Malta - a guide

Malta - I have mentioned it in a couple of my previous posts, however I have never really gone into more details about how the island is and what can be explored there. I have been wanting to write a guide for a while now but I guess this post came to me much more naturally after my third trip there. Now I feel that I have a lot more to share with you, as my knowledge of this island has grow. This is a list of spots and places that I personally explored and really recommend. 

On this Mediterranean island it really does feel as if time has stood still, never left. The ancient architecture that dominates the island creates a magical presence that makes you feel as if you have been transported into the heart of movies such as Troy or Gladiator (both which were filmed on this island!). What more, whilst this happens you can enjoy a catch of the day at the local restaurant as you look upon a clear blue ocean. Even though there are only a few sandy beaches as Malta is very rocky, the clean crystallised water is always inviting - you won't say no. Personally, I think of this place as a Mediterranean gem and I think I will always keep going back there. Here are some of my favourite spots, make sure to give them a try if you will venture to this isle. Before I'll go on I just wanted to mention that I really recommend renting a scooter. The ancient streets of the cities in Malta make it ever so difficult to manoeuvre or find parking, whilst a scooter provides a swift solution to the problem. Every time we go we tend to rent from Med-Sun in St. Julians. The drivers are very careful of scooter riders so getting round the island has been an absolute ease.

Gozo. Most travelers who decide to go to Malta make the trip to Gozo. With just under a 20minute ferry ride you can explore a more feral isle of the two. Even though the majority people who visit Malta will venture onto Gozo, you do not tend to feel the 'touristic overcrowding'. The aqueduct that we found is just a couple of minutes from the town of Victoria and standing by the field next to it really makes you feel like being in the Gladiator movie. The sun-kissed and faded fields perfectly blend in with the limestone structures that are scattered across Gozo. Make sure to stop by Cafe Jubilee in Victoria to get your dose of caffeine for the day as it will definitely be a long one! 

Once you are on Gozo, without a doubt you should definitely check out the cliffside area of Dwejra that housed the now collapsed Azure Window, which was featured in the Game of Thrones. Afterwards, I would totally recommend checking out the Citadella (Castello) in Victoria - a structure which is believed to have been a Punic-Roman settlement. The Citadella reminded me of Mdina, especially its small windy streets that wind around the surrounding buildings. The architecture is stunning and the sand tones are simply beautiful.  One complements the other and its something you should not miss. Architecture knows no era on this island as Gozo also has some megalithic structures known as the Ggantija temples. These are from a similar period to the temples that you can find on mainland Malta next to the Blue Grotto known as Mnajdra. All of these structures are almost 6000 years old, thus not only making them a all UNESCO World Heritage sites but at the same time some of the oldest structures that grace our planet! If you have more time definitely check out the fishing village of Marsalforn and you'll find delicious fresh seafood to end your day with.

Mdina. First inhabited around 700BCE, Mdina was also an old capital of the island during the medieval times and now, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,  that definitely accounts as one of the most popular tourist attractions on Malta. Its narrow, winding streets were perfect for filming scenes of King's Landing for Game of Thrones. I couldn't recommend more to see this settlement - the walls tell centuries of history. Not to mention all of its beautiful doors that are of all different colours designs. The one pictured above, with its rich purple flowers is a definite must see..

Valletta. This UNESCO World Site town is a must whilst in Malta, UNESCO itself describes it as 'one of the most concentrated historic area of the world'. With its architecture, museums, cafes and beautiful views - no wonder it was given such a description. Every time I am in Valletta I stop off to have the best cannoli at Dolci Peccati a small Sicilian cafe that has great coffee and delicious Italian snacks. Malta's close proximity to Sicily makes it popular amongst Italians who open up businesses on the island - Dolci Peccati is one of them and I couldn't recommend it more for a day when you're exploring Valletta. 

This year a Is-Suq talk Belt (Food Halle) has been opened in a new location. Various restaurants and bars - some local, others with from a foreign palette serve up great dishes. The mussels were great there and the outdoor bars are great for an evening's drink. Downstairs they have store which sells some groceries - a lot of them are imported from the UK and just seemed a little overpriced to me. However, I'm sure you'll find something you crave. 

Due to its historical and archeological importance Valletta also has great museums, however to me the whole city is just a one big museum site! National Museum of Archaeology, of Fine Arts or War to name a few - there is quite a range to choose from. Take your time and just wonder the streets, exploring beautiful architectural gems such as St. John's Co Cathedral, built by the order of St. John in the 16th century..

