Suai

Suai is in East Timor. Near the coast, the sleepy town of 10,000 people (2015) boasts beaches and traditional fishing villages dating back to Portuguese colonial times.

Understand
From its cracky mountains to its sea, Timor-Leste's Covalima district is a favourite place to explore and relax. The new road over a 1500-meter pass looks like something out of New Zealand, you might even find a few rugged houses. Highlanders in this part of Timor are still very traditional, and are always happy to meet newcomers. Do mind the crocs though. In Suai you can pump oil straight out of the earth and people look forward to big change with the development of the Sunrise oil ad gas field.

Get in
About 4 hours from Maliana. There are 2 roads that lead there from the ridge south of Maliana. One goes via Lolotoe and is a rough road with unmarked turns. The road through Zumalai is better, except for 2 spots that are prone to landslides that may close the road. If coming from Dili, the road through Maubisse may be faster.

Buy
Oil speculation has made Suai the most expensive place in Timor-Leste. The market has the usual household goods but prices of basics can be up to 50% higher than elsewhere.