Chris and Marika's Online Journal  

The Honeymoon

A Tropical Honeymoon Paradise...

Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland was the location of our honeymoon. The Whitsunday Islands comprises of 74 islands off the coast of Airlie Beach. It truly is a beautiful, tropical paradise where the lush green flora meets the beautiful white beaches and azure sea. We stayed at the Coral Sea Resort a wonderful haven adorned with Mediterranean architecture, which is situated on Paradise Point with picturesque views of Pioneer Bay. We had five wonderful days and nights at this resort where we got do a gourmet cooking class, courtesy of the Head Chef, a day trip to the largest inhabited island of the Whitsundays, Hamilton Island, a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef where we viewed some awe-inspiring coral reefs and tropical fish, and swam in the beach that's made the top five beaches in the world, Whitehaven! Of course there was also lots of wining, dining, rest, relaxation & romance!

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The Wedding

Chris & Marika's Wedding - September 9 2006
The scene was a windy overcast day on the second weekend of Spring...the season of new beginnings. It was on this day that we began the first day of our married lives together. The Venue was St. George's Greek Orthodox Church- A beautiful church for this special occasion. This was followed by a celebration at the National Wine Centre in the Busby Hall. It was the best day of our lives...a day we will never forget! Thanks to everyone who helped make our day special with your help, services, attendance on the day and all your warm wishes. The love was definitely all around that day.

Love is Patient, Love is Kind.
Love is Selfless, Love is Humble.
Love is Courteous, Love is Loyal.
Love is Graceful under pressure.
Love Erases resentments & Rejoices in truth.
Love always Protects, Supports, Believes, Trusts & Hopes.

Love is Today & Love is Forever our Journey...

Chris & Marika
xox

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Edinburg - Scotland

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Sunday Stroll in Paris

A Sunday stroll through the Quarters of Paris, The Notre Dame and the Louvre all in a day!

More of the french culture, sights, tastes, smells and sounds on our second day in Paris! Walking kept the blood circulating on this chilly day and also helped burn off all the calories we were consuming. Paris is beautiful no matter what the season and the St. Germain Quarter was charming with all its character and specialty shops. The "people watching" in the cafes, sunday strolls with their groomed puppies and tasting their delicacies were what the French were doing on a this typical Sunday. Notre Dame and the Louvre were grand as ever and in their finest form. The Louvre had a more eerie but more meaningful feel this time around, especially being in the midst of reading the DaVinci Code, by Dan Brown. With so much to see in the Louvre we focussed our energies on the Greek antiquities, which fortunately comprised mostly of sculptures, which is a favourite of ours. Many of the sculptures were those stolen from the Panthenon by Napolean during his conquests. Of course like all the other tourists we had to also visit the Mona Lisa yet again, what tour of the Louvre would be complete without it! Barlotti, Buddha Bar, Hotel Costes and a drink at the Ritz, where Princess Di spent her last few hours, saw us through to the end of yet another memorable day in Paris!
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The Paris Proposal!

Inspired by the ambiance of the most romantic city in the world...

Strolling through the streets of the Opera Quarter of Paris the unique aura of this amazing city surrounds you. The city emanates romance, elegance, character, mystery and is complimented by a language that is melodious and sexy. We were overwhelmed by the the smells, sights and sounds that all make up the spirit of Paris. Our taste buds were tantalised by a light snack of Parisienne mussels and then a drink at the famous bar of Hotel Costes, which was oozing with opulence and exclusivity. Like Parisien regulars we walked straight in and made ourselves at home! Chris planned day one to the second. Chic shops, cool cafes and picturesque streets, he knew them all like a native Parisien. Our gourmet food encounter commenced at the famous "Fauchon", which we found an expensive but interesting experience! The French cuisine is so delectable as there are specialty shops for all aspects of their cuisine. Patisseries, Fromageries, Boulangeries, Creperies Chocolateries and Gelateries! Yes all exquisite! The best cheeses, crepes and yes the french definately make the best pastries in the world, particularly at the famous Patisserie called Laduree, where a light salad and two glasses of wine also came to a mouth-watering 25 Euro. A stroll through the Eiffel district led Chris to purchase the sweetest smelling rose. Its true that rose by any other name wouldn't smell as sweet but also a rose purchased anywhere else but here, wouldn't either! Then at the peak of the city of Paris, atop the Eiffel Tower is where it happened! At the most perfect but unexpected moment, whilst gazing across the River Sienne and at the night lights of Paris Nord, the question was asked. A swell of emotion and shock overcame me. Its a moment you hope will one day happen but never imagine how or when. The whole weekend was already so much more than i could have ever imagined so this was the cherry on the cake! Oh yes and then finally after minutes of tears and questioning if this was really happening my response was "Of course, I will". Cruising along the River Sienne followed by a bottle of wine and our gourmet purchases, and some other little surprises that Chris had purchased along the way, concluded a perfect day in Paris. The most memorable day in our lives. We will never forget Paris! Merci Mon Cheri! xox
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Lübeck - Day 3

Lübeck: UNESCO World Heritage Site and home of Ice World!
Situated north of Hamburg near the Baltic Sea, Lübeck is an attractive town to explore. The heart of Lübeck is its "Old Town", which is surrounded by the river Trave in the west and by the river Wakenitz in the east. The ensemble of churches, merchant's houses, warehouses and small narrow alleys in the heart were made part of the world´s cultural heritage by UNESCO in 1987. The town's skyline is dominated by a series of seven naves or towers belonging to the main churches. The architecture is indicative of Lübeck's wealth in the early Middle Ages as it rose to become the Queen of the Hanseatic League due to its shipping trade & harbour. Ice World is the other main attracation at this time of the year, amidst the famous medieval scenery of the Holstentor (the main gates to the Old Town of Lübeck). Ice World is where the World Ice Sculpting Championships are hosted. It is housed within a special thermal tent which is kept at a constant temperature of minus 10 degrees! This temperature is necessary to keep the ice sculptures (some as high as 6 metres!) in shape. A spectacular combination of special lighting with the reflection from ice was presented, which luminated the works of art in a stunning colourful splendour. Apparently the statues were made of 400.000 kilos of ice by an international team of ice artists. There was also a unique ice bar, created solely from ice so it kept the drinks pretty cool. However by the time we were walking around for an hour in minus ten degrees, the last thing we wanted was a cold drink! Our hands and toes were completely numb and our teeth were chattering! It was time for another Brattwurst and a Hot Capuccino! (Read More)

A German Perspective - Day 2

The city through the eyes of our German friends.

The highlight of our trip to Hamburg was being cultured by our German friends, Susanne and Dominik, who we had met in Malta. They introduced us to the famous German Cuisine of Brattwursts, Pretzels and German-Portugese Seafood, and taught us about life in Germany. You know how the saying goes... "When in Rome..." and so we followed the lead of our German friends for the day and experienced sights, tastes and sounds that we wouldn't have, if we had not met with them. Susanne and Domink, thanks for making the trip from Frankfurt to Hamburg, it was a time we will never forget! (Read More)

Hamburg, Germany - Day 1

A city of canals, bridges and more great shopping with a German flavour.

Although Hamburg is Germany's biggest industrial city, and its centre was totally destroyed in the Great Fire of 1842 and again by the bombing of 1943, it is nevertheless an extraordinarily beautiful city. Hamburg is also famous for its 87 kilometres of Free Port docks along the River Elbe where there are numerous ships, dockyards and warehouses and of course a famous Fish Market! What docks would be complete without it? Unfortunately the tide was high and the markets were under water on this weekend, but we can't complain as we still had some fine although still cold German weather. It also has a similar feel to Amsterdam with its abundance of canals and its 2,321 bridges, which is more bridges than any other city in the world possesses!

Besdies admiring the architecture and scenery, we also enjoyed the impressive landscape of shopping streets and blissfully got lost in the maze of shopping arcades that Hamburg had to offer! (Read More)

A Glasgwegian Weekend

Glasgow: Scotland with style.
This is the Glaswegian's marketing slogan, as they have aimed to raise the profile of the city and make it an attractive place to live, study, work, or visit. Evidently their campaign has been effective as we have chosen to visit it along with more than 2 million other tourists every year! Apparently it is one of Europe's most visited cities as it has a wealth of cultural and leisure attractions and is an excellent base to explore the magnificent scenery which surrounds the Scotland's largest city. Glasgow is also the UK's best shopping centre outside of London with its gleaming new malls that sit alongside bohemian craft shops. Unfortunately not all is possible to do in a single weekend, but as shopping is one of our passions this was a definate must!

