Malta - Travelling during the pandemic

I flew to Malta in November when schools shut down again in Hungary, and the level of fear and frustration had reached a boiling point. I was picking up on a lot of negativity in my environment—feelings I didn’t want to absorb.

I threw myself into another intense job search, looking for both teaching and volunteering opportunities. But the few people who replied told me they weren’t hiring at the moment. Not even volunteers were needed at the places I was interested in. It felt like everything was on hold.

At first, I tried to make the most of the abundance of time the pandemic forced on us. But now, after seven months, I just can’t anymore. At least, not while being stuck in the same place.

I need change. I need movement. I need income.I simply can’t live in my parents’ house any longer!

Adding to all this, trying to reintegrate into a money-centered, concrete jungle after spending time in life-changing, nature-filled places has been absolutely soul-shattering. Something has felt off ever since November. I’m out of alignment—with myself, with my plans, with everything. I feel disconnected. From people, from purpose, from joy.I’ve lost my motivation, my confidence, my sense of direction… even my positivity.And honestly? I feel vulnerable. Alone.

Does anyone else feel this way too? Is it just me? Or is this part of a larger collective shift in energy?

My dear friend Meera, an old soul I met in the Canaries, did my astrology reading recently. She told me that Neptune is currently opposite my Sun—and affecting some of my other planets too (whatever that fully means). Apparently, Neptune energy can bring confusion, sensitivity, dreamy detachment, and a sort of spiritual fog. Maybe that’s part of what I’m experiencing too.

A friend of mine in Malta persuaded me to come to the island and look for jobs there. Malta was known for its many language schools, but what I hadn’t considered was that, due to the pandemic and ongoing travel bans, there were fewer students—and many schools were temporarily closed.

During my stay, I also realized something important: I didn’t actually want to be in Malta. I just wasn’t vibing with the place. The city where we lived felt far too noisy and polluted for my taste—constant construction work, heavy traffic, and impatient drivers. The island was densely built-up, and a local woman who cut my hair mentioned that it was overpopulated, with many foreigners coming to run businesses. It had that hustle-and-bustle energy, with a strong British influence, but instead of exciting me, it made me feel even more disconnected than before.

Of course, there were some lovely coastal spots, bays, and beaches that would probably be fun in the summer. But they’d also be crowded—which, again, isn’t really my thing. The smaller island, Gozo, came much closer to my idea of harmony. It was greener, more spacious, and far less stressful. Still, it didn’t quite compare to the peace I felt in the Canaries.

I was so grateful to my friend for the opportunity—I embraced it and truly appreciated the support—but I had to be honest with myself: Why look for a job in a place where I don't even feel inspired to stay?

So, I flew back to Hungary before I could spend all the savings I had scraped together from online teaching. Plus, Brexit was breathing down my neck—I needed to sort out some legal documents, and I didn’t have the necessary papers with me in Malta.

December turned out to be hectic and difficult. None of this was part of the plan. Ryanair had shut down operations, and there were no flights out during most of December. Wizz Air had limited options, and the flights I could afford were long and indirect, with layovers that turned a 2.5-hour trip into a 24-hour ordeal. I checked flight availability daily until I finally spotted some newly added seats on a direct flight at a reasonable price—right at the end of December.

It was a mess.

Covid-19 PCR Test

There was no straightforward information about whether I could travel without a negative PCR test. I called the airports in both Budapest and Malta, and I also reached out to the airline—but they could only tell me what was already written online. And online, there was no clear answer to the question: Can I board a plane and enter the country without a negative PCR test?

Eventually, someone from Budapest Airport replied and confirmed that everyone was allowed to board the plane, with or without a test—as long as we wore masks.

I printed out the necessary Covid-related documents required for entry into Malta—name, address in Malta, passport number—and trusted that things would work out.

Upon arrival at Malta Airport, all passengers were directed to a separate area where healthcare professionals were waiting. They collected our documents and performed swab tests on those of us who didn't have proof of a negative PCR test. The staff was organized, professional, and polite. We waited on-site for the results, which took about an hour. If the test came back negative, we were free to collect our luggage and continue our journey.

Overall, the process was smooth and reassuring—not nearly as intimidating or strict as it’s often portrayed in the Hungarian media. One surprising detail, though: no one checked our temperatures at any of the airports. The only requirement was to wear a mask at all times.

By the way, PCR tests in Malta are free for everyone—not just residents—which is a great advantage.

Photos of Malta & Gozo

GGANTIJA TEMPLES are a megalithic temple complex from the Neolithic on the Mediterranean island of Gozo. The Ġgantija temples are the earliest of the Megalithic Temples of Malta and are older than the pyramids of Egypt. The temples are more than 5500 years old and the world's second oldest existing manmade religious structures after Göbekli Tepe in present-day Turkey. Together with other similar structures, these have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Megalithic Temples of Malta. wikipedia.org

Have you heard of Astro map/ Astrography?

"Astrocartography, a discipline of Astrology (it's also known as Relocation Astrology) where your birth chart, which can predict a surprising amount of information about the direction and events of your life as well as your personality, is mapped against the world map.

Lines are drawn on top of a map of the world and places that fall on lines or line intersections are supposed to be more meaningful, powerful, and transformative for you. The different lines all have different meanings too. Depending on which line/s fall on the city/place, a place can be very supportive for you, helping you to succeed in an area of your life e.g. relationships or work or self-confidence or they can be very challenging in a certain area of your life, pushing you to change something; remembering challenges can be just as transformative, if not more so, than support.

The energy of moving to or spending time in these new places awakens something in us, something that was already there but perhaps we'd repressed or ignored it; the change comes from within, the energy to do so comes from without.

That certain places can shift something inside us to inspire, support, or challenge us to grow and transform is fascinating to me. And it further validates the reasons why people have periods of their life where they just have to uproot and move cities or where the only option seems to be taking an extended break from their home and regular life somewhere far away. Travel changes and heals us, it helps us to evolve." thetravellinglight.com

To create your astrography chart, click here: astro.com or read further thetravellinglights's blog for a clear step-by-step instruction.

I astro-checked Malta and many other places of my interest, and it made me think about why I got the opportunity to travel there and if I was in the right place for a matter I failed to understand.

♡