Dili, on the northern coast of Timor Island and squeezed between the central mountains and the Ombai Strait, became the capital of Timor Leste when it gained independence in May 2002. It has a relaxed, small-town feel with a touch of Portuguese influence.

Kupang sits on the southwest corner of Timor Island and is the island's largest city and port, with around 500,000 people. Once called Koepang, it was a key port during the Portuguese and Dutch colonial periods, and you can still see some of the old ruins. In the 20th century, it served as a refueling stop for long flights between Europe and Australia. It was occupied by the Japanese from 1942 to 1945, and much of the Old Town was damaged by Allied bombing.

The unique culture of the Alorese continues among the Takpala indigenous group, who have preserved their traditional housing construction that resembles a pyramid, covered with coconut leaves, bamboo plaited walls, and four main wooden pillars. The island of Alor is also known as the island of a Thousand Moko’s. The Moko is a small bronze kettledrum that is believed to have originated in the Dong Son culture of Vietnam. However, it remains a mystery as to how these prehistoric Dong Son drums arrived in Alor. Local legend says that the Moko’s were discovered buried in the ground, and indeed, the Moko's are still being uncovered today.

Located on the south coast of the island of Lembata, Lamalera remains one of the last traditional whaling villages on earth. As traditional tools and methods are used, the whale hunts are exempt from the international ban on whaling. Whaling is essential to the continued subsistence existence of this rarely visited remote village. The island is dry and barren, so very little food can be grown on its soil. Villagers depend almost entirely on what the sea provides.

Floresians have an ancient culture stretching back millennia before the first arrival of Europeans in search of trade opportunities. Their history is shared through oral traditions and is recreated in song and dance. The mountainous terrain of Flores has preserved the diversity of cultures, and Maumere has kept its charming atmosphere, an eclectic mix of a bustling trading town and a coastal paradise.

This diverse string of islands sits just off the northern coastline of the island of Flores. Ironically, there are in fact 23 small islands that comprise the archipelago, but government authorities decided on the number 17 as a convenient tie-in with Indonesia’s Independence Day, which is August 17, 1945. Largely uninhabited, except for the odd fishermen’s camp, the islands boast spectacular white sand beaches and turquoise waters surrounded by colorful coral reefs.

Komodo National Park was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1989. With one of the lowest rainfalls in Indonesia, its climate provides the perfect habitat for the exotic wildlife of Wallacea. Dense monsoon forests in the protected gullies give way to open grassland savannas studded with prickly Ziziphus trees, providing the perfect habitat for the infamous Komodo dragon. Originally designed to provide refuge for the Komodo dragon, the park now protects one of the richest marine ecosystems. This has resulted in an abundance of world-class snorkeling and diving locations available to travelers.

Enclosed by Moyo Island and the imposing Tembora Peninsula, the serene Saleh Bay is far from the regular tourist trail. In 2017, Conservation International assisted in the development of eco-tourism ventures focused on swimming with the world’s largest fish. Still in its infancy, visitors can swim with the whale sharks in the clear, calm waters of Saleh Bay all year round. In addition to the presence of these majestic marine creatures, numerous uninhabited islands, fringed by coral reefs, are scattered across the azure waters of the bay.

The port of Badas is part of the greater township of Sumbawa Besar, on the island of Sumbawa. Like most of Sumbawa, the people hold their culture as a major part of their identity. The island has a strong influence from the Makassarese of Sulawesi, who, over the centuries, have introduced a lot of their culture into Sumbawa.

Bali is famous for its volcanic mountains, rice paddies, and beaches. The island has notable Hindu temples like Uluwatu Temple, Tanah Lot, Goa Gajah in Ubud, and Ulun Danu Beratan in Bedugul. The beach areas from Kuta to Legian are busy with bars and dining spots, while Seminyak, Sanur, and Nusa Dua are popular resort locations.

Paspaley Pearl docks at Benoa Harbour, Bali.