Yes, I said that right – it’s topical travel not tropical travel. Although, tropical doesn’t sound all that bad either.

There are many places in the world I want to explore for one reason or another. However, there are some places I want to see based on one sole reason or topic. It is true, these aren’t the only perks of visiting a country but it is the number 1 reason for me. When I think of each one of these topics/features my mind wanders to a specific country and for good reason too.

 Thailand – Food

Just check out  Our Oyster’s Thai food list. I am a lover of spicy food and I dare say that I am an adventurous eater. I am a lover of street venders and enjoying food that the every day person can eat. While France may be know for its culinary cuisine, I have to go to a specialist chef to try some delicacy. Whereas in Thailand, the good food they have is shared and enjoyed by all. It is a delicious blend of everything that makes my mouth water. I’ve also heard that Thailand has some beautiful picturesque views, and a good meal with a great view is always a win. Plus, I liked the movie Muy Thai Giant, even though it was a bit hokey/cheesy, it still made me crave their food. I think that was the plot, eat Thai food, or something like that.

Belgium – Beer

Belgium is like the Holy Grail of beer, home of Trappist beer – beer made by monks. Better believe I’d go to church and be first in line for communion for that stuff. You may think I would have said Germany, which is pretty much synonymous with the word beer and culturally as beer drinkers you may be right. However, while Germany has Oktoberfest, Belgium holds the greatest variety of beer styles compared to any other country. Per capita, Belgium has been listed as having the most breweries. I would go to Germany for the best beer festival but for diversity and an overall beerience I choose Belgium.

New Zealand – The Landscape

I’m not a Lord of the Rings fanatic but the views from that movie made me want to view New Zealand even more. The beautiful landscape seems like a wonderful adventure to explore. Plus, and maybe this is an assumption because they are near by, but I figured there was an Aussie influence just without all the dangerous venomous animals that want to kill you. With all the beautiful land comes outdoor activities like camping, hiking, kayaking, biking, and much more. It seems to me, like a land that just calls you to be outside.   Lastly, and while this isn’t specific to the land and outdoor exploration, the Māori people seem very interesting.

Egypt – History

I’m a history nerd and I know this, but you can’t crack open a history book without finding a chapter on Egypt. The thing is, while the things in person are probably some of the most fantastic things to see, in a textbook they are kind of bland – even for me. I want to go and explore the foundation of so much of humanities history. Now, I know that there are other great historical sites throughout the region stretching up through the Tigris–Euphrates river and all along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. However, there is something about Egypt and the massive iconic structures and stories about mummies that make me want to visit. Don’t get me wrong though, once I’m their I’m rolling down that river to check out all the other sites.

Are there any countries/places you wish to visit for a specific reason? Please share below in the comment section.

Type: Beer – Belgian Pale Ale
Name: Leffe – Blonde
Price: $1.79
Made: Belgium
Alc/Vol: 6.6%

OK, so not only have I been a bad little monkey and haven’t been posting much of anything outside of my New Brew Tuesday posts. To make me look even better I’m a day late and a hangover short, or something like that, on today’s post. The sad thing is I had it all written out on paper and just had to transfer it over to my computer – all pretty easy. But enough about this and that and on to the beer.

“Award winning Leffe Blonde is a full-bodied deep golden ale that is surprisingly subtle and delicate. Belgium’s classic abbey ale is best served in its own chalice-shaped glass, accentuating the ale’s aroma and creating the perfect head.”

OK this beer paints a nice delicate flowery frilly little picture that makes you want to go awwww how cute. This is not how I should feel about me beer, and my reaction didn’t fare any better. However, I do have to admit first and foremost – this brew did give a nice head (sorry I’m a bad bad monkey)

The beer was a nice golden color that gave a bit of lacing on the glass that dissipates pretty fast. I couldn’t get much off the nose, but my wife got something- not a favorable something, but something.

  The taste has a rich caramel deep coffee fruits taste, which is surprising since it comes from such a light-colored ale. There really was a lot of character in this beer, a rich sweetness to it. It was hard to pick out specific flavorings in it, it is a well mixed beer. However, this is not a beer for me. It was too sweet, it reminded me of an abbey ale but it was too sweet for me. I couldn’t finish this beer which is a sad thing to say, this beer was anything but subtle to me. It was too sweet and fruity but that isn’t saying it is a bad beer, it may be just what you are looking for if the description sounds good to you. If it does then I recommend you try it, yet if you like a little more bitter in your beer then skip this brew. I give it 2 1/2 out of 5 bananas.

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Type: Beer – Saison/Farmhouse Ale (Organic Beer)
Name: Brasserie Dupont’s Foret
Price: $5.99
Made: Tourpes, Belgium
Alc/Vol: 7.5%

This wonderful delicious beer tickled my taste buds to new levels – an organic delicious brew…who new?

I was suspicious of an organic beer and at first I assumed it was likely from California, no offense to the land of the former governator. Then I saw it, ‘Belgium’, and I got all sorts of excited and my tail started to wag. And yes dogs do that but we monkeys do not, so this is something special. Belgium is the land of beer, it’s my holy grail that I have not yet gorged myself on.

I popped the cork, yes cork, and took in a deep breath of lemon with similar scents that are more familiar with a pilsen. I filled up my glass to a golden orange color, slightly cloudy with a nice lacing head, although it was light.

I was getting excited from what I was seeing and smelling, and so I drank it in for all it was worth. OK I didn’t drink it all I sipped a few times to really get the flavoring but that doesn’t make for good writing now does it?

The beer had a crisp zest to it, while it is strong in alcohol it does not taste like it. It was blended perfectly, it is not overpowering but is not watered down either. Overall, just a really well made beer. I could see myself sipping on these all the time, well maybe more so in the summer seeing that it had a lemon spice to it, even though Saison beers are more of a winter style ale. Their was a nice mixture of spice with a slight bitter-dry finish that mellowed out the citrus taste.

Overall, I give this beer 4 1/2 out of 5 bananas. It is a bit pricey but then again most things that have the label ‘Organic’ do come with a heftier price tag. But this beer is worth your money even if it is just for a try.

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Type:  Beer – Belgian White
Name: Hoegaarden
Price: $1.79
Made: Hoegaarden, Belgium
Alc/Vol: 4.9%

First let’s see what Hoegaarden has to say about itself…

“The original wheat beer is the oldest and most famous of Hoegaarden’s range. When poured, it forms a soft, white creamy head and leaves a generous lacing on the glass. Its naturally cloudy, pale hue shimmers when viewed through the glass.

With an aroma of orange peel, coriander and spice, its characteristic taste is entirely unique: smooth, light-bodied, and simultaneously sweet and sour, with a subtle, spiced citrus flavour. Best served in its traditional hexagonal glass.”

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