02/01/2024 – Mandatory meeting!👋🏻

Today, February 1st, 2026, marks two years that I have been “taking a run at retirement”. I refer to it that way, as I am not sure how it will all work out.

So far, so good, as I blog from Cebu, Philippines.

Three weeks after completing my 7th year with PayPal, I got a “mandatory meeting invite” on February 1st, 2024.

This was the second time; my career was also abruptly cut short after 18-years with Northern Telecom/Nortel/Ericsson.

Hindsight is always 20/20; both situations worked out for the best long term. 25 years was enough for me, and it was time to take a run at retirement!

All those years of hard work, strategizing, overthinking, and so many mistakes!

The travel dream was finally coming to fruition.

Aside from finances, which I blogged about HERE, health insurance is one of the biggest drivers for early retirement.

I found a great setup through trial and error for insurance, as I also blogged about HERE.

Again, so far so good!

Soon after getting laid off, I started planning NorthAmericanDarrell.com, and my YouTube channel, which you can check out by clicking HERE. Please consider following my channel!

I had always wanted to share my past, present, and future travel experiences.

A solo traveler, vlogger, YouTuber, Geoarbitrage with a dry sense of humor.

“Freedom 50” turned into a “Freedom 55” after the COVID market correction, and ultimately “Freedom 52” traveling lifestyle.

Just another example, life cannot always be planned.

“Freedom 54” is just around the corner!

Cheers to another year living the dream!

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Cebu, Philippines – Moalboal! 🚌

I preach about setting up shop for the long term, building routines, becoming a regular… and then, not long after, I’m on a road trip.

The contradiction is the sweet spot for me.

The way I see it, as long as your slow-travel home base comes with low rent, everything else stays in bounds.

Cheap rent makes spontaneity affordable. You’re not “breaking the budget”—you’re spending the surplus your lifestyle was designed to fit my inability to stay put.

Thanks, Mom!!.

Slow travel for me isn’t always about staying still.

It’s about building a base so light that motion never feels financially irresponsible, paying for two places at once.

Here is a tour of my $450 a month Cebu condo I shared in 2024 during my first visit to the Philippines.

The road trip opportunities are exactly what I envisioned when I returned to the same condo in late January 2026.

The rent was still $450 a month, and the road-trip opportunities in the area are endless, both within the Philippines and throughout Asia.

After a few days of arriving, I woke up this morning at three AM with insomnia, hopped on a bus, and three hours later I was in Moalboal, Cebu, drinking beer on beautiful Sandy Beach.

That beats a trip to the bathroom!

The bus trip was under $10 while, while a basic room was less than $25 USD per night.

That low price included a wake-up call!

🐓📢🛌🏻

The beach was as good as it gets—beer cold as ice and scenery so spectacular it felt illegal. Every direction was a postcard for a travel magazine or an amazing blog for inexpensive travel …

The first road trip worked out perfectly, and I’ve already got three absurdly cheap flights booked for February.

Hong Kong, 9th visa run; $225 ✈️

Dumaguete / Siquijor, 19th; $60 ✈️🚢

Siargao, Philippines, 29th; $60

Slow travel, bending the rules while living life to the fullest!

Cebu, Philippines – It’s HOT!♨️😎

Schawetty

I talk about “slow travel” all the time, but it’s not just a vibe—it’s a filter.

The right place has to check a lot of boxes. Otherwise, it’s just a stop, not a home base, and here is what Cebu offers:

Affordability is non-negotiable:

$450 a month for rent

Meals under $5 USD

Movies cost around $5

Cheap road trips:

Uber/Grab/local bus are super inexpensive

Flights around Asia for under $100 (often less)

Ferries to nearby islands for under $20

Convenience matters too:

My Cebu IT Park neighborhood is open 24/7/365.
Meals. Movies. Groceries. Coffee. Everything.

Cebu hits the numbers, life stops feeling like a meter is running.

It’s built for call-center workers who operate around the clock, which means I can live normally at any hour.

No planning my life around business hours.

That’s the slow-travel sweet spot:

Productive Day One.

