and colours, depending on the region they are from, and they represent a distinct family. In Dili you should visit the Tais market to buy Tais and local silver jewellery. Tais can also be bought from street vendors. Local Handicrafts

The other items that will interest you are ethnic woodcarvings, batik cloth and embroidered fabrics sporting regional patterns. The ethnic woodcarvings available here are somewhat like the ones you might get in Africa.

Markets

A market can be found in every main town on the island. You may not find the huge array of shops in East Timor that you are accustomed to. These markets, however, cater amply to local needs. The marketplaces give the locals a chance to meet and interact with others on a daily basis. A walk through an East Timorese market will help you learn about the local produce of the region. Tourists attract a lot of attention so be prepared to be stared at. Also expect to be overcharged as many tourists before you have paid exorbitant prices willingly.

Fruit on the Dili Waterfront

Along the waterfront, you will find many fruit stalls. These stalls are mostly run by women and are stocked with delicious local fruits. The papayas, mangoes and bananas are really tempting; make it a point to try out any unfamiliar local variety.

Eat

The East Timorese, like the Indonesians, have a staple diet of rice and spices. Even though there is trouble in obtaining supplies from outside due to political unrest, many restaurants in Dili serve Western cuisine. Significant numbers of foreigners living and working in East Timor ensure a loyal clientele for these restaurants.

The East Timorese palate includes a taste for several international cuisines in addition to the traditional East Timorese cuisine. Portuguese, Indonesian, Chinese, Italian, Western, Japanese and Thai cuisine have made their presence felt in East Timor.

The staple food in East Timor is rice. Commonly grown food crops include taro, cassava, sweet potatoes and maize. Beans, cabbage, cowpeas, onions and spinach are well-liked vegetables. People also rear poultry, goats and pigs. Fish forms an important part of the diet and acts as a supplement to any meal. Most traditional East Timorese recipes use a generous dose of spices. Mangoes, watermelons, papayas, bananas and coconuts are the most commonly cultivated fruits here. Carbohydrates like sago or other grains form the main dish for many an East Timorese meal.

National specialties

Fried fish is a very popular dish, with prawns being considered a delicacy. Curries are a standard dish, with chicken curry topping the list as a favourite. Several authentic Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese and Chinese dishes find favour with many East Timorese.

National drinks

Coffee is grown organically in East Timor and the level of caffeine in this variety is very high. Those looking for something other than coffee can have beer, which is widely available in both pubs and restaurants in East Timor.

Tipping

Bills presented in East Timorese restaurants do not have a service charge added to them. If you feel like tipping, recognise that even a 10% tip is a lot of money to a local. In any case, the service is typically so comically bad that you should not be rushing to tip.

Explore the flavours of East Timorese cuisine

Restaurants in East Timor and local food joints around this new nation offer the traditional Asian curries with their fragrant spice pastes and fried accompaniments. The East Timorese local restaurants specialise in fresh grilled fish and excellent curries, and also provide a chance to fully experience local cuisine and hospitality. Local food also lends itself to Papuan influences, so you will find yam and sweet potato on the menu when you stop at rural food stalls.

Drink
Several beachfront bars and nightclubs provide the nightlife in Dili serving food and drink, but they cater mainly to the small expat population making them relatively expensive. Some fancy inner city restaurants include Nautilaus, Diya, Ocean View Hotel and Gion Japanese Restaurant. In the Meti Aut area is the newly renovated Atlantic Bar and Grill which is arguably amongst the best service and quality in Timor. Another is the Caz Bar where kayaks can be hired late in the night and a barbeque serves fried fish and all the beach side meals such as sizzling garlic prawns, hamburgers and a large range of cold beer.

Sleep

Dili has a wide range of hotels at every price level.

Outside of Dili, there are really only two other bona fide hotels in the country, at Baucau and at Com. However, there are plenty of creative options if you don't insist on luxury, and these range from guesthouses to convents to camping.

Work
Official working hours are generally 08:30-17:30, with a break for lunch from 12:00-13:30. Because most people go home for lunch, the actual lunch break is often 12:00-14:00. Some organisations work on Saturday mornings, but generally the weekends are free.

Public holidays East Timor national holidays—Law signed 19/07/05 Tolerance Days (national commemorative days) Moveable Days
 * New Year's Day—1 January
 * International Labour Day—1 May
 * Restoration of Independence—20 May
 * Popular Consultation Day—30 August
 * All Saints Day—1 November
 * All Souls day—2 November
 * National Day of Youth Santa Cruz Massacre—12 November
 * Independence Proclamation Day—28 November
 * National Heroes day—7 December
 * Day of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception—8 December
 * Christmas Day—25 December
 * International Children's Day—1 June
 * Falintil day—20 August
 * Mothers day—3 November
 * International Human Rights day—10 November
 * Ash Wednesday – (46 days before Easter)
 * Holy Thursday – (Thursday before Easter)
 * Ascension Day – (40 days after Easter)

Stay safe
East Timor continues to face sporadic internal ethnic & political tension and related violence may occur. This may not be targeted at foreigners or tourists, but follow the guidelines below. There is still a considerable international presence in East Timor, including a United Nations mission and international police and military (mostly conducting capacity building and training for national security forces).

Foreigners or tourists have been targets for violence in East Timor, so visitors should be responsible and adhere to standard precautions as in any developing country. Remember, that you are travelling in a poor country, and crimes such as assault and theft do occur. The key to avoid such crime is to apply common sense and reduce your exposure to possible opportunity crime such as:

 * Avoid large gatherings (demonstrations have had the potential to escalate with little or no warning in the past).
 * Remove any visible valuables from your car if leaving it unattended.
 * Women should avoid travelling alone in taxis at night.
 * Women should avoid walking alone at night in quiet streets.

East Timor travel advisories

 * Australian Government Travel Advisory
 * Canadian Government Travel Advice
 * US Consular Information on Timor Leste
 * UK Government Travel Advice

Stay healthy
Malaria is no longer an issue in East Timor.

Tap water is not safe to drink. Boil it or treat it before consuming, or drink bottled water.

