Trip to Kupang

This is a dairy of my trip to Kupang,
one of the most southern city in Indonesia.

(actually I wanted to use Clibe App to publish it, but the App is busted so I go back to my netbook)

And after total 4 hours of travel from Jakarta, finally i’m arrived in El Tari Airport, Kupang.
The landscape is dominated with hills and dried grass caused by dry season at that time.
There’s not so much trees grows, most is Lontar (Asian Palmyra Palm/Toddy Palm; Borassus flabellifer) and others like Tamarind, Acacia, Teakwood and the famous and expensive wood producer tree, Cendana or in international name Sandalwood.
Unfortunately in my trip, I saw no Sandalwood.

Drove to the city, gives a clear view on the landscape. Hills composed of reef stone.

It took around 10 minutes from airport to city.
As I approach Kupang, I see the pulse of it.

From the airport, people can use taxi without taximeter to take a trip.
Usually it depends on the route, closer trips costs Rp. 60.000 ($7-$8) or paid it hundreds rupiah for a day rent.
There’s also public transport like buses and angkot, costs Rp. 2000 ($ 20c) one trip.
The car is unique with modifications and various cutting stickers.

With unique horn and loud music, people called it "diskotek berjalan" (mobile discotheque).
They did it because loud music and funky modified cars attract school kids more to use them, one of the major users.

What to eat in Kupang? I took seafood, a delicious Grouper and it looks lovely in the picture :)

What to buy here?
Some handicraft from Kupang like fabric, purse, bags, cellphone pouch are the most sold items here.
And the fabric is unique, its thick, dominated with dark color but it structure like wool, has a hollow gap between it. Maybe it designed so that it wont be hot under the sun, and its not too cold in the night.

One thing that tourist must see or may buy (if you bring a lot of money) is to go to local jewelry store, see jewelries like earrings, bracelet made of ivory.
First strange thing is, where are the elephants?
I dont see any elephants running or grazing, so maybe they have extinct hundred years a go.
The second strange thing is, is there a whole ivory?
Centuries ago, we'll might see a whole ivory, but along with the inflation, the tiny ivory will cost US$300 a piece!

Third question is for what these ivory rings purpose? The purpose is as a dowry. So, its gonna be a very very expensive wedding celebration, havent mention about guests, invitation, catering and exotic honeymoon :p

What to visit and where?
hmmm thats quite easy to choose places to visit, natural recreation area like beaches! Yup, because Kupang has many beaches, but most are surrounded by reef. So pick one, like Lasiana Beach that has beautiful combination color of sand, shore and sky.

And look! There's a happy family jumpin'  on the sand :)

And one of the natural attraction around Kupang is waterfall. Yup, they have it inside the island, it took 30 minutes to go there, through villages and hills.

This is the picture of the entrance gate, as you see there's no entrance ticket (when I was there). going to the waterfall, you must follow the concrete path, down through the stair.

Just follow the sound of water rumbling.

There you are.
A nice shady view in dry arid of Kupang :)