We also enjoyed Glasgow's elegant streets that are lined with some of the most beautifully preserved Victorian buildings. Merchant City, the region of the city where we stayed, contains mansions, banks and warehouse buildings built by Glasgow's wealthy merchant traders. Georges Square is also in this district where the magnificent headquarters of Glasgow City Council is located. Accompanied by our friends from Malta, Jacqueline and Carlo, we explored the sights, tastes and sounds of this city, despite its "Melbourne-type-four-seasons-in-a-day" weather! We had many laughs and many educational experiences about life in a big buzzy city! Some of the highlights were the Scotsman playing the bagpipes in costume, tasting haggis, and of course the company, it was a great weekend!
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The Guinness Empire

The famous dark beer of Guinness...synonymous with Dublin!
The Guinness Storehouse located at St. James's Gate Brewery is like a shrine for beer lovers! However it also represents a man with extraordinary foresight and entrepreneurship, Arthur Guinness. In 1759 he signed a lease for this small abandoned brewery for 45 pounds per year for the next 9000 years! The man's genious is also evident in the additional condition of the lease which states that he would never have to pay for the water used! As this is an essential part of beer, this is a very important clause!

Although the Guinness Storehouse is given surplus hype and is over priced, the exhibiton dedicated to this black liquid and its founder is spectacular. Located within the Old Fermentation House, where fermentation took place from 1904 to 1988 when it was converted, the exhibition is an 'experience' of audiovisual, interactive, spectacular displays. The exhibition is dispersed over eight levels and the top level is the Gravity Bar, where you have an impressive 360 degree view of the Dublin skyline. This is the location where you also receive your complimentary pint of Guiness! So as you can imagine the temptation of the Guinness with a view was too much for Chris and he raced to the top of the Storehouse! So much for getting a cultural, and intellectual prespective on beer making...just bring on the beer...with a view!
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New Years Eve 2004

New Year's Eve 2004: Temple Bar, Dublin
Who would have thought we would be here in Dublin, Ireland on New Year's Eve? We started the night having auderves and drinks at our apartment whilst watching our newly purchased DVD, My Fair Lady (Marika's choice!), and then headed down to the Temple Bar District, which is conveniently a five minute walk from our apartment. We had a scrumptious dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe where we enjoyed the party atmosphere and of course the company of our friends, Elaine, Twanny and Matthew. Temple Bar Square was our next stop for the traditional NYE countdown. There were many people here but the crowd was well behaved as there were also many Gardi (Irish Police Officers) around. Elaine was intrigued by the Police Officers' bikes as she was having withdrawals from her own, so we made one of the Officer's nights as we had a photo with the 'Bike Riding Garda'. We sipped on our cappuccino's and hot chocolates in the square as we prepared for the countdown. The climax of the evening consisted of shouts and cheers from the crowd as they cheerfully counted down the last few seconds of the year to the bangs of a few measly illegal fireworks! The atmosphere was buzzy and jovial and although different to the traditional Aussie NYE we still celebrated the four year anniversary of the night we met on Rundle Street in Adelaide, when Marika tripped Chris in the street, and said "I think you need a physio!" as she passed him her business card... & as they say "The rest is history!" (Read More)

Ring of Kerry

What is the Ring of Kerry?
Apparently it is named in one of the top 1000 places to visit in the world and the most renowned Day Tour in Ireland! Yes it is a 110 mile drive around the Iveragh Peninsula in the County of Kerry. The scenic drive takes you around the mountain range called the MacGillicuddy Reeks and the Lakes of Killarney. You travel along the breathtaking Atlantic Coast, where you have views of Dingle Bay, Kenmare Bay, Ladies View and Killarney National Park. It is truly spectacular and so green...like something out of a movie! The highlights were of course the views, but there are also many sheep to meet along the way who are very used to cars but just graze or walk on the side of the road where they should be! The coastal villages are picturesque as the streets and houses are quaintly decorated with a lot of different colours.
Here we are at the gate of the Derrynane House, where we stopped for lunch. The Derrynane House was owned by Daniel O'Connell and his family, who was a campaigner for the liberation of Catholic's. Apparently they gained their wealth through smuggling with France and Spain...not quite the ideal source of income for a Catholic liberator! Trendy little O'Connell Street in Adelaide must have some connection to this man. Anyway it was a great day, great drive, great company! And for the day following a White Christmas it was, once again more than we could have asked for, no snow or rain, it was still a bit cold but the sun popped his head out a few times so it was grand! (Read More)

A White Christmas!

The miracle of a white christmas!...a surreal experience.
I watched a little snowflake come sailing from the sky, it played a joke on me when it fell right in my eye!
Another little snowflake came dancing toward the south, it looked at me a minute then landed in my mouth!
They seemed like little fairies upon a holiday, just out for fun and frolic, and asking me to play!

At first we thought it was a joke when we woke to Matthew shouting "It's snowing! It's snowing!"...but the first thing we saw as we looked out of our bedroom window on Christmas morning was SNOW! Ireland has not experienced a White Christmas since 1991 so we were blessed to experience snow on this day of the year! Call it fortune or coincidence if you like, however a miracle from above seems more appropriate. It was always my belief that the only thing that would justify being away from home, family and friends at Christmas, would be seeing the magic and beauty of a white Christmas! And the excitement and euphoria of it was definately some consolation for being on the other side of the globe from home at Christmas! The snow felt soft on your skin as it wafted down from the sky. Yes very cold too, but magical! We played in the snow for nearly an hour like five little children! Once the sun had completely risen on Rookery Mews & Killarney, which is where we were staying, it looked enchanting! Christmas is about being around those you love and we were lucky enough to have each other and our friends, Elaine, Twanny & Matthew to experience this with! Sharing Christmas with our little 9-year-old friend, Matthew also reminded us that Christmas is about being a child. The excitement of opening the gifts, the singing of Christmas carols, the joy in his eyes when he opened his presents, the cutting of the Christmas pudding, his elation with seeing the snow and his determination to build a snowman! It got us all in touch with our inner child and made us realise what the miracle of Christmas is all about! (Read More)

Christmas Eve Preparations!

Wrapping the presents, stuffing & cooking the turkey and packing for our Road Trip!
We had organised to stay in Killarney for three nights over the Chrismas break, which was a 4 hour drive from Dublin! However we didn't anticipate the organisation involved with our journey! Not only did we need to pack our clothes but we also had to bring all the presents, cook the turkey, pack it and bring some of our food supplies with us! It was an ordeal in itself! But i can assure you all the planning and efforts made by all were worth it! So on the Eve of Christmas Eve Chris picked up our Organic, Free Range, Hormone Free 12 pound turkey, after an hour waiting in a massive line! After extensive research through the internet and Chef Beppe, The Fenech's put the stuffing together and starting the 4 hour cooking procedure of the turkey. Chris had even gone out to by an oven thermometer so we were ensuring state of the art cooking! And so this photo is of the finished product...Roasted Turkey Maltese style! Of course we didn't take the whole 12 pounder with us. Half stayed and we ate turkey over the next week! So with presents, food, clothes and turkey all packed away we picked up our hire car and were off on our road trip to Killarney on Christmas Eve. It was a wonderful drive and we arrived to find a cosy, quaint apartment that was perfect for our weekend! The day ended with the traditional opening of the presents after we made Matthew wait in anticipation to 10pm! It was a long day...but a christmas eve we will never forget! And we will never take roast turkey for granted again...it is hard work! (Read More)

Dublin's December

Dublin in December comes alive with the spirit of Christmas!

Christmas is here and all around...in the shops, pubs, restaurants and the streets. You feel the buzz as everyone is out shopping and celebrating for the season. The irish use any excuse to party and christmas is one of the best, so nearly every night of the week in December you see crowds in the pubs and restaurants and a constant buzz in the shops. We couldn't believe the extent of decoration throughout all businesses and shops and a real christian flavour with nativity scenes not just santa claus or reindeers...they just use live ones!




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The Wicklow Way

The Garden of Ireland - rugged mountains, beautiful landscapes, glass-like lakes and the serenity!
County Wicklow is renowned for its variety of green landscapes and being only 20km south of Dublin is a popular weekend getaway for Dubliners. Wicklow is best explored through its 132 km walking trail called The Wicklow Way. Unfortunately we didn't have time to do it on this day (there are limited amount of sun, as it gets dark at 4pm), however we aim to revisit this place and take a hike through the mountains. The highlights are the little village of Eniskerry, The magnificent Powerscourt Estate with its 20 hectares of manicured gardens and Glendalough, the valley of the two lakes, which is the site of the Medieval monastic settlement founded by St.Kevin in the 6th Century! We were fortunate enough to be accompanied by our friend, Rob, who chauffered us around, so we were able to reach all these sites in one day and complete the day with a mouth-watering seafood dinner at the famous Johnnie Fox's Irish Pub!