St. Julian's presents itself as rather lavish just as the restaurants that it houses. The harbour bay looks wonderful when the lights are lit up in the evening and its worth taking a trip to this town for a tasty dinner. Barracuda restaurant is definitely my favourite - I ate the best fish on the island there and I soulfully recommend it to you. Even though the better restaurants in this area can be a little pricier than others, they are definitely worth the spend, Barracuda is definitely one of them. Apart from renting out the scooter, strolling or going to restaurants in the area, I didn't find much else to do in in St. Julians.

Marsaskala and Marsaxlokk. Both of these are smaller fishing towns that serve up the best fish in Malta and they are within a 10 minute drive from each other on a scooter. You'll find plenty of restaurant choices here. I would recommend to always go for the catch of the day, it will guarantee you freshness (not that its an issue here in Malta).  We really enjoyed our dinner at Restaurante Famiglia in Marsaskala and Dell'Arte in Marsaxlokk, which recently changed location.  Additionally Terrone offers tasty breakfasts and great dishes in their daily changing menu. Terrine is also located in Marsaxlokk, right on the seafront.

St. Peter's Pool is definitely one of Marsaxlokk greatest attractions. The blue water is ever so inviting and the ledges are perfect for jumping into this naturally occurring 'swimming pool'. In the summer it can get quite crowded so if you want to have a more private experience definitely get there earlier in the day. The cliffs surrounding the St. Peter's pool give a great view over the deep blue sea, it's very dreamt and ever so stunning.

More. Undoubtedly, there is always something more to explore. For example the breath-taking Blue Grotto, which can be admired from a cliff side lookout close to Mjandra. The view is incredible and on the day we went the wind was so strong that I swear I was half flying when walking around the view point. Alternativelyl you have Popeye Village, a town built for filming purposes that now became a theme park village attraction with boat rides. If you'll go round the other side of the village, you will find an area where you can swim and dive. Both of the attractions are very popular with boat tours, however we have remained faithful to our scooter and use it to get around the island.

BALI

Hey everyone,

“Sorry for the lack of posts”- I pretty much start most of my entries with this but it’s been a very busy month indeed. With literally hours between planes, countries and trips I hardly had time to place my thoughts and the idea of trying to find order in my images and arrange them well with some meaningful words, seemed a little overwhelming - even though it shouldn’t at all! Well, I’m back!

This post is related to my Bali trip which I made at the beginning of August. As some of you might already know this is my third trip out there - I have to say the island is definitely a special one and even though it starts to feel like I second home, I always end up discovering it in a new, different way.

This time I started my journey in Canggu - the new “it” spot for all social media savvies as well as people who appreciate their aminities, surf lessons with a still flavoursome local vibe. When I was in Canggu 2 years ago it was definitely a little different. With Deus Ex Machina as its main spot and a couple of cool cafes it was definitely less saturated with the enchanting island vibe infrastructures. Please don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore all of the new cafes such as Milk & Madu (which has the BEST food going), the new location of Nalu Bowls which made its way next door (can’t believe the Uluwatu location is no more!) or the plentiful tasteful boutiques that sprung up from every side (which I am addicted a little too much to). However I would lie in saying that the Canggu I knew, hasn’t changed. This doesn’t necessarily mean it has been for the worst, I just hope it doesn’t completely take away the authenticity that I appreciate in such spots like it. 

As for the rest of Bali - another shock was in Bingin - I could hardly find the turn onto the beach as so many new buildings surrounded it now. I am still happy to see that the old mini supermarket hasn’t changed its bearings and that Mango Tree Cafe which serves up tasty tacos is still up and running!

On this trip apart from making my way to Canggu as well as the Bukit peninsula, I managed to visit Nusa Penida, Ceningan and Lembogan. Initially I wanted to venture to Flores, Komodo & Sumatra but I ended up running out of time, so those will definitely be in the cards for my next Indo trip. However the other mentioned isles were absolutely stunning and it was great to discover some new spots not too far from Bali itself. Nusa Penida was definitely my favourite as it felt the least ‘touristy” and super local. The beaches, waterfalls and cliff side hikes were all magical, transforming me to a part of Indonesia I haven’t experienced before..I loved the raw authenticity that you could feel there, it was exactly what I've been looking for on this trip..

Most of my days in Bali mainly consisted of missioning around the islands and mellow chilled eves..I try to avoid Kuta & the slightly less busy Seminyak but naturally, I still dropped by there to pick up a few bits from No. 216 - which is probably my favourite store ever!

