7 days in Malta

When Kunal and I promised ourselves to each other – we always knew we are going to keep up with our love for travelling - baby on board or not ! So the first chance we got post baby, when she was finally fully on formula and now eating solids like she was always meant to enjoy the good foods of the world, we took off to Malta !

Why Malta, everyone always asks me – We wanted a perfect beach holiday but some place where there would not only be a bunch of good restaurants and beaches but also a thriving  night life – I was almost on the brink of forgetting what it was to be awake till 4am and in high heels ,slightly intoxicated.

Getting there from Mumbai – It’s a long flight … Mumbai – Dubai-Malta ( with a one hour halt in Larnanca, Cyprus on the latter flight ) It sure did feel super long because it was also the longest I had been away from my Baby ! All I could think was of when I will get to the hotel room, connect to the Wi-fi and video chat with her.  Yes, Separation anxiety exists even in the most carefree souls like mine. Tip to First time Mothers who are travelling without the baby – Avoid video calling. Its hard on your baby to see her mom on the screen and not picking her up… but its even harder on you to see her stretch her arms trying to reach for the screen and you not be able to pick her up and squeeze her. Post video call and a few tears later… We were in the moment ! Alone – yes, without our baby, for the first time, Kunal and I felt Alone, We are a UNIT !!

But it took a quick shower, a little nap and a walk around the block onto the promenade where the Blue Azure waters of Sleima Harbour took our breath away.

Where to Stay ? – St Julians is the heart of the city with most clubs and bars , but it can get really crowded from June – Sept. Sleima is the shopping district and also the harbor from where the ferry to Gozo and Comino start. Either way, this island nation is small and everything is only a few mins cab ride away. We stayed at the Palace Hotel, Sleima … the rooftop swimming pool and bar have the most stunning views of the waters on one side and the city and harbor on the other.

How to get Around ? Taxify is the Uber of Malta ! Cheap and easily available. It is also recommendable to get a small car to go around, but the roads are small and parking can be difficult and google maps is tricky around the city center and Valetta.

We started with the most fantastic meal at Barracuda in St Julians – we were booked for the chef’s tasting menu, and boy were we impressed ! We thoroughly enjoyed the first of the celebrations for Kunal’s birthday week !


The next day we walked around Valletta, Malta’s historic capital city. Its incredible beauty, history and culture make it one of the best city break destinations in all of Europe.  Throughout history, Malta’s desirable location in the Mediterranean, below Italy and north of Libya, has drawn many nations to stake their claim on this tiny island: First came the Phoenicians, followed by the Romans, Normans, Habsburgs and finally the British from whence it received its independence in 1964 and went on to become a republic in 1974, and finally entered into the European Union in 2004. All of whose influence can be found in some part of the city … each leaving their own mark. 

One of Valletta’s best attractions is simply its gorgeous landscapes. Walk around the Upper Barracca Gardens and enjoy panoramic views of the city’s charming Grand Harbor. The public park, which sits atop Valletta’s historic fortifications, is an ideal spot for a picnic or a romantic stroll. If you’re looking to extend your scenic walk, the Lower Barracca Gardens are equally stunning.

Whilst Valletta’s natural scenery, the sun-drenched coastline and the sparkling Mediterranean, provide a scenic backdrop, the city’s man-made structures are also worth mentioning. You don’t have to be an architecture enthusiast to enjoy the striking beauty of 16th-century Baroque St. John's Co-Cathedral; the 18th-century Rococo palace—home to the National Museum of Fine Arts; and the many grand, Renaissance-era buildings that line its cobblestone streets. All this can be best enjoyed on foot, or you can zip around the city center like us on the Segway Tour which takes you to the city center and all the way down to the harbor.

Foodies feel right at home in Malta, where the cuisine is a brilliant mix of Italian favourites, North African flavours and age-old recipes unique to Malta’s rich heritage. If you’re dining out in the city, head to one of the many Trattoria on Melita Street. These cosy eateries have attracted many a famous celebrity. We also ate at the Blue Elephant in the Hilton, it is surely a miss, although it came highly recommended to us by several folks.

The following evening we found ourselves in Mdina – the silent city. About 30 mins inside the mainland - Honey-coloured walls offer some much-needed shelter from the pervading wind or sun depending on the weather you find yourselves in Malta..It’s such a small city that you won’t get lost for more than a minute, so you can wander down whichever pretty streets take your fancy.

You can also get higher up on the walls in Bastion Square – the main (very attractive) square in the city full of gorgeous Baroque buildings. You’ll also notice that the street signs are all on ceramic plaques, which is rather nice.

We reached Mdina as the streetlamps lit up. We’d read that you have to see it at dusk or night to appreciate its eerie silence. We didn’t wait until it was late enough when we got there to appreciate the street lighting at night, but we definitely got the emptiness. We were the only people there, apart from one other couple we passed. We dined at the fancy De Mondion – such places are meant for celebrations – like bringing in Kunal’s birthday !!!

