Discovering new worlds. Rosanne’s adventure through central Asia.
Rosanne Zammit is crossing Central Asia on a motorbike with a friend. Photos courtesy of Rosanne.
Rosanne Zammit caught the travel bug when she was a child - and has been happy to cultivate it into adulthood. A seasoned journalist, with a passion for all things Maltese, she talks about how her adventure through Central Asia is more than just about seeing a new part of the world – it is also a journey of self-discovery.
Tell me about your love for travelling. When did it start?
My father always encouraged me to travel - and to study and work to save money to see the world. I first travelled when I was about two years old and my mum took me to England, but I don’t remember much about that. After that, I remember many family holidays to the obvious places like Greece, Turkey and Italy. Then, in my teens, I wanted to travel more.
When I was 17 I went to Spain and Portugal alone for two weeks. It was a trial for a bigger trip - when I went to South America for three months – alone. Funnily enough, my parents were overprotective when it came to allowing me to go out in Malta. But they were okay with me travelling abroad alone. Since then, I’ve been to over 75 countries that include the Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Australia, India and Kenya to name a few.
What attracts you to travel?
It’s a healthy addiction. Travelling, the way I do it, is not comfortable. But I love it. I want to see the world, meet different people and see how different cultures live. I believe that if more people travel, there would be less racism as people would understand one another more.
I don’t really think being a woman makes so much of a difference when it comes to travel. Although at times I see it as an advantage. For example, in some Muslim cultures, it would be offensive for a man to talk to native women. As a woman, you can speak to anyone.
“I believe that if more people travel, there would be less racism as people would understand one another more.”
Will Malta always be ‘home’? Would you consider leaving?
I consider Malta to be home. I would consider leaving but, I think, it would always be temporary. You never know. But what is for sure is that, in my mind, Malta will always be my home.
Tell me about this big adventure to Central Asia.
I had not really been planning it for long. My friend had been planning it and, at some point, he offered me to join him. He is from Greece so he started the trip in Greece and went through Turkey and Iran on his motorbike.
The plan was for me to meet him in Iran, but I did not get my travel Visa. It was turned down three times. Then I managed to get a Visa to Turkmenistan and we met there.
In a way, this was a blessing in disguise. I was meant to leave Malta on April 15 but, because of the Visa, I left on April 24 which gave me more time to settle my things in Malta.
What did the preparations involve?
I had been working at Times of Malta as a journalist since 1991 and changed my role to administrate the website in 2008 as I needed a change. Because of this trip I had to resign as I could not take long leave. But I told myself: ‘I’m 50. If I don’t do this now, I will never get the opportunity to do it. I have to go’.
I left Malta with a backpack containing two T-shirts, two pairs of trousers, two sweaters, five pairs of underwear, a jacket and a swimsuit. Then there were some electronics like chargers and cables, a head lamp and spare battery for it, some vitamins, an Abaya and a veil and shower flip flops.
I have to live with those. If there is something I need that I don’t have, I will buy it. But I must really need it as on the bike we don’t have space for stuff we don’t absolutely need. In fact I no longer have my backpack as there was no place on the bike. I gave it to the first family we stayed with in Uzbekistan and now my stuff is in a bike compartment.
How has it been so far?
So far we’ve been through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The plans are not set in stone. We have nothing pre-booked.
“We’re stayed in host homes, in hotels, we’ve camped in our summer tent when it was not too cold or slept under the stars in our hammocks.”
When it comes to sleeping we’ve stayed in host homes, in hotels, we’ve camped in our summer tent when it was not too cold or slept under the stars in our hammocks. I’m not sure when I will return to Malta. I do not have a plan for that yet – should be by the end of the year.
There are no highlights as such. It is one big highlight from the beginning, until now.
I’m always learning. Constantly. Testing my limits and learning. I test my strengths and weaknesses and try to constantly improve myself.
Follow Rosanne’s adventures on Instagram.
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