Kupang Things to Do Tips by theo1006 Top 5 Page for this destination

The Dutch Cemetery

A relict of colonial times is the Dutch Cemetery. The tombs are falling apart and overgrown with weeds. There must be decendants of those buried here living in the Netherlands or elsewhere – are they aware of the neglect of the cemetery?

The weeds around one tomb had recently been cleared when we visited, the tomb of Th. F. Drysdale, Koopman en Consul van Portugal te Koepang' (Merchant and Consul of Portugal at Kupang), who was born in Edinburg, Scotland, on 17 March 1817 and died in Kupang on 26 June 1890. This tomb stands right at the entrance to the cemetery.

Some other family names that we recorded: Tielman, Tuinenburg, Hoogkamer, Maler, Pessy, Huppe, Latoemalea. And there is the well preserved marble plate of Aarjen Metzelaar, born 15 Sept 1886, died 20 Oct 1887.

The grounds of the cemetery merge seamlessly with the modern cemetery on its eastern border. In fact a few new graves lie among the old tombs.

Directions: On Jalan Pahlawan, the exit road to the west, past the old harbour and the former Dutch fort Concordia (now an army garrison).

Semau Island beach and snorkeling

Semau island has a sandy beach good for swimming and some snorkeling spots off the coast. But both lack visitors. There is a deserted hotel facing the beach, complete with laid-up boat to go snorkeling.

To get there: There are two ways to get to Semau beach. The easiest way is to charter a boat from Bolok harbour. It is cheaper to just cross over to Semau island by regular public transport boat and on the island to hire a motorbike. But if you want to go snorkeling better charter a boat, else you have to find another one at the beach. Perhaps the boat they were building when we went to the beach.
A snorkeling and/or beach trip can easlily be combined with a visit to the mud wells.

Address: Semau Island

Directions: West of Kupang bay, to be reached from Bolok harbour (next to Tenau harbour) where the Rote ferries leave.

Camplong Natural Pool

It's a favoured stop on the route from Kupang to Soe. Taman Wisata Alam Camplong features a shaded natural pool and a few caged animals (crocodile, python).
The pool is clean, one can bathe among the fish and perhaps some boys angling for them.
Or just have a coffee and some grilled corn at the foodstall on the roadside.

There is a small entrance fee, but as it seems only on holidays. We found the booth deserted in a Saturday.

Address: Camplong, Kupang regency.

Directions: Camplong is on the road from Kupang to Soe, about 45 km from Kupang. The pool lies 1 km past Camplong centre in the direction of Soe.

Tablolong beach

The beach at Kupang, Lasiana, is not really attractive. But the beaches at Tablolong, on the most western point of Timor island are great and unspoiled. There are three main spots to enter the beach.

Closest to the village is a picnic site; goats profit here from the shade the gazebo's provide.

About a km further south is Kaki Ayam Beach, here is a 'Home Stay' owned by a Canadian and run by his sister-in-law.

And another half km along the coast, where there is a fish breeding station, the beach is called Air Cina. We found this the best beach for swimming and a bit of snorkeling. Close to the beach not your perfect reef, but still some living corals and colorful fish. We liked the place so much that we stayed a night over at Kaki Ayam Home Stay to relax at the end of our Timor vacation.

Directions: 28 km southwest from Kupang past the Oenesu falls. An ojeg will take you to Tablolong for Rp 50,000, taxi rate is Rp 175,000.

The Mud Wells on Semau Island

The mud wells of Semau Island are quite a peculiar phenomenon, in need of an explanation by geologists.
Gray mud wells up from the bottom, in some places forming a pond in others the dried mud has formed pointed hills.
It is not a volcanic phenomenon, the mud is cold. But the holes - as is to be expected - are deep. Helen tried to fathom them with a stick, but could not reach the bottom.

The area is perhaps a km wide and borders the bay. Walk around, climb the hills, and meet the goats... the only living beings in sight.

We were reminded of a similar place on Java, Bledug Kuwu. Here too the mud is cold, but erupts with big gas bubbles. And the mud is salty so that people win salt from it. Whereas the mud on Semau island shows traces of black oil.

Directions:
Semau Island faces the western point of Timor at short distance, it looks like a broken off piece of Timor. The sea in between is relatively shallow.
The easiest way to see the wells is by chartering a boat from Tenau harbour for a day - then one can also visit a beach and a snorkeling spot.
It is cheaper to just cross with a boat taking locals (Rp 20,000) and once on the island to hire an ojeg to take you to the wells. That is how guide Ony Meda arranged the trip for us.

Lasiana beach

Lasiana beach is better than the beach in town, but - with the picnic sites and litter - not our favourite beach.
If you can arrange the 45 minutes ojeg ride to Tablolong, better go there.
But you don't want to go that far, Lasiana is an option. The picnic spot is bordered at the east by a river. At low tide one can wade through the river and so reach a quieter beach than Lasiana itself.

Directions: 10 km east of Kupang, take an ojeg or a bemo.

The Nusa Tenggara Timur Museum

It's the provincial museum of East Nusa Tenggara province.
A twin of the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Museum at Mataram, Lombok.
Dedicated to culture, arts and crafts of NTT province.
When we dropped in they were in the process of modernizing the exhibits, from artefacts in cupboards to open lifelike displays.

Admission is free, but you may volunteer a donation.
Open: Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 3 pm.

Directions: It's on El Tari road, east of town, where one also finds the government offices.

Oenesu falls

The Oenesu falls of Kupang are very similar to the Oehala falls of Soe. They consist of a number of steps, you arrive at the top and have to cross a rickety bridge and go down a flight of stairs to get at the pool. Surprisingly the cliffs are not slippery at all, it is possible to climb up against the stream for a jump into the pool.

Sadly we found the surroundings of the Oenesu falls rather more littered than those of the Oehala falls.

Directions: 13 km southwest of Kupang, or half way to Tablolong beach. One can visit the Oenesu falls going to or coming back from Tablolong.

Swim in Crystal Cave

This is really an experience, swimming in a cave that gets a little light from the entrance high up over the water. We suggest that you change into your swimsuit before entering the cave, provided there is someone staying there to keep an eye on your stuff. Then one has to clamber down a heap of rocks into the cave; it is wise to bring a torchlight. Once ones eyes are accustomed to the dark, one can see around fairly well.

The best time to visit the cave should be between 10 and 12 when with luck the sun shines straight into it.
The water is crystal clear and slightly salty, indicating that there must be a connection with the sea. We had brought our snorkeling mask, the bottom was clearly visible. We estimate that the pool is at least 5 m deep, but did not dare not try to dive to the bottom.

Directions: The cave lies somewhere west of Tenau harbour, and is difficult to find on your own. From the road one has to walk a few hundred metre through waste land. Better hire an ojeg who knows the way. We came with mr Ony Meda of Lavalon B&B.

Feed them at Monkey Cave

The cave of the 'Monkey cave' is not impressive, it's all about the monkeys. Many islands – at least Java, Bali, Lombok and Timor – have their favourate spots for hand-feeding the monkeys who survive half-domesticated thanks to their appeal to humans.

At the Monkey Cave local visitors come only in the weekends. If you want to find the monkeys hungry, come on a Friday! And if you want to make them really happy, bring some fresh fruit instead of the dry corn they mostly get,

A warden lives at the spot, who expects a voluntary contribution, especially since he explains that he has regularly to buy a tank of drinking water for the monkeys, because there is none available at the site.

Directions: MonkeyCave lies south of the road to Tenau harbour, about half way from Kupang.