East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, is a small country in Southeast Asia occupying the eastern part of the island of Timor. It has a rich culture and fascinating history, though much of it remains relatively unknown. Let’s explore this unique country through 48 riddles and their answers.
Geography
Riddle 1: I’m an island split between two countries. A western and eastern part. The eastern part contains East Timor. What island am I?
Answer: The island of Timor. It’s divided between East Timor on the eastern side and Indonesia on the western side.
Riddle 2: I’m East Timor’s longest river at approximately 90 miles long. Many small tributaries flow into me. What river am I?
Geography – Rivers
Answer: The Loes River. It runs from the center of the country to the north coast.
Riddle 3: I’m a 1,749 meter tall mountain located in East Timor. What mountain am I?
Geography – Mountains
Answer: Mount Ramelau. It’s the highest point in East Timor.
History
Riddle 4: I’m East Timor’s first constitution created in 1975 when it declared independence from Portugal. What document am I?
History – Government
Answer: The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of East Timor
Riddle 5: We ruled East Timor for over 400 years until 1975. What European country are we?
History – Colonialism
Answer: Portugal colonized East Timor from the 16th century until 1975.
Riddle 6: I invaded East Timor in 1975 shortly after they declared independence from Portugal leading to decades of conflict. What regional power am I?
History – Conflict
Answer: Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and occupied the country for 24 years.
Riddle 7: I’m a 1991 event where Indonesian troops killed over 250 East Timorese independence protesters. What tragedy am I?
History – Conflict
Answer: The Santa Cruz Massacre. It drew international criticism of Indonesia’s occupation.
Riddle 8: We’re the United Nations peacekeeping force deployed to East Timor when it voted for independence in 1999. Who are we?
History – Independence
Answer: INTERFET or the International Force for East Timor secured the country during its transition to independence.
Culture
Riddle 9: I’m a form of textile craft practiced in East Timor. Intricate patterns are woven into me. What craft am I?
Culture – Arts
Answer: Tais weaving. The tais are colorful fabrics woven by hand in East Timor.
Riddle 10: We’re the two official languages of East Timor alongside English. Portuguese comes from the colonial period while we represent native tongues. What languages are we?
Culture – Language
Answer: Tetum and Portuguese. Tetum has its roots in native Timorese languages.
Riddle 11: I’m an East Timorese martial art influenced by Silat from Indonesia and Kung Fu from China. I rely more on empty hand techniques compared to weapons training. What martial art am I?
Culture – Martial Arts
Answer: Pencak Silat. It blends indigenous moves with foreign martial arts.
Riddle 12: I’m an East Timorese form of music and dance typically performed by many people in unison during cultural celebrations. What am I called?
Culture – Music & Dance
Answer: Tebe-tebe. It’s a traditional Timorese group dance.
Economy
Riddle 13: I’m East Timor’s currency used since it became fully independent in 2002. What am I?
Economy – Currency
Answer: The United States Dollar. East Timor does not have its own currency.
Riddle 14: I represent East Timor’s biggest industry with petroleum, natural gas, and related refining accounting for over 90% of government revenue. What industry am I?
Economy – Industries
Answer: Oil and natural gas extraction and processing
Riddle 15: Coffee was historically one of East Timor’s main exports and provided income for many Timorese farmers. But in recent decades another crop has surpassed coffee to become the leading agricultural export. What crop am I?
Economy – Exports
Answer: Cocoa. East Timor’s cocoa production has grown rapidly to become its top crop export.
Landmarks
Riddle 16: I’m one of Dili’s most iconic buildings, built originally by the Portuguese in 1522 to defend its colony. I’m one of East Timor’s few 16th century structures left standing. What landmark am I?
Landmarks – Dili’s Sites
Answer: Motael Church. Its whitewashed facade overlooking the plaza remains an iconic part of Dili’s coastline.
Riddle 17: I’m a garrison town located on Atauro Island north of Dili constructed when East Timor was still a Portuguese colony. Many of my colonial era buildings still stand today. What town am I?
Landmarks – Atauro Island
Answer: Beloi. It served as an outpost under Portuguese control.
