I had to wake at 0500 for a 0530 boat transfer to mainland Alor to continue by taxi to the airport. I had opted for a taxi at around USD15 rather than an ojek at USD5 because a couple had fell off their motorbike (self-drive) and scraped themselves badly after striking some sand on the road. I think ojek drivers would know the roads better but then they go a lot faster and don’t provide helmets around here, from my first-hand experience from a few days ago.
The check-in and departure area of Alor airport is about the size of someone’s house. It is small, friendly and adequate for its purpose. The Merpati flight left on time at 0735 for the 50 minute crossing back to Kupang.
Kupang was a different city from my previous encounter. While it was muggy few days back, it was now dry and dusty. The weather was a perfectly pleasant 25degC with low untropical 55% humidity and quite a bit of wind.
It was the perfect day to be in the city. I wouldn’t like to be diving today, considering the water was as cold as 24degC few days ago!
After a breakfast of mi bakso near the hotel, my room was ready. I caught up with some emails and admin from not having the internet for the last few days.
In the mid-afternoon, I took an angkot (decorated minivan with booking music, same as mikrolet or bemo) to the street along the waterfront. Kupang’s waterfront is largely shops with their backs against the sea. I guess it was built during an era when people didn’t think of having a promenade. It was largely cliff-like with some access to small beach areas.
I grabbed a drink a Lavalon bar and asked about this alfresco eating/drinking nightspot that I had seen arriving from Dili which was decorated with lots of fairy lights. But no one, including the expats, knew.
So I ate at the local night market. Travellers and the guidebook say good things about it so it expected it to be really busy and bustling. But as I’ve discovered in other Indonesian cities, the street food scene isn’t as big as in Malaysia. I guess people do eat home a lot more with lesser disposable income in a provincial city like Kupang. Nevertheless, it was a good place to check out.
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- Card player on the pavement. He is punished for losing, perhaps instead of coughing up cash.
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- Little beach on Kupang’s waterfront.
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- This cat loves me (because the weather was quite cool). It is so skinny, it makes me look fat.
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- Fresh fish for sale.
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- Kupang’s night market
