国家地理:South Pacific Surprise 走访东帝汶

Welcome to East Timor, one of the world's newest countries, and for the intrepid¹ few, an emerging tourism destination with unspoiled natural beauty.

And I just booked two weeks' holiday here. I went for three or four dives and I think it took us 36 hours to make up our minds that this would, would be where we would hope to spend the rest of our lives. We were absolutely stunned² by they, the quality of the marine³ life here, they, the healthy coral, the, the lack of environmental damage and a huge diversity of marine life.

Hundreds of fish species have been recorded in East Timor's waters, a diversity that's enhanced by having very deep water so close to shore. East Timor is a former war zone and lacks a lot of basic infrastructure⁴. After East Timor's vote for independence in 1999, Indonesian militias⁵ rampaged through the island. The subsequent recovery effort has been painfully slow. There are many changes to be made if tourism run by expatriates is to boost East Timor's meager⁶ economy. The government is anxious that new tourism developments don't ruin East Timor's greatest asset, its natural beauty.

We are still developing policies and regulations in relation to, say, the environment, for example, environment protection. So what they should do is they should be very careful to talk to government and not to move ahead without government and, and local administration knowing exactly what they're doing until they're getting the full go-ahead.

So, as this new nation struggles to build its economy, it faces an age-old predicament, how to make the most of its natural assets without destroying them in the process.

expatriate: someone who lives in a foreign country

predicament: a difficult or unpleasant situation in which you do not know what to do, or in which you have to make a difficult choice

make the most of: employ to the best advantage

1 intrepid   

adj.无畏的，刚毅的

参考例句：

• He is not really satisfied with his intrepid action.他没有真正满意他的无畏行动。
• John's intrepid personality made him a good choice for team leader.约翰勇敢的个性适合作领导工作。

2 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。

3 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

6 meager   

adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的

参考例句：

• He could not support his family on his meager salary.他靠微薄的工资无法养家。
• The two men and the woman grouped about the fire and began their meager meal.两个男人同一个女人围着火，开始吃起少得可怜的午饭。