Hospitals and doctors
There are hospitals in main centres, and clinics in many sub-districts elsewhere but medical care is not up to dealing with sustained or complex medical emergencies. Medical evacuation is often the only option in the case of complex surgery, trauma, or major illness. Travellers are strongly advised not to enter East Timor without some form of medical insurance which will cover medivac by air ambulance, be this travellers insurance from your travel agent or an employer if you are entering for professional reasons.

Dili - Dili National Hospital, in Bidau Santana.

Pante Makassar, Oecussi - in town near the port.

Respect
East Timor was devastated by the Indonesian occupation that may have killed up to 200,000 (or 1 in 5 of all people in East Timor) East Timorese. Speaking well of Suharto's Orde Baru or of the idea of East Timor becoming part of Indonesia may not be well received by the East Timorese people. Many East Timorese are sympathetic or even outright nostalgic about the period of Portuguese rule over East Timor, where they were generally left to their own devices by the Portuguese colonial government. As with discussing politics abroad in all places, if you aren't sure a discussion about sensitive topics will go over well, don't bring it up.

By phone
4G signal is widely available in populated areas. Local prepaid SIM cards can be picked up for as little as $1. Data plans are $1 for 24 hours of unlimited data, but since connection speeds are abysmal at all times, it's not such a bargain. Roaming with a foreign SIM card may be a viable option, especially if you have an Indonesian SIM card.

In 2012 the National Numbering Plan (NNP) was changed and all mobile phone numbers now require an additional '7' be added to the front of the number making a total of eight digits. Land lines remain unchanged.

Emergency contact numbers

Go next

 * Flores (Nusa Tenggara)
 * West Timor
 * Denpasar (Bali)
 * Darwin

title: East Timor


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East Wenatchee

East Wenatchee is a city in the Columbia River Plateau region of Washington State.

See

 * Fielding Hills Winery
 * Wenatchee Valley Super Oval

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: East Wenatchee


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East Windsor

There is more than one place called East Windsor:

United States of America

 * East Windsor (Connecticut) — A town in Connecticut.
 * East Windsor (New Jersey) — A town in New Jersey.

title: East Windsor


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East Windsor (Connecticut)

East Windsor is a town in Connecticut.

title: East Windsor (Connecticut)


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East Yorkshire

East Yorkshire is a county in Yorkshire in the north of England. It's mostly rural, but there's an industrial strip along the banks of the Humber Estuary. The largest built-up area is the city of Kingston upon Hull: this is separately governed, but dominates the local economy and transport links, so it's convenient to describe it here.

Cities and towns

 * , the only city, is a busy seaport with many points of interest.
 * is the county town, a pleasant place set in rolling countryside, with a racecourse and impressive medieval Minster.
 * is a small town sitting in the centre of the Wolds, with a showground and canal head.
 * is a small town towards York, with an arts centre and a Buddhist centre with open grounds on its outskirts
 * is a small seaport near the limit of navigation up the River Ouse. The countryside south and east is reclaimed fenland rather like Holland.
 * East Yorkshire's coastline starts dramatically with the great cliffs of Flamborough Head.
 * , just south, is a seaside resort.
 * is a small town on the coast, with a mere (lake) on the edge of the town.
 * Further south the coast is being rapidly eroded, with old farm buildings and caravan sites slithering down the shore to join the drowned medieval villages that are now miles out at sea.
 * is where much of Britain's gas is pumped ashore. The coast here becomes sand hills, ending in the long spit of Spurn Head.

By plane
It's the other side of the Pennines, yet Manchester Airport is often the most convenient, as it has global connections and competitive fares. There's an hourly rail service from the airport changing at Leeds for Hull, taking 2 hours 30 min.

By contrast, Humberside Airport is only 20 miles from Hull via the Humber Bridge, but there's only a couple of flights per day to Aberdeen and Amsterdam plus holiday charters to the Mediterranean. Stagecoach bus X1 runs hourly between Hull and the airport, taking 30 mins.

Leeds Bradford Airport lacks a rail or motorway link. Take the airport bus into Leeds for direct bus or train to Hull.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport is no longer an option, as it closed in 2022.

By rail
Hull has trains to London Kings Cross (some direct, but most with a change at Doncaster), Leeds, Manchester Piccadilly, Sheffield and York.

Bridlington has trains south to Hull; also north to Scarborough, change at Seamer for York and Leeds.

Beverley has trains via Hull to Sheffield, and to Bridlington and Scarborough.

By bus

Two direct National Express (NX) coaches per day link Hull with London Victoria, 7 hours.

Most other NX destinations involve changing in Leeds. Stagecoach X62 runs between Leeds and Hull three times a day, two hours.

Megabus runs three times a day between Hull and East Midlands Parkway which has trains to London St Pancras.

East Yorkshire bus X46 runs hourly from York to Hull via Pocklington and Beverley, 2 hours.

The Coastliner bus runs once a day from Leeds via York and Scarborough to Bridlington, 3 hours.

By sea
P&O Ferries sail nightly to Hull from Rotterdam, 12 hours.

Get around
Hull and Beverley have good public transport. Beyond those, a car is the most convenient way to get around, though there are also limited rural bus services. Bike-on-train (or, uniquely, bike-on-bus on the specially adapted route from Hull to York via Pocklington) is another option to travel between the main towns.

See

 * For city attractions, Hull is worth a day to explore.
 * The best section of coast is at Bridlington, with Flamborough Head.
 * Inland is the rolling country of the Yorkshire Wolds, with Beverley its centrepiece. The Cathedral-sized medieval Minster in Beverley is perhaps one of Yorkshire's best kept secrets.

Do

 * Go to the big match: the county's pro teams are all in Hull. Hull soccer team plays in the Championship, the game's second tier, while Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers play rugby league (13-a-side) in the Super League, that game's top tier. Rugby union (15-a-side) is only played at amateur level hereabouts.
 * Go to the races: Beverley has flat-racing April-Oct.

