March 2025 – NorthAmericanDarrell

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt!

When I bought my Wizz Air All You Can Fly pass, I knew one thing for sure: I was about to visit places I never would have dreamed of in my life.

It was the perfect setup for someone on my budget—suddenly, parts of the world that felt completely out of reach were not only possible, but practical. Cheap flights don’t just save money; they expand your map.

Since I’d already visited the United Arab Emirates in the past, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect this time around. That familiarity made it an easy yes—and a solid starting point for seeing a very different side of the world without blowing the budget.

There are places in the world you assume you’ll never see—not because you don’t want to, but because the math never works. Then I bought a Wizz Air All You Can Fly pass, and the math completely changed.

I could tell just by standing in the check-in line that this was a vacation destination. The passengers gave it away—flip-flops, relaxed faces, and not a single person looking like they were heading to a board meeting.

The flight cost £2.50.
That’s roughly $10 USD—less than airport coffee and far more exciting.

And the accommodation?
€19 a night (about $21 USD) right on the ocean.

Sometimes the math alone tells you everything you need to know.

My hotel had a castle next door, casually nicknamed “The Sandcastle.”
Because apparently that’s just a normal thing when you’re traveling on a budget, and the world decides to show off.

Below is the walk from my $20-a-night hotel to the outdoor mall—an easy stroll that somehow managed to include ocean air, ridiculous views, and zero stress. Not bad for pocket change.

The plan was to take a four-hour bus ride to Cairo and experience the Pyramids.

After two days, I had had enough of these shysters and headed to Naples, Italy, as Pizza was waiting for me.

In closing, I have to mention one moment that says more about Sharm El Sheikh than any guidebook ever could.

I accidentally left my jacket draped over a chair after airport security for more than an hour. Inside the pockets? My $600 camera and my $175 headset (replacement cost). Realizing this mid-panic, I ran back to security fully prepared for disappointment.

Instead, they immediately recognized me, smiled, and handed me my jacket—everything still inside. One of the officers insisted that Egypt was safe, and honestly, I believed him even after all the bad experiences I had there. I thanked him, probably more than once.

There aren’t many airports in the world where that outcome would be guaranteed—even if the item had been turned in. That single moment left me with an incredibly good feeling about Egypt.

Unfortunately, it came at the very end of my trip.

But I’ll never forget that feeling of gratitude you sent me off with.

Thank you, Egypt.

Naples, Italy – home of PIZZA!🍕

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza, you visit the home of the pizza!! There are several variations, and so far, the stromboli and fried pizza have been amazing.

As my European travels start to wind down on this adventure, I’ve found myself staying in hostels—and getting more comfortable with them than I ever expected.

In Naples, the average hotel costs around €75–€100 per night, which is roughly equivalent to the same price in U.S. dollars. The hostel I’m currently staying in? €28 a night—and honestly, it’s been great.

More importantly, I’ve met some genuinely like-minded people along the way. Good conversations, shared stories, and the reminder that travel isn’t always about where you stay—it’s about who you run into when you get there.

Turns out comfort isn’t always about square footage. Sometimes it’s just good people and a cheaper bed.

I honestly don’t remember ever paying to visit a museum. It’s just never really been my thing.

But after visiting Athens, and now Naples, the history became impossible to ignore—and even harder to resist.

So I did something completely out of character and spent my first day in Naples inside the Naples National Archaeological Museum.

And honestly?
I was blown away.

Room after room of artifacts, sculptures, and stories that somehow survived centuries—and here I was, just standing there in quiet amazement, wondering how this was never on my radar before.

These are some photos and videos from that first day—proof that even the most stubborn non-museum person can still be humbled by European history.

The weather has been cold and rainy, so I’m still debating how to spend the next day or two here before heading to Rome.

Fortunately, this is where hostels really shine.

Below are just some of the amazing options posted around the hostel—things to do, places to eat, and budget-friendly ideas I probably wouldn’t have found on my own.

That’s another underrated perk of staying in hostels:
Someone has already done the homework, and they did it cheaply.

Istanbul Turkey! The Med, cheap!🤑

Since buying the Wizz, visiting Turkey has been on my radar since I purchased my All you can fly is pass. BINGO!

I was able to catch a flight from Athens, Greece, across Europe, so why not? The best part is that I was able to stay overnight in London again. Something about sitting in a pub in London is cool to me. Fish and chips and local pints!!

Here are some videos of my time in Istanbul, starting with a walk from my amazing USD 18 a night hostel. It was so comfortable after a long couple of travel days and a fun pub stop in London.

