Kupang: A Stupid Decision and the Terrible Consequences

By TravelWiseJul 2, 2012 08:30 AMOther
Share:
Kupang: A Stupid Decision and the Terrible Consequences
Kupang: A Stupid Decision and the Terrible Consequences

It was in the taxi leaving the airport when I first realised we’d not landed in Flores, but Kupang (where is Kupang and what to do in Kupang?). There I was with a guidebook on my lap scanning the Flores section for suitable hotels when the driver started talking to me:

Me: We want to go to the Permah Sari Hotel.

Taxi Driver: Where is that?

Me: On Jalan Sudirman.

Taxi Driver: I don’t know that road.

Me: Sighing (another taxi driver who doesn’t know where he’s going). Look, I’ll show you on the map.

Taxi Driver starts smiling

We’d landed in Kupang, the capital of the Indonesian side of the island of Timor, not Flores. I had made a beginners mistake. In my rush to go to Borobudur Temple I had left the travel agents without checking the ticket. Maybe it was because my friend had ordered the tickets for me, and I’d clearly asked to go to Flores. Surely the travel agent would know where Flores is right? We were even speaking the same language, so it’s not as if he could blame the language barrier…

For my Mum and I, dealing with my stupidity was all part of travelling. I’d long ago learnt how to adapt to new situations and unexpected events caused by my inability to organise myself, Kupang was just my latest f@%#k up! For my brother, the conscientious and organised person that he is, landing in Kupang was a sign that I should never be involved in planning any events in his life ever again.

Despite my stupidity we managed to have a good time. The first question we had to solve after finding a hotel, was what to do in Kupang? The answer to this question came in two parts.

The best thing about Kupang for me was the fish market. Local fishermen bring fresh catch straight to the market, which is then transferred via a BBQ to your plate. The food is simple, sweet soy sauces and spicy sambals added to whatever you pick from the stalls. Cheap delicious food, it’s hard to go wrong.

The second thing we decided to do was leave the Kupang and head for Roti; a small island about one hour’s ferry ride off the coast of Kupang. This was a great choice as Roti is very relaxed and lying on a beautiful sunny beach was far more interesting than the bustling streets of Kupang. Looking back I wish I had just gone to Nusa Penida instead of Kupang.

Top Articles
Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Mar 3, 2025 18:00 PM
Practical Eco-Friendly Travel Solutions for Sustainable Tourism

Practical Eco-Friendly Travel Solutions for Sustainable Tourism

Feb 14, 2025 15:00 PM

Top Tips for Securing Your Luggage and Preventing Loss

Feb 7, 2025 14:00 PM

Your Guide to Hand Luggage and Baggage Rules

Feb 4, 2025 20:00 PM
More News
Etihad Airways Boeing 787 in special livery mid-flight

Etihad Opens Direct Summer Routes to Six Mediterranean Cities

Jul 1, 2025 10:27 AM
Modern, minimalist hotel bedroom with wooden accents and abstract art

Radisson Expands to Dobra Voda, Opening Access to Southern Montenegro Trails and Shores

Jul 1, 2025 08:31 AM

Strike at Helsinki Airport to Disrupt Finnair Flights, Thousands to Face Travel Changes

Jun 30, 2025 20:38 PM

Berlin Becomes the Newest Dot on Dalata’s European Journey

Jun 30, 2025 18:23 PM
Empty and occupied seats inside a commercial airplane cabin

Transavia Replaces Boeing with New Jet on Mallorca Route

Jun 29, 2025 22:49 PM
Three diverse dishes served in food hall style with herbs and spices

European Food Halls Become Essential Travel Destinations

Jun 29, 2025 20:36 PM
Close-up of a Scandinavian Airlines aircraft parked on the tarmac at sunset

Direct Flights Between Copenhagen and Nuuk Resume After Two Decades, Opening New Arctic Travel Opportunities

Jun 28, 2025 21:22 PM
Electric Lumo train moving on railway tracks in the UK

New Slow Travel Trend Offers Different Way to Discover the UK

Jun 28, 2025 19:48 PM
LOT Polish Airlines aircraft preparing to land

LOT Adds Direct Flights Connecting Gdańsk to Istanbul’s Historic Core

Jun 28, 2025 17:35 PM

Travel Disruption Expected on London Rail Lines 3 July

Jun 28, 2025 15:21 PM

New Direct Flights Between Nice and Florence Open Up Easier Travel Across the Mediterranean

Jun 28, 2025 13:47 PM
View from inside a nearly empty bus during daytime

Steady Travel Through Wales: T4 Changes Operator in September

Jun 28, 2025 00:34 AM
Modern hotel room with large windows, patterned wallpaper, and mid-century style furniture

Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls Set for Centrally Located Hotel Openings

Jun 27, 2025 21:28 PM
Air Canada aircraft in flight approaching landing

New Direct Montréal–Edinburgh Flight Opens Summer City-to-City Travel

Jun 27, 2025 19:45 PM
Workers in safety gear repairing railway tracks with heavy equipment

Temporary Closure of Picerno Station Alters Train Routes in Southern Italy

Jun 27, 2025 17:32 PM

Ryanair Unveils New Direct Winter Routes from Gothenburg, Boosting Travel Choices to Southern Europe

Jun 27, 2025 15:29 PM

New Hotels in Jeddah to Boost Travel Convenience Near King Abdullah Sports City

Jun 27, 2025 13:46 PM
AirAsia aircraft being towed at an airport gate on a cloudy day

Adelaide Gains Direct Flights to Bali, Unlocking Wider Asian Travel Options

Jun 27, 2025 05:33 AM
Railway workers and machinery conducting track maintenance on a railway line

Travel to South Wales in July disrupted by rail changes

Jun 26, 2025 22:24 PM
Jet2holidays aircraft taxiing on runway

New Direct Flights to La Palma Expand UK–Canaries Access

Jun 26, 2025 20:41 PM
Train platforms and GWR trains at London Paddington station

Mobile Signal Returns to Key Train Routes

Jun 26, 2025 18:37 PM
Empty departure board at Helsinki Airport terminal during operational disruption

Finnair Warns of Major Travel Disruptions During July Airport Strikes

Jun 26, 2025 13:25 PM

flydubai Reopens Key Damascus Route, Expanding Travel Options in the Middle East

Jun 26, 2025 02:42 AM

New Hotel Opens in Tromsø Near Harbour as Travel Grows

Jun 26, 2025 00:38 AM
SAS aircraft in flight against clear blue sky

SAS Reopens Copenhagen–Mumbai Route After 17-Year Gap

Jun 25, 2025 22:21 PM
Stylish hotel bed with textured pillows and modern lighting

Canopy by Hilton Opens in Revitalized Longkloof District of Cape Town

Jun 25, 2025 20:47 PM