Go next

 * The walled city of York is a must-see. One of Britain's most historic and beautiful cities.
 * North Yorkshire highlights include Harrogate, Ripon with Fountains Abbey, and the Yorkshire Dales.
 * Sheffield in South Yorkshire is a buzzy city, with the Peak District beyond.
 * Leeds in West Yorkshire is another lively city.
 * South of the Humber is the old city of Lincoln.

title: East Yorkshire


text:
Eaton Rapids

Eaton Rapids is a city in Central Michigan just south of Lansing.

title: Eaton Rapids


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Eau Claire

There's more than one place called Eau Claire:

Canada

 * Eau Claire - a neighborhood in Calgary, Alberta
 * Eau Claire (Ontario) - a town in Ontario
 * Eaux Claires - a neighborhood in Edmonton, Alberta

United States of America

 * Eau Claire (Michigan) - a town in Michigan
 * Eau Claire (Pennsylvania) - a town in Pennsylvania
 * Eau Claire - a suburban neighborhood of Columbia (South Carolina), South Carolina
 * Eau Claire (Wisconsin) - a town in Wisconsin
 * Eau Claire County - a county in Wisconsin

title: Eau Claire


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Eau Claire (Wisconsin)

Eau Claire (pronounced: O'Clare, French for clear water) is a city of about 62,000 in Northwest Wisconsin.

By car
Eau Claire is on Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 53 and is 90 miles (145 km) east of the Twin Cities.

By plane

Alternatively, you can fly into Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and take the shuttle service to Eau Claire:

Get around
Like most U.S. cities of its size, all Eau Claire offers by the way of mass transit is a relatively anemic municipal bus system. The buses have bike racks.

The downtown and Water Street areas, and most of the University academic buildings, are located within a river valley. Other parts of the town are located on higher ground. Walking and biking is an option in and between downtown, Water Street, and the University lower campus. However, for most folks (particularly in the winter) travel to other parts of the city will be by auto, taxi, or bus.

Do
For a fairly complete listing of current events, pick up a copy of Volume One, a free magazine available at more than 200 locations throughout the area. Another listing can be found in the Thursday edition of the local Eau Claire Leader-Telegram newspaper.

General

 * Cinema
 * Cinema
 * Cinema

Younger children

 * See also the Fairfax Pool listing in the "Recreation" section below, and the Crystal Cave and Wise Nature Center listings in the Northwest Wisconsin article.
 * See also the Fairfax Pool listing in the "Recreation" section below, and the Crystal Cave and Wise Nature Center listings in the Northwest Wisconsin article.
 * See also the Fairfax Pool listing in the "Recreation" section below, and the Crystal Cave and Wise Nature Center listings in the Northwest Wisconsin article.
 * See also the Fairfax Pool listing in the "Recreation" section below, and the Crystal Cave and Wise Nature Center listings in the Northwest Wisconsin article.

Festivals and events
These listings are presented in chronological order.

Eat
Eau Claire has its share of the usual chains. For more unique dining try:

Nearby restaurants
For restaurants near Eau Claire click here.

Water Street
The primary bar scene in Eau Claire is on Water Street, near the University lower campus. There are 10-15 bars within a few blocks. Highlights include:

 * Stella's Red Room near downtown

Go next

 * Augusta, Wisconsin.
 * Altoona, Wisconsin.
 * Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is about 12 miles (19 km) to the north.
 * Menomonie, Wisconsin, is about 24 miles (38 km) to the west.
 * The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul in Minnesota are about 90 miles (145 km) to the west.

title: Eau Claire (Wisconsin)


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Ebeltoft

Ebeltoft is a city in Djursland in Denmark. Ebeltoft city, the "Piece de Resistance" of Djursland, restored the 1860 Battle Frigate "Jylland", a world-class maritime showpiece.

Understand
This city, which gained township rights in 1301, was not always a touristy destination, except for a few hundred people who came from Copenhagen and Aarhus in the summer season, staying in summer houses along the coast. They found the quaint ways of the "Molbos" (Danish equivalent of hayseeds or bumpkins) and the half-timbered houses embellished by hollyhock roses along cobblestoned streets, to their liking. Indeed, it is within living memory, that a town crier went around, bellowing the news of the day. Now people come from afar to see the frigate and the tiny perfect city hall from 1789, now a museum complete with the original dungeon, reached through a trap door in the floor of the reception hall.

Ebeltoft is not only steeped in history, but now also the location of The European Film College, which opened here in 1993 and is housed in the hills just on the outskirts of town. Unique restaurants abound in town, as well as outside, in the hills of "Molboland", now part of the Mols Bjerge National Park since 2008.

Get in
Fast Car Ferry from Zealand or with bus connection from Copenhagen. Total travel time is 3 hours.

Air from Copenhagen to Tirstrup airport near Århus city.

Reached by car with a short detour (about 40 km) from main highway between Århus and Ålborg.

Get around
All attractions in the old part of town can be reached on foot from city hotels or campsites.

Do
Beaches within walking distance of your hotel.

Biking and hiking in the hills of Mols, now a designated as Mols Bjerge National Park. Most of the hilly park area is captivating and has for a long time worked as an environmental experiment in natural rejuvenation.

Many unique shops around town offer locally produced arts and crafts. Apple schnapps. Bolsjer (homemade candies). Quality souvenirs at the Frigate shop.

While there, drive/bike/hike into the hills of Mols to the Natural Laboratory operated by University of Aarhus and the Ministry of the Environment and used as a field laboratory by scientists and students from universities and institutes of higher learning. There is an ongoing research program in natural land rejuvenation, with interaction of animals, fauna, insects, birds, promoting natural fertilization. There are also long-haired Icelandic sheep and small dark brown Galloway cattle used in grazing research year round, by the Mols Laboratory. Also in this area is Trehøje (lit.: Three-hills) comprising three large Bronze Age burial mounds of which there are 14 in the area.

Eat
There are good hotel restaurants, with outstanding dining opportunities at Molskroen in the village of Femmøller in particular, as well as a couple of unique restaurants in restored houses. Two fresh fish specialty restaurants operate in the small harbour area and cafeterias.