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Kilkenny Castle

Elegant Kilkenny-a fusion of medieval architecture, culture, arts, cool bars and restaurants
Kilkenny City in County Kilkenny, is old meets new, and history meets arts, culture, fashion and entertainment...yes its got the works so you can easily spend a weekend here or more and have loads to do! Of course the highlight of the city, and apparently one of Ireland's most impressive fortresses is Kilkenny Castle on the River Nore. The origins of the development of the land date back to 1172 and the construction of the original tower as it stands today dates to 1192! Hard to imagine! It was owned by the powerful Butler family since 1391 and was handed over to the city of Kilkenny, for public dispaly, in 1967 for 50 pounds! It has been beautifully restored in Victorian grandeur! The 20 hectares of parkland were also impressive and delightful to stroll around on this crisp winter's day. Fortunately the sun was shining, but you had to keep moving to prevent the cold numbing all your fingers and toes!




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Gaelic Footy

A Cultural Experience of Gaelic Football, Hurling & Laughing at Croke Park
In the true aussie spirit we went along to Croke Park on this fine autumn day, to support the aussies as they battled to hold their title of Gaelic Football (Compromised Rules) Champions. Croke Park is an experience in itself, with a capacity of 80,000 it is also the fourth largest stadium in Europe! Although it has such a huge capacity it does not and will not host any international rugby or soccer matches as it is wholly & solely Gaelic Athletic Association turf, so all other matches or events are off limits! You never feel so proud to be Australian as being in a foreign country, supporting your fellow countrymen, seeing the aussie flag and listening to the Australian National Anthem...it also makes you feel a little homesick! The curtain raiser to the big game was Hurling...no not that kind of hurling (although i'm sure that also occurred) but the other Gaelic sport that involves speed, skill, a hurley (a long stick with a fattish blade) and a leather ball. It is very similar to hockey but the rules are different. The ladies also play it but their version, which is equally as ferocious is called Camogie, and has recently been promoted here as 'chicks with sticks'...sounds a bit dodgy doesn't it? The highlights of the game though were getting used to seeing the round ball...which i think the aussies were finding hard to cope with, the brawls that just spontaneously broke out between the players, even when the ball wasn't in sight (and the crowd loved it!), and yes of course...seeing the little dog running on to the field and chasing the players during the match for about 10 mintues of play! It was hilarious and only in Ireland! Our first impression was that the dog was meant as a scare tactic by the Irish but he actually was a stray dog whoose owners were interviewed on the news the next day! Apparently their dog was missing for two days and then they saw him on telly during the match! Classic Irish Stories! (Read More)

From Toronto with "Sisterly" Love! x

Seizing the opportunity of a sisterly reunion!
Life is about seizing the moment! So when Tanya discovered that a work seminar would bring her somewhere over this side of the globe, we were determined to meet wherever it may be, and fortunately it was in Toronto! Toronto resembles Sydney but on a larger scale and is more cosmopolitan with its network of neighbourhoods and urbane atmosphere. However, Darling Harbour totally out classes Toronto's Harbourfront, which is relatively a newer area of the city, and with all its potential and beauty is still being established. Toronto is one of the world's most ethnically diverse cities as it is home to more than 80 ethnic communities! Apparently in the forties and fifties Toronto like Sydney, was witness to a wave of immigrants who loosened the place up and converted it into the multicultural, vibrant, down-to-earth metropolis it is today. Fortunately Toronto is also the home of our friend Ryan, who Tanya used to share a house with in Darlinghurst, Sydney. He was our official host, chaperone and tour guide! We had a fantastic time hanging out with him and his friends, and getting to know Toronto through the eyes of a born and bred local Canadian, instead of doing the touristy things like a day trip to Niagara Falls, which we originally envisaged ourselves attending!

Having initially been based in Markham for Tanya's AMEX conference, a suburb 40 minutes from dowtown Toronto (!), we were glad to be absorbed by the city bustle of Toronto. We discovered that Toronto is the city of neighbourhoods, from Downtown Toronto, to Bloor Street-Yorkville, from Kensington Market & China Town to College Street & Little Italy, and our favourite shopping district of Queen Street West! The Queens Quayside strip along the Harbourfront was also enjoyable, five minutes walk from where we stayed at the Novotel. Toronto is also a functional city with its range of transit systems, including the subway, buses and trams, which reminded us of Melbourne, but most of the time we were fortunate enough to be chauffered by Ryan! Although the weather was cold and sometimes rainy, our hearts were warmed with good times, laughter and some fine local wine! Many thanks to our chaperone, a true gentleman, and thanks to Tanya, Ryan and friends for all the great memories! (Read More)

Tourists in Dublin for the day!

Book of Kells, The Jamesons Distillery and Ireland's Oldest Pub on a walking tour of Dublin!...

A Chai Tea Latte at Bewley's Cafe, A Whiskey at Jamesons Distillery and A Guiness at Brazen Heads Pub all in one day! However, the day commenced with a walking tour of Trinity College our nextdoor neighbour, and viewing of the Book of Kells. The Book of Kells was created over 1000 years ago by a group of monks. The monks situated at Kells, county Meath, were devoted to the study of God's word and the artists and scribes who wrote the four gospels and lavishly decorated them, held an honoured place in Irish society. The two books that are on display are a fascinating piece of ancient history, but as our young college student tour guide described it, the marketing of this Book as a tourist attraction is such that you feel that your life is not complete without seeing it, which isn't the case! Our next stop was the National Library where we visited an exhibition of the famous Irish writer, James Joyce. Apparently his book Ulysses so accurately describes Dublin in the early turn of the century that if it was to be demolished the book would be a valuable source in recreating it! The National Library has a stunning domed reading room inside, where Joyce apparently wrote most of his famous novel, Ulysses. You have to attain a reading card to sit in there and read their books...the security is very tight! On our stroll heading to the Jameson's Distillery we stopped at Bewley's, a famous Irish Coffee Chain, for our Chai Tea Latte, visited St.Patricks Cathedral, walked through the Viking/Medieval area of Dublin and by that time needed a Jameson's to warm us up! (Read More)

A Day Tour of Ireland

The Boyne Valley, Newgrange (Prehistoric Tomb) and the famous Hill of Tara!

A great way to see the surrounding countryside of Dublin is by taking a Bus Tour through Bus Eiranne. Our friendly bus driver, John Bolton, provided a constant flow of information and history throughout the tour and some good old irish humour here and there! We commenced the day at the 14th Century Monasterboice, the monastery at Buithe, where the largest free-standing stone cross in Ireland can be found. We then headed to Bru Na Boinne (The Boyne Place), an area rich in archaeological remains which includes Newgrange, Knowth and Douth situated on the River Boyne. The Neolithic temples were built around 5000 years ago around the same time as those in Malta and like the Maltese temples, are considered World Heritage sites. The single passage tomb of Newgrange contains a chamber where the remains of the dead were placed. Fortunately these tombs were sheltered from the elements for the last 5000 years, in contrast to the Maltese, as the tomb is covered by a large mound of stones and earth. The artwork and inscriptions of the spirals and diamonds are identical to those found in the Maltese tombs, indicating that there was communication between these various tribes of this era, which must have shared thier expertise in architecture, engineering, geology, art and astronomy. Our last stop was the famous Hill of Tara which is renowned for its archeaological remains but also for the battles fought here, the artefacts found here such as the Tara Brooch and it is the land mark of where St.Patrick preached Christianity to the Irish using the three-leafed Shamrock. Oh yeah and the sheep...he found his way from the paddocks of Bru Na Boyne to the pedestrian footbridge over the fields! Another "what the....?" photo and one of the many highlights of our day! (Read More)

Marika in Dublin - YEAH!!!

Dublin: A warm welcome in a cold city!

Arriving in Dublin was full of mixed emotions: ecstatic to be reunited with Chris after five weeks apart, but sad to leave Malta and all my friends & relatives. However the reception I received from Chris warmed my heart and soothed my soul. The chilling wind of Dublin didn't seem as hard to take that Saturday morning as we headed to our new temporary home in Dublin! I immediately loved the apartment that Chris had chosen although it took me a while to realise that he had decorated the house with fresh flowers! I had initially thought they were plastic and part of the furniture! It was such a sweet gesture as they really gave the apartment a warm welcoming feel! Fortunately the sun was out, although the wind was still chilling, and we went for a quick walking tour Saturday and Sunday of our local Dublin 2 area. Saturday night we had dinner at a traditional Irish restaurant for some Irish stew and Sunday we were keen to catch the last performance in the Spiegeltent of the Fringe! The tent is the same one that was in Adelaide its amazing!

Dublin situated on the River Liffey, is a very cosmopolitan city, rich in the arts, music, literature and the fine arts and plentiful in pubs. It has an energy to it of a big city but is complimented by the hospitality, humour and relaxed attitude of its locals. For the last 10 years Dublin has undergone a rags to riches transformation as its explosive economic growth has brought many changes to life in this capital. Walking through the city, the thing that struck me was the blend of old restored Georgian buildings, and the modern shops, restaurants, trendy bars and cafes. Its definately old meets new. Dublin is also a very multicultural city with half of its population being under 30! The aussies are quite plentiful in numbers here but the irish still can't work out why we are here for their 9 month winters when we have such fantastic weather in Oz! (Read More)

Goodbye Marsascala

Marsascala: Our Home Away from Home! A Final Morning Walk...

