Going to Local Markets Throughout Our Travels

On March 5, 2024March 5, 2024 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Africa, Asia, Egypt, morocco, Rwanda, South America, VietnamLeave a comment

One of the things that we enjoy whenever we travel, is to visit markets with local vendors selling fresh foods as well as various arts and crafts. It is important to know before you go what the local customs are regarding haggling with the person selling their items as to whether the price given is not negotiable or whether there is an expectation that you will barter with them over the price that you are willing pay for the item. If you visit the market with a local guide, you are likely to get some free samples of foods as you walk through the market, which is a great way to get a taste of some items that are unique to the country that you are visiting.

We have been to many markets and bazaars during our travels, but some of the most memorable have been in locations that were more exotic. There are times when going to a market can be overwhelming due to the crowds as well as people who will try to approach you and take you through the market. Do not fall for that trap as they are trying to make money off of your purchases and do not necessarily have your best interest at heart. It is best to go with a guide if you are uncomfortable or at a minimum make sure that you do your own bartering and choose only the stalls that you are truly interested in.

Dry Goods and the Rice Paper We Needed to Cook Dinner in Hanoi

Touring a Local Market in Tangiers, Morocco – One of the most diverse markets that we visited was the one in Tangiers, Morocco. The variety of colors and smells were almost overwhelming with the spices, fresh produce, seafood, and meat that would be trimmed in front of you. You could even buy bones for soups and other parts of the animals as nothing goes to waste. Even though we didn’t buy anything, we were able to try several things as we walked through the stalls from olives to a fresh tangerine. Each owner was very proud of the items that they had to sell and were definitely keen on making sure that you knew anything you wanted about what they had on display.

Khan el-Khalili Bazaar in Old Cairo, Egypt – Visiting markets wherever you visit is certainly worthwhile, but there is something very special about the bazaars in the middle east. Khan el-Khalili Bazaar in the Old Town Center of Cairo, Egypt, also known as Old Cairo, is certainly one of them. They can be quite busy and you need to be aware of your circumstances to avoid pickpockets or those who might want to take advantage of you. In most bazaars it is usually customary to bargain over the prices and the vendors don’t take offense to it. In fact, to get the best price, you might even start to walk away before the vendor offers a lower price that seems reasonable to you. Haggling, though, does not mean offering a ridiculously low price that might be viewed as an insult.

Buying Ingredients for Our Cooking Class in Hanoi, Vietnam – We decided to take a cooking class during our trip to Hanoi, Vietnam where our chef took us to a local market to buy all of the ingredients needed for our dinner. Obviously we wouldn’t have been able to navigate the market without the help of our chef and there were plenty of ingredients that we can’t necessarily find at home. We were told that the local people of Hanoi, like in a lot of cities, go to the market every day or at least every other day in order to buy fresh ingredients for their meals.

Artisan and Craft Market in Quito, Ecuador – In order to walk to the old town quarter of Quito in Ecuador from our hotel, we had to walk through Parque El Ejido. It is a lovely park that has a nice artisan and craft market as well as plenty of open space. Located right in the city, it can be quite busy at times as families gather to have a picnic or play a game of soccer. There is also an interesting arch located in the park, simply called Arco de El Ejido with a statue of two men battling one another.

Visiting the Busy Kimironko Market in Kigali, Rwanda – We spent about a day and half in Kigali during our trip to Rwanda to trek to see gorillas and chimpanzees. Of the things that we saw while we were in Kigali was the Kimironko Market, which is the busiest market in Kigali. Like many markets, the number of vendors and the variety of products available can sometimes be overwhelming. It is often a sensory overload with all of the fragrances, colors, and people bustling through the narrow walkways. We were there with a guide, but it could have easily been visited on our own, but you do have deal with many people coming up to you and trying to get you to spend money in their particular section of the market.

This is just a random sampling of the markets that we have visited and each one was memorable in its own way. In addition to these year-round markets, visiting the holiday markets as well as the festival markets can be equally fascinating and are definitely highlights of any trip taken during one of those occasions. We often don’t actually buy anything at one of these markets, but we still walking through them to get a sense of the lives and culture of the place that we are visiting.

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.

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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?