Budget
There are some camping facilities on a good beach, within walking distance (15-20 min of town center), and several fine B&Bs in town and just outside.
 * Danhostel Ebeltoft
 * Danhostel Ebeltoft

Go next

 * The North Sea Trail passes through Ebeltoft. It is an international coastal hiking (or cycling) route through Scotland, England, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. From Ebeltoft you can head north towards Grenå or take the ferry to Zealand to continue east.

title: Ebeltoft


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Ebino

Ebino (えびの) is a city in Miyazaki, Kyushu.

Tourist information sites

 * The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

 * The city government's official site has a Japanese-only tourism section.

By plane
The nearest airports are in Kagoshima (35 min by direct bus) and Miyazaki (transfer required).

By train
The Kitto Line (吉都線 Kitto-Sen) from Miyazaki (1 hour) makes stops in Ebino Īno (えびの飯野), Ebino Uwae (えびの上江), Ebino itself and Kyomachi Onsen (京町温泉). The Hisatsu Line (肥薩線 Hitatsu-sen) also stops at Masaki (真幸) station. Travel time from Fukuoka (via the Kyushu Shinkansen) is 5 hours, while Kagoshima is 2 hours away.

By bus
Ebino is accessible via express and regular Miyakō Group (宮交グループ) buses. Some buses may also stop in Iino (飯野).

By car
Ebino can be reached via the Kyūshū Expressway as well as national highway routes 221, 268, and 447.

By taxi

 * Kobayashi Transit (小林交通 Kobayashi Kōtsū) (0984-33-0154)
 * Miwa Transit (三和交通 Kōtsū) (0984-33-0220)
 * Miyakō Taxi (交通タクシー Miyakō Takushī) (0984-37-1351)
 * A Transit (A交通 A Kōtsū) (0984-33-4300)

Go next

 * Kobayashi
 * Takaharu
 * Miyakonojo
 * Yusui
 * Kirishima
 * Kirishima-Yaku National Park
 * Hitoyoshi
 * Nishiki
 * Asagiri
 * Kajiki

title: Ebino


text:
Ełk

Ełk is city in Masuria, in Poland.

Get in
Ełk is accessible by train from Warsaw. The route takes about four hours. There are two possible routes. One goes from Warsaw to the east through Białystok; this is the fastest route but trains tend to be less frequent. The other route goes from Warsaw to the west of Ełk via Olsztyn.

There are regular trains from Gdańsk to Ełk that take about eight hours.

Trains from Vilnius (Wilno) are also possible.

Trains from Belarus are indirect, usually through Warsaw.

Bus service also connects Ełk to other major cities.

There is no commercial airport service in the area. The most accessible airport is Warsaw; with Gdańsk and Vilnius the next most accessible airports.

There are small airports in the area, particularly military landing areas, such as Szczytno.

See

Do
Ełk is increasingly becoming a popular summer getaway location, such as for people from Warsaw. This a large lake downtown with many other lakes in the area.

Eat
Some of the best places to go are on the lakefront in the center of Ełk, such as Smętek and Kuźnia Smaku.

title: Ełk


text:
Eceabat

 * Gallipoli redirects here. For other places with the same name, see Gallipoli (disambiguation).

Eceabat (pronounced ay-JAY-ah-baht) is a town on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Eastern Thrace, in the west of Turkey. It stands on the European bank of the Straits of Dardanelles and traditionally was one of the main crossing points: on the Asia side is Çanakkale, the chief city of the area. In 2022 a huge suspension bridge was completed to the north, so most traffic now flies high over the straits and bypasses Eceabat.

The Gallipoli landing sites of 1915 are nearby, and the area is dotted with war memorials and cemeteries of both sides. This page therefore covers Eceabat town, its associated ferry ports of Kilitbahir and Kabatepe, and sights across the lower Gallipoli peninsula. Eceabat itself in 2018 had a population of 5726, with another 3000 across the wider area.

Understand
The Straits of Dardanelles control access from the Mediterranean to the Sea of Marmara, Istanbul, and thence via the Bosphorus to the Black Sea. Ottoman rulers fortified the straits to ensure that control, and Istanbul became the metropolis of the sprawling Ottoman Empire. By the 19th century this empire was crumbling, but western powers propped it up as a bulwark against Russian expansion. It was Germany that provided most financial, technical and military assistance, yet by the outbreak of war in 1914 the Ottomans were unsure which side if any to take. They were tipped off the fence when two German warships were allowed to pass through the straits and attack Russia in the Black Sea, while the straits were slammed shut against the pursuing British vessels. By Nov 1914 the Ottomans had joined the Great War on the German side.

Britain and France soon became mired in trench warfare against Germany, and their ally Russia was detached: to the west by Germany, to the north by ice-bound seas, and to the south by the closure of the straits. The west therefore attempted to blast their way through the straits on 18 March 1915, but their fleet was shattered by gunfire and mines. That date is still celebrated in Turkey as a great victory. The Allies therefore landed troops - mainly Australian and New Zealander - on the Gallipoli peninsula to silence the guns and take control of the straits. Landings began on 25 April and all the target beachheads were taken, at great cost, but they were unable to advance beyond. They spent the next few months pinned down by gunfire until the whole campaign was abandoned in December. Altogether it took the lives of 46,000 from the western nations and about 80,000 Ottomans. The campaign shaped the national identities of Australia, New Zealand and modern Turkey, and for simplicity on this page the defending side is referred to as Turkey / Turkish.

The monuments and cemeteries are free to visit at all hours, while individual museums may charge. The area is described as a national park and is overseen by CATAB, an arm of the government's Ministry of Tourism and Culture. This is more like a coordinating agency to protect the monuments and surrounds, and doesn't have the apparatus of rangers, visitor centres and docents that you might find in a western park.

Climate
Eceabat's climate is Mediterranean, but with chillier winters. This means hot, dry summers and cool to chilly winters with a decent amount of both rain and snowfall.

Eceabat, and Gallipoli in general, is very windy, especially during Lodos windstorms. These events will most likely cancel ferries, so watch out for them if you are planning to take one.

If you plan on going in summer, plan the same way you would for another Mediterranean climate; light clothing and some protection from the sun is necessary. Rain will probably not be an issue.

Spring and autumn are mild, and both ideal times to visit, especially during the warmer parts of both seasons. Nights can be on the cooler side, and rain will most likely fall multiple times during a week-long trip.

