Other people are writing enough about the worst thing in the world that has happened in South East Asia, so I don't really have anything new to say.
I've experienced the whole thing from my temporary, secret, location - Malta!
Coming here was a big surprise birthday present for Thea, who is home for Christmas and New Year - so I havent been blogging about it or telling anyone except my co-conspirators in Egypt and Malta. But now that the cat is out of the bag and I am here in Thea's house, I can show some photos and share my experiences here....
Malta is a really really unique place. Its kind of hard to describe in words - tiny and crowded but somehow still feeling like there is a lot of country to see. It has history in buckets, almost so much history that the really amazing parts are devalued by an oversupply. It has the strongest cuerrency I have ever used (1 maltese pound is 3.15 US Dollars) - changing my full months Egyptian salary (1000 Egyptian Pounds) and getting ONE NOTE in return was pretty soul crushing, especially given that it was only a fifty. I didnt even get the biggest note.
But things are also fairly cheap in places - especially the incredibly delicious street snack pastizzi - which cannot be described in objective terms - just imagine the thing that you want all other small snack things to be - hot and crispy and fresh and cheesy and TEN CENTS. Even a fairly decent meal in a restaurant will only cost you 3 pounds - which is still 60 Egyptian Pounds or almost 10 Euro, but it feels cheap dammit. Anything that costs 3 of any currency must be cheap, as any good economist would teach you in first year StupidNomics 101.
Enough talk, more photos.
Malta, where even the fishing boats are pretty and have nice eyes....
Thea's father and I doing our well practiced synchronised pointing routine.
You like little white buildings surrounding Mediterranean fishing vilages? You'll probably like Malta.
As you can see, Thea is pretty happy to have me here.
I've experienced the whole thing from my temporary, secret, location - Malta!
Coming here was a big surprise birthday present for Thea, who is home for Christmas and New Year - so I havent been blogging about it or telling anyone except my co-conspirators in Egypt and Malta. But now that the cat is out of the bag and I am here in Thea's house, I can show some photos and share my experiences here....
Malta is a really really unique place. Its kind of hard to describe in words - tiny and crowded but somehow still feeling like there is a lot of country to see. It has history in buckets, almost so much history that the really amazing parts are devalued by an oversupply. It has the strongest cuerrency I have ever used (1 maltese pound is 3.15 US Dollars) - changing my full months Egyptian salary (1000 Egyptian Pounds) and getting ONE NOTE in return was pretty soul crushing, especially given that it was only a fifty. I didnt even get the biggest note.
But things are also fairly cheap in places - especially the incredibly delicious street snack pastizzi - which cannot be described in objective terms - just imagine the thing that you want all other small snack things to be - hot and crispy and fresh and cheesy and TEN CENTS. Even a fairly decent meal in a restaurant will only cost you 3 pounds - which is still 60 Egyptian Pounds or almost 10 Euro, but it feels cheap dammit. Anything that costs 3 of any currency must be cheap, as any good economist would teach you in first year StupidNomics 101.
Enough talk, more photos.
Malta, where even the fishing boats are pretty and have nice eyes....
Thea's father and I doing our well practiced synchronised pointing routine.
You like little white buildings surrounding Mediterranean fishing vilages? You'll probably like Malta.
As you can see, Thea is pretty happy to have me here.
Hey Tom... I am leaving Australia today! I am quite sad but this post and the pictures bring a massive smile to my face!!!!!! See you both very soon hopefully with your camera tom!! Was cool speaking to your dad!
Yo tom,
glad u are having fun, we miss you out here.
congrats fot the haircut, looking good ;)
c ya