‘Switch off your phone, work can wait’

Name
Antoine Zammit

Age
31

Occupation
Architect/part-time lecturer/actor/PhD student

My best holiday ever…

It would certainly be my three-week holiday in Thailand two years ago, simply because it was a mix of everything – an entirely different culture and amazing architecture, trekking, sports and adventures.

It is the one place where I could experience the best of the urban buzz and the laid-back beaches. That, and massages on practically a daily basis.

I would never return to…

To date I have not really had a bad experience anywhere. A few years ago I visited Egypt; beautiful of course, especially the Nile cruise and the city of Luxor. I was not terrible impressed with Cairo itself though. I found it too noisy and not too clean, apart from the quasi-suicidal taxi rides.

I would certainly return to Egypt but probably visit other places such as Alexandria.

The most dangerous place I’ve visited…

I cannot say that I have ever felt in danger abroad. In Thailand I remember we would occasionally bargain our way across the cities choosing the cheapest fare without caring much about safety. Looking back, I guess it was a bit risky, but when you’re in it you don’t really think about anything possibly going wrong.

My favourite city…

I love architecture and culture, of course, and I’ve been lucky enough to visit some fantastic European cities that are rich in both, such as Vienna, Paris, Lyon, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Barce­lona, Dublin, Copenhagen and Stockholm.

I lived in London for a while and I am a regular visitor given my current PhD studies at University College London. I love it, although I would not live there in the longer term.

My current favourite city would probably be Venice. I returned from a fantastic break there a couple of weeks ago and I guess I am still caught in its spell.

My most memorable experience on an aircraft…

Must be the time I went to Bulgaria for an architecture workshop.

On the way back I had to catch an internal flight from Burgas to Sofia.

I was greeted by a 1960s propeller plane with four people on board and thought to myself, this couldn’t really be happening!

It turned out to be a very safe flight in the end, and the views were fantastic, but I will never forget my initial shock.

My most treasured holiday souvenir…

I treasure many particular moments from my holidays abroad, be it with friends, past girlfriends or on my own. I treasure all the numerous gigs and concerts I have been to abroad, especially in the more intimate venues.

However, one of my fondest memories must be walking through the Naschmarkt in Vienna, listening to Eddie Vedder’s solo album, taking random photos with my camera held at torso level, and being driven along by the cold morning air, colours and scents… liberating.

My biggest gaffe abroad…

Almost setting a coffee shop on fire. I remember visiting what could have been the oldest coffee shop in Amsterdam, with timber everywhere.

Somehow, suddenly, our paper napkin caught fire. Instead of doing the reasonable thing and putting it out with the glass of water that was lying in front of me, I decided to drop it on the floor and jump on it. This only made it worse!

The owner had just gone out for an errand and I will never forget the poor girl at the bar who was freaking out trying to get the extinguisher as a few (decisively stoned) people were staring at me, humoured by the sight of me jumping around. Needless to say, we were politely asked to leave soon after.

The friendliest people…

The people of Roscommon in Ireland. I was working there for three months during my architecture studies. It’s a tiny village, quite close to Galway, so I was the only non-Irish person in the entire village and they immediately took a liking to me.

Everyone would greet me each morning as I walked to work, and invite me for pints afterwards. I must say that I have never met friendlier people.

I never travel without...

A camera, without a doubt.

The taxi ride I will never forget…

A cross between the taxi ride from Coptic Cairo back to the hotel and a tuk tuk ride in Chiang Rai in the middle of rush hour.

The first because we almost ran over two people in the space of five minutes and the second because we felt we were going to topple over as he dodged and sped in between cars and bicycles with us at the back, hugging our backpacks and getting dizzy with all the fumes.

My all-time favourite holiday photo...

Must be the photo of the idyllic Koh Tae Nai island off Ko-Pha-gnan in Thailand. We had the entire island to ourselves and spent the entire day eating coconuts and swimming in the clear blue waters without a thought in our heads. One of the few moments when I really wound down abroad.

An unforgettable hotel...

The name escapes me, but we were staying next door to a mosque in Cairo only to be woken up in the middle of the night after quite a bit of travelling by the sound of morning prayers amplified throughout the entire neighbourhood.

It did have the best omelettes for breakfast though, so that made up for it somewhat.

I return most often to...

London, and I always try to fit in a good gig when I am there.

My ideal travel companion...

Someone who appreciates culture and good music, loves walking around and is ready to try new things. I find that the best way of getting to know a place is to walk around, which is a reason why I love old European cities.

I cannot complain about any travel companion I have had in the past, although I often find the smaller the group, the better.

Country with the best cuisine...

The obvious choice would be Italy. I went to Abruzzo for work and had the most incredible fish; I tasted the most delicious ice-cream and sweets in Venice, and had the best pizza in Bologna.

Having said that, one of my nicest dinners was at the rooftop restaurant of the Lyon Opera House. I can still taste the lovely wine and meat I savoured while taking in the Lyon skyline.

My next holiday plans…

London in September, December, and a few more times next year. Those trips will not really be holidays, but it is always great to meet my friends living there.

My dream trip…

Another long-haul trip on the lines of Thailand – one that combines cultural aspects with fun and beach. I definitely wish to travel to Australia and New Zealand, but that will most probably have to be done post-PhD.

I partied hardest in…

Rock Werchter festival in Belgium last year. It was three days of exceptional bands including the likes of Pearl Jam, Muse, Green Day, Faithless, Skunk Anansie and Phoenix.

I would certainly go to another festival in the future, although I would like to try the up and coming smaller eastern European festivals next.

My travel tip…

Switch off your mobile or get a foreign SIM card to really enjoy the city you are visiting… If you are on holiday, work can wait.