Winter is when Eceabat becomes a little different than the stereotypical Mediterranean climate. The climate is influenced by the continental Balkans in winter, leading to occasional cold snaps with snowfall. However, milder days will most likely be influenced by Mediterranean air masses, which makes them equally troublesome unless you plan on getting soaked.

For more information, nearby Çanakkale has more information on its page.

Get in

 * DUR YOLCU! Bilmeden gelip bastığın, bu toprak, bir devrin battığı yerdir
 * "Stop, traveller! The soil you heedlessly tread once witnessed the end of an era"
 * - opening lines of a poem of 1915, carved in the hillside above Kilitbahir

Two ferry routes cross the straits to Çanakkale, both operated by Gestaş. One sails from, hourly 07:00-23:00 and every two hours through the night, taking 25 min. Adult single is 15 TL, car plus passengers is 155 TL (Aug 2023).

The other sails from a few km south, hourly 08:00-23:00 taking 15 min. Adult single is 15 TL, car plus passengers 145 TL.

Since the bridge opened in March 2022, buses between Istanbul and Çanakkale no longer come this way. You could get off at Gelibolu and change to a local bus, but it's probably quicker to stay aboard to Çanakkale then ride back on the ferry.

Ferries for the island of Gökçeada sail 3 or 4 times a day from, 12 km west on the other coast. Dolmuşes run from Eceabat to meet these ferries.

By car from Istanbul follow D110/E84 west then swing south on O-6, bypassing Keşan. Exit just before the bridge onto D550/E87 south down the peninsula.

Get around
The main highway on the east of the peninsula has buses, but you need a car for the battlefields on the west coast. Otherwise join an organised tour, or negotiate with a taxi driver to take you around for a few hours.

Eceabat

 * Eceabat town is modern. Merkez Cami is the mosque by the harbour; otherwise the only sight is vehicles driving on and off ferries.
 * is a sorry stump of masonry, you only stop for the view over the bay. Best guess is that it was Byzantine like Sestos Castle.
 * is on the main highway 6 km north of Eceabat. It was built from 1790 as a shore artillery position. Long a crumbling ruin, it was completely rebuilt in 2022, so looks brand new now.
 * Sestos Castle further north has almost disappeared, as its stone was taken to build Bigali. It's at another pinch-point in the Dardanelles, where in legend Leander swam across nightly to tryst with Hero, and Lord Byron really swam it in 1810. See Gelibolu for these and other sights to the north, in the middle section of the peninsula.
 * is an early 19th century fortress on the coast between Eceabat and Kilitbahir.
 * is an early 19th century fortress on the coast between Eceabat and Kilitbahir.

Kilitbahir

 * Kilitbahir means "lock of the sea" as it's the first pinch-point sailing up the Dardanelles. Even early cannon could blast more than halfway across the straits here, so with an artillery battery on each side you controlled sea traffic. The main sight is the castle, next to the historic harbour and village centre 200 m south of the modern ferry pier. The small Tabib Hasan Pasha Mosque is by the harbour, İbrahim Pasha Fountain is in the village square, and the Cahidi mosque and shrine is higher up - in the 17th century he founded a sect of Sufism. There's also a small war museum just inland from the castle entrance.

 * Tomb of Kaşıklı Dede is a cultural oddity, 50 m north of Kilitbahir ferry pier on the busy main highway (no parking here). This gentleman was a supplier and caterer to the workforce building the castle. A legend grew up that spoons placed on his grave acquired healing properties, for instance by spoon-feeding children with disabilities. So there's now a mawkish custom of laying spoons here to take the unfortunate child.
 * Fort Namazgah is 300 m south of the castle on the main highway; ample parking. It's a bastion and artillery position built in 1885 and taking its name from the troops' praying area (namazgah) on the highway. The open area is free to stroll around, the small museum within (2 TL) may be open.
 * Mecidiye bastion another 200 m down the highway was built a few years after Namazgah and was a similar artillery position. It was bombarded in March 1915 as the British Royal Navy tried to knock out the guns guarding the straits: the bastion's big gun wasn't hit but the crane that moved the massive shells to the gun was damaged, and many gunners were injured. The legendary Corporal Seyit single-handedly hefted three 275 kg shells to load the gun. Two of those shots did no harm, but the third damaged HMS Ocean, which drifted, hit a mine and sank. The naval assault failed, and the Gallipoli landings were planned instead. Seyit became a hero; asked later to pose holding a shell, he couldn't budge it, but declared "If war breaks out again, I'll lift it again." So they gave him a wooden dummy shell for the sake of the photo.
 * was a Turkish army encampment that is now a cemetery and memorial to their losses in that war. You find it as the coast road south turns into the hills, with Şahindere a similar site 3 km further on.
 * was a Turkish army encampment that is now a cemetery and memorial to their losses in that war. You find it as the coast road south turns into the hills, with Şahindere a similar site 3 km further on.

Gallipoli beachheads

 * Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives ... you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace.
 * There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours ...
 * - postwar speech by Kemal Atatürk