Marsascala was our home for the last seven months, and what a wonderful home it was! This little village holds so many memories and is the other of my top three locations to live in Malta. It is one of the more modern villages in Malta having undergone most of its construction and development in the last twenty years. However it still has all the features of a little Maltese fishing village, it is surrounds the beautiful little bay of Marsascala and it is still quite non-commercial.

These images each hold many memories and are a display of my last morning walk along the esplanade of our little village. So come with me on a tour of Marsascala Bay that includes sunrise, boats, swimming spots, hangouts, fishermen, the locals, the fruit and fish vans, the pitch and the views.... depicting life in a typical Maltese Fishing Village and a glimpse of what life was like for us during our most memorable seven months in Marsascala! (Read More)

Valletta - The Humble City

Valletta - The Fortified Capital- My good bye to Valletta!

Valletta is one of the top three places that I would live in Malta. I love its character, the narrow, hilly, cobble-stoned streets, the balconies, the cafe scene, the shopping, the harbours surrounding the city and the history within its walls! There were a couple of things i still wanted to see and experience in Valletta and on my last day there I wanted to experince the famous Manoel Theatre, walk some of the streets, visit some of the shops and have a latte in a cafe. The Manoel Theatre is the third oldest theatre in the world! It is a cosy theatre with so much character and it is my dream to one day return and see a performance here. It was on this day that Clare and I also discovered the little Maltese Clock Shop & the Clock Maker, a Maltese Folk-Dancing Teacher at a gift shop and many of the other wonders of Valletta for our last time together. (Read More)

Kick Off

Kick Off ~ A Maltese Footy Show!
In general there are 3 things that Maltese are passionate about: their Faith, Politics & Football...& somehow it seems that all 3 are inter-related! My first realistation that the Maltese were football (soccer) fans was during the World Cup. Many would congregate in pubs to watch their team on the big screens & drive around the streets tooting their horns after a match if their team won! Meeting Peter Gauci, through Razzett, gave me a more balanced insight into the passion of a football fan without the craziness. He has a devoted love of the game & of his team, Arsenal, but has a grounded, objective view of the sport & its fans. He has a wealth of knowledge on the sport & especially the history of Arsenal, and so he is the ideal host for the only Maltese Footy Show, Kick Off! When he invited me to watch the live filming of his show i couldn't refuse. I had never seen the live recording of any TV show and was particulatly interested in a live, interactive Maltese Footy Show!

And i have to say I was very impressed! The show was very professional from start to finish and it is evident that hours of preparation and research go into it. The most interesting aspect of the show is that besides Peter, his two co-hosts were footy experts, one on the Italian teams & the other on the English teams. This is the unique aspect of the Maltese footy fan: You are either an Italian or an English footy team supporter! As with Religion and Politics, it's either Black or White here in Malta...there are few shades of grey! Apparently local Maltese football is of a very poor standard & is generally not followed. So this is actually a Maltese Footy Show discussing the Italian and English Footy! It was another great insight into Maltese culture. Many thanks to Peter & his team for making me feel so welcome! (Read More)

Cousins!

Cousins, Cousins, Cousins!

I was fortunate to meet cousins, aunts and unlces from my mum's side and dad's side during my stay in Malta. It is nice to meet people who have a connection to your roots and have memories they can share of your parents and in some cases grand parents. Meeting these people also gave me an insight into how important familly is to Maltese and how they are very close with their relatives...much like my family and relatives are in Australia. Some things don't change.

I had some great times, nice food and fantastic company. Thanks for the memories! (Read More)

Celebrations of Friendships

The sad times of departure were nearing but before the tears there is always laughter!

We had so many memories and good times to celebrate! At the end of the day its not all the places you see and the history you learn that you remember but the friends you make, the hearts you touch and the memories you create together. This is what this entry is about.

Friendships made through the scholarship, through work, through life cycle, through sharing experiences...

Thank you, friends, for sharing laughter, dreams, triumphs, disappointments, tears and everything in between. You, my friends, have enriched my stay in Malta. It was better than i ever could have dreamed! Nothing, not even distance or time, can sever the bond created! Thanks for all the memories... (Read More)

A day in Vittoriosa...

Vittoriosa - First Home of Knights of St John in 1530!
Vittoriosa is only 800m long and 400 wide and yet it is the village with the most history in Malta. The Knights of St. John first set up camp here in 1530. They built their Auberges and extended the ancient defences, which are now known as Fort St. Angelo. It is one of the three Maltese Villages that I would live in if I was to live in Malta and i do believe it was also the birthplace of my father!

October 2nd, 2004 marked the 26th birthday of my precious friend Clare and it was also her last weekend in Malta so together with our friend Sharon, we decided to spend the day together exploring the village and beautiful marina of Vittoriosa.

We started at the Maritime Museum, had lunch at the well-known Cafe Du Brazil, then headed for the Inqusitor's Palace for an exhibition on Torture Instruments and finally finished exploring the Marina. Vittoriosa is very untouristy and untouched and you can blend into the scenary, although our cameras, photo shooting and Aussie accents gave us away! (Read More)

Life Cycle ~ The After Parties

The Celebrations didn't stop! - From Birthday Celebrations to Fenkata Nights!
When you have something to celebrate why not celebrate it! And we all had the achievement of successfully completing the Life Cycle Challenge and all had to release all that stress and tension that had built up inside our minds and bodies. The cyclists had also been very strict on their bodies for the past 3 months so for everyone it was time to relax and enjoy! So, there were many events on but some of the highlights for me were our first night out together in Malta at the Avenue restaurant and then dancing all night, the birthday parties and the Fenkata Night!

For those of you who don't know rabbit or "fenek" is the favourite traditional Maltese dish whether it is fried in olive oil, roasted, stewed or served in a pie! Therefore a "Fenkata" is a big communal meal consisting of rabbit, usually organised for a special occasion and usually eaten in a restaurant in the countrside of Malta. For our fenkata the restaurant chosen was "United" in Mgarr, named after the owners favourite football team of course, Manchester United! For all our adventures... (Read More)

What the...? ITS BACK!

We had to include some "What the....?" photos & there are some classics!

For those of you who don't know, "What the..?" is a segment on the Australian Entertainment Show "Rove Live", a concept developed by the icon himself. I think we would definately win some prizes with these beauties! See for yourselves...you be the judges!

STUCK! This one was taken on our last day of the Life Cycle Challenge. The cyclists had just finished their ride at the Train terminal in Madrid. They were relaxing and unwinding when all of a sudden we hear "crash!" and see this poor van stuck! So the Maltese being the kind-hearted friendly people that they are, literally jump in to help. First they tried about 20 cyclists jumping in to lower the van...it didn't work. So they all got out. Then they tried letting the back tyres down with 20 cyclists in the van...so they all got back in and it still didn't work...so they all got out. Then they tried letting some of the air down in the front and back tyres with 20 cyclists in the van...so they all got back in...AND IT WORKED! They were out of there, but only thanks to the generous assistance and brains of the Maltese Life Cycle Challenge team...because i think the two Spanish guys alone were in too much shock to get themselves out of this sticky situation! By the end of the Challenge our team were experts on dealing with these situations....if you know what i mean!

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Equinox at Mnajdra Temples

Mnajdra's Astronomical Alignment - Coincidence or Prehistoric Intelligence?

Mnajdra Temples at Qrendi provide the perfect surrounds for the magical experience of the Equinox, which Susanne and I experienced on September 22, 2004. The temples have a unique mysterious, charm within their small valley close to the seashore. These Megalithic Temples consist of three main temples and the Lower Temple, built in the Tarxien Phase (3150-2500 BC), has a specific astronomical alignment that baffles the modern world, which you can only really appreciate once you have witnessed it for yourself!

Firstly the Equinox is when every place on earth experiences a 12 hour day and this occurs twice a year on the March 20th (European Spring) and September 22nd (European Autumn). On these days at the Lower Temple of Mnajdra the rays of the rising sun pass directly through the main doorway, going straight down the central corridor of the temple and reach the innermost, central apse or altar. Is this a coincidence? Or were these prehistoric people we refer to as primitives actually intelligent astronomers. From the 21st June, the Summer Solstice, which is the longest day of the year, to the Winter Solstice on December 21st, the shortest day of the year, the rays of sun move across the temple from one edge of a stone to another. Now is that concidental? I doubt it. It is known that these prehistoric societies, dependent on agriculture for survival, observed the motion of the sun, moon and stars to keep track of the changing seasons for planting and harvesting. Clever huh?

The morning was memorable for many reasons: of course the Equinox, but also the three wild maltese dogs running around, the modern day women's fertility cult who were meditating, chanting and playing music and the cute little Mnajdra Puppy! To share in my adventures....

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Independence Day!

