‘I cringe when I think of the ox balls I tasted’

Name: Chiara Hyzler
Age: 26
Occupation: Marketing executive, actress, director

My best ever trip…

I’m not going to lie, I did fight the kids to be first to get Geppetto’s autograph at Euro Disney

All my trips have had something in them that makes them special and memorable but I will have to say my most recent trip to Nakuru, Kenya, was the best.

I spent two weeks with the children in an orphanage set up by Faces, a Maltese NGO.

We did such good work with the children by teaching computer skills, arts, crafts and drama. I wrote a short play for the kids and they performed it, using the crafts they made throughout the two weeks. It was, by far, the most amazing experience I’ve ever had.

I felt most relaxed in…

Ireland. I visited specifically to go whale-watching.

I spent three days in west Cork, doing nothing but kayaking and enjoying the beautiful scenery. The whale-watching trip was fun, but not much of a success. But I will not give up; I will see those whales!

I couldn’t wait to leave…

Croatia. Not only was it jam-packed with tourists and backpackers, but due to the heat and humidity, there was a plague of grasshoppers and crickets (which I have a terrible phobia of) everywhere. They would swarm all over us as we walked.

Because of this, I remember very little of that holiday because I was paralysed with fear the entire time and constantly on the look-out.

The only positive thing that came out of this was when I manically ran to the neighbouring room for help when they invaded my pillow, and ended up making a whole new group of great friends.

I partied hardest in…

Mykonos in Greece. This was my first holiday with my friends. We were a group of 13 17-year-old girls patrolling the streets of what is known as the Party Island. This was an unforgettable experience – I made loads of friends with whom I am still in touch today.

I cringe when I think of…

The ox balls I tasted in Nairobi. We visited a restaurant called Carnivore which is famous for its exotic meats. I am not a fan of eating these kinds of meats so when I say I tasted, I really mean that I placed them on the tip of my tongue and then downed my Coke straight after. The ox balls were spongy and had a similar taste to liver – I was not a fan.

I felt so welcome in…

Nakuru. The children were so happy to see us. As we walked to the orphanage, children would pop out from every corner and wave and shout “How are you?”

The children and people at the orphanage were always so welcoming and would be waiting by the door every day. It was a great way to start your morning,

I laughed so hard in…

Tuscany. My friends and I went on a driving holiday around parts of the region, which is a great way to see many of the small towns. I have been there before, but this time I was the designated driver of my car.

We were in two cars and, for the most part, I was leading our drives because my GPS was pre-programmed by my father, who is an avid Tuscany visitor.

I had never driven abroad before so this was already hilarious. However, my sense of coordination in times of panic is worse than usual.

On one occasion, my friend Luisa started shouting “Pot, pot, pot!” and I suddenly found myself driving into a couple of plant pots in the winding streets of Arezzo.

From then on, needless to say, I was no longer the leader of the drive.

A place I keep going back to...

Besides London, I have been to Edinburgh three times. Since I’m involved in theatre in Malta, I thoroughly enjoy the Fringe Festival because of the great shows and comedy. I enjoy seeing the innovative ways that theatre can be staged in so many different spaces and, more often than not, with practically no budget.

I remember very little of my holiday to Croatia because I was paralysed with fear the entire time and constantly on the look-out for grasshoppers

Edinburgh is a buzzing place during August and it’s packed with anything and everything. I hope to stage a play there soon, so I will most likely be heading back up there shortly.

The landmark that struck me most...

Visiting the Alhambra in Granada was such a memorable and fascinating experience. I was struck by its historical and artistic significance, and would visit it in a heartbeat.

The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona was also awesome. I could never get tired of Spain. I love it.

I treasure the memory of…

My trip to Euro Disney, Paris. I’m a child at heart and was in awe the whole time I was there. I’m not going to lie, I did fight the kids to be first to get Geppetto’s autograph.

The most delicious food I’ve tasted was…

I’m a very choosy diner and not very open-minded when it comes to food – I know what I like and what I don’t, so I always go for something I know I’ll enjoy.

More often then not, if I can’t pronounce it, I won’t eat it! Nothing beats Tuscan food, in particular, the bistecca Fiorentina in Siena.

The hardest part of travelling is…

Travelling! I am an excitable person who rarely sits still, so forcing me to sit on a plane for hours is a problem. My usual question of “Are we there yet?” drives my fellow travellers mad.

I would definitely support time machines that would enable us to arrive at our destination at the click of a button – I think they would be a great investment. Political parties, take note.

Travel has taught me to…

Appreciate my country more. I think we sometimes don’t recognise how lucky we are here. We are quick to put our country down and compliment others, but not every country is as safe as Malta, or enjoys the freedoms we have to voice our opinions, or the learning opportunities we have.

Besides, Malta and Gozo have some beautiful landscapes we rarely appreciate. Above all this, I love the variety of food in Malta.

I dream of one day visiting…

New Orleans. My thesis dealt with the response to Hurricane Katrina when it hit New Orleans in 2005, so I have developed a soft spot for the place and its people.

After the interviews and research I carried out, I am interested to see the recovery first hand. It is apparently a really fun place to visit, especially during Mardi Gras.

My next holiday will be...

Teaching drama to children in Cambodia. Kenya inspired me in so many ways. After seeing the joy drama brought to the children, I was inspired to take drama with me wherever I go.

I am thus in the process of setting up an NGO which will introduce a developmental drama programme to communities and institutes in a sustainable way.

If all goes well, then our first project will be in Cambodia. It’s been on my list of ‘places to visit before I get wrinkles’ ever since I watched Tomb Raider.

I am told that it is a beautiful, untouched country. I cannot wait. Fingers crossed!