Towards the end of my stay I wondered down South to the Bukit, more specifically to Bingin where I stayed at the Gravity Hotel which was an absolute dream..I will be doing a separate post about my time there.

So.. scroll down & take a quick peak to get a taste of my adventures, It's a short but sweet compilation of my favourite shots from across Nusa Penida, Ceningan as well as Bali itself. Ahead of your browse, I sincerely apologise for the smoothie bowl overload.. I devoured them on the daily basis sooo #sorrynotsorry ;)

ENJOY!

 

Lanzarote, Spain

As some of you may already know, I ventured out to Lanzarote a couple of weeks back. I haven't had a proper chance to write about the island since then, as I have been seriously cought up with the preparation for my Internal Medicine exam. I managed to pass it, which is great news for me!! Hence, right now it's time for a much needed catch up on the site! Alex & I really love contributing to Chat Blanc & sharing our experiences with you all, however it can get a little tricky sometimes with both of us being full time students, apologies for the delay!

LANZAROTE

Being one of the 7 Canary Islands, located just off the Northern coast of Africa, Lanzarote is very well known as a popular holiday destination for Europeans all year round. With stable temperatures & constant winds, the Volcanic Canary isles - especially Fuerteventura and Lanzarote- attract not only regular tourists but numerous water sport enthusiasts..

Lanzarote is definitely very specific, quirky and unusual. With it's volcanic ashes and lack of natural green vegetations, it is not your stereotypical looking island, however it's uniqueness does grow on you! Here are the highlights from Lazarote:

Wine Farms & Aloe - from the few things that can be grown on the island, wine can be found in abundance within the La Geria area of Lazarote. The predominant wine type grown here is Malvasia, favoured by the climate of the island. Here, wine farmers tackle the tough growing conditions by protecting each grapevine with crescent shaped volcanic rock "walls". In this way the vines are sheltered from the ever blowing wind. If you're visiting make sure to check out such a 'bodega' - a winery in Spanish. Not only the wine tastes good but the views are incredible. Furthermore, in addition to wine,the area is famous for Aloe growing! Make sure to check the Aloe farms - the natural creams & gels work wonders on exposed & dry skin.

Windsurfing, surfing - the wind is very prominent on the Canaries, making them a staple choice for European windsurfers & kitesurfers. Surfers of various kinds can find good conditions on the beaches within the small village of Famara, North of the isle. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced enthusiast, you'll find a suitable spot. El Quemao is a famous world class surfing spot known for it's shallow volcanic rock-reef break, mainly enjoyed by very experienced individuals. Whilst beginners can find comfort in the gentler waves of Arrieta.

Beaches - Lazarote provides with plenty of beach spots. Clustered calas are a popular choice. Playa del Papagayo is one of the most popular spots, however within its vicinity you can find alternative calas & beaches like Playa Mujeres just a 5minute drive from Papagayo.

Timanfaya National Park, home of the Montanas del Fuego (Mountains of Fire) that were formed by Volcanic eruptions in 1730-1736 are a must go. Craters of Volcanos & volcanic rock formations set the atmosphere of this park. Due to its intense protection by UNESCO as a world heritage site, access is highly restricted hence the area can only be explored by bus or on a camel. The rawness of the lava formations resembles a Martian-like landscape that is home to many species of plants & animals.

Famara - an adorable fishing village that attracts surfers. It has a really rustic feel to it & incredible fresh seafood on the beachfront restaurants.

Cuisine - in general the Spanish cuisine is well known for it's varied & rich tastes. The fresh seafood of Lanzarote is definitely a prominent feature. I think any sea food lover will satisfy their tastebuds on the isle. Within Spaniards, Lanzarote is known for it's sauces called the "mojos" that are largely enjoyed with boiled potatoes for their taste. Make sure to give those a try. It is said they taste the best when eaten on the island!

El Golfo - also known as the green lagoon. It is a a beautiful colour palette of contrasting colours. A specific chemical reaction between rock and salt water gives this "lagoon lake" its hypnotically green colour. It's mesmerising as you see all of the various  natural elements come together in one place..

Other tourist attractions - still, there is always something more to explore whether you want to see the caves of Jameos del Agua, Los Hervideros, El Mirador del Ri, Jardin de cactus (with its thousands of cactus species) or even the house of the late Manrique - the patron of Lanzarote and an artist whose art aesthetically dominates the island. For example, it's because of him that all the housing is strictly to be painted white or cream. All of these are very unique & unforgettable experiences that you can only find on this particular island.