With a visit from the Royals! ~ Princess Anne visits Razzett
21st September 2004-Independence Day, marked the 40th anniversary of Malta gaining its independence. On this day in 1964, it was the first time since prehistory that Malta was ruled by the native Maltese, Dr. George Borg Olivier being the first. Prior to this Malta was ruled under various countries, the last and longest, being Britain. Queen Elizabeth II was still Head of State up until 1974 when Malta became a Republic (and can you believe Australia still is not!).

So to commemerate the 40th Anniversary of Independence Day Princess Anne graced us with her presence on the island of Malta! For an hour on the afternoon of September 21, the delightful Princess made time to visit Ir-Razzett Tal Hbiberija, as it was founded on February 23rd 1989 by Janatha and the late Paddy Stubbs, an English couple living in Malta. It was their dream to create a place of leisure, specifically for the disabled, which materialised when they converted their old Farmhouse (Razzett in Maltese) into the multi-functional facility that it is today! Princes Anne's father Prince Philip and brother Prince Edward also visited the centre on other occasions and therefore she followed suit. Razzett Tal-Hbiberija was sparkling for the Princess' visit and everyone associated with Razzett were there including the most important ones, the children. The visit went very smoothly and the Princess seemed to enjoy her time there. Read More to see more pics of Razzett, the Princess and some cute Razzett regulars! (Read More)

Life cycle ~ Part III

THE BACK-UP TEAM: the other essential part of the Life Cycle Challenge Team!
Being part of the Back-Up Team was very mentally and physically challenging but also rewarding in so many ways! The Organisers, Drivers, Navigators, Chefs, Medical Team, PR Team, and Support Crew all were required to gave 110% to support the cyclists and the team. Having been witness to what these people went through I can verify the hard-work and dedication that each member dipslayed. From first-hand experience I can describe the lengthy day of a member of the Medical Team: Rising at the crack of dawn with the cyclists. Showering, packing your belongings and then strapping up the cyclists. Providing medical attention at each 50 km check-point. Possibly catching a wink of sleep between check points if you're not required to navigate or put up signs or participate in a car discussion along the way. Get to the accomodation, unpack, eat, set up the massage tables and all the fun begins! In the wee hours of the morning around 2-3 am you may then be able to catch some sleep or go for a night walk and explore the town and who knows maybe catch the end of a Fiesta! And the whole routine starts again the next day at the crack of dawn! It is definately charcter building and a survival of the toughest-both mentally as well as physically!
This is not a whinging session but merely a description of the day, a peak at what it was like. Whinging is usually about something that is negative. This experience was far from negative! The beauty of the Challenge is the comradeship that was formed through all these experiences and memories created. The joy of giving and helping others, the opportunity to learn from others and most of all learning more about yourself...how you interact & survive. So that is what these photos are about. They also aim to depict the comforts of Life Cycle. Gymnasiums covered with mattresses, sleeping bags, suitcases, bikes, cooking over a gas burner and a big pot, hanging clothes out in the wilderness and sharing in the noises of 52 sleeping bodies! Its all part of the Life Cycle Experience! (Read More)

Life Cycle ~ Part II

More of the beauty and anguish that is Life Cycle...

THE ROUTE:

31st August Day 1: VERSAILLES TO EPERNON (52.6km)
1st September Day 2: EPERNON TO AMBOISE (200kms)
2nd September Day 3: AMBOISE TO POITIERS (155kms)
3rd September Day 4: POITIERS TO ST.ANDRE DE CUBZAC (239kms)
4th September Day 5: ST. ANDRE DE CUBZAC TO ORTHEZ (205kms)
5th September Day 6: ORTHEZ TO PAMPLONA (145kms) -The Border
6th September Day 7: PAMPLONA TO BURGOS (212kms)
7th September Day 8: BURGOS TO TORRELAGUNA (240kms)
8th September Day 9: TORRELAGUNA TO MADRID (60kms) (Read More)

LifeCycle ~ Part 1

Life Cycle...pain, tears, laughter, glory, triumph!
These are the first part of the best of my collection of images of the LIFE CYCLE CHALLENGE. These images portray the flavour of Life Cycle the pain, the glory, the humourous, the realities of our experience. Each image holds a special memory and a feeling of that moment in time but i hope you can appreciate them for what they depict to you too. Try to imagine what they were feeling...many of the photos show smiles but the challenge was physically and mentally intense and demanding! It was a tough nine days for everyone. Every cyclist and member of the back-up team were pushed to their limits. But as they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and this has definately strengthened all of our characters, bodies and souls!

For those of you who don't know what Life Cycle is, that means that you have not read my first entry on Life Cycle and you should scroll down the page and read it! There are quite a few images so i have down-sized all so the page won't take too long to load. But i suggest that you click on "Read More", go away from your screen, make a coffee and then come back and enjoy!

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Life Cycle Challenge

Challenge of a lifetime to help those who face a lifetime challenge.
The 'challenge of a lifetime' is the physical and mental training, preparation and planning, to bring together this gruelling cycling event covering 1700km, to raise funds for the Renal Unit at St. Lukes Hospital. The 'lifetime challenge' is the daily treatment and hardships sustained by the Renal Patients at St.Lukes Hopsital who are suffering with kidney failure and require regular dialysis and possibly eventual kidney donation to survive!
This year the challenge involves 31 cyclists riding from Paris to Madrid covering a distance of 1700 kms in 9 days! Evidently the cyclists train intensely (approx. 20 hours per week) for months prior to the event to prepare themselves for 180-220km of cycling for 9 days continuously in rain, shine, pain and strain! There are also the 20 man back-up team who spend hours working on logistics, sponsorshipand public relations prior to the event and who's job it is to feed, drive back-up vehicles, time the cyclists and boost morale throughout the event. There are also the medical team comprised of one doctor and three physios, including myself, who aim to maintain the physical condition of the cylists before and during the event, so they can perform to their maximum potential! Therefore it is a challenge for all...and the biggest challenge is attaining the sponsorship goal of Lm 250, which each team member must aim to collect to participate! To learn more click on our link to their website and... (Read More)

Chapels, Temples, Caves & Nature

For those who can appreciate the beautiful landscapes and history that Malta has to offer...

When our friend Peter Gauci, a passionate historian, TV Producer and Arsenal Fan, offered to take us on a day tour of Malta's historal Chapels, Temples and Caves, we couldn't refuse. So it was the three of us, Peter, Susan, the German Physiotherapy Student and I on our little step-back-in-time adventure! (Read More)

Etnika ~ The Giant Dream

Etnikafe04...Il-Holma Ggantija, The Giant Dream
On a perfect summers night in St. John's Ditch, Valetta, we began to hear the story of the search for the lost voice of the ancient island of Malta. Through Anell's, a young Maltese boy's, quest to recover his dream tune from the undersea world, Etnika fulfill their mission of revealing Malta's lost melodies and instruments. The full moon shadowed with a thin sheet of clouds posed as the picture perfect back drop for the mystical performance involving traditional instruments such as Iz-Zaqq (similar to a bag pipe), It-Tanbur (similar to a tambourine) and Iz-Zummara (which produces a warm reedy tone), together with the vocal talents of one of Malta's famous Ghana singers! Along with the full moon, the gothic surrounds of Valletta's Ditch and the over hanging Fishing nets assisted in forming the dreamlike ambiance of the journey taken by the audience.

Etnika is “Malta’s fabulous folk band” that aimed to revive and create a social awareness of Maltese folklore music. Through their extensive research of the musical instruments and traditions used throughout Maltese history they have resurrected from near extinction the sounds of Maltese Folklore and have come together to produce the biggest local modern act of this type in Malta. Andrew Alamango whose father I met on my travels and how I came to discover this unique group is the leader and founder of the group. Etnika boasts wide-spread international as well as local recognition and is planning to tour Australia in December 2004! The other founders include husband and wife team Andrej Vujicic and Francesca Grima who we saw perform in Puerto Flamenco at Vittoriosa. (Read More)

Dublin...Where did the sun go?

Chilling wind, old impressive buildings, cool bars, cobblestone streets and friendly people...that's Dublin! (Read More)

Corinthia-San Gorg Hotel

A taste of some Maltese 5 Star Luxury...Why Not?

