End of the first week
June 21, 2009
Atauro Island from outside Esplanada Hotel
So we arrived to a warm welcome Sunday last week and since then have been enjoying the hospitality of the delightful staff here at the Esplanada Hotel. The Esplanada is the home of the Kiwi contingent based in Dili. We have staff scattered all over Timor Leste but there are about 15 of us here right now. I will review the hotel so see below for that.
The five of us that came this week have been going through induction for the United Nations Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT) and I have found it all very interesting to see how the machine runs.
Waiting for transport for first day
We have been issued ID cards, bank accounts and Berets. We have received email addresses, mobile phones and the first month's pay. We have been tested on our driving, our shooting and our English.
Then each day we pop an anti-malarial pill, drink 4 litres of water and wonder if today is the day we come down with a nasty case of Dili dribble.
Actually I haven't wondered that at all. I'm far too laid back for that kind of worry. I have been more concerned about getting up here in the evenings and getting my correspondence completed so that all my friends and family don't feel like I'm neglecting then at all.
PNTL Headquarters carpark
Needless to say I have not yet tried to Skype anyone and I have still not yet got right up to date with this blog!
But I don't want you to think I've been spending all my time in Esplanada's lovely pool, no, we've also spent a couple of mornings walking around central Dili, checking out the shops.
Prior to coming here we were told the streets were so dangerous that we would have to carry our weapons with us even when off duty but that is not the case here now. The people are friendly and most have greeted us with a cheerful "Boa Tarde" when we have greeted them in that fashion.
Beach stalls selling BBQ fish and chicken every evening
I would say in 10 year Timor Leste will be giving Bali a run for it's money as the place to holiday. It reminds me so much of my trip there in 2006 already.
....and to top it all off, today the five of us qualified for our first overseas service medal. Somehow I wonder how I earned it.
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Room with a view
Perhaps because we are a corporate group we are being very well looked after but I think this place has a reputation for be the third best Hotel in Dili so I'm guessing that makes it good for everyone, not just the 15 of us who expect to be housed here for the next couple of years.
The hotel has about 35 rooms with a rate of about US$110 per night. That's expensive when you compare it to Bali but the prices here in Dill are inflated due to the UN cash being spent in the sity.
Each room is serviced daily by the very efficient housekeeping staff. Mine has a king sized bed, en suite, fridge and tea making facilities, plus a tv that I haven't yet bothered to turn on.
My air conditioner hums away every night to remind me that somewhere else rain might be falling.
Not here though. Each morning I get up and dressed, walk past the salt water pool and go up to the open air restaurant for breakfast and to enjoy the spectacular view out over the sea towards Atauro Island.
I have enjoyed breakfast, lunch and dinner here for a week now and I still haven't gone through the whole menu. If I do then I can start making up my own dishes and the chef will create it for me without hesitation as long as he has the ingredients.
The waiting staff are superb and dining is indeed a pleasure. It's no wonder the place is busy on weekends.
Meals range from US$7 - US$13 and the menu has a good selection of the three usual courses; Entree, Main and Deserts.
If the set menu doesn't excite then there are always some interesting dishes on the Specials Board and that changes each week.
The Hotel Esplanada Restaurant doubles as a bar and often turns into a nightclub when it hosts parties for the usual events like birthdays or Contingent socials that UN staff may decide to have.
My room is tucked away at the rear of the complex so I don't hear any of the music which sometimes continues until 1am.
On the whole I can see why NZ has put us here since 2006 and I expect the Kiwis will be here for another 3 years at least.
Don't expect Dili to come down in price until the UN departs.
The hotel has about 35 rooms with a rate of about US$110 per night. That's expensive when you compare it to Bali but the prices here in Dill are inflated due to the UN cash being spent in the sity.
Each room is serviced daily by the very efficient housekeeping staff. Mine has a king sized bed, en suite, fridge and tea making facilities, plus a tv that I haven't yet bothered to turn on.
My air conditioner hums away every night to remind me that somewhere else rain might be falling.
Not here though. Each morning I get up and dressed, walk past the salt water pool and go up to the open air restaurant for breakfast and to enjoy the spectacular view out over the sea towards Atauro Island.
I have enjoyed breakfast, lunch and dinner here for a week now and I still haven't gone through the whole menu. If I do then I can start making up my own dishes and the chef will create it for me without hesitation as long as he has the ingredients.
The waiting staff are superb and dining is indeed a pleasure. It's no wonder the place is busy on weekends.
Meals range from US$7 - US$13 and the menu has a good selection of the three usual courses; Entree, Main and Deserts.
If the set menu doesn't excite then there are always some interesting dishes on the Specials Board and that changes each week.
The Hotel Esplanada Restaurant doubles as a bar and often turns into a nightclub when it hosts parties for the usual events like birthdays or Contingent socials that UN staff may decide to have.
My room is tucked away at the rear of the complex so I don't hear any of the music which sometimes continues until 1am.
On the whole I can see why NZ has put us here since 2006 and I expect the Kiwis will be here for another 3 years at least.
Don't expect Dili to come down in price until the UN departs.
Esplanada frontage from the beac…
Perfect for a tropical afternoon
Outside my room overlooking the …
The usual collection of facilities
Nicely decorated. King size bed.
Basic shower
Basic basin
The restaurant doubles as a bar …
