Yaba-Daba-Do- Malta 2009 is a Twinkie
Ed Reif's Journey Through Malta
A Maritime Reflection: From Foreign-Flagged Ships to Valletta's Streets
Looking Back to Sail Forward
I used to think traveling and working on ships was bad... but then I stopped thinking. In 2009, I reached a threshold. I compiled a video of all the blue ocean cruising I'd done—as if my life flashed before my eyes.
What looked like reckless wanderlust was actually a pattern: adventures that began with bad planning and ended in self-discovery. I stopped trying to control outcomes and started leaning into uncertainty. That was my real departure point—living daringly in a copycat world.
When my life flashes before me (2009–2011)... I want it to be worth watching.
Mr. Science and the Knights of Malta
"A Tale of Two Twinkies." Malta, to me, wasn't fun. The shopping malls were full of cloned merchandise and offshore knockoffs. A treadmill of consumption. The food? Wild albacore tuna sandwiches laced with mercury—no baloney. The air? Toxic. I swear my IQ dropped inhaling it.
And yet, this place is a maritime giant. Malta registers more ships than any other EU nation. It's the go-to for owners seeking tax incentives, efficient paperwork, and legal stability. Meanwhile, across the street from the port, I was dodging sewage, burnt-out cars, and used motor oil.
Mounds of Barney Rubble — Welcome to Fred
Mountain biking through Valletta (or should I say "Fred"—Flintstone-style), I saw mattresses, shotgun shells, stray animals, and roads slicked with brake dust. One rainstorm and months of garbage were liquified into the air. It was combustion and collapse, medieval charm swallowed by modern neglect.
"Karaoke Living Daring to Be Different in a Copycat World so I joined a ship"
The Duality of Malta: A Flag Worth Flying
Despite my dystopian street-level experience, Malta reigns at sea. It's the EU's largest ship registry, thanks to:
- 24/7 efficient registration processes
- Attractive fiscal incentives for shipowners
- Compliance with international and EU maritime law
- No restrictions on crew nationality
- Home to elite superyachts like the Maltese Falcon
Malta is both mess and masterpiece. It's where decay meets dominance—a contradiction afloat and ashore.