Cuba

Coffee Guide – Day 3

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Top Knotch Gear

Day 3 of my coffee guide around the world! Read MSNBC Itineraries’ article here.

Cuba: Cubano
Raw sugar + espresso-like shot = a good way to spend 75¢.

Indonesia: Kopi Luwak
*Disclaimer: This one is gross.* Civets (mammals native to Asia that looks like a cross between a cat, a weasel and a cheetah) eat coffee berries and then poop the coffee beans. Farmers sift through the crap to get the beans and then make your brew. Like it bold? Intestinal enzymes help make the beans smoother and give a richer taste. I think I’ll pass on coffee when we get to Indonesia.

Malaysia: Pak Kopi/Kopi Putih/Bai Ka-fe
This coffee is either roasted in palm oil margarine – a lighter roast- or traditional Malaysian coffee is roasted with sugar AND margarine – giving it a darker roast. (I think Paula Dean would approve).

Argentina: Cortado 
It’s simple and no thrills: An espresso shot with a splash of milk.

Australia/New Zealand: Flat White
Coffee and steamed milk mixed together. But no frothy, bubbly foam, so it’s not a latté. (Even though it is made with “micro-foam” from the bottom of the steaming carafe.). Sounds like a latté to me, kiwis!

Categories: Adventure, Asia, Australia, Backpacking, Coffee, Cuba, Drink, Explore, Food, Malaysia, Photography, South America, Top Knotch Gear, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Travel Tip Tuesdays are Back!

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Top Knotch Gear

Travel Tip for today: Sightseeing

If you’re like us, then you probably enjoy visiting tourist sites every now and again. Whether it’s for the pictures, the experience or the bragging rights to say, “I’ve been there!”, tourist traps can be lots of fun – if only they didn’t have so many…. tourists! Here’s a tip: Go during lunch. Most tour companies (you know, those ones with the large groups of loud people all wearing the matching hats) will take a break from their touring for lunch and it will give you the perfect chance to see the site(s) up close or to snag the coveted photo op without everyone else in your way.

Happy sightseeing!

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Travel Tip Tuesday! – What kind of packer are you?

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Top Knotch Gear

Travel tip #13:

Part 1: For this week’s travel tip (sorry, we missed last week), try taking this quiz provided by Independent Traveler to see what kind of packer you are! Once you answer the questions, some tips will be generated that will help you fit your packing style. It’s fun and easy!

Take the quiz here: http://www.independenttraveler.com/packing-quiz/

Part 2: Tell us which kind of packer you are on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/TopKnotchGear) and you’ll be entered in a contest to win our newest paracord key chain with a bottle opener carabiner! It’s just perfect for those summer brews and you can customize the paracord colors! We’ll use a random number generator to pick the winner on Thursday, May 26th at 12:00PM EST.

WIN THIS! To enter, take the packing quiz and tell us what kind of packer you are - post your packing-type on our TKG Facebook wall!

I’m a last-second lightweight packer!

I always bring my pack as my luggage. If it doesn't fit in my pack, I don't bring it and I don't think twice about it. The quiz had me pegged!

Categories: Adventure, Africa, Airplanes, Asia, Australia, Backpacking, Beijing, Caves, Caving, China, Circumnavigation, Cuba, Explore, Globetrotting, Hiking, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Latin America, Mountains, Nature, Outdoors, Packing, Parachute Cord, Random, Rock Climbing, South America, Survival gear, Thailand, Trails, Travel, Travel Tips | Leave a comment

Our Travel Bucket List!

