Considering Travel Insurance for Your Upcoming Trip?

On February 26, 2024February 26, 2024 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Travel Tips, Uncategorized2 Comments

We often get asked whether travel insurance is a necessity when planning a trip. For us, it is one of the most important things you need when traveling and we usually purchase immediately after booking airline or train tickets and make hotel reservations. Whether we are traveling domestically or internationally we always purchase travel insurance.

It is important to remember that even if your credit card offers travel insurance, it is often minimal coverage or only covers items that were purchased with the credit card. When you are making your decision about what type of travel insurance to purchase, you need to consider the type of trip you are taking so you can ensure that you are covered adequately.

Depending on your trip, you want to ensure that the travel insurance covers:

Visits to a doctor and/or hospital whether you are sick or injured during your trip.
Whether you have to cancel your trip for personal reasons.
If your trip is cancelled by an airline or rail service, does it cover all things that have been pre-purchased or reimburse deposits.
If you need to be evacuated from your location.
Broken or stolen electronics.
Baggage being lost or stolen.
Offers various types of plans that suit what you need.

When we travel internationally, we use World Nomads Travel Insurance. They offer comprehensive plans for all types of travel. Fortunately, we have not had to use our travel insurance, but it offers piece of mind for a minimal cost and the expenses it could save. Another reputable travel insurance company, that offers a wide variety of plans, is Visitors Coverage . We have not used them, but we know several people who have.

Regardless of who you choose for your travel insurance, it is definitely a worthwhile investment. We have been fortunate to have not been in a position where we had to use our insurance, but we have heard from so many people who having travel insurance was literally a lifesaver. Whether it was getting a helicopter to fly someone out of the jungle with a broken leg or getting home after a natural disaster, not having to worry about the added expenses that might come into play is well worth the peace of mind that travel insurance provides.

Korean Bibimbap Recipe that is Simple and Delicious

On February 15, 2024February 15, 2024 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Asia, RecipesLeave a comment

Spicy and Satisfying Bibimbap

Bibimbap is such a flavorful meal that has a perfect mix of spice and texture. Despite the number of ingredients, this meal is not a complex as it might look. It is definitely one of those meals that looks as good as it tastes. The gochujang sauce that is served with the Bibimbap can be used with many other dishes to create a sweet and spicy dipping sauce for all types of meats.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 45

Cook Time 40

Course Main Course

Cuisine Korean

Servings 4 people

Equipment

1 Skillet
1 Medium Pot

Ingredients

4 tbsp gochujang
3 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp mirin
4 ounces round eye beef roast cut into thin slices
1 cup jasmine rice
1 cup carrots cut into matchsticks or use pre-packaged
1 cup shitake mushrooms thinly sliced
8 ounces baby spinach
1 cup bean sprouts
4 tbsp vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 tbsp sesame seeds
1 pinch seasoned seaweed optional
1 tbsp butter

Instructions

Combine 2 tablespoons of gochujang, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, and 1 tablespoon of honey with the soy sauce and mirin in a small bowl and whisk to combine to create the marinade for the beef.
Coat the beef in a shallow dish with the marinade and let it marinade at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Mix 2 tablespoons of gochujang, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, and 1 tablespoon of honey to create the sauce for the Bibimbap.
Once the beef has finished marinading, place the beef along with the marinade in a skillet heated to medium-high heat and sauté until the beef is cooked and the marinade has reduced, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Set aside.
Cook the jasmine rice per the package instructions, approximately 20 minutes.
While the rice is cooking, add a tablespoon of vegetable oil and the carrots to a skillet heated to medium high heat and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until they begin to soften. Remove and set aside.
Add another tablespoon of vegetable oil and the mushrooms and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Add another tablespoon of vegetable oil and the bean sprouts to the skillet and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Add the last tablespoon of vegetable oil and the spinach and cook until the spinach is fully wilted, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Add the butter to the skillet and, once melted, add the eggs and cook sunny-side up ensuring that the yolk is still runny but the whites are fully cooked.
Place a scoop of the rice in the center of a plate and surround it with the beef and vegetables. Gently place the egg on top and sprinkle with the sesame seeds and seaweed, if using it.

Keyword beef, bibimbap, gochujang, Korean, rice, spicy, vegetables

Monkeys are Prevalent All Around the World

On February 13, 2024February 13, 2024 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Gibraltar, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Rwanda, South America, Tanzania, Vietnam2 Comments

In some ways we are surprised that it seems like no matter where we travel to, there is a chance that we will see monkeys at some point during our visit. Whether it is North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, or Africa, we have seen monkeys in so many different locations throughout our travels. Because of how expressive they are and the way that they share human traits, they are often fascinating to watch, but more often than not, they are troublemakers that have to be watched carefully. We have seen monkeys steal items from people who are not prepared for the fact that they will grab almost anything that they can get their hands on. They are extremely curious, and that curiosity often leads to a desire to explore items that you might have in your possession, especially if it is shiny.

Although monkeys can be found in the wild in Mexico, our first encounter with monkeys was actually in captivity during our trip to Puerto Vallarta, which is certainly not the experience that we prefer. Our second encounter was in Gibraltar during our trip to Southern Spain where we saw the Barbary Macaque Monkeys. During our trip to Panama, we actually took a tour that took us to several of the “monkey islands” that were created when the area around the Panama Canal was flooded to allow for the massive ships to pass through the canal. The smaller monkeys were trapped on the islands and are kept alive by the tourists who visit and feed them.

Up Close and Personal with Monkeys in Panama

It is no surprise that we encountered monkeys in the Amazon Jungle both during our trips to Bolivia and Ecuador. In Vietnam, we saw monkeys on the shoreline of Halong Bay after our boat went through Sung Sot Cave. For obvious reasons, we saw plenty of monkeys, especially baboons, during our safari in Kenya and Tanzania as they were prevalent at each of the parks that we visited. Earlier last year, we visited “Monkey Temple”, more appropriately Pashupatinath Temple, just outside of Kathmandu in Nepal. Then later in the year, we decided to trek to visit the larger primates, gorillas and chimpanzees in Rwanda.

As long as you know that these amazing creatures are unpredictable and you keep your eyes on them to ensure that they don’t take advantage of your curiosity, these animals are truly fascinating to watch. You can often see them almost deep in thought as they watch everything going on around them. Of all of the monkeys that we’ve seen, the ones that we trusted the least were the baboons as they almost acted like a gang where several of them will group together to distract you while others attempt to get away with your belongings. Our time with the gorillas was probably the most incredible experience that we’ve had and will be something we will treasure forever. What is your favorite or least favorite monkey experience that you’ve encountered?