16:10 From Wikipedia about Cristo Rei of Dili The statue was designed and its construction supervised by Mochamad Syailillah, who is better known as "Bolil". It was officially unveiled by President Suharto of Indonesia in 1996 as a gift from the Indonesian government to the people of Timor Timur, the then-Indonesian province.
The statue of Christo Rei of Dili was built by the Indonesian government and inaugurated on 15 October 1996 as a gift to commemorate the integration of East Timor into Indonesia. This statue is 27 meters high, the number 27 symbolizes Timor Leste as the 27th province of Indonesia at that time. This statue is made of 27 pieces of copper and the reconstruction process of this statue took three months. The statue of Christo Rei of Dili was designed by a Muslim. When Timor Leste became independent, the statue of Christo Rei of Dili was given to the people of Timor Leste as a gift from Indonesia.Even though Indonesia has a dark history in Timor Leste, the Indonesian government has always had good relations with Timor Leste. Such as in trade, education, health and infrastructure.
I wanted visit here this past summer while making a three week fishing trip through SE Asia. I was in Bali and when I looked at flights to Timor-Leste they were all around $3000 no matter when or how I flew. My flight from the US to Thailand was half of that. I'd still love to visit at some point, but it needs to be cheaper to get to.
Yeah,they had some hard times with these guys called the "Aitarak" there were some massacres over there,I still remember hearing about this in the news,when I was a kid!! It was when Xanana Gusmão became famous!!
What do you mean "Emancipation from Indonesia"? Invading Timor? hahaha we prevented Communism which you westerners really hate, and even in this case we were supported by America and other European countries!!! we even had a cold war with our friendly country the Soviet Union!!! hahaha I really like it when I see the thick faces of westerners, very iconic and ingrained❤
16:21 From Alchetron about Cristo Rei of Dili The idea of raising the Cristo Rei statue was proposed by the East Timor governor José Abilio Osorio Soares to President Suharto. It was intended as a present for the 20th anniversary of East Timor's integration into Indonesia.
This is awesome mate! As an Aussie, we've heard a lot about Timor Leste over the years. The Australian military has had a lot of involvement. Never would have thought to visit... but I'm so glad you and Kat did. Well done mate!
Ben the flat tyre provided you with a nice encounter with the locals. It was great to see how helpful and friendly they were. Kat is proving invaluable with the language even though the locals speak a good bit of english. Looking forward to the rest of your adventure.
I really enjoyed the video. I like your 'Englishman out of his depth' style of video and I adore the dynamic between you and Kat. I suspect that her enthusiasm is infectious and lets you enjoy your travels in a different more fulfilling way. It's hard not to enjoy things when you share them with a cutie with a sunshine smile. More please.
Fun fact: Indonesia colonized Timor Leste then. Now Indonesia is their best friend. We have been lobbying for them to be included in ASEAN membership when Singapore doesn't want them to join because they're poor and Malaysia doesn't want another non-muslim majority country to join.
As a Portuguese, Timor is the most mysterious country for me. We learned about it briefly in school when talking about the portuguese maritime exploration, and I remember as a kid the solidarity with the people of Timor when they were occupied by Indonesia in the 90s. For better or worse, our two countries are connected, wish to visit it someday but it might just be a dream, your video gave me a glimpse of what it is.
Very few people speak it. During Indonesian occupation they were all educated in Bahasa Indonesian. Now they're proud of their own language and English was growing because of all the UN workers and soldiers that were there during and after getting independence. I met a Brazilian once who complained that students from there get scholarships becuas ethey're in the CPLP, but then they turn up and can't speak a word of Portuguese.
@@BackpackerBenReasons why Indonesia invaded Timor Leste. because the pro-capitalist dictator of Indonesia at that time, Suharto, was given permission by the United States to prevent the communist party from coming to power in timur leste . Suharto killed 10,000 communists without trial. Many Indonesians did not know about the invasion or even what was happening at that time. the people were only informed of the invasion after the invasion was over. (all media was controlled by the government at that time)
The salties are savage. Anyone with sense wouldn't go near the water. The locals seem nice. Enjoy your trip there. Great scenery too. A place familiar to Australians . Beccause of the war there.
You sure found a sweetheart there in Katarina , she’s awesome 👏!!! Good work Benny Boy !!! ❤ good videos also, thanks for taking us along for the ride!!! Much appreciated 😊
Watching this video gives me goosebumps and joyful tears, after seeing you and Kat driving along some of the spots I used to grow up on. It’s been 11 years since I left the country to settle in UK. A lot has changed in those years. Makes me miss home. But love the video and cannot wait for the videos from Jaco.