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Top Knotch Gear
  1. Visit the wonders of the world.
  2. Cross every longitudinal line and every major meridian.
  3. Step foot on all 7 continents.
  4. Hike some of the Annapurna circuit.
  5. See Mount Everest (bonus points for climbing to base camp).
  6. Hike some of Kilimanjaro.
  7. Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef.
  8. Kayak through the mangroves in Everglades National Park.
  9. Visit the Grand Canyon.
  10. Visit all National Parks in the United States.
  11. Become fluent in French and Spanish. (Bonus points for using it abroad).
  12. Become certified SCUBA divers.
  13. Teach English abroad.
  14. Volunteer with a children’s organization abroad.
  15. Install water filters in a 3rd world country.
  16. Experience a sunrise in the Serengheti.
  17. Party on top of a skyscraper in Hong Kong.
  18. Climb a mountain (the entire thing – height doesn’t matter).
  19. Star gaze in South America.
  20. Take a National Geographic Linblad tour.
  21. Spend an extended time at a Buddhist monastery.
  22. Take tango lessons in Argentina.
  23. Visit the Amazon rainforest.
  24. Hug a koala.
  25. See the fjords in Norway.
  26. Celebrate Oktoberfest in Germany.
  27. Learn wine appreciation – and become connoisseur.
  28. Visit a medicine man and/or a shaman.
  29. Get our fortunes read overseas.
  30. Sleep in a hammock on a beach.
  31. Take a roadtrip across the U.S.A.
  32. Hike the Appalachian Trail – the entire thing!
  33. Swim with dolphins.
  34. See a whale in the wild.
  35. Swim/slide off of a natural waterfall.
  36. Hike the trail to the Po Lin Monastery in Hong Kong.
  37. Go on a mediation retreat.
  38. Take a helicopter ride over a volcano.
  39. Hike a volcano.
  40. See the cherry blossoms in bloom in Japan.
  41. Visit the family castle in Scotland.
  42. Eat authentic Italian food – in Italy.
  43. See the Olympics in person.
  44. Have a romantic dinner in Paris.
  45. Visit the Holocost concentration camps & memorials.
  46. Celebrate New Years in different countries (specifically Sydney and Hong Kong)
  47. Visit Iceland.
  48. Experience the Iditarod in Alaska.
  49. Experience Holi Day (Festival of Colours) in India.
  50. See the dragon boat festival in China.
  51. Carnival in Rio.
  52. Visit the Mount Gay Rum distillery in Barbados.
  53. See the Tour de France.
  54. Smoke a real Cuban cigar – in Cuba. Whilst drinking Cuban daiquiris.
  55. See the Northern Lights. (Bonus points for getting crystal clear pictures of them.)
  56. Go on a bike tour of Vietnam.
  57. Take cooking classes in India and Thailand – learn to make authentic coconut curry!
  58. Eat fresh seafood (this is a big deal for us because we’re both long-term vegetarians)
  59. Rock climb at Joshua Tree and Red Rocks
  60. Photograph penguins in their natural habitats.
  61. Visit the Jane Goodall Sanctuary in South Africa.
  62. Witness a tea ceremony in Japan.
  63. Live out of a pack for an extended period of time (which we’re planning to do anyway!)
  64. Celebrate the Festival of the Dead in Oaxaca, Mexico
  65. Experience the Full Moon Party in Thailand.
Categories: Adventure, Africa, Airplanes, Alcohol, Animals, Asia, Asian Food, Australia, Backpacking, Beijing, Caves, Caving, China, Circumnavigation, Communication, Cuba, Disaster Relief, Donation, Drink, Explore, Family, Food, Fresh Food, Global Aid, Globetrotting, Hiking, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Latin America, Love, Mountains, National Geographic, Nature, Night Market, Outdoors, Parachute Cord, Paracord, Photography, Plants and Flowers, Random, Rock Climbing, Science, Seafood, Snorkeling, South America, Summer, Survival gear, Thailand, Tourist Site, Trails, Transportation, Travel, Uncategorized, Vietnam, Volunteer, Water | 2 Comments

Classic Cuban Daiquiri

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Top Knotch Gear

The weather’s getting warmer and summer is right around the corner. ‘Tis the season for relaxing, getting a tan and drinking tasty summer cocktails.

When I was in college, one of my favorite places to dine in Ann Arbor was at Café Habana. (Not that I went out to eat much – I was, after all, a poor college student. But when I felt like treating myself, Habana was my first choice.) While they only had 2 dishes on the menu that were vegetarian (both were delicious, though), I would trot down the street to indulge in their classic Cuban Daiquiris. With only 3 ingredients, this drink is quick, easy and absolutely divine!

The Cuban Daiquiri

  • 3 oz. white rum (preferably Cuban)
  • Juice from 1 lime
  • 2 tablespoons of white sugar (you can add more/less as desired)
Mix all ingredients, shake with ice and drink up! You can even garnish your martini glass with a sugar rim and a lime twist if you’re feeling glitzy. (Just remember to drink responsibly.)

The Cuban Daiquiri - BEST COCKTAIL IN THE WORLD

Categories: Adventure, Alcohol, Cuba, Drink, Food, Globetrotting, Latin America, Outdoors, Random, Recpie, Summer, Summer Recipes, Travel | Leave a comment

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