 * on 25 April 1915 was the landing point of British and French troops. Their aim was to knock out the shore guns around Kilitbahir that prevented the Allied navies from entering the Dardanelles. The simultaneous attack at Anzac Cove was to prevent Turkish reinforcements moving down the peninsula, while other attacks that day were feints or diversions. The Helles landings were bungled: at two beaches the troops were slaughtered by light defences, while relatively unscathed troops on other beaches stood still, awaiting orders and neither assisting the stricken beaches or capturing the heights. Belatedly there was an advance inland towards Krithia, but it became trapped under heavy fire and stalled. Over the following weeks further costly attacks were made on Krithia but all were fought off, and the Allies never advanced up the peninsula or silenced the Dardanelles guns. Within 1 km of the landing cove are several cemeteries of both sides, 2 or 3 small museums, and the imposing Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial (Çanakkale Şehitler Abidesi).
 * is the former Krithia, which had been Greek until 1914 when the Turks forced the villagers out. After the war it was re-settled with Turks ousted from Romania. There are several Turkish war cemeteries and monuments and a couple of small museums.
 * There are some 50 Turkish cemeteries on the peninsula including these, but most are on the Asia side towards Çanakkale. Others lie in Edirnekapı cemetery in Istanbul. Turkish commemorations are on 18 March, when the naval attack was repulsed.
 * : no memorials, no cemeteries, just a beach for relaxing and a resort hotel, see Sleep. Yet this was the scene of the most successful landing on 25 April 1915 - by the French. They established a beachhead with their force largely intact and the Turks surrendered. So, job done, the French re-embarked and sailed away. But Kum was only a diversion from the main landings; the Turks realised this and didn't commit much to the defence. They also weren't fooled by a feint elsewhere on the coast, where there was a show of loading troops into landing boats, before retrieving them and moving on.
 * (Anzak Koyu) was the scene of landings by Australian and New Zealand troops on 25 April 1915. They came in three waves, with great loss of life, and by the end of that day had a beachhead. But they were never able to advance and consolidate positions in the hills around, so the beachhead remained under fire. This came from Turkish mobile defences, shore batteries at Kabatepe, and Turkish warships in the straits firing right over the peninsula. It became a stalemate, in a campaign that for the Allies depended on speed. The Anzacs remained stuck there for 8 months: in August the British landed at Suvla Bay 10 km north, but the two forces were unable to fight their way towards each other. It's estimated that 754 Australian, 147 New Zealand and perhaps 2000 Turkish soldiers were killed on the first day, for each a small percentage of the toll during the campaign here, which lasted until evacuation in December. The hills within 1 km are dotted with memorials and cemeteries. The landings (known in Turkish as the Arıburnu Battle) are commemorated at dawn on 25 April at a site near the south end of the cove, just inland from the original memorial site and access road which have suffered coastal erosion.
 * or Lone Pine was a plateau within the Anzac Cove beachhead. On 6-9 Aug 1915 Anzac (principally Australian) forces launched a major attack here, which was primarily a diversion to draw the Turks away from Suvla Bay where the British were creating a new beachhead to the north. The 1981 film Gallipoli climaxes with this assault, which advanced the Anzac front by about 150 m for great loss of life. Both sides then dug in and it remained stalemate for the rest of the campaign. Pine Ridge is now the main cemetery and commemoration site for Australians killed in the campaign.
 * (Conk Bayırı) is a ridge on the heights north of Anzac Cove, which those troops captured on 7-8 Aug 1915. It was a rare success, a chance to break out of the Cove beachhead and to link with the new British beachhead at Suvla Bay. But what would have succeeded as a swift attack, when the position was barely defended, was fatally delayed and gave time for Turkish reinforcements to pour in. The Anzacs thus suffered huge losses, while Mustafa Kemal switched defending troops from Suvla Bay (where he'd got the British pinned down) and recaptured the hill from a spent Anzac force. There's now a CWGC cemetery in the area dubbed "The Farm", a memorial to the Anzac dead, and a statue of Mustafa Kemal, later known as Kemal Atatürk, Turkey's first President.
 * is on the west coast: in 2020 the access lane is in bad shape. The beach is stony; you can swim or scuba-dive but beware strong currents. Just inland is a salt lake helpfully called Tuz Gölü meaning "salt lake" (which, this being Turkey, doesn't much narrow it down). In Aug 1915 Suvla Bay was the scene of a major British assault: Anzac troops had a bridgehead at the cove 10 km south but were bottled up. Seizing the hills here, especially "Hill 10", would enable them to break out, would block the advance of Turkish reinforcements and revive the entire campaign. But the seaborne approach, landings, shore fighting and advance into the hills were all bungled beyond belief, and a light Turkish defence was able to hold back a vastly superior attack. After a couple of days Turkish reinforcements arrived, led by Mustafa Kemal: he soon had the British so badly pinned down that he was able to switch his attack to Chunuk Bair. This debacle spelled the failure of the entire Gallipoli campaign and the Allies never again went on the attack. The British endured their bad position until December, with many soldiers dying of cold, then were evacuated, as were the Anzac and Helles beachheads. A monument on the promontory north commemorates the Turks' successful defence, and Hill 10 north side of the salt lake is a CWGC Cemetery.

Do

 * Ride the ferry from Eceabat to Çanakkale and back, just for the view of the straits. The ferry from Kilitbahir is a bit too quick for a relaxing boat trip.
 * Find a Commonwealth War Grave: CWGC has online records for some 1.7 million men and women, which are free and easy to search.
 * Scuba dive the many wrecks off the Gallipoli coast. A local operator is Troy Boat in Kabatepe, while Saros Diving are based in Çanakkale.

Buy

 * Fuel: this is a long peninsula, the sights are well scattered, and you may do more mileage than you expected. Opet on the town bypass is open 24 hours and has a convenience shop.
 * Lots of little shops in town, no big store.
 * There's a couple of ATMs next to the ferry pier and another a short way south at Ziraat Bank.

Eat

 * Lots of little cafes near the ferry piers at Eceabat and Kilitbahir.

Drink

 * Boomerang Cafe Bar at the north end of Eceabat town is an Oz bar and may have camping.
 * There are two wineries up Ismetpasa Mahallesi, the lane branching off just inland from Opet filling station on the bypass: Etruscan, and Suvla Wine Factory which has a restaurant.
 * Porta Caeli is a winery in the hills to the north, above Yalova. It has a spa hotel.

Sleep

 * Ece Hotel and Hotel Crowded House by Eceabat ferry pier are basic but clean and convenient.
 * There's a cluster a short walk south of the pier: Hotel Ejder, König, Gezen, Aqua Boss and Bahçeli Konak Pension get reasonable reviews.
 * Maidos Hotel on the Eceabat bypass is consistently clean, comfy and welcoming.
 * Kilitbahir Apart Hotel one block south of Kilitbahir village market gets good reviews and may be the your option there.