One-hour chair massage — $5

Movie ticket — $5

Favorite Korean BBQ – $3

Favorite noodle spot – $2

Old food photos (food was gone, quickly!)

And the big win?

I locked in a long-term, optional lease, giving me the option to settle in the long term.

Slow travel isn’t just about wandering—it’s about setting up a life that checks as many boxes as possible.

Day one delivered.

It’s been less than two days, so I’m trying to keep my expectations in check—but I’ve already started laying the groundwork for what’s next.

Two road trips are on the board.
Siquijor ferry to rope swing adventure? Locked in.
And Hong Kong for my birthday? Flight booked

That’s the beauty of this place: you settle in, get comfortable, and still leave room for spontaneous trips.

Home base on one end. Adventure, on the other hand.

Everything is inexpensive, keeping the options wide open!

Living life to the fullest in the Philippines!

Thank-you Tokyo – I’ll be back! 😎

Tokyo came into my life at exactly the right time.

I spent the first two weeks of 2026 at my pad in Rocky Point, Mexico, and for the first time in a long while, I wasn’t feeling that usual spark to kick off a new year. Instead of forcing it, I moved up my Japan trip by two weeks—and that decision turned out to be perfect.

What I needed wasn’t more beach beers and tacos.

I needed a reset.

So, I spent seven straight days in the spa at my Airbnb—soaking, sweating, cold plunging, repeating—shaking off some bad vibes from the year before and letting my head catch up with my feet.

Just peace, and a slow return to my center.

It was exactly what the doctor ordered—but, true to form, once I started feeling better, I also got antsy again.

Tokyo had been absolutely incredible, but it reminded me a lot of Milan, Italy—too many well-dressed, impossibly good-looking people. I feel like a square peg in a very fashionable round hole.

That’s when an opportunity to go back to Cebu, Philippines, dropped into my lap.

So I pivoted. I delayed the Kyoto/Okinawa portion of my trip and booked a $150 flight to Cebu on January 23rd. A week in Tokyo has already been enough to confirm what I suspected—it’s a fantastic place for shorter-term stays.

Even better, a friend offered me ten days of free accommodations in Cebu. Hard to say no to that.

I’ve already written about why Cebu and why it sits near the top of my list, along with Vietnam, as a potential home base. This just gives me the chance to explore Cebu deeper to see if it is the long-term slow travel answer.

Why the Philippines again?

Because the Philippines is made up of 7,641 islands, and only about 2,000 are inhabited. A few of them already rank among my favorite islands I’ve ever visited.

Japan isn’t going anywhere.
But opportunity knocked—and I answered.

This was the on the other end of the line!

I will forward all my calls!!

As always, it feels like I’m getting away with something—but it’s really just good planning, a little flexibility, and a sprinkle of earned luck.

The magic isn’t in the price.
It’s in knowing when to move, when to stay, and how to let opportunity do some of the work for you.

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Tokyo nights – hustle, bustle and neon lights!

Neon Light Area – Tokyo

Tokyo’s neon-soaked Shinjuku district is the city’s beating heart of entertainment. Packed with glowing signs, towering billboards, and vibrant street scenes. It feels like stepping straight into a Bruce Lee movie!

The areas around Shinjuku Station and Kabukicho are especially famous, where every block is drenched in color and motion. These streets aren’t just visually striking—they’re a living expression of Tokyo’s nightlife and cultural energy.

Shinjuku isn’t just one of the places to see Tokyo’s neon lights.
It’s the BEST place.

As an admitted wuss (ironically from Canada) who hates the cold, this was the first time I actually went out into the wind and chill on purpose at night.

Totally worth it, but I don’t need to do that again.

The Tokyo Shinjuku entertainment district is on the same train line as my Airbnb, which means I can be dropped straight into neon chaos without overthinking it. One train, five stops, and suddenly I’m surrounded by lights, food, music, with Vegas like street energy.

It took me about 35 minutes station to station on the insane Japan rail system I blogged about HERE.

I arrived a couple of hours before dusk—perfect timing. I grabbed a $3 Starbucks and then followed it up with a massive $10 Hefeweizen, settling in to watch the city shift gears as the neon came to life.

