21/09/2026
West Timor- Kupang and Soe
Kupang is the biggest town in West Timor. It has beautiful beaches that are full of local life (in contrast to the popular beach destinations where only tourists occupy). Locals play soccer, do foraging at the low tide or having picnic. The water is filled with tiny critters that I thoroughly enjoy snorkelling.
At the outskirt of Kupang, we visited the maker of Sasando, a musical instrument that looks like a mix between harp and guitar but its main material is from a special Palm called Lontar Palm and bamboo.
When we travel inland to Soe, the scenery changed to hills with many villages that are consisted of concrete houses dotted with round hut called Ume. It serve as a cooking place, food storage and nursery for mother who has just given birth. The thatched roof extend all the way down to the ground, giving it a super cute appearance.
Back in the main town Soe, despite being called a town, there is literally just one single street with several shops and a wet market. The streets are full of red-orange sputum stain from locals chewing betel nuts (檳榔)- little unsightly.
