Miss World Australia chooses Timor-Leste as her favourite place

Miss World Australia, Caroline Pemberton, meets Timor-Leste's President, Jose Ramos Horta

Caroline Pemberton, who won the Miss World Australia title in 2007, is a sponsor of the orphanage at Baguia in Timor Leste's Baucau District, which she visited for the first time soon after she was crowned. When she was approached by 9 network's flagship travel programme, "Getaway" to present a segment on her favourite place in the world, she chose Baguia and returned to Timor Leste with the film crew on May 31st, 2008.

Caroline and the Getaway crew receive a traditional smiling welcome at the Baguia orphanage

The National Directorate of Tourism hosted her visit, with accommodation at the Discovery Hotel in Dili and the Pousada in Baucau. Caroline was also invited to a dinner at the beachside Victoria Restaurant in Dili as a guest of Mr Gil Alves, the Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry. The Minister of Infrastructure, Mr Pedro Lay and the Minister of Health, Mr Nelson Martins were also present at the party.



Caroline at dinner with the Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Gil Alves (at head of table), Minister of Infrastructure, Mr Pedro Lay (blue shirt) and Health Minister Nelson Martins

The Getaway crew receive gifts made from traditional tais fabric from the Alola Foundation gift shop and pose for a final photo with the Ministers and National Director of Tourism, Mr Miguel Lobato

In front of the camera for a change: some of Dili's local photojournalists pose for photos with Caroline

The next morning, Caroline and the film crew travelled to Baucau to visit the orphanage, and she also met Timor Leste's President, Jose Ramos Horta on her return to Dili.

Caroline was thrilled to be back in Timor Leste. She said that she loves the country and hopes to come back again on holiday to explore the rest of the country and try scuba diving on our pristine coral reefs.