Name: Shirley Jobson
Age: 39
Occupation: Air Malta cabin crew
My best ever trip…
The roads in Egypt were filled with heavily armed soldiers and the potential threat of another incident made us exceedingly anxious to get away
It has to be our honeymoon in Tanzania and Zanzibar. I had always dreamed of going on safari and it was incredible to see so many wild animals in their natural habitat, on the game drives, boat trips and walking safaris we went on.
We slept in huge tents, complete with a double bed, ensuite bathroom and kerosene lamps. Our lodge was unfenced, so it was not uncommon to see elephants, impala and giraffes strolling past.
One of the elephants slept right outside our tent one night. We could hear him shuffling until he found a comfortable position and he was soon snoring away contentedly.
Zanzibar, on the other hand, was a tropical paradise and we spent our days lounging on wooden sunbeds nestled among the palm trees.
Our bungalow overlooked the beach and we had no TV, radio or internet, and minimal mobile phone reception.
It was bliss – truly getting away from it all. One day, while on a snorkelling excursion around a reef on the east side of the island, we were lucky to be joined by three dolphins, which are rarely seen on that side of the island. That will forever be one of my most treasured moments.
I felt so welcome in…
India. There is so much poverty there, it breaks your heart. And yet the people are so friendly and generous, even with the little they have. Everywhere we went, we were greeted happily, chores were dropped in favour of chatting with us for hours, and there was never a shortage of Indian chai (tea).
I couldn’t wait to leave…
Cairo, in November 1997, when extremists killed 60 people in Luxor. That same day, we were visiting the impressive pyramids in Giza and our plan was to fly to Luxor the next day.
Suddenly, because tourists had been the targets, the news networks were advising travellers to flee the country.
Walking across the road from our hotel to the airline offices to sort out our flights was a terrifying ordeal. The roads were filled with heavily armed soldiers and the potential threat of another incident made us exceedingly anxious to get away.
Nevertheless, I have always wanted to return to that incredible country to see the sights I missed. In fact, our next planned trip will take us back to Cairo, followed by a seven-night Nile cruise from Luxor.
I partied hardest in…
So many places I have visited, obviously when I was younger and fitter. To name a few, the full-moon party in Koh Phangan, Thailand; the various parties in Ibiza and Mallorca; the late-night gatherings in Goa; the Greek island of Mykonos; as well as many clubs in Amsterdam, London, Spain and Italy.
Acapulco and Cancun in Mexico also offered an entertaining nightlife, and I will never forget the good times I had with colleagues on work stopovers in Dubai and Sicily.
I cringe when I think of…
Festival toilets. I’ve been to Glastonbury, V Festival and Rock Werchter countless times and let’s just say you need a cast-iron stomach to be able to use the portaloos. But it’s definitely worth the trouble when you take into account the considerable number of bands that play at festivals.
An amusing anecdote…
I was with five girlfriends on our first night in Phuket, Thailand. We had just spent a rough three days trekking in Chang Mai, so we really wanted to let our hair down.
After some bar-hopping, we soon found ourselves having a blast on the dance floor of the Shark Club. Unfortunately, a group of local girls did not take too kindly to the attention we were drawing away from them, so they started harassing us, even trying to trip us up whenever we walked by.
We were undeterred by their antics but when we eventually decided to leave, they followed us outside and one of them hurled a cigarette and then a glass into our midst. We completely lost it at that point and the air was filled with colourful Maltese expletives.
Of course, they came back at us then and tried to attack us physically. Thankfully, my friend had the presence of mind to go and get a taxi to take us safely back to our hotel. Not one of my greatest moments!
I wish I could live in…
Nowhere else really. As much as I love travelling, Malta is still the best place for me to live. Where else can you arrive at any destination in minutes, be surrounded by the sea, enjoy warm sunny days even in winter, and best of all, indulge in delicious pastizzi, ħobż biż-żejt and local beer? As my English husband so aptly puts it: “It always feels like you’re on holiday here!”
Retracing Christ’s steps in His homeland was a life-changing experience
I treasure the memory of…
My pilgrimage to Israel with a group of friends from my community. Retracing Christ’s steps in His homeland was a life-changing experience. As we travelled through Galilee, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and all the places we read about in the Bible, His story literally came to life.
One of my favourite spots has to be the Sea of Galilee, where every morning we could see the sun rise across the waters from our hotel balcony, presenting a beautiful scene of nature and peaceful contemplation.
More special moments from my other travels include visiting the magnificent Taj Mahal in India; climbing the enormous pyramids of Teotihuacan a few miles outside Mexico City; gazing at a pride of 15 lionesses and cubs feeding on their kill while on safari in Tanzania; swimming in the clear blue waters of Phi Phi Islands in Thailand; viewing Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower; climbing up the steps to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa; and driving across Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
I adored the food…
On the Caribbean cruise I took with two girlfriends. Food is available 24/7, if you really want to over-indulge. Every day we had our breakfast delivered to our cabin. Lunch was either taken from the pool buffet, or barbecued on whichever beach the ship called at that day.
Each night had a different country as a theme and our dinners were delicious four-course meals, served to us by our very own head waiter and his assistant.
I enjoy returning to…
The UK to visit my in-laws and do some shopping. But if I have to go long-haul, I always prefer to go somewhere I haven’t been, so that I can experience a different destination every time.
Having said that, there isn’t one place I’ve visited that I wouldn’t mind returning to and re-living my previous experiences there. If only money was not a problem!
The hardest part of travelling is…
The end of each trip. Although I love living on our island, I still feel a pang every time the last day comes around and we have to make our way back to our usual environs.
Travel has taught me to…
Appreciate my loved ones and my life back home, as well as learning that each country has its own unique cultures and inhabitants, which is what makes our world truly fascinating.
I dream of one day visiting…
Norway to view the Northern Lights. This phenomenon is nature at its most spectacular and each viewing is a unique experience of colour and shape.
I travel because…
I love the idea of being able to get away from my usual routine, even if for a few days. Nothing beats the novelty of living in different accommodation, and experiencing different cultures, people and cuisines.
Are you well-travelled?
Once a month we invite our well-travelled readers to take part in this interview feature. If you would like to share your globetrotting travel experiences and photos, and you enjoy writing, e-mail sunday@timesofmalta.com and write My Travels as the subject.