One of the best things about volunteering at HAMNASA, a local NGO in Timor-Leste, is heading out on the road with them. They run community development activities in small villages and hamlets, giving me the opportunity to visit places that few other malae (foreigners) have been to. I have to work, taking photos and making videos, plus introducing myself to large groups in the local language Tetun, but usually have some time to explore.

I spent two nights in Atsabe, a near six hour drive covering just 93km along some pretty bad roads from Dili.

It was a scenic drive though, passing through lots of villages along the way.

The Mota Banderia waterfall, at 200m tall it is the highest in Timor-Leste, and the late afternoon light illuminating the hillside was a highlight.

Atsabe is in a beautiful setting, surrounded by mountains that attract the mist. It was about the perfect temperature, much cooler than in Dili. We arrived at dusk, with beautiful light.

The light in the morning gave a different perspective on the surrounding landscape.

Atsabe is known to be particularly religious, illustrated by the large new Igreja Atsabe above the town.

This had some interesting shrines and statues on the many steps leading up the hill.

Inside it is an attractive church.

Behind is the grand Residencia.

Below is presumably the former main church, which has clearly seen better days.

The main road in Atsabe had one of the colourful, if not very comfortable, buses that connect Timorese towns.

A few more from exploring this small town in the mountains.

On the drive back to Dili it rained making the roads even slower and more challenging, particularly for this poor guy on his motorbike.

Despite there being no visibility we stopped at the Statua Cristu Liu Ray near Letefoho. This is a large Jesus statue standing over a forked tongue snake.

The base was rather strange, with a moustached man wearing a traditional Timorese headpiece.