Our last weekend in Malta all together before Chris was to leave for Dublin, so why not spend it in 5 star luxury at the Corinthia San Gorg Hotel in St.Julians, walking distance from the hub of Maltese nightlife, Paceville? We had fantastic rooms over looking the sublime settings of Conrinthia pool, the Mediterranean Sea and a view of the Casino. It was gorgeous! The hotel with its divine setting and its distinguished style provide the ideal environment for our pure indulgence and our unforgetable memories! See the view as it progresses from day images, through sunset and into the evening. Fortuneately we were also there on the night of the full moon to compliment the beautiful views! The unique aspect of this hotel is that it was built around one of the towers built by the nights of St. John which are situated at regular intervals Malta's coastline. Highlights were the beautiful views from the rooms, the relaxing pool and sea swimming areas, dinner at Palios of the Westin Dragonara and more fireworks to help us celebrate! (Read More)

Gozo Farmhouse

Gozo: an untouched spendour...Old Razzetts, prickly pears, local treasures, scenic landscapes...the perfect getaway.
Gozo or "Ghawdex" in Malti, the second largest of the Maltese Islands besides the mainland, is a must to see whilst visiting this country. The island is very "untouched" compared to Malta and is described by locals as how Malta was 50 years ago. It's slow paced lifestyle, scenic walks and unique coastal views provide the ideal setting for a relaxing getaway. So when my cousins suggested joining them on their summer break in Gozo we couldn't refuse. The best accomodation choice to get a taste of traditional charm is renting a Gozo Farmhouse, or Razzett, and the one they rented was 300 years old! Complete with its original stone walls, stone arches, wooden beams and even a loft, it also had all the modern appliances such as an outdoor pool, barbeque, and cable TV! Situated in Qala (ala) a little village in the south-east of Gozo it was surrounded by quiet Gozo streets, the occassional desserted field filled with fig and prickly pear trees, and a road leading down to the beach of Hondoq Ir-Rummien. It is quite common and fashionable for Maltese locals to choose Gozo as the location of the summer holidays during "Shut Down". "Shut Down", a concept i'm seriously thinking of bringing to Australia, is when business close down for a period of one-two weeks during the hottest part of summer. It originally started in Italy and has caught on here too, due to the extremes of the summer heat. Some government offices also run on half days throughout summer, all encouraging the slower pace of the Maltese summer! For all our adventures... (Read More)

The Cruising Staff Party!

Eating, Dancing, Celebrating on Water, the only way to party!

When you live on an island in the Mediterranean how else would you have a party but on a boat cruising around the island, watching the sun go down, going for a night swim enjoying the harbour views and eating, drinking and dancing the night away. This was the location and scene of our mid-year summer staff party. Little did i realise how much these people know how to party...they are a wild bunch who really know how to have fun! Now i know why they work well and work hard...because they know how to play harder and really let their hair down. I agree its the secret of success! (Read More)

Smiley Snaps

When you smile the whole world smiles with you!

Try it! It's contagious! :)

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Meeting the Prime Minister of Malta~NEW PHOTOS!

Meeting the PM of Malta...Dr. Lawrence Gonzi Dr. Ivan Fsadni, High Commissioner of Malta in Australia organised for us to meet with some officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then conclude the afternoon with a meeting with the Prime Minister of Malta, Dr. Lawrence Gonzi. The scholarship recipients in the photo are from the left Chris Abdilla who is an Engineer working at the Department of Roads (he is the Godsent to Malta, here to fix all their road work problems!), Antoine Mangion who is studying at the University of Malta (he is also a Political Scientist, Maltese Scholar Extroidinare and the deep thinker of the group) and last but by no means least, Claire Darmanin who is a solicitor working at the Malta Maritime Authority (revamping Malta's Maritime Registrar!). The highlights of the day were the wonderful view you can see in the background, entering the Castille (where the PM's office is) and seeing parts of the Parisio Palace, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is located....Oh yes and meeting the PM- he's lovely! Read on to see the photos...

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Marsascala Sunrise by Chris

CHRIS' COLLECTION:
Marsascala, Malta...a dream come true! (Read More)

Marsascala Sunrise by Marika

Marsascala shines at sunrise...the best time of the day!

You haven't really seen the true beauty of Marsascala until you've seen it at sunrise. I had to take these pictures to make Chris believe it...and then he felt compelled to create his own collection! The palm trees, the dghajsa, the mediterranean sea set on the backdrop of an array of colours of the rising sun. Kemmu sabih! (Read More)

Beaches of Malta

Meditteranean Bliss... sea, sun, sand and rocks!

The rock formations of the Maltese coastline create these cosy little bays, are a distinctive feature of Malta. These bays form a haven for locals and tourists alike, where they can safely swim in the bright blue, clear, water. Although often small, the size of the beach creates atmosphere with the colourful umbrellas and the banana chairs that cover the sand. Its funny to hear the locals speak of their beaches, as most of them prefer swimming off the rocks. We found this concept very foreign initially and couldn't think of anything worse! However as we've become experienced beach goers we now agree with the Maltese! Firstly, it is a much cleaner experience swimming around rocks (as you don't go home with sand in your bathing suite and in the crevices of your body!), secondly you can dive straight into the deeper sea water and thirdly there is a unique romantic atmosphere created by the rocks...yes hard to believe for us aussies... but you've got to try it to believe it.

Scroll through the photos to see the other array of beaches that the little island of Malta has to offer... you'll be impressed i can assure you! (Read More)

Wine Festival

The Delicata Wine Festival - sampling Maltese delicacies in the Upper Barraka Gardens

Perfect night, perfect location, fine wine and great company! It was another dream come true for a Maltese-Australian, who considers herself to be somewhat of a wine connoisseur, to be sampling Maltese wine in the capital of Malta. The Upper Barraka Gardens was gorgeous by night and complimented the fine wine of Delicata. So as you do at a wine festival, we sampled some of the fine maltese cuisine to line the stomach, all the wine that Delicata had to offer and then we danced the night away with the live music and summer night breeze! (Read More)

Marika's Birthday

Celebrating in Malta...for the second time!
Three years ago on this day i arrived in Malta and celebrated my 25th birthday here! One of my birthday wishes was to return to savour the delights of the Maltese islands and culture with the man i love!...and here i am! What a great place and time of the year to be celebrating whatever occassion! We had drinks at the Bedouin Bar at the Westin Dragonara Casino. It is a bar with lounges, cushions and that kind of balmy summer night's feel. We love open air bars in summer!
And we were fortunate to have lots of friends to celebrate with! Another memorable birthday in Malta! (Read More)

Ta' Qali - Arts and Crafts Village

A village of Maltese Arts and Crafts

Pottery, Lace, Iron Welding, Painting, to name but a few of the Arts and Crafts of the Maltese. However our favourite by far was the glass blowing. The following photos highlight our favourite pieces on display. The lamp stand is for our lounge room and the bull is for the coffee table...once we have a spare $2000.00! They are highly priced but once you see the glass blowers at work you can appreciate the time, skill and creativity that goes into such pieces. (Read More)

A Maltese Festa!

The FESTA is a unique event that clarifies the essence of the Maltese people... Faith, Feasting & Fireworks!

This annual village tradition is a celebration of the feast day of the patron saint of the village. The Maltese tradition, which has evolved over the past 200 years into this extravagant 5-day celebration, is an important and much anticipated event in Maltese family and village life. The Patron Saint of Marsascala, our present home town, is Sant'Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary, and is celebrated on Sunday July 25th.

Over the preceeding weeks we knew that the village people were planning for a big celebration as they were slowly erecting the colourful lights that line the bay, the flag poles and the other colourful decorations in the street. There is much preparation and thought put into such a celebration! The upcoming event is announced with the reverberation of fireworks through the village and surrounds from the Wednesday prior to the feast and the following five days are filled with customary events such as the performance of the village band (Il-Banda) on the Wednesday and Friday nights, the main fireworks spectacular accompanied by one or two local bands on the Saturday night and the 9:15am and 7pm mass on Sunday. The highlight of the Festa is the procession with the statue of the saint, followed by a convoy of the Maltese band and village people and ending in another impressive fireworks display! (Read More)

Gozo-Malta Swim

A physical challenge of endurance and strength, for a worthy cause!

The open sea swim of 4.9 kilometres from Gozo-Malta is an achievement of a lifetime for these avid swimmers! I was fortunate enough to participate as support crew as three of the Razzett staff competing, were kind enough to organise that I ride alongside them on their friend's (Alex's) speed boat. It was worth the sleep deprivation and the wake at 4am to be a part of this memorable occassion! For my three friends and colleagues from Razzett, it was their first time of crossing the channel. Congratulations and 'Prosit' (Well Done) to you all!

The event itself is a test of courage as well as endurance and strength. The swimming training weeks in advance is at times not enough to prepare these athletes for the challenges that this deep Meditteranean straight has to offer. Confronted with currents and worst of all jelly fish, it is an achievement just to make it to the end let alone finish in the times that these swimmers attained. On departure from Hondoq ir-Rummien, Gozo, a sense of determination and community spirit was felt amongst the 34 swimmers. You could sense the adrenalin and the buzz of the challenge in the air! (Read More)

Dining with Dignitaries

An Australian-Maltese Flavour to Dinner at Villa Risq...