For one of the busiest entertainment districts on the planet, it was surprisingly inexpensive—and the people-watching was next level. Tokyo doesn’t just light up at night; it transforms.

Seeing that progression in real time made the whole place feel alive in a way photos never quite capture.

Travel investment summary! Bucket strategy!

I have blogged about this in the past.

Since I constantly get the question, how can you prepare for early retirement, I wanted to get another blog out there for anyone interested.

Travel conversations with me almost always end up circling back to money management.
Early-retirement conversations always do.

That’s not an accident. If you want to retire early—or even just live differently—you eventually have to talk about your financial reality with someone. And for most people, money is still weirdly taboo.

That’s why I share mine.

Not to flex. Not to preach. But to give people a reference point. To show that this isn’t magic or luck or some secret society—it’s a series of choices that compound over time. Sometimes that perspective is encouraging. Sometimes it’s frustrating, because the variables aren’t equal:

I’m single

I’m not married

I don’t have to put kids through college

And yes—I’ve heard it all. Those differences are real. They matter. I understand why they changed the math.

But the point isn’t that everyone should copy my path. It’s that a path may actually exist.

And that the first step toward any version of freedom is being willing to look at the numbers without flinching.

You can’t optimize what you refuse to acknowledge!

Here is the podcast version which can be found on my website www.NorthAmericanDarrell.com

NorthAmericanDarrell Podcast

Episode 8 — The Bucket Strategy

Welcome back to the NorthAmericanDarrell Podcast.

There’s an old saying I’ve always liked…

We buy things we don’t need…

To impress people we don’t like…

With money we don’t have.

[amused] Pretty much sums up a good chunk of society, doesn’t it?

For a while, I was guilty of it too.

But somewhere along the way, I started asking myself a different question.

What if I stopped measuring success by what I owned… and started measuring it by how much of my time I owned?

What would you choose?

A newer car sitting in the driveway?

Or another year where you didn’t have to punch a clock?

There isn’t a right answer.

But my answer changed as I got older.

And that’s where my retirement bucket strategy came in.

People occasionally ask me how I was able to take a run at early retirement after getting laid off at fifty-two.

It wasn’t one brilliant investment.

It definitely wasn’t because I predicted the future.

[laughs] If I could do that, this would be a very different podcast.

It was decades of saving, investing, owning property, making mistakes, recovering from those mistakes—and eventually organizing everything around one simple idea:

I needed enough money in one bucket to get me to the next bucket.

That’s it.

Think about your own situation for a second.

If you wanted to stop working before traditional retirement age…

What would have to pay your bills between your last paycheck and your first retirement check?

That’s the problem I needed to solve.

My circumstances obviously aren’t everybody’s circumstances.

I’m single.

I never married.

I don’t have children or college tuition to worry about.

Apparently, I’ve finally reached my true calling…

[laughs] Crazy Uncle Darrell.

Those things absolutely changed my financial equation.

But I’m not suggesting anyone copy my life.

I’m suggesting you look at your equation.

Maybe you have a pension.

Maybe you have a 401(k).

Maybe it’s an RRSP in Canada.

Maybe you own a house with a lot of equity.

Maybe you have rental income.

Maybe you’re starting later than you’d like.

The question isn’t:

“Can I do what Darrell did?”

The better question is:

“What could I do with what I have?”

That’s where buckets helped me.

My First Bucket — The Bridge

My first bucket is basically my bridge between working and traditional retirement.

Money from selling properties in North Carolina and Georgia eventually became accessible money I could live from without waiting for traditional retirement age.

Originally, I had these separated into two buckets.

Then life happened.

I was laid off at fifty-two—about three years earlier than I had planned.

So the plan changed.

I combined those buckets.

Today, I essentially pay myself a monthly paycheck from that money.

My Airbnb income helps supplement it.

Eventually, selling my Arizona condo could add to it.

And I try—sometimes successfully…

[laughs] sometimes not so successfully…

to stay within my budget.

That’s my bridge.

What’s yours?

