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The Glossary

angguna - "trucks that service passengers to outlying villages. These are less frequently available and seen than mikrolets."

From East Timor Glossary

Every bit a getaway, Atauro Island is ready to assert its prominence among the islands of the relatively new country East Timor with its platinum blond beach and its rich forest interior. Visitors endure the three-hour boat-ride from the capital Dili and are occasionally rewarded with the appearance of dolphins and whales frolicking in the waves. Considering that it offers one of the most stunning diving sites this part of Asia, it's a big surprise that casual divers detour from the island in search of other sites.

A sub-district of Dili, Atauro Island is about 25 kilometers long and 9 kilometers wide—a veritable chunk of paradise. The 8,000 or so inhabitants are known to be friendly. You can say ‘hi' to them or visit them in their villages. One of them is Tua Koin, which is seen as a model for the future of tourism in the island. It was specifically built for tourists as an alternative to the thatched huts dotting the beach. Its growing success shows how sustainability is integrated into the East Timorese way of life.

Though rustic and still largely unexplored, Atauro Island proposes many opportunities to spend one's time. Sleeping in one of the bamboo cabins beside the quiet and beautiful bay, then waking up to the sun and moving slowly through the day after a fresh Timor coffee conjure a pleasant experience.

For the adventurous, they can snorkel on top of the reefs that fringe the island, dive into a diverse marine environment, or scale the mountain forest. Watching the community life or just curling up with a great book is another way to be one with the serenity of Atauro Island.

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