On our approach to Villa Risq, the home of the Australian High Commissioner of Malta, it was comforting to see the Australian flag flying frantically in the wind on this rainy night in Malta. Following a greeting by his Maltese butler and the signing of the guest book, we were then welcomed by the man himself, Mr. Richard Palk. After weeks of working and interacting with Maltese and Maltese accents, his robust Australian accent was somewhat soothing to the ears and along with the flag there was a sensation of homecoming. The evening started with drinks in the main lounge as we awaited the arrival of all the VIP's. We were fortunate enough to have the company of Dr. Ivan Fsadni, the Maltese High Commissioner of Australia, Mr. Julian Holland, Manager and Business Developer of the Bank of Valletta, Mr. Franco Farrugia, the Chief Representative of the Bank of Valletta and the Secretary of State, to name but a few. Although an Australian essence was present, the limestone villa had a traditional Maltese feel to it with its grand high ceilings, Maltese artefacts and in addition the Maltese staff! The dinner also shared the flavours of my two "home lands" as the Maltese cuisine was complimented by an array of fine South Australian wine... yes the best of both worlds! It was a wonderful evening with a "laid back" Australian feel, some cheeky Maltese sense of humour and insightful conversation all around! Commendations to our host, Mr. Palk for a fantastic welcoming. Thank you! (Read More)

Summer BBQ on the Roof!

A Maltese BBQ...Maltese do it best on the roof!

The Maltese climatic conditions, consisting of mostly clear blue skies, a summer drought and only mild rainy winters, have led to the design of the flat-roofed Maltese house, which is fully utilised by the Maltese in many ways. Firstly they hang out their washing here (as they usually have a small laundry or washroom located on the roof too), secondly they store items as you can see in the 'what the...?' photo page, but most importantly they host their family BBQ's here! The roof is the coolest place of the house by the time the summers night breeze has set in, and the place with the best view! So what better place to do it than on the roof?

We were fortunate enough to be invited for a BBQ on the roof of Cousin Joe's house in Naxxar. It was the perfect location for the Scicluna Family BBQ with its sheltered eating area and another larger area where the three stooges (you'll see what i mean!) could play. The BBQ was great with laughter all around from the beginning to the end! As with Australian tradition, the men did a splendid job on the little portable barbecues and the women produced a fine display of salads! The highlights of the evening were the Joe's Vodka Watermelon, a nice view of Mdina, and the fireworks display!....no Maltese summer skyline is complete without them! Oh yes and of course the company of my cousins, aunty and uncle!



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Buses!

An experience of a lifetime! - The Maltese Bus.

A ride on a Maltese bus is like a ride at the Royal Adelaide Show! Full of adventure, humour, colour, bumps, slides, screams, shouts, views and so much more! As we do not have any other mode of transport here besides our legs, we have become very familiar with the buses and have had many experiences that have left us with a strong sense of belief that there is a God!

The adventure starts by waiting at the bus stop (and i say bus stop, not bus shelter as you can count on two hands how many shelters there are here in Malta, although if you included phone boxes as shelters then you may need four hands!). While you are standing there you are praying that the next bus you see coming down the road is one of the sixty modern day buses with their cushioned seating, their ideal lumbar support, their air conditioning and their SUSPENSION! However nine times out of ten it is one of the variety of colourfully painted vintage Maltese buses, Bentley's, Leylands, take your pick, but none have the modern comforts, just another slice of nostalgia! (Read More)

The Blue Grotto

Magnificent rock formations & crystal blue waters...

Wied Iz-Zurrieq is the tiny harbour on the south coast of Malta where the Blue Grotto is located. "Wied Iz-Zurrieq" means the valley of Zurrieq and Zurrieq is the larger village area more inland from the coast. This is where our friend, Chris Abdilla, from Adelaide is also staying so he spent the day with us, showing us the hot swimming spots, a scenic cliff face walk and the sights of the region.

The Blue Grotto is the huge natural rocky arch in the sea-cliffs, which you can see in the picture here. Around this span of the coast line, there are a series of caves in the cliff face. The reflection of the light against the caves and in to the water create some beautiful images that you can see in our photos. We took the traditional boat trip around the seven main caves in this region, which was well worth the ride! To really appreciate the true magic of the caves and the Blue Grotto you have be inside of them, as the view from the top just doesn't give you the idea of the size of these caves! From the boat trip you can also appreciate the natural rock formations and the clarity of the crystal blue water...you just feel like you want to dive in!...except that we saw some nasty jelly fish which apparently often congregate near the caves! (Read More)

Historical Central Malta

Central Malta - inundated with ancient history! Catacombs, Gardens, Cliffs, a Palace and more...

Historical Central Malta is comprised of Rabat, Mdina, Mosta (Mosta Dome), and the Three Villages centred on the medieval settlements of Attard (Home of San Anton Gardens), Balzan and Lija. We had explored the other villages, which left us with the town of Rabat & its surrounds to discover!

The town of Rabat, situated to the south of Mdina, was separted from Mdina in 870 by the Arabs and therefore was deprived of the protective walls of Mdina. Regardless, there are many interesting and unique sights to see here, and we were most captured by the architecture and character-filled streets of this town. The main sights are based around the Christian landmarks dominated by the presence of St. Paul. It is believed that St. Paul brought Christianity to Malta In 60 A.D. when he was ship wrecked on the island.

Some of the sights of that this region is renowned for are the ancient Catacombs of St. Paul and St. Agatha, the Grotto of St. Paul, Buskett Gardens, Dingli Cliffs, Verdala Palace & the Puzzling Prehistorict Cart Tracks! (Read More)

Cheeky Little...drop?

A "Cheeky Little Bastard" amidst an amalgamation of history and modern art!

On this balmy summer's night we headed to Vittoriosa for a taste of some Australian Wine at the famous wine bar of Il-Forn. Il-Forn is an art gallery, coffee shop and wine bar all-in-one! Located right in the heart of the medieval City of Vittoriosa, Il- Forn was built in 1637, and therefore the walls themselves hold much history! As the name suggests, "Il-Forn" (The oven or bakehouse), was once used as a bakery although previously was once part of an old hospital. The building itself is an experience with its 17 rooms that are kept in their original state, and host an abundancy of original features including the old bakers oven, 3 massive mill rooms and an equally impressive courtyard. These traditional Maltese features are complimented by a wide variety of contemporary modern art, created by the owner and manager himself, Austrian Artist, Clemens Hasengschwandtner.

It was a night full of stories, laughs and some good Australian wine. Our friends who brought us here wanted us to try the "Cheeky Little Bastard"...little did we know that this was a light fruity wine made in the South East of Australia...very close to home in fact! Therefore with pride we polished off four bottles of this easily drinkable drop!

At the end of the night we were escorted out of the premises by the owner/manager/artist himself, Clem, who proudly detoured and took us on a tour of his fantastic gallery. When asked, "where do you have the time to do all these pieces?", he told us that he paints by day and runs the bar by night! It is truly an impressive place with a cosy wine bar atmosphere!

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The Merchant of Venice - San Anton Gardens

A summer's night of open air Shakespeare ...

On a warm summer's night in Malta, we experienced the magic of the open air Shakespearean Theatre in San Anton Gardens, Attard. The Merchant of Venice was the Shakespearean production of choice, presented by the Maltese Amateur Drama Club, which was founded in 1910 by the British Forces, their families and friends. San Anton Gardens was the perfect setting for this production, in which MADC boasts they have conducted a play for the 52nd consecutive year!

San Anton Gardens were laid out in the 17th century by Grand Master Antoine De Paule for his summer residence, San Anton Palace. San Anton Palace formed the backdrop of the play and is now the official residence of the President of the Republic of Malta, His Excellency Fenech Adami.

The Shakespearean language can be hard to interpret at the best of times...and even more challenging when there are church bells, maltese bands, fireworks and even ducks adding to the acoustics! As you can imagine this all made the Maltese experience of open air Shakespearean theatre very unique and interesting! Read on for details..... (Read More)

Greece Euro Kings

The Greeks really can "Shake It"... on the soccer pitch too!

What a wonderful finale to a gruelling three weeks of Euro soccer! Football was constantly in the minds of the Maltese football fanatics here on this little island and let me tell you there are plenty of fanatics to find here. All the pubs throughout Malta displayed the Euro 2004 soccer matches and were blessed with crowds of adoring football fanatics for each of the games. Here in Marsascala we forgot to watch the game one night when all of a sudden a roar of cheers came from the piazza below and we knew then and there that we had missed a goal! The atmosphere is amazing and you would only believe it if you see it! The Maltese especially love the English and the Italian teams. Well to tell you the truth, as with their politics, they are strictly divided into English and Italian supporters, and are very passionate about their teams. When the English lost their qualifying match, the Italian supporters drove around Marsascala tooting their horns and vice versa! And on the night of the finale, there wasn't as much of a racket although many of the Maltese were supporting Greece... but Chris was the only one driving around Marsascala tooting his horn! Along with all the other Greek supporters, he is also still in shock and on a high from the win!

