Photochain Photography Contest by @runicar - Mother Nature - East Timor, the Mother Nature's country - My entry in this week's theme, (20) photos

My dear friends,

Many of you, my most recent friends on Steemit, don't probably know much about this country where I'm currently living: East Timor, or Timor-Leste.

On this week' theme, Mother Nature (read more about this contest here), it didn't cross my mind to show you photos other than of East Timor, a country where nature is still overwhelming and shows its lush and diversity wherever we go.

(Irabere waterfall, on the south of the island)

(One of the beaches of Baucau, the second city of the country))

East Timor is a small country located in Southeast Asia, near Australia and Indonesia. Located in the eastern half of the island of Timor, it also includes the islands of Ataúro and Jaco and the enclave called Oe-cusse, located on the Indonesian half of the island.

(The island of Jaco)

(Sunrise in Ataúro island)

Timor-Leste is a small country (15.400 km2). It was a former Portuguese colony for more than 400 years. After being invaded and occupied by Indonesia for 24 years, by a referendum in 1999 under the rule of the UN, people chose independence, which was formally proclaimed in 2002. It was the first nation of the 21st century.

(The mountains of East Timor)

(Another beach of Baucau)

Although small, East Timor has two Peace Nobel Prize laureates, José Ramos Horta and Ximenes Belo, for actively contributing for the independence cause of the country.
The social, religious and cultural environment is strongly influenced by the Portuguese presence, making this country original when compared with their neighbors.

(Sunrise at Ramelau, the highest mountain of East Timor - 3000 high)

(Tutuala, in the east end of the island)

The two official languages of Timor-Leste are Portuguese and Tetúm, originated from a local dialect.

(The bay of Díli, the capital of East Timor)

(Mangroves at the sunset)

East Timor is still an untouched and barely known island, with a wonderful tropical weather, turquoise pristine desert beaches and unspoiled coral reefs, perfect for diving and snorkeling. It is a well-hidden treasure as its coral reefs are recognized as the best in the area, with endemic and endangerous wild life species still showing up to some lucky divers.

(Sunrise in the Jaco island)

(Buffaloes at the rice fields)

The country is home for various exotic species of fauna and flora and for migratory flows of birds and whales. We can also watch dolphins often roaming around on the beaches and crocodiles on the canals.

(Crocodile)

(Pelikan)

East Timor has thousands of paradisiac places, like the above-referred island of Jaco, in the east end of the island, considered sacred by the locals, so no one is allowed to spend the night there. This is no problem at all, as one can stay at some friendly resorts just opposite the island. Atauro island, just opposite the capital Díli, is also a paradise for diving and trekking. On the boat trip, we can see dolphins, whales, and flying fishes, among other species.

(Jaco island)

(Berloi waterfalls)

There are wonderful landscapes wherever we travel. The roads are often in bad shape, making the trips being measured in time instead of distance and the destination places even more unique and unspoiled by human presence.

(Lake Irilalaro)

(Mountains in Maubisse, in the interior of the island)

Tourism is still taking its first steps, although there are already some small eco-touristic spots spread all over the territory. East Timor is the perfect destination for travelers that claim a different type of trips, wilder and closer to nature.

(Mountains of East Timor)

(Maliana waterfall)

Thanks for passing by :)))

Yours,

Isabel
HippieSoul
@nolasco
www.isabelnolasco.com