Riddle 18: I’m a 1,750 meter mountain in East Timor’s Bobonaro district featuring rock formations that resemble a crocodile. Locals say I’m inhabited by sacred spirits. What peak am I?
Landmarks – Mountains
Answer: Mount Kuri. Its jagged limestone ridge resembles the scales on a crocodile’s back.
Cities
Riddle 19: I’m the capital and largest city of East Timor located on the country’s north coast. What city am I?
Cities – Capital
Answer: Dili. It’s East Timor’s center of administration and business.
Riddle 20: I’m a coastal city located on East Timor’s easternmost tip near the Indonesian border. In 1959 rebellion against Portuguese rule first broke out in my streets. What city am I?
Cities – Eastern Region
Answer: Viqueque. It was the birthplace of Timorese independence efforts.
Riddle 21: I’m a historic city located west of Dili. My name means “three waters” in one of East Timor’s native languages. What city am I?
Cities – Western Region
Answer: Suai. Located along a river, its name refers to three tributaries that flow through the area.
People
Riddle 22: I was East Timor’s first democratically elected president serving from 2002 to 2007. I’m considered a national hero for my resistance to Indonesian occupation. Who am I?
People – Leaders
Answer: Xanana Gusmão led East Timor’s resistance movement and later the country.
Riddle 23: I’m an Olympic long-distance runner who became the first East Timorese athlete to qualify for the Olympics in 2016. What is my name?
People – Athletes
Answer: Augusto Soares. He participated in the marathon in Rio de Janeiro.
Riddle 24: We’re the two dominant ethnic groups making up most of East Timor’s population. About 90% of East Timorese have ancestry tied back to us. Who are we?
People – Ethnic Groups
Answer: The Austronesian and Melanesian ethnic groups. East Timor reflects this ancestral mix.
Flora & Fauna
Riddle 25: I’m a colorful bird native to Timor and surrounding islands. My bright red beak inspired my name. What tropical bird am I?
Flora & Fauna – Birds
Answer: The red-cheeked parrot is found across Timor and neighboring islands.
Riddle 26: We’re East Timor’s only native land mammals, similar to other tree kangaroos found in Oceania. Due to hunting and development, our populations have dwindled. What species are we?
Flora & Fauna – Mammals
Answer: The two species of Timorese tree kangaroos. They are at risk of extinction.
Riddle 27: I’m East Timor’s national flower, a fragrant white blossom prominent across Southeast Asia derived from the ylang-ylang tree. What am I?
Flora & Fauna – Plants
Answer: Cananga odorata, known by its common name Champaca. Its sweet, floral scent has made it an important plant in the region.
Food & Drink
Riddle 28: I’m a popular street food in East Timor, an egg omelette mixed with vegetables and sometimes meat, then stuffed inside bread. What dish am I?
Food & Drink – Cuisine
Answer: Omelete naan is a stuffed flatbread meal eaten across East Timor.
Riddle 29: We’re the two most commonly consumed grains that serve as diet staples in East Timor. What grains are we?
Food & Drink – Cuisine
Answer: Rice and maize (corn). They provide essential calories and nutrition.
Riddle 30: I’m an East Timorese yogurt-like drink fermented from corn or millet left to culture over several days in a banana leaf. What traditional beverage am I?
Food & Drink – Beverages
Answer: Morin ruak is a cultured corn milk drink unique to East Timorese cuisine.
Environment
Riddle 31: Deforestation and land erosion are major environmental issues in East Timor’s highlands caused in large part by me. Who am I?
Environment – Deforestation
Answer: Unsustainable agricultural practices like slash-and-burn clearing are damaging East Timor’s forests.
Riddle 32: Petroleum extraction built East Timor’s economy but pipelines and coastal refineries are putting my fragile coral ecosystems at risk through pollution and development. What aquatic habitat am I?
Environment – Habitats
Answer: Coral reefs have faced increasing threats from East Timor’s offshore oil operations.
Riddle 33: I’m an endangered turtle species that nests along East Timor’s sandy beaches. Due to habitat loss and hunting, I’m at risk of extinction on Timor. What turtle am I?
Environment – Endangered Species
Answer: The hawksbill sea turtle is critically endangered in Timorese waters.