If you stopped working tomorrow, what income or savings would carry you through the first five or ten years?

And if the answer is “I don’t have one”…

That’s useful information too.

Because now you know which bucket needs attention.

My Second Bucket — Retirement Investments

Waiting behind my bridge money are the retirement accounts I contributed to throughout my career.

My American 401(k).

My Canadian RRSP.

Paycheck after paycheck went into those accounts for decades.

And then compound interest did what compound interest does best…

It needed time.

My goal is to leave that money alone for as long as reasonably possible.

Why?

Because every year I can fund my lifestyle without unnecessarily draining those accounts gives them another year to potentially grow.

That’s one reason my current lifestyle matters so much.

Living for less isn’t only about spending less today.

It can also mean leaving tomorrow’s money alone longer.

Would moving somewhere less expensive change your retirement math?

Could downsizing?

Could eliminating a car?

Could renting instead of owning?

Could working one more year make a huge difference?

Or—here’s the question people sometimes forget—

could spending less allow you to work one year less?

That’s geoarbitrage.

And it’s becoming a pretty important part of my experiment.

My Third Bucket — Government Benefits

Then comes another bucket I hope not to touch until much later.

Government retirement benefits from Canada and the United States.

My goal, God willing, is to delay those as long as it makes sense—hopefully somewhere close to sixty-seven.

That gives my earlier buckets a very specific job:

Get Darrell to the next bucket.

[laughs] Preferably without requiring Darrell to get another job.

That’s the whole strategy.

It doesn’t mean I know exactly what my life looks like at sixty-seven.

I don’t.

Maybe I’m living primarily in Southeast Asia.

Maybe I’m still spending part of the year in Arizona.

Maybe I’ll look back at this podcast and laugh at how wrong I was about everything.

That’s okay.

A financial plan shouldn’t be a prison sentence.

It’s a roadmap that you keep updating when life changes.

Mine already has.

So What Are Your Buckets?

This is the part I think matters more than my numbers.

Forget my retirement for a minute.

What does yours look like?

What age would you actually like to stop working?

What would you need every month?

What’s available to you before traditional retirement age?

What’s waiting for you later?

Could something you already own become part of the bridge?

And maybe the biggest question…

How much is enough?

Because eventually I realized I wasn’t trying to become rich.

I was trying to become free.

That’s a very different target.

I also use a professional financial advisor because I don’t pretend to know everything.

I pay a mechanic when my vehicle needs expertise.

I go to a doctor when my body needs expertise.

So I’m comfortable paying someone qualified to help me manage something I’ve spent decades building.

The strategy itself isn’t magic.

And mine certainly isn’t the only version of a bucket strategy.

Search for it. Read about it. Talk to a qualified professional and figure out whether some version makes sense for you.

My buckets aren’t your buckets.

My timeline isn’t your timeline.

And my definition of retirement might not look anything like yours.

But maybe there’s one question worth taking away from this episode:

If your money could buy you more time instead of more stuff… which would you choose?

I know my answer now.

I’m choosing time.

I’m choosing experiences.

I’m choosing travel.

And I’m taking my own run at early retirement.

Will it work exactly the way I planned?

[amused] Ask me when I’m sixty-seven.

Until then…

I’m going to keep adjusting the buckets, watching the budget, and trying to enjoy the years those buckets were designed to give me.

Thanks for listening to the NorthAmericanDarrell Podcast.

Until the next episode…

Live life to the fullest.

Bucket Saving Method
The bucket saving method is a financial strategy that involves dividing your savings into different “buckets” or categories based on specific financial goals. This method helps you prioritize your savings and allocate them effectively, ensuring you are on track to meet your financial objectives over time. Here’s how to implement the bucket saving method:
Identify Your Goals: Determine what you are saving for, whether it be an emergency fund, a vacation, a new car, or retirement. Each goal will likely have a different time horizon and require a tailored savings approach to achieve it.

Create Separate Buckets:

For each goal, create a separate bucket or account. This could be a savings account, a CD, or a money market account.

