East Timor

Dili is the capital and largest city of East Timor (Timor-Leste), located on the island’s north coast. It houses the national government, main port, and airport. By contrast, Bali is an Indonesian province, Jakarta is Indonesia’s capital, and Port Moresby is the capital of Papua New Guinea. A former Portuguese colony, East Timor regained independence in 2002 after a UN-administered transition; Dili became the heart of the new nation and retains Portuguese and Tetum as official languages. A notable landmark is the seaside Cristo Rei statue. Memory tip: East Timor is also called Timor-Leste, reflecting Portuguese ties, so think Dili—a Lusophone-sounding name—rather than the Indonesian-sounding options (Bali, Jakarta).