Consistently rated amongst the top restaurants in Malta for the soul nourishing cuisine, refinement and excellence, the de Mondion promises discreet yet impeccably attentive service allowing patrons the time and privacy to savour the cuisine, the company and surrounded by the frequent colourful firework displays for the nearby village festas. The wine was superb and well recommended by the sommelier.

That evening, when we reached Sleima and were about to decide where to head next, GianPula found us. Like all epic plans that are never a part of the plan, this fell right into place. We saw a bunch of people walking towards what clearly looked like a party bus. Everyone showing their hands with the tag of some event, young boys high fying and girls retouching their make up and saying they were only going to have the best night of their summer…. Kunal and I did feel maybe we were a bit too old for this, but then again we decided – if it wasn’t for us – we will take the taxi back home ! And that’s how GianPula happened.

An original Maltese hunting lodge converted into  a popular clubbing village on the island, Gianpula is made of a collection of a huge disco complex with several gardens, nice music, adults customers, an amazing rooftop pool, - located on the road connecting Mdina to Zebbug, in the middle of the countryside is not easy to find. But once you are inside the entire vibe is different. We went to The Rooftop – which serves South American Tapas, Drinks, and Sheesha !!! What more can a girl ask for ? Oops, In my casé what more can the birthday boy wish for ?? By the end of that night, we felt we ticked the whole "be up till 4am, drinking and dancing till the high heels hurt !!!"

 So the next day was just the perfect plan , to feel in our 30's again – we planned to take a Yatch out at sea. We visited the beautiful island of Comino. From Sleima harbor you can rent these beauties out for the entire day like we did or you can also rent them by the hour.

The ride to Comino Island is incredibly picturesque. Have your camera ready for shots of the beautiful caves and sea cliffs along the route there. It’s a quick trip from anywhere in Malta and the journey is Instagram-worthy from beginning to end. As soon as you arrive at Comino Island, you will see how crazy popular this place is. There are always tons of people arriving at once. Normally, anything so touristy puts me off a bit, but this place is worth it.

You can’t blame tourists for crowding in to see this gorgeous spot! The Blue Lagoon is shallow. It’s basically a giant swimming pool. The water is calm, shallow, and crystal clear. It’s a good place to snorkel or just enjoy the cool water. There are tons of water sports that can be enjoyed – we sat on the bumpy bed/ speed boat and bhoy o bhoy did we feel 16 again.

The best part of being parked in the blue lagoon – you have a speed boat that goes around to come take your orders for food, drinks, ice cream and any other essentials – we called for a warm pizza and some wine – and was the perfect meal post our dip in the sea. This is the luxe life – and the moment where I forgot I am Mom !

That evening we dined at Caviar and Bull. One would ask what are two vegetarians doing in a sea food and meat speciality restaurant ? But will you believe me when I say this : If their Lobster is their specialty , their Goat Cheese Filo Pastry Puffs may as well be at par ! It was little pieces of heaven melting in the mouth. We had the degustation menu – accompanied by some amazing cocktail.

 We were seated on the balcony over looking St Georges Bay. What a fine evening looking at the sun set and the wind ruffling our hair…. We were one of the last few to leave… but we left savoring our chocolate cake and memories of that Maltese Evening

For our last evening we went to St Julian and walked around Paceville … Paceville is the bustling city center of St Julian. … Can also be called a street full of Hugo’s terrace bar, Hugo’s Sheesha, Hugo’s Bar … all things Hugo.

We got to enjoy a Fifa Match in Hugo’s terrace with a few drinks followed by Sheesha in one of the lounges on that street. The lounges all look and feel almost the same- its like one big party street. Although the crowd is younger – more for people on the Bachelor / Bachelorette parties = big rowdy crowd.

Malta also has some really big Casinos… The Westin Dragonara is one of them. Kunal made a few, I lost a few … we squared it off well ;)

Malta does not have too much sight seeing, but a big part of the Maltese culture are the The Maltese village festa - They are the distilled essence of all that is Mediterranean in one event. These feasts combine colourful lights, band music, noisy and bright fireworks displays, and a crowd of hundreds spilling out of bars onto the noisy streets into one orgy of celebration.

It’s an experience of food, drink, music and fanfare. Food stalls line the streets serving everything from hot dogs to traditional fare. Try some mqaret - deep fried date cakes. These are sinfully delicious and a bag full will set you back less than 2 Euros. Another artisanal treat is nougat. You’ll find many selling this favourite treat known as qubbajt in Maltese. Sellers normally have dark wooden stalls with antique weighing scales to serve the sugary treat.

Band marches are an integral part of the celebration. The local band performs festa favourites, many of which will be composed by local maestros. As they march through the streets and towards the church, the crowds often follow behind.The ceremonial highlight of any festa is the carrying of the statue. Festa devotees bid for the privilege of hoisting the statue out of the church and onto a prominent place in the village square. This is usually accompanied by a roaring crowd cheering them on. Go for a quick walk around the town – and make sure its one of the big village festas – because smaller the town – smaller the festa. You don’t want to look like a big city tourist in a small village !