Connect
As of Dec 2020, there is 4G from all Turkish carriers in Eceabat and along the coast highway. You'll also be able to make a call on the ferry to Çanakkale and along the road to Kabatebe for the Gökçeada ferry. 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Çanakkale across the straits has a few sights, but it's mainly a stopover and transport hub on the route south to Troy and the island of Bozcaada.
 * Gökçeada island is reached by ferry from Kabatepe west of Eceabat.
 * Gelibolu of course is not the Gallipoli of 1915 - the attack never got that far - but it's the base for sights in the middle section of the peninsula.
 * Istanbul to Izmir is an itinerary with one branch following the Gallipoli peninsula then crossing towards Troy.

title: Eceabat


text:
Echizen

Echizen (越前) is a city in Fukui Prefecture.

Understand
Its Japanese name refers to the ancient province of Japan, Koshi, which covered the area known as Hokuriku today. Echizen means "the beginning of Koshi." The region has a long history as an important military base and castle town, though nothing is left of its castles today. The city promotes itself as the city of Murasaki Shikibu, who stayed here for a year and is said to have been greatly influenced by her life here. Echizen is also home to many temples and shrines.

In 2005, the cities of Takefu and Imadate were combined to form Echizen city. However, it is often still referred to as Takefu, including the names of the highway interchange and train station. This fact, along with the fact that two of Echizen's neighbors are Echizen town and Minami-Echizen town can cause of confusion.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

By plane
The nearest airport to Echizen is in Komatsu. Buses connect Komatsu Airport with Komatsu Station for ¥260, from which you can take a Hokuriku Line local train or limited express train to Takefu station in Echizen.

If coming internationally, the best airport to arrive in is Kansai Airport in Osaka. From Kansai Airport, you can reach Fukui by train in about 3 1/2 hours by taking the Haruka limited express train to Shin-Osaka, and transferring to the Thunderbird, described below.

By train
Echizen is served by Takefu Station on the JR Hokuriku line, which links Toyama with Maibara. A connection to the Kosei Line at Tsuruga provides a direct link to Kyoto and Osaka.

Echizen is connected to Kyoto and Osaka 1 time per hour by a handful of Thunderbird limited express trains. They make the run from Osaka in about 1 hour and 40 minutes and from Kyoto in about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

The Shirasagi limited express also stops at Takefu Station on runs from Nagoya via Maibara. Trains reach Echizen from Maibara in 50 minutes.

If coming from Tokyo, take the hourly Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari service that stops at Maibara station. From Maibara, take the Shirasagi to Takefu station (3 hours and 20 minutes).

There is no charge for the above services with the Japan Rail Pass.

Get around
In addition to the JR Hokuriku line which runs through Echizen (stopping at Takefu station), Echizen is served by buses and trains operated by Fukui Railway.

Driving is by far the best way to get around within the city. Echizen is accessible from the Hokuriku Expressway at the Takefu Interchange, and is also accessible from Highway 8, which runs through the city.

Eat
Rt 8., a major road linking Fukui prefecture with Kanazawa, runs through Echizen City, so there are many local and national chain restaurants along the road.

Go next

 * Ikeda
 * Minamiechizen
 * Echizen Town
 * Tsuruga
 * Sabae
 * Fukui
 * Sakai
 * Nagahama
 * Ibigawa

title: Echizen


text:
Echmiadzin

Echmiadzin (Էջմիածին), in Central Armenia, is Armenia's fourth-largest city. It was officially renamed Vagharshapat (Վաղարշապատ) in 1995, but the old name is still in common use colloquially and in some official contexts.

Understand
Echmiadzin is the seat of the Armenian Catholicos, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's usually visited as a day-trip from Yerevan, along with nearby Zvartnots.

Get in
Marshrutkas to Echmiadzin (line 203) start from the central (Kilikiya) bus station in Yerevan, at least every 30 mins, more often in busy periods, and take 20-30 mins. It is a fare of 250-300 dram, even if you get off early at the Zvartnots ruins. The end of the line in Echmiadzin is on the corner of Movses Khorenatsi street and Baghramyan street, near the Cathedral complex.

Get around
The tourist sights of Echmiadzin are easily accessible by foot. Zvartnots is 5 km east, back towards Yerevan: take a marshrutka (several alternatives to the 203 for this short hop) or taxi.

See
The following 5 monuments are listed as World Heritage Sights by UNESCO.

Buy
The Echmiadzin compound and the Hripsime cathedral area have bookstores/souvenir stores inside, with collections of religious gifts, icons, books, DVDs, crosses, jewelry, art, crafts, shirts, and other things. Worth popping in for a look.

Eat
Echmiadzin Kufte is beef ground to a fine paste, rolled into a big ball, and boiled; then it's soaked in melting butter. The town market ("shuka") is one of several places serving it.

Go next
You'll probably need to back-track to Yerevan to reach anywhere else.

title: Echmiadzin


text:
Echo

Echo or Hecho is a village in Aragon. The town has pretty stone houses, is surrounded by formidable mountains, and hiking trails abound.

Get in
Best to have your own transport. There is one bus a day to and from Jaca that serves Echo and the nearby towns of Ansó and Siresa.

Get around
Small and easily walked.

Talk
Castilian (Spanish) is the official language and is spoken by everyone, but the native language is Aragonese in its local form, called cheso, still used vigorously.

See
The village itself is not as old as it appears but full of old alleys and steps.
 * Museo Etnologico Casa Mazo. Close to the Plaza Mayor of Echo, the museum is housed in an old stone house. Exhibits illustrate the lives of the people of the valley in earlier centuries (Echo was once the capital of Aragon).
 * Siresa - a small village higher up the valley where the bus goes if demanded but easily walkable. There is a 9th-century monastery here -ask for the key from the house above the bar. In the bar they sell beer in half-frozen glasses (which is great after a long hot walk in the mountains).

Do
It's a great base for walking holidays. Spend all day up in the mountains and come back for eating and sleeping. There's a little museum in Hecho, showing rural life with photographs and old farming equipment.It has limited opening hours though.

Sleep

 * Casa Blasquica - near the bus stop. Excellent food.
 * Casa Blasquica - near the bus stop. Excellent food.