I did not have any plans other than to try to live like a local for a few days. As part of my experience, I ended up at a ferry port by absolute luck and visited three islands. I met a local who gave me a historical tour of the biggest and furthest South Princess Islands, Adelar. Here is the ferry ride and a tour of the island.

It was a great few days trying to understand what makes things tick in Istanbul!

Funny story: I was at the Istanbul airport, and I was noticing a lot of people with bandages on their heads and noses.

Ironically, I flew into and out of Istanbul from London with a guy who was getting a hair transplant done.

We had a short conversation about something, but did not discuss his intentions until we met again, leaving.

I jokingly asked him if MMA was in town, as everyone looked beat up like him. He explained that Istanbul is famous for hair restoration and nose jobs, and it is less than half the price of most places like London.

I think it is less than USD 5K if you are interested in getting that 1990s flow back, boys! LOL

My big fat Greek weekend!

Feta cheese – they put that amazing shit of everything in Athens. This is an amazing Armenian Family that kept the Greek dishes coming over the weekend.

The Greek salad with a slab of feta and olives and lamb gyro were the best!!

I spent a couple of months touring Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand). I spent my last days in Singapore before leaving for Europe. It was also the first time I flew on discount airline Scoot, which is a low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. I stress low cost as it had nothing like the feel of my favorite Airline, Singapore Airlines.

Now that the important introduction is over, the food, I can explain traveling in and out of Athens a bit more.

I was able to travel to Athens, Greece for a few days, the third weekend of March 2025. I left Asia after 70 days touring Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore. It was a 12-hour flight from Singapore to Athens, but I booked it several months ago, so it was only a couple of hundred dollars.

It was a long flight, but I was able to make do with the onboard amenities.

I left Athens and headed to London for a quick overnight trip to use my Wizz all-you-can-fly pass to Istanbul, Turkey.

After those long flights, I am always discombobulated (more than normal). I needed to navigate the metro system to get to my hostel, which was extra challenging.

I always tailor my accommodations to the price of the city, and Athens was not cheap.

I ended up biting the bullet and booking an amazing room in a hostel for $50 a night. I know you’re thinking, $50 a night is cheap, but multiply that by 84 nights, which is the length of this trip. That would have been USD 4,200 for accommodations alone!!

Anyway, I was able to catch up on my sleep, regroup, and reenergize.

I knew I would only have the weekend in Athens, so I booked a three-day pass on the double-decker bus that stops at all of the tourist traps. I tend to do that when there is a lot to see in a city in a short amount of time, as it is worth it.

One of the biggest draws on the tour and in Athens is the Acropolis and the Parthenon.

Here is a clip for the wiki that explained to both of us:

The Acropolis of Athens (Ancient Greek: ἡ Ἀκρόπολις τῶν Ἀθηνῶν, romanized: hē Akropolis tōn Athēnōn; Modern Greek: Ακρόπολη Αθηνών, romanized: Akrópoli Athinón) is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens, Greece, and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, the most famous being the Parthenon.

The word Acropolis is from Greek ἄκρον (akron) ‘highest point, extremity’ and πόλις (polis) ‘city’.[1] The term acropolis is generic and there are many other acropoleis in Greece. During ancient times the Acropolis of Athens was also more properly known as Cecropia, after the legendary serpent-man Cecrops, the supposed first Athenian king.

While there is evidence that the hill was inhabited as early as the 4th millennium BC, it was Pericles (c. 495–429 BC) in the fifth century BC who coordinated the construction of the buildings whose present remains are the site’s most important ones, including the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike.

The Parthenon and the other buildings were seriously damaged during the 1687 siege by the Venetians during the Morean War when gunpowder being stored by the then Turkish rulers in the Parthenon was hit by a Venetian bombardment and exploded.

Another big draw was the temple of the Olympian Zeus:

Here is more wiki history that I did not know either:

Dedicated to Zeus, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, also called the Olympieion, was the largest temple in ancient Greece. Though the Parthenon is better preserved, the Temple of Olympian Zeus was an even more monumental structure in its day. The temple dates to the sixth century BC but was not completed until the second century AD by the Emperor Hadrian. In front of the Olympieion, not far from the entrance, stands Hadrian’s Arch at the end of Dionysiou Areopagitou.

It’s easy to imagine the grand impression this temple made in its complete form. More than a hundred enormous marble columns once supported the grandiose sanctuary. Only 15 columns remain standing, and another surviving column lies on the ground, but the ruins’ monumental presence gives a sense of the massive size of the original building. The gigantic structure was a befitting shrine to Zeus, the ancient Greeks’ most all-powerful God, known as the King of the Gods.

Greece is also known for its amazing islands which is dealed here if you are interested:

It was pretty cool to hear the references between the inaugural Olympic Games in 1896 and the 2004 modern-day Olympics during the tours.