Allocate Funds:

Allocate a portion of your income to each bucket based on the specific goals. For example, you might direct a larger portion of your savings into a bucket dedicated to buying a home in the next few years, while contributing a smaller amount to a longer-term goal like retirement.

Adjust as Needed:

As your financial priorities and circumstances change, adjust the allocations in each bucket to align with your evolving goals and needs.

Stay Motivated:

By categorizing your savings, you can stay motivated and focused on your financial goals.

The bucket saving method is a powerful tool for managing your money and achieving your financial objectives. By organizing your savings into different buckets, you can better track your progress and ensure you have the necessary funds when needed. I have blogged about it in depth; you can read it by clicking HERE.

Interested? There are plenty of videos on YouTube you can access by clicking HERE:

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7-11 An Asian legend! Tokyo version!!🍥🍙

I was first introduced to 7-Eleven in Thailand, and ever since, it’s been a legendary five-star dining experience in my book.

People back home think of 7-11 as a place to buy gas, bad coffee, and regret. 🚽

In Asia? It’s a gourmet convenience store run by wizards. 🪄

Below is today’s lunch while listening to the Oilers game in Tokyo, Japan—$12.11 USD total, hot, fresh, and legitimately amazing. Just fresh local food, handed to you with a smile, and no tip required.

Where else can you eat well, watch hockey, and feel like you’re winning at life… from a convenience store?

Living life to the fullest—one sushi, ramen meal with a cold beer at a time.

They always say, “Don’t eat gas-station sushi.”
That advice was clearly written by someone who has never set foot in an Asian 7-11.

This stuff is better than most sit-down restaurants back home—and at about 25% of the price. Fresh rice, real fish, legit flavors. No price gouging. No regret.

I may or may not also carry a tube of wasabi in my pocket at all times.
Don’t judge me—you’re the one with tater tots in your cargo pants.

I might be wrong, but if you never tried it, I am guessing it might be you!

Milk and cookies before bed are for Santa.

North American Darrell finishes the night with 7-11 sushi, a cold beer, and the satisfaction of knowing that I absolutely won another travel day for pennies on the dollar.

Life is good, and 7-11 sushi makes it even better!

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Japanese bathhouse – Tokyo Airbnb

I blogged about my Tokyo accommodations in a blog that you can read by clicking HERE.

After just two nights in this Airbnb, I extended for another week—and I may stretch it to three. The deciding factor? An all-male, no-cackling, blissfully quiet Japanese bathhouse spa on the top floor… included in the $25-a-night price.

At that point, it stops being lodging and starts feeling like a life upgrade to feel better.

A hot soak to loosen everything that travel tightens. Cold plunge to wake the soul back up. Sauna room to melt what’s left. Repeat as needed. No chatter, no scrolling—just heat, silence, and reset.

It’s become bookends for my days: explore, wander, eat, blog… then soak it all away before sleep, and having this built into my stay feels absurdly luxurious. It’s not just a spa visit—it’s a lifestyle upgrade.

I was a little concerned about the water filtration at first—but the good news is they do a full deep clean every few days.

Crystal clear, spotless, and zero sketch factor.

Grossness thoughts officially averted, kinda!

The routine is downright magical:

Shower

Hot tub

Cold plunge

Sauna

Repeat

Finish in the common area, doing absolutely nothing with a cold beer and some tunes.

It’s simple. It’s quiet. It resets everything—body, mind, shitty attitude.

If I’ve said it once, Mom said it a thousand times:

Live life to the fullest!

Sometimes it means sitting still, realizing you hacked your own happiness.

Tokyo – Uber vs trains!🚘🚆

I’m three days into traversing Tokyo, and it’s already become painfully obvious that Japan loves the Dodgers and that Uber and I are not in a long-term financial relationship. Both are pretty annoying, to be honest!

In general, Tokyo isn’t expensive—it’s just allergic to lazy logistics. Every Uber/taxi ride feels like a polite, impeccably clean mugging.

The city is basically daring me to learn its transit system, and after a few receipts, you realize it’s not a suggestion. It’s a survival strategy.

This place doesn’t financially reward Uber convenience.

It rewards commuter train competence.

