Name: Jenny Darmanin (Jenny AK)
Occupation: Artist – www.JennyAK.com
My best trip ever…
My husband David and I decided on East Africa for our honeymoon. We’ve always been adventurous travellers with a passion for nature.
It’s hard to beat trekking through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda to see the endangered mountain gorillas, white water rafting the River Nile in Jinja (also Uganda) and spotting lions, cheetahs and rhinos – to mention a few – on the plains of Kenya’s Masai Mara.
We truly fell in love with this wonderful continent and its culture and people.
My earliest travel memory…
Crossing the Baltic Sea to Helsinki with my family on the ferry at the age of five. I was too young to remember any details from the trip though.
My best childhood travel memories are camping trips in Norrland, the most northern region of Sweden. These trips instilled in me a love of nature, in particular the mountain forests. My husband and I still return every year to Sweden for hiking, camping and fishing.
It’s hard to beat trekking through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda to see the endangered mountain gorillas
I felt most relaxed in…
The beautiful British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Island hopping on a sailing boat was definitely my most relaxing trip ever – we snorkelled the reefs, walked on abandoned beaches, drank Pain Killer cocktails in an old beach shack and ate daily barbecues on our boat. True bliss!
I lost my cool in…
Italy. The rather inconsistent and confusing road signs in Tuscany really put our nerves to the test when we were trying to find our way to our farmhouse during the night. We ended up sleeping in a run-down, roadside hotel that night. The road rage was well worth it though – we woke up in glorious weather in the rolling hillsides on our way to Montalcino.
I partied hardest in…
This is a difficult one. The top spots go to Paris, Barcelona and Miami. In all cases we travelled with friends or close family, which is probably one of the reasons why the partying was so great!
My favourite city…
Sydney. This city has everything your heart can desire in a relatively small space. The inner city art museums, shopping and glam, the harbour and daily events at the stunning opera house, cosy hip neighbourhoods with wonderful restaurants and cafes, and surfer beaches just minutes away.
Finally – the Blue Mountains with their breathtaking views and treks just a one-hour drive out of the city.
I couldn’t wait to leave…
Nairobi. After three weeks of raw East African nature we stopped in the Kenyan capital for one night before flying back home and we were horrified by the non-stop traffic jams and the somewhat aggressive nature of drivers and passers-by.
I cringe when I think of…
Our hot-air balloon ride in Egypt. Don’t get me wrong – waking up at dawn to experience the sunrise from a balloon over the Valley of Kings in Luxor was a once in a lifetime experience. But when I think of the horrible accident earlier this year I know deep down that I will never get in one of those balloons again.
I laughed so hard in…
Uruguay. After a ferry trip from Buenos Aires and a four-hour drive in two taxis to Punta del Este, we realised David was sending SMS’s in Spanish to Hager, my sister-in-law, instead of the car rental company representative he was supposed to meet. Hager, thinking David was fooling around, was replying in Spanish! We were all laughing our heads off when hours later we realised the mix up.
An unforgettable hotel...
La Mistrale in St Tropez, France. Despite being in the centre of the town, this mansion-turned-boutique hotel is a true gem. The cosy living areas were furnished in impeccable contemporary rustic style and each of the 10 suites were also themed: Morocco, Chanel, China, and so on.
Our ‘Tarzan’ room had a funky jungle theme including bamboo furniture, a bright green bath tub and a tiger print bed! The large garden at the back felt like a true oasis, with its large pool, lush vegetation and Moroccan design influences.
While sipping cocktails and reading our books by the pool the chef grilled us heavenly fresh fish in herbs de Provence. The fact that the hotel is no longer accepting guests makes it an even more unforgettable experience.
My longest holiday was…
Australia and New Zealand. Six weeks was our longest holiday to date – but still not long enough to enjoy these two beautiful countries. The highlight was definitely living the beach life in Bondi, as well as driving through New Zealand’s South Island in our cosy caravan.
I wish I could live in…
Tuscany. I also wish I could speak Italian (I rely on my husband for that). This region has it all – the weather, the nature… and the food!
I treasure the memory of…
Exploring Thailand with our close friends and mountain hiking with David in Jamtland (Sweden), where I have many beautiful childhood memories.
The most delicious food I’ve tasted was…
Italy or France? Hmm. I really cannot declare a winner on this one. It’s either the truffle risotto we had in Antibes (south of France) or the Tuscan tomato soup we had in Montepulciano (Italy).
Waking up at dawn to experience the sunrise from a balloon over the Valley of Kings in Luxor was a once in a lifetime experience
The hardest part of travelling is…
Early flights and jet lag. All the rest I really don’t mind.
Travel has taught me to…
Appreciate what we have at home here in Malta. I have become less materialistic and more practical. It has also inspired a lot of my art, especially since I paint while we travel.
I dream of one day visiting…
Every country in the world. There is no harm in having big dreams!
Jenny AK will be exhibiting her latest collection of works entitled Light in Dark on November 7 at Cleland & Souchet. For an invitation or more information visit www.JennyAK.com.