Travels with Charlie in… Beers in Pacific Cities that Start with “D” for 200, Alex: Part 4

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‘Tis a tradition ‘mongst myself (‘mongst whom else, I posit, would a tradition of such low stakes and circumstance, matter?) to welcome a new year in a new place, a country or, at the very least, a city, whose sights and sounds and vainglorious smells I’ve yet to inhale. Thus, December 30, 2025 found me bound for Dili, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (more commonly known ‘mongst (I promise this is the last time) anglophones as East Timor) aboard yet another Qantas mediocrity. After an Indonesian (I was surprised as well but apparently there’s little beef left and East Timor serves its local brew under the Indonesian label) beer at the hotel rooftop bar (more on that later,) I walked through an unlit and very smelly slum to a meal of that classic, globally-renowned Timorese delicacy: pizza.

I don’t remember the last time I walked alone through an unknown, hardly lit slum at night in a country and city I knew not one whit. And, had Dili had any sort of ridesharing services, I almost certainly wouldn’t have done so. I remain surprised at my own pluck, a trait for which I am not, at least amongst (I had to stop myself I’ll be honest; I did so for you, darling reader (this might be getting ridiculous, no?)) my intimates, well known or beloved. That said: it turned out to be one of the happiest seven-ish minutes of the fast-departing year. Every child in the neighborhood came out for a high-five and a “Merry Christmas” (East Timor is the second most Roman Catholic country on Earth; only the Vatican hosts a higher percentage of papists.) Normally I would shun such behavior among (I’m getting better!) American tourists in poor countries. But I didn’t ask them for the high-five. And what’s wrong with wishing someone the hardiest of tidings of comfort and joy? Failure to do so, upon receipt of such tidings oneself, surely would seem Scrooge-ish. Thus, I feel no shame in the well-sourced reportage documenting just how broad my heart was smiling by the time I sat down for what turned out to be the largest “single person” pizza I’ve ever encountered.

God bless us, every one!

More from the Series

Part 5

Part 6

About Travels with Charlie

Name a country, city, island, restaurant or ballet performance and you can bet Charles Rudish has been there. Follow along as he documents his adventures around the world with this ongoing series. Charles offers a humorous and insightful perspective on travel, culture and exploring the world around you.