They would share the new venues, in the city and oceanside, and I was also able to see the very first venue, The Parathion.

I did not leave the mainland but toured the amazing coast on the bus for hours.

Asia – getting fat eating with two sticks!🍜

I have loved Thai food since visiting Thailand back in 2022 but forgot how much until returning in 2025!

I have since visited many Asian countries and fallen in love with their food. Vietnam Pho/Bahn mi/noodles, Cambodian Amok/Hhmer curry/noodles, all held the title until I was reintroduced to Thai again.

The Thai pad and variations of soup won my heart and my belly over once again. Here are some choices from a food court in Bangkok. You could eat three times a day for 365 days and not try them all in this food court. It was almost impossible to choose:

Here were some of my absolute favorites from around Samui—and yes, choosing was a daily struggle:

Mango salad (top left) — fresh, spicy, sweet, and dangerous if you underestimate the chili

Tom Yum coconut spicy soup (middle left) — rich, tangy, and soul-cleansing in the best way

Chicken Pad Thai (top right) — the classic that never misses

Tom Yum chicken (extra spicy) (bottom left) — I survived, barely

Ice-cold Chang beer (bottom right) — it was so hot they literally put ice in it… and I fully support that decision

Thai food doesn’t just win—it laps the competition. My heart, my stomach, and my sweat glands all agree.

Singapore! Amazing place to visit!!

Just when you thought this blog was a waste of time with zero useful information… here’s a random-but-handy travel fact:

You can chew gum in Singapore—but don’t get cute with it.

The sale of chewing gum has been illegal since 1992. The reason? People kept sticking used gum in places it absolutely did not belong—like subway door sensors, lock cylinders, and elevator buttons. Singapore responded the only way Singapore knows how: hard rules, zero tolerance.

Since 2004, there’s been a small exception for therapeutic, dental, and nicotine gum, which you can buy from a doctor or registered pharmacist.

Important clarifications:

Chewing gum itself is not illegal

Importing and selling it (with limited exceptions) is

Travelers can bring in a small amount for personal use

Spit it out improperly? There’s a fine for that

So yes—this blog did just save you from a mildly embarrassing (and possibly expensive) international gum incident.

You’re welcome.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

This was my sixth time passing through Changi Airport—but the first time I actually left the airport.

I grabbed a hostel right in the center of Singapore and picked up a two-day MRT (subway) pass to explore the city properly. The subway system was clean, fast, and stupidly efficient—exactly what you’d expect from Singapore.

The hostel? Honestly… it sucked. But it was the only affordable option I could find in an otherwise very expensive city—unless you’re cool paying $100+ a night to stay in a rougher area. That said, there are tons of options on Booking.com if you’re willing to hunt and compromise a bit.

Singapore isn’t cheap—but it’s incredibly easy to navigate, even on a budget, if you lean on public transport and keep expectations realistic.

Here was my route from Changi Airport into the city—smooth, fast, and almost comically efficient thanks to the Singapore MRT.

And then… the destination.

After that flawless transit experience, I checked into what can only be described as an absolute cubby—a tiny hostel bunk that barely qualified as a sleeping space. Two nights. No privacy. Questionable airflow. Just enough room to lie down and reconsider my life choices.

Was it glamorous? Not even remotely.
Was it cheap (by Singapore standards)? Unfortunately, yes.
Did it get the job done? Also yes.

That’s the tradeoff sometimes: world-class infrastructure on the way in, followed by a brutally humbling reminder that budget travel in expensive cities is all about lowering expectations and raising tolerance.

I survived.
I slept (kind of).
And I got out into the city—which was the whole point anyway.

The first thing most people think of when they hear Singapore is Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay.

And to be fair—they’re incredible. Seeing the building and the landscape in person absolutely lives up to the hype. It’s futuristic, perfectly manicured, and feels like something dropped in from another planet.

That said… this is as close as I’m getting.

Rooms at Marina Bay Sands run $560+ a night, which is—no exaggeration—more than I paid for my hostel. For that price, I’ll happily admire it from the outside, take a few photos, and keep my money for food, transit, and actually doing things.

Singapore does spectacle extremely well.
I just don’t need to sleep inside the spectacle to appreciate it.

Some people collect infinity-pool selfies.
I collect stories—and a much lower nightly burn rate.

Singapore is undeniably clean, efficient, and impressively built. The infrastructure is world-class. That said, I didn’t personally find much beyond that pulling me in.

That doesn’t mean you wouldn’t love it—this is just my opinion. Travel is subjective, and different places click with different people. Honestly, you could visit Singapore and never even leave the airport and still feel like you saw something special… which is a little wild when you think about it.