Go Greece! You have proven the words of Sakis Rouvas (Eurovision 3rd Place-getter) that you can "Shake It" with the best in Europe...
now let's hope you can "Shake It" in time for the Olympics! (Read More)

The Miracle of Mosta

Mosta boasts the third largest dome & a miracle too!

The Mosta Church was designed by a Maltese artist, Giogio Grognet de Vasse, and was constructed between 1833 and 1860. It is an impressive structure with its circular design and six-columned portico, and forms a prominent landmark in Malta as it is visible from most parts of the island. The most impressive parts of the structure though, is its unsupported dome that is said to be the thrid broadest dome in Europe. One cannot resist the awe of the dome when standing beneath its peak!

Mosta is also well renowned for the Miracle that occurred here during World War II. On June 9th, 1942 at 4:40pm, the Mosta Dome was struck by three enemy bombs whilst a congregation of 300 was hearing Mass. Two bounced off the dome and landed in the square without exploding and the third pierced the dome and ran across the pavement of the church without exploding. Miraculously, not a soul was hurt, and therefore it is no wonder that the Maltese congregation believed that this was an intervention of God. A replica of the bomb and photos of the roof can be seen in the back of the church. (Read More)

Who is Eros Ramazzotti?

TourEros...the talk of the town!

"Eros Ramazzotti who?"...was the question i was asking right up until this night of Tuesday 29th June, when Claire and I decided to join a group of local Maltese friends in attending the TourEros Concert. We didn't know who he was or what he sang, but it didn't seem to matter...all we were interested in was the cultural experience of it all. What we did know was that the stage built for Eros’ performance (of surface area 30 x 50 metres) was being described as the "biggest stage ever" in Malta and 13,000 fans were expected at Luxol sports grounds! So we had to be a part of all the hype!

The build up was exciting and the stage did look as impressive as it was described. And then he appeared... in a blaze of lights and glory...Mr. Eros Ramazzotti. So who is Eros Ramazzotti?...

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Flamenco at Vittoriosa

The beats of flamenco in the heart of Malta's oldest city & maritime fortune.

Puerto Flamenco was a unique experience of authentic flemenco! The improvisation of the various music styles that form flamenco song and dance were revealed. Flemenco is best appreciated in an intimate setting and the enchanting, historic surroundings of the Caraffa Stores in the port of Vittoriosa, where the Caravaggion Exhibiton was also being displayed, was the ideal setting!

Vittoriosa is one of the Three Cities, where at its tip Fort St Angelo can be located. The Knights of Malta strengthened and enlarged Fort St Angelo and the surroundings towns commencing in the 1530's, so you can imagine how much history surrounded us on this wonderful evening!

Puerto Flamenco displayed the artistic collaboration of the four essential elements of flamenco: dance, voice guitar and percussion. When the four sound as one, there is poetry in motion and a magic filled the Caraffa stores and the Vittoriosa Waterfront too! (Read More)

The Grandmasters' Palace...

The Grandmasters' Palace: once home of the Knights, now home of Maltese Parliament.

Built in the centre of Valetta the Palace dates back to 1580 and holds a lot of Maltese history.  Fortunately my cousin Ray Scicluna works as an IT consultant for the Government and was therefore able to give us a very informative tour, through areas which are otherwise closed to the public and especially to tourists!

The two-storey palace made of Maltese Limestone still holds much of the paintings, frescoes and furniture that have been placed there by the Knights of St.John who lived within its walls.

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Working at Razzett Tal-Hbiberija

Razzett Tal-Hbiberija:  The Park of Friendship...A special place to work.

From the moment i first stepped inside, I felt the unique aura of this facility.  There is an exceptional energy flow that is felt between the staff, volunteers, members and the public alike.  Through their eagerness to assist and support in any way that they can, the friendly staff and volunteers create a special magic within these walls and provide a wonderful service to the community. It is a centre run by people who genuinely care about the well being of others and want to help all people with disabilities, and let's face it we all have them (and if not we eventually get them!).  So the team is very caring and supportive amongst each other too!

Through my work here as a physiotherapist, i have met many special people, each with their own story to tell about their own personal struggles...and soon you learn that everyone has their own personal struggles, some less fortunate than others but just the same they are all fighting for health, happiness and above all survival.  Many are inspirations to us all and all are prime examples of strength and courage.

This is the day of the Spring Fair.  An opportunity for Razzett to raise funds for the running of the facility and an opportunity to promote its services.  So I participated on the Physiotherapy stall, with my Razzett T-shirt and my business cards trying to reel in some potential clients!

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Gozo - Day Trip

GOZO...a small island but full of history and mystery.
Gozo is the second largest of the Maltese Islands following the mainland. It is situated north-west of the mainland and is accessed by Maltese and tourists by the Gozo Channel Ferry. The Gozitans are considered a race within this race, characterised by their unique location, their slow-paced, quiet lifestyle, their local produce, especially their wine and honey and proud of their history and unique landscape. On three other occasions we had planned to a trip to Gozo and it was either very windy or raining, but today we were in luck as we made it to Gozo. However the irony of the situation was that once we got onto the island it started spitting...i think we are cursed!

This picture depicts a famous landmark of this island "The Azure Window" , found at Dwejra Point. Created by sea breakers over a period of thousands of years it forms a giant door or window through which one can see the azure waters beyond, hence its title. Read on to see the other marvels of Gozo and our day in Gozo with Cousin Joe, Marica and David. (Read More)

Keeping up Foreign Relations!

Keeping up foreign relations and our appetite for Adelaide...with Peter & Bianca.

Finally visitors from abroad! We were fortunate enough to have Peter and Bianca come to visit on their way from France to Greece. As you could imagine we had their five nights and four days all planned out with funfilled activities and as much sight seeing as possible. We had a fantastic time!

Guys, thanks for bringing the flavour of Adelaide to little Malta! Enjoy the rest of your trip!

Read on to see more shots of our night tour of Mdina, the day trip to Valetta and Sliema and the highlight of the trip....the "Round the Island tour of Malta....in a day"! (Read More)

Cats of Taormina

Cats! Cats! Cats! You couldn't escape them. If you were a cat lover you were in heaven and if you weren't then you became one by the end of your time in Taormina.

It was only from our time in Taormina that it became blatantly clear to me that Chris was the cat lover...and i was the one who became one. He was drawn to the cats...the cute ones, the orange ones, the muli-coloured, the ferrel ones...it didn't matter. I think he was missing his pet cat Cheetah who recently left this life for a better one...R.I.P. Cheetah. Hope you enjoy these cute pictures of the Cats of Taormina and i'm sure you'll become a cat lover too! (Read More)

Sicily Mt Etna - Day 3

"Old Moody ETNA": The biggest volcano in Europe and the most active volcano in the World!

These titles are a result of its height of 3,350 metres, resulting in its domination of Sicily and the three seas that surround it, and its continual eruptions during the last few years. In fact many of its craters are still smoking, the ground is still hot and lava still flows...and the scary part is that she is described as "an old, moody, woman", as she can errupt at any time without notice! Fortunately not on this day of our tour though!

You can see that it is freezing up here with the patches of ice and the fog. You can also see steam rising from parts of the ground where the cold air meets the warm volcanic rock that we were walking on. Luckily we were able to hire these hiking jackets to keep us warm. Our hands were literally numb with the cold but we would just dig into the ground and pick up some volcanic rock and this would warm them up! The rocks are still warm because of the high temperatures of the lava and rock below...it is unbelievable!

Check out these other photos! (Read More)

Sicily- A Walking Tour - Day 2

A walking tour of Taormina...a climb up the stairs leading to the Madonna Chapel in the rocks, a stroll through the Public Gardens, wading in the waters of Taormina Bay, lunch on the seaside and a cable ride back up to the top. It was an adventure and a perfect day for it! We kept a look out for the famous celebrities because apparently it is quite a popular hang out for the rich and famous...but the only celebrity i saw was...Robbie Williams!

This little island jutting out of the Taormina coastline is called "Isola Bella", and that it is! We didn't get the full scoop on the island but it looks like it is a private residence as no tourists are permitted past the gates of the island, which is a real shame. However this area is a popular tourist hang out and the pebble beaches are amazing!...painful on the feet but amazing. (Read More)

Sicily Taormina - Day 1

Sicily....a definite must! Situated 1.5 hours by high speed ferry north of Malta it is the ideal getaway for Maltese and tourists alike! With its diverse vegetation, roman architecture, exquisite restaurants and bargain shopping in Cantania, it is the ultimate! During our stay in Sicily we based ourselves in Taormina the most beautiful town of Sicily.

Chris is sitting at the peak of the Greek Theatre (how appropriate!?) in Taormina. Yes the Greeks have left their mark everywhere and most eloquently here in the theatre, where they positioned the backdrop of centre stage to encompass the seaview, the city of Taormina and Mount Etna on the right...pure genius. Presently they are restoring the centre stage where they hold drama and musical productions and you can imagine by night the backdrop would create a magical atmosphere! (Read More)