The Uber system worldwide is so efficient that it’s borderline daring you to be lazy. You tap, ride, arrive—no drama, no chaos, just silent competence moving millions of people like it’s nothing. Every time I used it in the past, it felt good as the prices are low, but Tokyo is the total opposite.

I’ve taken the train a few times already, and it costs just a few dollars each trip.

Suddenly, traveling the city feels infinite instead of expensive.

And then there’s me below in the station, standing in front of the map with a full deer in the headlights stare, trying to decode a web of lines that looks like a beautifully designed stress test.

Equal parts awe, confusion, and

“I absolutely need to learn the local transportation system.”

It’s humbling to look lost AF.

It’s hilarious walking in circles.

But it’s way cheaper pretending I’m good at public transit.

Google Maps is doing the heavy lifting out here. Walking, driving, trains—it doesn’t matter how you move, it just makes you look relatively competent, which is a game-changer for me.

The train feature is the real hero here in Tokyo!

It tracks you in real-time, updates at every stop, and tells you exactly how close you are to your destination. No guessing. No panic. Just a calm little voice saying, “Not yet. Not yet. Okay, now.”

It turns a subway system that looks like abstract art into something you can actually use.

All of these local rides are basically training wheels—once I grab my Japan Rail Pass, these short hauls getting to the bullet train become “free” as they are included in the $50 a day pass.

That’s when the country really opens up. Tokyo today, Kyoto tomorrow, Hiroshima the next at high speed—no Uber surge pricing, no second-guessing getting ripped off, just show up at the train station and go.

You can read my full breakdown of how I’m planning on using the Japan Rail Pass blog.

Click HERE to see the potential plan

It’s not just transportation.

It’s financial leverage keeping me in the Tokyo Grand Theft transportation game!

Another problem, I suck at games too! 😐

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Tokyo pod hotel experience! 🛌🏻

After a brutal two days of travel, I finally landed at my hostel. It was an incredible setup—clean, modern, and exactly the kind of place you hope for after being folded into economy and airport seats for two days.

And then… plot twist.

There was a mix-up with the reservation, which meant I had to move. I was genuinely bummed. You know that fragile, exhausted state you’re in after long-haul travel, when one small inconvenience feels like a personal attack? Yeah. That.

Airbnb came through with a $50 credit, though, which softened the blow. So, I packed up, again, recalibrated, and headed off to a pod hotel in a completely different part of Tokyo.

Because if you’re going to be displaced, you might as well lean into the experience and try something wildly Japanese.

As always, things worked out, and there was no need to worry; you think I would learn, nope!

My new pod hotel turned out to be pretty damn cool. The pod itself is small—because of course it is—, but it’s clean, comfortable, and surprisingly cozy. Exactly what you need after wandering Tokyo all day.

The real magic, though, is upstairs.

There is a full Japanese bathhouse and spa on the top floor, and that alone makes the whole stay worth it.

Hot pool, cold plunge, sauna, quiet—pure reset mode. every. single. day for 14+ days!

Sometimes the stressful detours end up being the upgrade you really needed!

Check out this setup, all for less than $25 USD a night.

A sauna, hot tub, and cold plunge—plus a chill sitting area with a TV—make it the perfect way to unwind at the end of the night… or to justify an entire day off from galivanting.

Add in the insane selection of local and international restaurants just steps away, and it becomes dangerously easy to convince yourself that this is what balance looks like visiting Tokyo.

I have only been here a couple of days, and I feel like I have been eating non-stop. Another great reason I have a spa in my pad for the next week or two.

Eat. Soak,. Repeat.

14+ days!

Japan – February 2026! 🏯

Travel planning is such a fine line with me. Financially, I know I need to slow travel, BUT there is always so much to see and do everywhere I go do my best to balance it out.

I had already booked my flights and accommodations for the first month of my trip and planned to leave on January 30th.

Well, that changed as I left two weeks early!

January 15/16, 2026

Rocky Point to Phoenix to change over luggage.

Phoenix to Seattle

Seattle to Tokyo

January 16th – XX Tokyo

Northern Japan daytrips by bullet train.