And that’s the strange part for me: one of the coolest things in the city was the airport.

To be fair, Changi Airport isn’t just an airport—it’s routinely ranked as one of the best in the world. Inside, you’ll find an entertainment corner, the world’s tallest airport slide, a butterfly garden, a movie theater, a swimming pool with runway views, the Skytrain, the massive Rain Vortex, and multiple indoor garden spaces. It’s less “terminal” and more “destination.”

So yeah—Singapore does precision, cleanliness, and efficiency better than almost anywhere. It just didn’t light me up the way other places have. And that’s okay. Not every stop has to be a favorite to be interesting.

Sometimes the takeaway isn’t “I want to stay longer”—
It’s “I’m glad I saw it.” The airport was enough for me now.

Koh Samui, Thai! Paradise Island!!🏝️

The first time I visited, prices were down since they were just opening up after COVID in early 2022.

This was the view from my Airbnb. I only planned to stay a few days, but ended up staying ten days as it was so incredible.

It was a better experience as it was quieter and much more inexpensive than the busy season.

As always, I found a way to find a good time when I returned in early 2025!

The Island is the biggest of the three chains of islands of Ko Tao, Koh Phagan and Samui so there is always a lot of options. The beaches are spectacular, and marijuana is now legal, so everyone is having a great time, all the time.

I never was a big pot smoker but when in Rome …

See you again, Samui!

Ko Tao, Thai! Divers Paradise!🏝️🤿

I spent the second week of March 2025 in Ko Tao, Thailand, followed by most of the third week on Koh Samui.

Three islands, three very different vibes—all unforgettable—and a perfect reminder of why Thailand keeps pulling me back

This was my second visit to Koh Tao and Koh Samui. The first time, I spent six weeks here during a paid sabbatical from PayPal in January 2022. Back then, I did a lot more touring and exploring, which made this trip different in the best way—I already knew exactly where I wanted to be.

That’s really the ultimate goal for me: travel widely, move slowly, and identify places that are both amazing and affordable—places worth returning to long term. This trip to Thailand wasn’t about checking boxes; it was about confirming what already felt right.

Lima, Peru – Mira Flores district! 😍

I have so many amazing places in my life, I tend to forget some of them.

I wanted to share another post on how affordable and amazing Peru can be as an option to visit to get a bigger bang for your dollar. The country is impoverished, but the affluent Mira Flores district is amazing.

I visited Lima, Peru, three times on my Volaris all-you-can-fly pass, as it costs less than $100 each way on standby. The first time, I did not know the area, so I stayed in the city and commuted to Mira Flores on the local bus. I say this everywhere I go, but this traffic was insane.

The second and third time, I stayed at the same Airbnb on the cliffside oceanfront in Mira Flores district!

Mira Flores made a point to be inclusive for everyone. There are paths for walking, running, biking, roller blading, and people whipping around on scooters too. I saw basketball/tennis courts, BMX/Skate parks,

It is so impressive to see all of the gliders in the air and watch them take off and land.

Mira Flores has something for everyone and all ages. It is a great place to stay active too!

Siem Reap/Ankor Wat, Cambodia

I was getting more comfortable navigating Asia every day. I nailed the bus trip from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and an Uber to my hostel. It was almost like I knew what I was doing, which is rare for me.

I chose to stay at the Poolside Villas in Phnom Penh, which was phenomenal. The rooms were $21 a night, and the food/drinks were very cheap, with beers $1.50/$1 happy hour and most meals under $5.

As my travels take me into March, I am starting to feel the pressure of running out of time in Asia. I am scheduled to leave on March 21st, and I still have not done some things.

For that reason, I took Cambodia by storm and did as much as possible in ten days.

I want to share my day trip to Angkor Wat, which was amazing!

Angkor Wat “City/Capital of Temples”) It is a Hindu-Buddhist temple complex in Cambodia. Located on a site measuring 162.6 hectares (1,626,000 m2; 402 acres) within the ancient Khmer capital city of Angkor, it was originally constructed in 1150 CE as a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Vishnu. It was later gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the century.

Angkor Wat was built at the behest of the Khmer king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura (present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple-mountain and the later galleried temple. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology, and is surrounded by a moat more than 5 km (3.1 mi). Enclosed within an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west, with scholars divided as to the significance of this.

Here are some of the many videos I took, and the rest can be found on my YouTube channel by clicking here.

My tuk-tuk driver was amazing! He picked me up at the hotel in the morning, drove me to each of the seven temples one by one. He gave me clear instructions to navigate each of the temples, including pick-up after each stop.