In the News
Riddle 34: In 2018 I signed a historic agreement marking East Timor’s first maritime border deal since independence. The border had been disputed with East Timor’s big neighbor to the south. Who am I?
In the News – International Relations
Answer: Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull signed a treaty outlining a permanent maritime border between Australia and East Timor.
Riddle 35: In 2020 I struck East Timor just 13 years after a similar crisis, plunging nearly half the population into food insecurity through floods, landslides, and devastated harvests. What disaster am I?
In the News – Natural Disasters
Answer: Severe drought leading to widespread crop failures and famine
Riddle 36: Elections held in 2018 marked the first time I freely participated in East Timorese democracy without needing Indonesian approval. Milestones like this show maturing self-determination. Who am I?
In the News – Politics
Answer: The East Timorese electorate voted without foreign interference for the first time.
Unique Traditions
Riddle 37: I’m an East Timorese coming-of-age ritual where adolescent boys and girls are taken to isolated huts to receive wisdom from village elders. What practice am I?
Unique Traditions – Rites of Passage
Answer: The Na’i Feto and Na’i Feti rituals for girls and boys respectively. They mark the passage into adulthood.
Riddle 38: Families and communities gather to construct me, an East Timorese ancestral house where families reside and venerate their lineage. I’m at the heart of Timorese society. What structure am I?
Unique Traditions – Ancestral Houses
Answer: An Uma Lulik. These sacred homes embody family bonds.
Riddle 39: I’m a traditional textile handcrafted in villages across East Timor as a central art form reflecting Timorese aesthetics and identity. What handmade artifact am I?
Unique Traditions – Handicrafts
Answer: Bolos; intricately woven shawls filled with vivid geometric designs.
Tourism
Riddle 40: Over 400 species of me live in East Timor’s portion of the Coral Triangle making me a top attraction for diving visitors. What colorful sea creature am I?
Tourism – Attractions
Answer: Coral; East Timor boasts pristine reefs and a wealth of marine biodiversity.
Riddle 41: My early 16th century fortress integrated with rock cliffs was vital to Portuguese colonization across Timor. Restored ruins of me still stand guard today. What landmark am I?
Tourism – Historical Sites
Answer: Fortress of Our Lady of Penha of Camena stands along the north coast.
Riddle 42: Trekking me provides visitors breathtaking views across East Timor’s mountainous landscape dotted with traditional villages. What challenging trail am I?
Tourism – Outdoor Activities
Answer: The hike to the summit of Mount Ramelau through rugged highlands.
Education
Riddle 43: Only about 50% of East Timor’s population over 15 is literate, one factor limiting development. Who has the government prioritized in expanding education programs to address this?
Education – Literacy Programs
Answer: Women and girls who traditionally had far less access to schooling.
Riddle 44: Along with Tetum and Portuguese, students in some East Timorese schools are taught basics in this regional language to aid communication and cultural exchange. What tongue is it?
Education – Languages
Answer: Indonesian or Bahasa Indonesia remains an optional school subject.
Riddle 45: Sponsored by Cuba and Brazil, hundreds of East Timorese students have attended me to study medicine and return home as doctors serving neglected rural areas. What type of specialized school am I?
Education – Medical Training
Answer: A Latin American medical school like Havana or Rio de Janeiro’sLatin American School of Medicine (ELAM).
Religion
Riddle 46: Brought by Portuguese colonists and missionaries, I’m the most widely practiced faith in East Timor today adhered to by over 90% of the population. What religion am I?
Religion – Dominant Faith
Answer: Roman Catholicism is East Timor’s predominant religion.
Riddle 47: One of the first Catholic missions built in East Timor, pilgrims come to my church located along Dili’s waterfront to view a painting depicting the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus. What holy site am I?
Religion – Catholic Sites
Answer: The Motael Church in Dili contains the image Nossa Senhora de Fatima, an important Catholic icon in East Timor.
Riddle 48: Originating in China, I’m a syncretic new religious movement blending Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, and animist beliefs into a distinctly Timorese faith system. What do locals call believers in me?
Religion – Syncretic Sects
Answer: The Way of the Elders or Lia Naek; an emergent syncretic sect drawing on multiple faiths.
