BAUCAU, THE SECOND LARGEST ROCKY CITY

Have you ever been to Baucau? Probably yes or may be no. Those who haven’t been to Baucau, this will be the information for you. Baucau is one of the thirteen districts and is the second largest city in East Timor. It is located in the eastern part of the country which is only two and a half drive from Dili, the capital of East Timor. It has six sub-districts – Quelicai, Baquia, Laga, Vemasse, Baucau Villa and Venilale. There are few languages that are spoken in these areas. People from Quelicai, Laga and Baguia speak Makassae while Baucau Villa, Vemasse and Venilale Speak Waima’a. Tetum is also spoken by most of Baucau people. The capital of Baucau is named Vila Antiga, Portuguese words which means old town, is not the only town in Baucau. There is another town which was newly built around 90s. It is named Villanova, another Portuguese words for new town. Whoever goes to Baucau will have to go around these two towns. They are only 15 minutes-drive away from each other. One famous thing found in Villa Antiga is the water well. It is a natural well named Wailia which is the source of life in Baucau town. It is the source of water where most of the suburbs in Baucau can depend on. Water pool in Villa Antiga is another famous one as there is no other pool in Baucau town except this one. One can go there and swim for only US$0.50/entry. There is one large pool and three medium ones. The beginner swimmers may choose to swim in the medium pools as they are shallows. Those professional swimmers can enjoy the big pool. They can perform all their best swimming styles they think they have in the big swimming pool all day. One interesting place to visit in Villa Nova is soccer stadium. It is the only largest building found in Villa Nova. A number of restaurants can be found along the city main roads. The good restaurants but quite expensive ones are in Villa Antiga while the cheap ones can be found in Villa Nova. There is public transportation in Baucau town. One can catch a microlet (mini bus) to walk around the town. It will cost you US$0.20/trip. Above all, Baucau is well-known as rocky town. It is because the land is rocky which is easier for building contractors to lay down the foundation of the house. However, farmers find it hard to do farming. Only little pure ground can be found among the rock spaces and farmers utilize it to plant any consumable plantations such as corn, peanuts, potatoes, tomatoes, beans and other vegetable plantations.