Lautem

Lautem is a convenient spot to get out of the bus from Dili/Baucau to Lospalos for an hour or so to explore the remains of the Portuguese fort to the left and right of the road along with a few tradisional stilted buildings above the collection of houses that make up this administrative post.

Note: Baucau is the place where the only foreigner who told me they’d seen a crocodile on East Timor’s shores had their reptilian encounter. So keep an eye out when you’re swimming.

A warung restaurant offers local staples like fried rice and fried pastries.

Com

In the naivete of my first week in East Timor, I had believed the photos and fully expected to find a buzzing resort village in Com, certainly on the weekend.

I arrived on a Friday afternoon via angguna from Lautem fresh off having been bitten by fleas in Baucau and during the longer-than-needed journey along the dusty road tried to convince myself not to book the more expensive stay at the Com Beach Resort. Turned out that wasn’t necessary as the beach resort had clearly been abandoned months if not years ago.

So I opted for the Kati Guesthouse just a step, well a three-step ladder, off the beach.

My hopes for traveler company that would allow for a deeper conversation than where I’m from, where I’m going, and what my name was slowly withered away as Friday night and Saturday passed without a single visitor arriving.

Apart from the pristine, empty beaches, Com offers a traditional stilted ancestors’ house at the village entrance, a massive, crumbling pier, a Portuguese mansion in ruin in perfect location on a cliff above the sea, and the sad outdoor restaurant of the Com Beach Resort where you can see pinboards with photos from better days when Australian UN soldiers and NGO staff would flock to the village for fishing and beer.

If you are looking for a trekking route, consider the back road toward Lospalos. After 16 km, in Bauro, it hits the main road from Baucau and the turn-off toward Tutuala and Jaco Island.

Guest House KATI Com, it is one of the most popular guest houses located at Com. 

Absolutely beautiful beach and amazing  beach sunrise and sunset. 

Wonderful and very friendly hotel manager and also restaurant waiters. 

PLus super fresh seafood for your bud taste...