Malta is a group of islands about half the size of Singapore. Few people this side of the world in Asia know much about it, including me. Since there are unused time share weeks due to expire soon, and we had already planned one week in Tuscany, Malta seemed like a good place to explore as well.
This is a throw back to our December holidays last year. Yes, the blog is coming out of its hibernation.
What to expect in Malta – ancient temples, a rich cultural history, idyllic isles, knights of yore and simply spectacular sunsets. It’s a big mistake to put off writing about your travels until months later, because you can’t quite remember what, when and where, which is evident here. So this will be mostly pictures with captions and scant descriptions.
Stone-washed homogeneous buildings like these litter the horizon all over MaltaA glorious sunset to be savored from our balconyOur Hotel in Paradise Bay, MelliehaSoaking in the sights of the old cityThe to-do list – Think we did more that half on this listPaul was shipwrecked in Malta in AD 60, where he was bitten by a viper but suffered no harm. He went about healing the sick there and were warmly received by the islandersMarsaxlokk is a fishing village in the south of Malta where the boats are brightly coloured with eyes at the bow. On Sunday, the entire village becomes a bustling marketMarsaxlokk from another perspectiveYoung aubergines at the marketAs the sun is about to set over a sleepy fishing villageAnother spectacular sunset!The statue of the Risen Christ atop a hill in Gozo. It was rather tricky to locate. We parked along a little used road and tried to walk up the cobbled path. Only one sure-footed young man made it all the way up to snap this clear shot.Xwejni’s salt pans of GozoOtter’s Bistro and Lounge in Gozo island – outdoor dining by the sea. Lovely food and great ambienceWandering among the ruins, which are UNESCO heritage sitesAnother day, another UNESCO site, and we are still in the same pose!These add a charming touch to the alleyways and homesMdina, the old cityAnother view of MdinaAntonio Sciortino created this masterpiece at the age of 24. It represents 3 street children who roamed the streets of Paris during the days of the 1848 revolution, inspired by the novel Les Miserables by Victor HugoSunset over MdinaAnd another sunset…Hung out to dryExperiencing the Crusades of the KnightsIn the line of fireEnding with a live firing of canons. Quite an experience!
So What If The Day Started Badly This morning, as I was reversing my car out of the porch for a dental appointment, I drove right into a van who just happened to park in front of the house across the road, right at the very instant. The knee jerk instinct was to feel sorry and angry with myself at the same time. I said a little prayer for comfort and that the rest of the day would turn out better, with small mercies along the way. I also texted G, telling him what happened and that I was a little shaken by the incident, trivial as it was. The text came back " No worries". It was all the comfort I needed - no judgment, no reproof, just a quiet understanding and acceptance. The Rest Of the Day Got the tooth fixed, had my comfort food for lunch, left car with dented bumper with mechanic, took a bus to Ang Mo Kio library to while away the time. Along the way, discovered my favorite Yong Tau Foo franchise had moved to the food centre here, much nearer home, and also picked up a ...
Reflections on Father's Day Hi Daddy, you must be having a great time in heaven, together with Mum. Although we never had a close father-daughter relationship, I choose to remember those moments which were special to me - like the outings to Esplanade Park, Satay Club with Mum when I was little, accompanying me to take the school bus on my first day of school, how your face lit up when you attended my university graduation. Growing up, I have often envied other people's daddies and wished you were more like them. I wished I could talk to you when I had my first crush on a boy, felt ugly because my face was full of pimples during my teenage years, looked into the mirror and hated what I saw...So I decided that since I wasn't pretty, I could be clever instead, and lost myself in an alternative world of adventure, imagination and books by Enid Blyton, Alfred Hitchcock, Agatha Christie, Perry Mason, anything and everything I could get my hands on... At home, you were either...
My recent road trip of Turkey traversed several cities. But it was mostly in Istanbul ( and a few more in Ephesus ) that cats who roamed the streets with the familiarity of a resident, independent and free, yet well-provided with food, shelter, water and loving affection. On our very first day, we bought a bag of cat food and fed them whenever we encountered them. Some were hungry and responded to us, but others kept their distance, or came over to sniff at the kibbles and walked away. It warmed our hearts to see these adorable creatures as part of the landscape and culture of a most memorable trip in a land so richly endowed with the legacy of the past facing a challenging future ahead. Here's a gallery of cuteness overload. This link best sums up the history and back story of these adorable felines. https://consciouscat.net/relationship-between-istanbul-and-its-cats/
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