Tourism of Indonesia
Ready to Go to Kupang City
Planning to go on a tour or travelling, we definitely want a smooth trip, comfortable accommodation, cheap hotels, good food, cheap plane tickets, close to everywhere, and can rent a motorbike or car.
Attraction
In Kupang City, there is natural beauty and unique culture of the local community. There are many uniqueness, starting from the village (desa), sub-district (kecamatan), district (kabupaten) and provincial levels.
In Indonesia, each province has different and interesting characteristics. Each province has a different and unique culture and lifestyle.
Kupang city or Kota Kupang is the capital of the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara, and has an estimated population in 2011 of 349,344. It is the biggest city and port on the island of Timor.
Kupang was an important port and trading point during the Portuguese and Dutch colonial eras. There are ruins and remnant signs of the colonial presence in the city.
Representatives of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) approached Kupang in 1613 after having conquered the Portuguese fort on Solor.
At this time the place and its hinterland was governed by a raja of the Helong tribe which claimed descent from Ceram in Maluku.
During World War II, the city of Kupang , formerly known as Koepang, on the island of Timor, was the hub for refueling and landing for long-haul flights from Europe to Australia.
The historical El Tari airstrip that was first landed by an American pilot, Lamij Johnson, in 1928 holds many stories, more than being a mere transit lounge and fuel depot for the few fliersback then.
Today, when visitors step on to the modernizing city, one can still find traces of Dutch occupation as well as a Portuguese inherited aura.
For since long before Indonesia’s Independence, Timor’s western part had been colonized by the Dutch while the island’s eastern part by the Portuguese. This division originated from the time when these two powers fought for hegemony in the lucrative spice trade.
Today, Kupang is the capital city of the province of East Nusatenggara , perched in the southwestern part of Timor Island.
As one of the three largest islands in East Nusatenggara, (comprising Sumba, Flores and Timor), Timor island is now shared by two independent countries.
The island’s eastern part being the newly independent East Timor – or Timor Leste, while the island’s western part is Indonesian territory.
Its favorable position in the south-eastern most part of Indonesia, has made the city of Kupang into the first port of entry in Indonesian waters from Australia, if not yet as a tourst destination in its own right.
The Nusatenggara is a string of islands to the east of Bali, while Timor is its easternmost island in that string. Topographically, Timor differs from the rest of the East Nusatenggara islands.
For the line of volcanoes that runs from Sumatra, Java, and on to other Nusatenggara islands, skips Timor and continues north to Maluku or the Moluccas.
The cause of this is that unlike other Nusatenggara islands, Timor is in fact geologically related to Australia, and therefore has no volcanoes.While Its geographical location and long history and tradition make it culturally Indonesian.
Being closest than any Indonesian cities to the marinas of Australian yachts in Darwin, the lighthouse at the seaport of Kupang stands as the first milepost for participating yachtsmen in the annual Sail Indonesia event.
Each year, hundreds of yachts cross the open seas from Darwin, Australia sailing to Kupang, and from here to visit many known as well as remote Indonesian islands, to finally dock in Singapore.
The government is taking good care of the preservation of nature and maintaining the condition of the forest.
The environment is also well maintained.
Activity
Visiting Kupang City, we will witness routine community activities in unique traditional cultures. And there are special dishes and food as part of culinary tours that are delicious and yummy.
People in Timor are friendly. They love to laugh as do most Indonesians on the whole. Traditionally, people in Kupang and West Timor were distinguished by their social positions.
The nobility here used to be called Amaf, the rulers Atupas, the commons Too, and slaves Ata. Today, ata no longer exist. Each of the social class had its own role to play in society.
Yet, these classes share a mutual sentiment when it comes to tradition. The root of its heritage is so deep, making it difficult to trace.
These deep rooted traditions even persisted through centuries of teachings of newer religions that were brought by traders or colonial rulers.
Look at the motives and patterns of their woven cloths called tenun ikat, and one can sense its age old heritage.
Tenun ikat is the local craftsmanship in producing beautifully and sometimes mysteriously formed patterns on traditionally woven fabrics.
Not only are the people proud of these cloths, but all Indonesians share the pride that these cloths are one of Indonesia’s most precious tangible national heritage.
During the Sail Indonesia when arriving yachts from Darwin start tying up at the flag-decorated wharf, local attractions like dances and food bazaars are shown at their best.
The sailors would stay a few days to rest and observe the city with all its aroma and colors.