Like I felt on my trip to Cyprus, I saw very few locals living in Malta –Apparently, people do still live in the city. But like many places we wandered in Malta, there were no signs of local life. It’s almost a museum in itself. Like we experienced in Valletta, there seemed to be gaggles of tourists or absolutely no one about and no in between. My two cents on Malta -  Malta may be smaller than some of the better-known European capitals, but it’s no less noteworthy. Go for the perfect combination of city + beach + restaurants + night life + casino … the perfect one week getaway… If you’re looking for a less obvious city break destination, visit Malta’s hidden gem before the spotlight finally shines on it and visitors start to flood in .

Contact : https://www.vibrantholidays.com/  The helpful people at Vibrant Holidays helped booked our entire holiday and made it a memorable one. 

Cyprus Sunshine

As soon as you land, you feel the fresh mediterrean sea winds hit you to greet you at Larnaca airport. Now, right before getting onto a plane, a million people asked me – Why Cyprus ?? Where is Cyprus. Just to give you the quick co-ordinates !

Capital : Nicosia
Party Capital : Ayia Napa
Currency : Euro
International Airport : Larnaca & Paphos
Summer Months : March – Oct – tons of people !!
Winter Months : Nov – March – everything is cheap, most restaurants, bars and cafe’s are shut !
Visa : Needed – although its a part of the European Union – a simple Schengan Visa will not suffice as of 20th Nov, 2010. But things are soon going to change.

Why Cyprus - because it has some of the most beautiful and breathtaking beaches of the Mediterreian coast line. There are tons of hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts available which can be booked online. I would suggest people to self drive, its fast and economical – you can cross the country from one end to the other in a little over 2 hours – if you love speed like I do ! They follow the british style – RIGHT HAND DRIVING !

WOOOFFF !!! Getting to the actual fun bit !

We were a party of 9 people, so booking a hotel was out of question. At ¼ its price, I found an amazing 4 bedroom villa, with a swimming pool, big garden and a seafront with the most amazing view !! Although we were a little outside Ayia Napa – about a 10 mins drive – which we did not mind. We considered ourselves lucky. Our cars were parked in the exact location as explained to us – and after the first day the GPS was rendered useless. This country bowled me over with its simplicity !


We dropped out bags and after a quick oohing and aahing over the absolutely fantastic villa, we got dressed for a little night on the strip. We headed straight to Ayia Napa. The little town of Ayia Napa can be walked from one end to the other without tiring your feat. Hiring a quad bike is recommendable. The Party scene in Ayia Napa is explosive ! Go to Bedrock Inn – Flintstones style, StarSkys, Piazza, Guru Bar – one the most stylish, Abyss are some of the best Clubs to be visited. Los Bandidos is a must visit Mexican Restaurant in Cyprus – especially for vegetarians – for whom most Cypriotic Food is a no-no. This town has all international cusinies to suit every pocket.


What is the most striking is that Ayia Napa is full of Souvenir shops. But once you travel in the layers and find the cute boutiques around this little town, you will be in paradise. Beware of Designer FAKES – at 1/10 the price.

The next morning, we decided to take a dip in the crystal blue waters. At any given point in time I could find 4 different shades of blue and green in the seas. The silver sand coastline runs from one end of the country to the other. Holidaymakers can take excursions from Ayia Napa to places like Agia Thekla, 6km to the west, with a small offshore island, Makronisos Beach, a cluster of three sheltered bays, or to the historical city of Larnaca, 40km along the coast. The waters are warm from May to Mid-November. Perfect for a little tan.

For my hiker friends. You must visit Cava Greko – which is Cape Greko. It lies between the towns of Ayia Napa and Protaras, both of which are popular tourist resorts. It is frequently visited by many tourists for its natural beauty. It is a protected nature park. From the high points on the cliff that rests at the cape one can view amazing sights out to sea. There are marked points where cliff divers are find their heaven. I hiked twice, once for sunrise and the other time during sunset. Camera snapshots do not do any justice to the changing colours in the skyline. The sounds of the blue waters lapping against the rocks and the gentle winds fluttering my hair are experiences that I can still close my eyes and feel.


We also decided to take a day trip to Paphos. Paphos has both – the majestic mountains and the beach which is a sophisticated beach front if I may point out. Not too many young population – great of adults or honeymooners. Among its attractions are its ancient mosaic floors, its beautiful old harbour, its modern hotels and restaurants, situated along the seaside promenade. Other sights include an archaeological museum, the Byzantine castle of Paphos, the Tombs of the Kings, St. Paul’s Pillar and the Temple of Aphrodite (the goddess of love and beauty) and the Baths of Aphrodite. The summer months are a popular time for tourism in Paphos, when temperatures reach easilly into the mid 30 degrees centigrade every day.


But, my family and I enjoyed walking the little villages around Paphos. Especially Latchi, which looks like a miniature town. We rented bicycles and enjoyed Cycling in the mountains. The main shopping lane, which runs parallel to the beach promenade, is the ideal tourists' marketplace.


Located in Paphos is the gorgeous Coral Bay, a beauteous beach with soft sand and deep blue water, a perfect place for water sports.
Cyprus is a place for all pockets who love their sunshine !