The statue of Cristo Rei was not gifted by Portgusese but it was gifted by Suharto (Indonesia) to the people of East Timor aimed to buy our heart so that we can stay with Indonesia. But it turned out that we don't bite into that and in 1999 with the help of UN, referendum was held and majority of us want independence and here we are today stand as an independent country. "You can build bridge of gold, you can build 1000 statue of Jesus Christ with gold in the country where majority of its people are the followers of Christ and you can build churches in every corner of the street in Timor. But if the people not happy, fear of the oppression and where ever you go inside your own country you need to show your ID card and being interrogated for hours and sometime tortured for not having one or simply forgot it. Well its not really a happiness isn’t it?" Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo Nobel Peace Laureate 1996 Bishop of Timor
I love watching videos when Kat is with you. You are both such friendly people. Enjoy your travels. This one hasnt half put me in the mood for a holiday though. Think ill get the old skyscanner up and get something booked. Have a nice time guys
16:24 I don't know where she got the information that it was a gift from Portugal. And pretty much ignore the involvement of the Indonesian dictator at that time.
So a little fact for you then: Timor leste was a Portuguese colony for more than 400 years. Year of 74’, civil war was happening in Timor leste between fritilin and UDT, Portugal military was present at that. In the same year Portugal dictatorship fell and the first republicans quickly start decolonisation, giving Timor lest their independence short after. Indonesia invaded the country in 75 for 25 years, under the excuse they were fighting communist as they were afraid of it to spread out. The world just knew about what was happening here in 99 when Indonesia open fire to 300 people at Santa Cruz cemetery when people was attending a student funeral. It was classified as genocide and it was brought up to UN when a British journalist secretly filmed it and showed up. Then timor was ruled by UN for three years before got his full independence in 2002. Pretty sure she didn’t ignore any of it, but I wouldn’t trust Wikipedia either everyone can write there!
@@Lionking1190 TLDR, the *Cristo Rei of Dili* statue has NOTHING to do with Portugal, but for everything else that she mention I have no complain. I'm not correcting her history about Timor Leste. Her explanation and your explanation are correct about Timor Leste history from Portuguese, to Indonesia, to Independence. I'm ONLY pointing out the Cristo Rei of Dili statue as it is NOT a gift from Portugal, it's a gift from Suharto the then Indonesian dictator in order to appease the Timorese people from wanting their independence. Hence why on previous comment I mention "From Wikipedia about Cristo Rei of Dili" and not "From Wikipedia about Timor Leste history" also that's why I include those time stamps. So please click the time stamp so you understand the context and which part of the video that I'm referring to. Going back to my original comment above so in conclusion, because she failed to mention that the statue was a gift from a former Indonesian dictator, therefore she (unintentionally) ignored one of Suharto's methods to reject their independence movement. Or should I put my "I am actually Indonesian" card? That doesn't mean I'm more informed than anyone (including you and her), it just means that I'm not completely clueless.
@@giraffestreet no even said you are clueless but how you did it was kinda of in a superior way and Wikipedia is not a the best form of information. Using your ‘Indonesian card’ is just another superior way to talk to people. So debate close hope you enjoy your day! ☺️
@@Lionking1190 There's no debate here, as I do agree with your comment. Quote from my reply "Your explanation and her explanation are correct about Timor Leste history" But you're referring to a different part of the video (the whole history of Timor Leste) than my original comment is meant to (Cristo Rei of Dili). Her explanation about the statue is in fact wrong. And since you don't even mention the statue which was my point, you're not challenging any of my arguments (refusing, agreeing, or giving another perspective); hence, it's not a debate.
@@Lionking1190 This whole "debate" wouldn't get me so worked up if you have the time to check the time stamp, and give me a proper response related to those specific time stamp.
I have never heard of that country, and it looks like paradise. I think it's wonderful that they speak Portuguese (thank God for Kat), and the locals seem like legends. Good luck, and take the best of care for both of you.
After more than 20 years got independent from Indonesia they still got nothing the infrastructure are still remains from Indonesia govt in the past even the new infrastructure are buileded by Indonesia and the basic need 80% still import from Indonesia 😌 Portuguese only left Chatolicsm and church there nothing more as sick man from Europe. Even after 20 years of Independence they still dont even have their own currency lol
Tourists don 't visit??? Seems totally impossible, very much a tourist yourself I guess, taking the usual tourist selfies . Dont be ashamed being a tourist! Welcome!