At the newer Walikota section, some 6 kilometers to the east of town, or 300 meters out from the Oebolo Bus Terminal is the provincial Museum of Nusatenggara.
It has excellent collections of kain ikat, pottery, old currency, ritual equipment, pre-historical drawings, traditional houses, and ethnographic items of daily life.
The Kupang harbor is best viewed when you stand on a promontory, 75 meters south of the bridge on the road leading to the harbor.
There, you will see tens of old houses in the area. While the Dutch cemetery is where you can see old gravestones.
A few minutes walk from Tenau Seaport, going eastward is a monkey forest. Unlike monkeys in Ubud, Bali, here the monkeys wiill wait for you to feed them
On a hot summer day, cooling off in a swimming pool is a good idea. Baumata is the government-run swimming pool with clean pools and lush surroundings. It can be nice spending the day here, before the merry social gatherings at night.
The Governor’s Office is also one for the first-timers’ must-visits. The statue of El Tari, the first governor of East Nusatenggara stands to accompany your pose for a momentous picture.
Unlike the posh cafes in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, Kupang’s best night attractions are the night warongs at the central Terminal Kota.
On Saturday nights, the angkot would flock here to drop swarms of city’s migrants and locals. Bakso (beef ball) carts, worn out shops and flea market vendors are everywhere, providing authentic attractions.
If you wish to go further out of the city, you can visit Oesapa, a fishing village 10 kilometers from Kupang. The lives of fishermen are interesting scenes to show in your blog.
Surfing on neighboring island Rote’s Nemberala where left-handers swells come in small and fun ones, and sometimes come triple the size with powerful straight from the Indian Ocean.
This place is also called the T-Land. Stay there for a week if you will, as the Rotenese are friendly and hospitable.
In this place there are also regular events or activities held every year, both national and international.
Accessibility
The journey to Kupang City is now very easy. We can enter through various modes of transportation.
Access to go to Kupang Cit:y
Kupang is accessible by plane or ferries. Its historical airport, El Tari was formerly known as Penfui airstrip, having first served an American pilot, Lamij Johnson, in 1928.
Penfui literally means ‘bush of cornfields’, since the airstrip’s surroundings were heavily covered with cornfields.
El Tari connects western Timor Island with other large cities in Indonesia, which include:
Domestic flights:
- Jakarta
- Surabaya, East Java
- Denpasar, Bali
- Makassar, South Sulawesi
- Maumere, East Nusatenggara
- Waingapu, East Nusatenggara
- Labuan Bajo, West Nusatenggara
- Ende,East Nusatenggara
International flights:
- Dili, East Timor
- Darwin, Australia
Airlines serving the city of Kupang are:
- Garuda Indonesia
- Sriwijaya Air
- Lion Airlines
- Trigana Air
- Riau Air
- Pelita Air
The condition of the infrastructure is getting better. Starting from highways, airports, trails, ports, bridges, stairs, even some places can be reached by toll roads.
We can visit by plane, car, ship, bus, motorcycle and bicycle. At some point, we can take the train. We can also walk freely.
Amenity
In Kupang City, as technology getting better. We can easily find locations for mini markets, shops (warung kedai), Money Changer, ATMs, Bank BRI BCA BNI Mandiri, BTPN Bank Nagari BJB, supermarkets, and restaurants. So we will not starve or lack the necessary items.
If you are sick and need help, you can also visit clinics, drugstore pharmacies (apotek), practice doctors, hospitals, and health centers (puskesmas).
In this place we can also look for places of worship such as mosques, churches, and others.
Accommodation
Finding place to stay in Kupang City is very easy. We can stay at home stays, hotels, inns, hostels and other places.
To get lodging at a cheap and definitely comfortable price, please see below:
Booking.com
Experience and Reviews
There are already many visitors have visited Kupang City, there are many interesting stories that are told. Like feeling satisfied, happy, wanting to come again, sleep well, and almost no one is disappointed or complains to come here.
So, visitors will find out on how to find the best hotels, where is exactly located, why it is amazing, how much is the fare and rate, who are the people, whom to ask, and when is the best time to visit.
We can visit these tourist attractions from Tanjung Pinang, Tanjung Redep, Tanjung Selor, Tapak Tuan, Tarakan, Tarutung, Tasikmalaya, Muara Bungo, Muara Enim, Muara Teweh, Muaro Sijunjung, Muntilan, Nabire, Negara, Nganjuk,
That’s all the information we provided, hopefully useful.
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