Discovery

A woman jumps in the passenger seat of a car. Almost instantly, she has managed to light a cigarette and is detailing what is on her mind to her friend. An unremarkable occurrence, except for the arm and hand movements. The entire story is being relayed by gestures as much as words, despite the complications of a small car and the cigarette. The use of hand and arm gestures is normal here, and a behaviour that I have tried to suppress since childhood.

Despite lacking sleep, I was excited and keen to explore my new Tigne Street, Sliema environment. With it's tourism objectives and newer buildings, Sliema was not what I anticipated or was seeking in Malta. Still, there were curiosities. The grand old house behind the hotel that has not been cared for in decades, seemingly now owned by stray cats. The building with the first floor being used while parts of the upper floors had disintegrated. The dodgy wiring on buildings in general. And the great walks along the Mediterranean Sea.

Malta's relatively liberal alcohol laws quickly caught my attention. You can get a beer at any number of food caravans, pubs, or anywhere really, at any time. This did not seem to create much of an issue, despite the great controls and hysteria surrounding alcohol availability in our part of the world. My father put forward the idea that perhaps the mysterious pedestal on which we place alcohol in Queensland, Australia is counter productive.

My Aunt and I found a nearby restaurant, Mozzarella's. The menu was full of foods, sparking early concerns that despite getting more exercise, I would return heavier than when I left. What was unexpected was MTV playing inside, with it's usual clichéd risqué video clips, on a large television. I ordered some unusual pizzas, creating a great food controversy back at the unit.

While all generalisations are wrong, I came to observe three main behavioural states of the Maltese people. The first was a very calm, almost indifferent state of soft talking. The second was an excitable, intense, loud yet controlled state. The third was a loud, aggressive, angry form typified by a lack of control.

The second behavioural state is relatively unseen in Australia. Even without alcohol, loud, vibrant debate, discussion and even bad singing can be heard. I got to be in situations where I was one of the quieter people in the room. It may appear crazy, but it is firmly under control and there are rules of engagement.

I quickly found Malta a comfortable place. The people were generally trustworthy, crime was uncommon and it felt safe. The prices were good, being on the cheaper side of those in Australia. The spring weather was not dissimilar to winter in Brisbane, Australia. With the friendly atmosphere, good weather and affordability, it was clear to see why Malta's tourism industry is booming.

Ordering every local beer on the menu, Sliema