East Timor (aka Timor-Leste) is one of the world's youngest countries, becoming a separate state from Indonesia in just 2002.
It has some similarities to Indonesia in terms of the tropical climate and geography (it's part of the island of Timor), but the people here have a different ethnic and cultural background.
The islands near the coast of East Timor are becoming increasingly popular for diving and snorkeling trips, with white sand beaches, turquoise water and amazing coral reefs.
The biodiversity is pretty similar to nearby Indonesia, but part of the novelty in visiting East Timor is that you get to check another country off of your 'to do list.'
Dili, the capital city of East Timor, also makes a decent place for a visa run if you're wanting to extend your stay in Indonesia. I found the visa and arrival process to be pretty straightforward.
Read through this complete Timor Leste travel guide for more info on what to expect!