Kupang

Kupang is a city in West Timor and the provincial capital of East Nusa Tenggara.

Get in

By plane

Kupang's El Tari Airport (IATA: KOE) has services to Surabaya, Denpasar, Jakarta, Maumere, Ende and Alor.

There are no flights to Dili!

By bus

Kupang is a 12-hour bus ride away from Dili, East Timor.

Get around

You can use "Microbus" (or Bemo). The uniqueness of public transportation in the city of Kupang is due to the appearance filled with accessories, decorations and music blaring.

Do

If you like loud music, you can try "Diskotek Berjalan" style of Kupang.

• Roslin Orphanage, Kupang (Timor). If you are in Kupang a visit to the Roslin Orphanage is a definite must. Google and youtube "Roslin Orphanage" for more information. Peggy and Budi Soehardi are CNN heroes and once you read about their story, you will understand why. Better yet, don't just read about it- go and visit the orphanage and meet them in person.

Eat

Kupang is famous for seafood in Indonesia. Also, "Jagung Bose" is found only in Kupang. If you want to eat corn fuel, you can buy it along the sidewalk on the street El Tari (in front of the Governor's office).

Sleep

• Lavalon Hostel, [1] tel: +628123770533 is an actual backpacker spot with a friendly English speaking staff, who will happily (and accurately) answer any question about flights, buses and ferries, flyers and maps on other hostels in Roti and East Timor, and is a good place to meet other backpackers with whom you can talk and share information. They have cheap rooms (40,000 rupiah). It seems to be the backpacker pick for Kupang.

Go next

No ferry from Kupang to Dili is running as of January 22, 2012. You can currently only go to Dili via land. For all nationalities except Portuguese and Indonesian, a free 'Visa Authorisation Letter' must be obtained from the East Timorese Consulate prior to reaching the land border.