Glad you've gone to a place most folk don't know about. The locals seem lovely. Looking forward to the rest of your travels with Kat through this country.
Well, saltwater crocodiles definitely sounds like the best reason I have ever heard to not take an evening dip on this decent looking beach, what the fuck
Probably a wimpy tool kit on the bike . If you have a blowout , use the screw driver and pry the tire off the rim on one side and stuff with grass . Put the tire back on the rim. Then drive slowly to where you have to go .
East Timor, Nagasaki, Goa and Macao have a really unique history and are more classically laid back Mediterranean in culture (in many places) than most parts of the Mediterranean are today.
Also Melaka is Malaysia, where the Catholics traded in southeast Asia between Macao, East Timor, Nagasaki and Goa. Many have tried to erase the Christian history in Southern India, Japan Indonesia etc, for purely political reasons.
16:15 From Atlas Obscura about Cristo Rei of Dili This 89-foot statue of Cristo Rei was constructed in 1996 as a present from Indonesia to East Timor. Indonesian President Suharto wanted to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Indonesia invasion and annexation of East Timor by half-apologizing to the East Timorese people for Indonesia’s decades of occupation.
I don't think Portuguese is "the language" for anyone under 60 years old. Weird you were there for so long before realizing that. The Christ the Redeemer statue was gifted by Indonesia (Muslim) during their occupation.
@@BackpackerBen considering you said the statue was gifted by Portugal, rather than the much more interesting story, which anyone with ant interest in late 20th century world affairs knows, your viewers might want to exercise discretion on your other claims.
This video should be premoted as how human beings could and should interact with each other giving all the nonsense that's going on every where.... 👍👍👍
The western part of Timor Island is never a Portuguese colony. It was under the Dutch; thus it is incorporated to Indonesia since 1945. The population do not speak Dutch at all, let alone Portuguese language. They have many local languages/dialects and speak the national language of Bahasa Indonesia. Another interesting fact: West Timor is mostly Protestant while East Timor is predominantly Catholic.
I think your videos are getting better and better in quality. Love to see places I don't see or hear much of like Timor Leste. Still think you should have gone to Spider Village though 😉
Motor matic tak cocok untuk daerah berbukit-bukit, apalagi dengan postur tubuh Eropa pengendaranya.... Motor matic dirancang untuk daerah perkotaan dan postur tubuh asia🌏
It´s definitely on my bucket list. I am often in Indonesia and the only reason I still have not been there because like you said, you can only access it from couple places and therefore the flights are kind of expensive to get there from Jakarta, compared to many other destinations served by Air Asia, Lion Air and other cheap Indonesian airlines. But good to know you like it there. Can´t wait to go there one day
Greetings from Oslo, Norway. My wife and I are going to Dili from 12 to 16 January. I realy look forward to it. We will probably rent a bike for a day or two to get around, also outside of Dili. I hope it will be a nice experiense. looking forward to mor TL videos
22 years after separating from Indonesia, East Timor is on the list of the poorest countries in the world (World Bank 2023). What is happening currently in Timor Leste. 1. Most of the necessities of life are still imported from Indonesia. 2. Natural oil resources are increasingly depleting. 3. Low quality of human resources. This results in this country being unattractive for investors and far behind other countries in the ASEAN region
22 years after separating from Indonesia, East Timor is on the list of the poorest countries in the world (World Bank 2023). What is happening currently in Timor Leste. 1. Most of the necessities of life are still imported from Indonesia. 2. Natural oil resources are increasingly depleting. 3. Low quality of human resources. This results in this country being unattractive for investors and far behind other countries in the ASEAN region
East Timor used to be in the Australian news all the time. The Australian military was engaged in an "extended peacekeeping operation" for many years when the country was attempting to gain independence, lots of terrible things happened during the fight for independence.
@@harukrentz435 I know. The Australian military did terrible things. They told us that they were there to help, but they just kept doing terrible things. Eventually the government put a ban on the media talking about the bad stuff that the Australian military was doing in the name of peace, so the Australian public just stopped learning about it. Before the Australian occupation it was massacres and innocent people getting killed. It wasn't much of an improvement after Australia took over...
i visited Timor in late 2018, The statue at the end of the video has ages extremely poorly, when i was there it didnt have any rust and the globe was a beautiful deep blue. its a shame to see such a beautiful monument not being maintained :(