Go next

 * Ansó
 * Jaca
 * Siresa

title: Echo


text:
Echternach

Echternach is a small town with about 5,000 inhabitants on the eastern border of Luxembourg, just a hop away from Germany. It's Luxembourg's oldest town, based on an old monastery founded in 698. Aside from that, it holds the crypt of Willibrord, one of the Northumbrian missionary saints, as he died in Echternach in the year 739. His crypt can be seen in the Saint Willibrord Basilica.

Get in
Assuming you come from Luxembourg city, you can get there by
 * Bus: The buslines 111 and 110 take you from the central station and the main bus station (Aldringer) to Echternach in under one hour.
 * Car: Leaving the city via Kirchberg, the directions to Echternach are well explained.
 * Bike: Via Kirchberg, you got a perfectly signed cycling-trail which should take about 3 hours.

Get around
As Echternach is a small town. You can easily get around by walking.

Outside of town
Echternach is located in the Mullerthal, which offers many cycling and hiking routes through forested regions, with large rocks all around. Aside from that the Mullerthal also offers lovely panoramas. Some of the biggest attractions are:
 * In the village of Berdorf, 6 km away via N10 and CR364, the Hohllay (“hollow rock”) is interesting to see.
 * A bit farther afield, about 13 km west via the CR118, CR356 and CR121/CR356, is the Schiessentümpel, a beautiful waterfall near Waldbillig. The scenic bridge over the waterfall tends to be very crowded on sunny days.

Do

 * Visit the small cinema "Cine Sura", the oldest movie theatre in Luxembourg. Shows from Friday-Wednesday.

Buy

 * Macarons mous, typical traditional sweets. Taste like pure sugar, but at least you should give them a try. Can be bought at the Patisserie Zimmer and Patisserie Simon.

Drink
Most cafés are situated around the town square and the main shopping road

Go next
Echternach is located in Mullerthal, which is a sub-region of the Grevenmacher District. It is referred to as Luxembourg's little Switzerland, seen its landscape. The area offers many stunning sights.

 * The Mullerthal: Commonly referred to as Luxembourg's Little Switzerland, Mullerthal offers mostly breathtaking hiking and cycling routes through the forested mountains, and stunning panoramas. Echternach is located in this region, and a tour through the region may be interesting to you.
 * Luxembourg City: Looking for the big city or simply an airport? Head for Luxembourg.
 * Diekirch: Diekirch is most known for its own beer. There's nowhere better to taste a beer than in the city it has been brewed in.
 * Bitburg: Bitburg is located across the border in Germany. Like Diekirch, it is known for its own beer, Bitburger.

title: Echternach


text:
Echuca-Moama

Echuca-Moama is a twin city on the border between the Riverina region of New South Wales and Victoria. Echuca is the larger half of the town and is on the southern, Victorian, side of the Murray River, while Moama is the smaller and is on the New South Wales side.

Get in
Echuca-Moama is about 2.5 hours drive from Melbourne CBD. Trains and buses arrive at Echuca Railway Station about 5 times a weekday and about the same on weekends. Most services come from Bendigo Rail/Bus Station, but they also come from Shepparton as well. Coaches only take 2 hour 45 minutes from Melbourne as opposed to the train which detours through Bendigo.

Get around
Apart from the occasional bus services, there is no other transportation around town. However, the town is relatively small and walking around is possible.

Do
Paint ball, watersports, riverboat cruises, The Great Aussie Beer Shed, eco tours,.

Buy
There is a blacksmith and a wood turner selling hand made items, both based near Oscar W's.

Eat
In addition to pub food, there are also a few restaurants:

Drink
There are a few pubs in the area

There is also 1 nightclub in the area

DJs and/or live bands frequent

on weekends until the early hours of the morning.

title: Echuca-Moama


text:
Eckerö

Eckerö is a scattered village and an island, regarded as part of mainland Åland. It is the port for the Eckerö Line, the shortest crossing from Sweden.

Understand
The medieval Eckerö church was built between 1380 and 1420, and it was mentioned for the first time as a chapel under Hammarland parish in a manuscript from 1427. The area has been permanently inhabited at least since the iron age but there are some stone age grave sites as well. Eckerö is located on its own island, which is separated from the Åland main island by the narrow Marsund strait. There is a bridge over the strait, making Eckerö officially part of "mainland Åland".

When the Kingdom of Sweden established its postal service in 1630, Eckerö became an important hub, as the dangerous sea voyage across the Baltic sea was shortest between the villages Grisslehamn and Eckerö – a route that is still in everyday use. Carrying mail across the sea soon became the main business for the locals. When Finland was annexed into the Russian Empire, a mail and customs office was built. The building was designed by the famous architects Carl Ludvig Engel and Charles Bassi. Compared to the surrounding village the building is hilariously oversize, as one of its most important functions was to show the power and wealth of the Russian Empire to the west.

Eckerö has 950 residents out of which about 400 live in the biggest village, called Storby. Most services and sights are in Storby, but the administrative centre is the tiny village Österby. The population trend in the municipality is slightly positive. The municipality has its own kindergarten and lower elementary school (grades 1–6).

Being actually the fourth busiest international passenger harbour in Finland, tourism is a major source of income here. Eckerö is also one of the sunniest places in the whole Nordic making the municipality a very popular destination – especially for the Ålanders themselves. Having several restaurants, hotels, camping areas, beaches etc. Eckerö is one of those few places outside Mariehamn having well developed resources for tourism.

Get in
Although inside the Schengen area passengers arriving to Åland exit the EU customs area. Notice the local customs regulations!

By bus from Mariehamn, line 1, 35-40 minutes, price €4.50 (in 2020).

Ålands hav, the sea between Eckerö and Sweden, is narrow enough for nearly any vessel on a nice day.

By Eckerö Line from Grisslehamn, Norrtälje. The shortest and cheapest ferry route from Sweden to Åland, two hours (note time zone and currency change) two to three times daily (€5 for an adult, €10 for a car). The ferry arrives to.

See

Do

In summer this is almost a beach resort for Ålanders and has a holiday feeling, and a traditional beach style atmosphere. Tip: hire a canoe and paddle to some islands.

Eat
Restaurants at most accommodations. See Sleep below.

Connect
Postal code: AX-22270 Eckerö

Go next

 * Mariehamn, the capital and only town on Åland.

title: Eckerö