Weaving Tour

But the tour also aims to give something back to the communities who will be our hosts. As a way of expressing our appreciation to the women who will share their knowledge and experiences with us, we ask participants to fundraise a minimum of AU$500 each so the tour helps our East Timorese friends in their efforts to weave sustainable businesses. It’s not difficult and ETWA can help with ideas!

Confirmation Process

To join the ETWA Weaving Tour you must:

1. Complete & sign a Participation Form (contact us for a copy of this document)

2. Send the form to ETWA along with a non-refundable deposit of $1500.00

3. Raise $500 (with help & support from ETWA) for supported projects in East Timor

4. Pay the balance of $1,150.00 one month prior to departure

Deadlines:

· Participation Forms and Deposit 30^th April

· Balance by 31^st May

· Fundraising $500 by 15^th June

Please note: places are limited and due to overwhelming interest in our 2008 tour are offered on a first come- first served basis so be quick!

For more information:

Email: office@etwa.org.au or phone Deb on 0422 435 517 or

Click here to download the brochure (pdf)

Click here for a round-up of our 2007 tour

DETAILS

Itinerary: Our tour begins in Dili where we spend our first two days visiting local projects and women’s groups in and around Dili and buying supplies for our trip to the districts. On day 3 we head east to Baucau, the second largest city in East Timor, stopping along the way in Metinaro to visit our friends at the IDP camp. After a night in Baucau, we head further east along the coast and then inland to Los Palos in the Lautem district, renowned for its traditional culture and spectacular Tais. We’ll have lunch in the town centre, check out the market, visit local weaving groups and stay overnight in Los Palos. The next day, our journey into the culture of Tais weaving begins with the first of the weaving workshops. On day 4, we’ll make our way through the hills to the sub-district of Iliomar and arrive in time to meet our friends and share a meal in Kainliu. The picturesque and tranquil villages of Iliomar will be our base for five days. We’ll meet the community and hook up with local weavers for two days of workshops. Participating in and connecting with the local way of life will be a rich cultural learning experience. On our last night in Iliomar, we’ll share a celebration feast with the community in appreciation for their hospitality. On day 10 we say goodbye to Iliomar and make our way to the coast where we will visit the breathtaking beaches of Com. In the late afternoon, we’ll head back to Baucua in time for dinner and a relax at one of the beautiful hillside hotels. Day 11 we’ll head inland towards Viqueque, stop to explore the Japanese caves and then make our way to sleepy Loihuno, with its stunning waterfalls and fresh-water rock pools. After a night in Loihuno on Day 12- the last full day of our tour- we head north again for a tour of the Laho silk farm. In the late afternoon, we make our way back to Dili, arriving just in time to see our last sunset over dinner and drinks on the beach.

Workshops: Six days will be spent in the company of local weavers in Los Palos and Iliomar discovering the complexities of traditional Tais weaving; this is the highlight of the tour. Master weavers will take us through the weaving process and there’ll be plenty of time for discussion about techniques and cultural/symbolic value. We will share stories with women and their families; participate in and become accustomed to village life. When the local telegraph spreads news of our presence, there will be ample opportunities to purchase new Tais directly from producers, and so we will also play a role in cultural preservation and poverty alleviation. ETWA works closely with the three collectives through a partnership with the Metinaro based group Centre for Timor’s Cultural Development.

Los Palos and Iliomar: Los Palos is on the eastern tip of East Timor. Located approximately 8 hours drive from Dili, Los Palos is the capital of the Lautem district. There is a range of things to see and do and although the focus of our stay is to spend time with the Feto Ki’ak Buka Moris (Little Women Looking for Life) Weaving Collective, we’ll also visit local sites and projects in and around Los Palos central. Iliomar is an isolated sub-district, in the mountains inland from Los Palos. Makalero is the local dialect of Iliomar and many women do not speak Tetun. Women play a key role in traditional and contemporary social order, quietly bearing the onus of domestic work, caring for their often large families and imparting cultural knowledge, particularly through the weaving of Tais. We will spend in the company of weavers from two weaving collectives in the picturesque villages of Fuat and Kainliu. The time spent in both Los Palos and Iliomar will help us learn about the lives of women, their daily routines, work, responsibilities, experiences and dreams for the future.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Depart Darwin. Arrive in Dili. Stay in Dili.

Day 2: Visit local sites and projects. Stay in Dili.

Day 3: 8am depart for Baucau. Stop at the Metinaro IDP camp. Arrive Baucau 1pm, have lunch, visit local

sites, projects and beach. Stay in Baucau.

Day 4: 8am depart for Los Palos, arrive 12pm, have lunch, visit market and local sites. Stay in Los Palos.

Day 5: Workshop # 1 in Los Palos. Stay in Los Palos.

Day 6: 9am depart for Iliomar, sight seeing on the way. Arrive Kainliu 12pm, visit villages and local sites.

Stay in Kainliu.

Day 7: Workshop # 2 in Kainliu. Conclude workshops, purchase Tais etc. Stay in Kainliu

Day 8: Workshop # 3 in Fuat. Conclude workshops, purchase Tais etc. Stay in Fuat.

Day 9: Site seeing around Iliomar. Have celebration feast with weavers and their families.

Stay in Fuat.

Day 10: 9am depart for Com. Arrive 1pm, go to beach etc. 4pm depart and arrive in Baucau 6pm.

Stay in Baucau.

Day 11: 9am depart for Loihuno (Viqueque). Stop at the Japanese caves, arrive Loihuno 1pm. Swim in river

and falls. Stay in Loihuno.

Day 12: 9am depart for Laho Silk Farm. Arrive 12pm, have lunch and tour of Laho. 3pm depart for Dili.

Arrive 6pm. Stay in Dili.

Day 13: Tour concludes. Depart for Darwin.

Cost: $2,650.00/ person (Melb– Dili return)

Includes air fares, basic insurance, tour guide, accommodation and local travel (taxis & 4WD

with an experienced driver), plus $500 contribution to partner projects in East Timor.

Other Costs:

Meals: Allow AUS $300 (restaurants & communal meals)

Visas: Approx AUS$40 (USD$30)

Taxes: Departure tax approx AUS $15 (USD$10)

(Total approx AUS$355.00)

Accommodation:

In Dili: Hotel, twin/ double with bathroom

In Iliomar/ Los Palos: Bare basics, shared facilities

Baucau/ Loihuno: Basic twin/ double shared facilities

Spending Money: Local currency is US dollars. How much extra money you need will depend on what you plan to buy, however a minimum of AU$350 should be sufficient to cover meals, bottled water etc.

Travel: Travel in and around Dili is easy and inexpensive by taxi or Mikrolet (small buses), however due to the security situation, extra care must be taken at all times. Outside of Dili is slow going. The terrain is hilly; roads are narrow, in very poor condition with many sharp and often hazardous bends. If you are prone to motion sickness, taking appropriate medication is a must.

Local Conditions: The tour will take place in July during the wet season. It is humid but not too hot with temperatures between 25°and 30°; the mountains of Iliomar are cool, particularly in the evening. Outside of Dili there will be limited access to mobile phone networks, hot water, bottled water etc, (local produce is organic) so we will try to purchase our main supplies in Dili. As mosquitos thrive in East Timor’s climate, Malaria is widespread. Consult your travel doctor before departure about anti-malaria medication. Wearing insect repellent and protective clothing at all times is essential.

Conduct: Tourism is just beginning in East Timor. The occupation has left a legacy of poverty, suspicion and trauma, especially for women who were widowed (47% of married women) and are now the sole providers for their families. In light of the generous nature of East Timorese people, you must commit to making an active contribution and respect and abide by local protocols and etiquette. Payments made to local vendors and purchases of new Tais will help build sustainable communities.

Liability: The tour is coordinated by ETWA to maximize the group experience and individual participants agree to take responsibility for their personal safety and the safety of all belongings. ETWA accepts no liability for cancellation of flights, injury or loss of property.

Terms: The tour will be postponed and rescheduled if it is unsafe to travel to East Timor due to political or civil instability. Prices have been calculated to maximize group discounts and may increase if discount airfares are not available or if the Australian dollar decreases against the US dollar. 60% non-refundable deposit must be received two months prior to departure to secure both discounted airfares and your place on the tour. Balance paid no less than four weeks prior to departure.