Disneyland Japan

February 8th-22nd Kyoto/Osaka

Central Japan daytrips by bullet train.

Universal Japan

February 22nd-January 30th Okinawa

Living the Japanese island life!

March 1st – XX

Visit other islands in the Japanese Archipelago.

March XX – April 15th

Travel to Korea and finish the adventure in the Philippines.

The struggle is real when you’re trying to go with the flow and plan an itinerary. I’ve learned the hard way that you still need some outline—at least flights in and out—if you want things to make financial sense.

The problem? When travel days roll around, I’m always conflicted. I’m either ready to go, or I want to stay longer… and somehow, I’m ambivalent, either way and every time.

That’s the price of insanity; I guess, as there is never a middle ground with me.

Here is a 14-day itinerary that I will use as a guideline for my bullet train day trips.

WANT BIGGER FONT ON TRAIN TRAVEL IN JAPAN?

CLICK THE LINK BELOW LINK:

MORE BOOKING DETAILS ⬅️

Here are the USD prices plans, leaning towards the 7-day pass:

7-day trip: $322

14-day $513

21 days $642

Click HERE to read my blog on Japan train travel.

Japan offers a wide variety of experiences for me to see:

Cultural

Natural wonders

Culinary

Seasonal.

There is a lot to see, but I can plan “train days” to see some and below is a breakdown:

Cultural Experiences

Visit Historic Temples and Shrines: Explore iconic sites like Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine in Kyoto, known for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, and Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo, the city’s oldest temple.

Participate in a Tea Ceremony: Experience the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, which emphasizes harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.

Attend a Sumo Wrestling Match: Witness the unique sport of sumo, which is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, at one of the tournaments held throughout the year.

Natural Wonders
Cherry Blossom Viewing: Visit during spring to enjoy the breathtaking cherry blossoms (sakura) in parks and gardens, a quintessential Japanese experience.

Hike in National Parks: Explore Japan’s stunning landscapes, such as the Japanese Alps or the trails around Mount Fuji, which offer breathtaking views and a chance to connect with nature.

Culinary Adventures
Savor Authentic Japanese Cuisine: Indulge in local dishes like sushi, ramen, and okonomiyaki. Cities like Osaka and Fukuoka are famous for their street food.

Visit Nishiki Market: Experience the vibrant atmosphere of this traditional market in Kyoto, where you can sample various local delicacies and shop for unique souvenirs.

Unique Attractions
Ghibli Museum: Immerse yourself in the world of Studio Ghibli at this enchanting museum in Mitaka, Tokyo, dedicated to the beloved animated films.

Universal Studios Japan: Enjoy thrilling rides and attractions based on popular movies and franchises, making it a fun destination for families.

Seasonal Activities
Winter Sports: Experience world-class skiing in Hokkaido or Nagano during the winter months, along with relaxing in hot springs (onsen).

Summer Festivals: Participate in lively summer festivals featuring fireworks, traditional dances, and food stalls, showcasing Japan’s vibrant culture.

Japan is a destination that caters to a wide range of interests, ensuring that every traveler can find something memorable to experience. Whether you’re drawn to its rich history, stunning nature, or delicious food, Japan promises an unforgettable adventure.

DO YOUR HAPPY DANCE!

Japan bullet train – CANCELLED!

There were definitely some zigs and zags in this plan …

I planned to leave for my Japan adventure on January 30th, 2026.

(I left on January 15th, pulling in the trip two weeks)

January 15th-23rd, Tokyo

(I left for Cebu, Philippines January 23rd as I blogged about HERE)

January 8th-22nd, Kyoto

January 22-January 30th, Okinawa

I plan to visit islands within the Japanese archipelago after that, but it’s still up in the air.

Since train travel in Japan is known to be the best in the world, I also plan to buy a pass.

(After Tokyo, the next destinations and train passes were posted indefinitely.)

A single train ride in Japan can easily run $100+ USD, which is exactly why the rail pass just makes sense. One long hop can cost as much as several days of unlimited travel.

A 7-day Japan Rail Pass is a power tool, not a casual purchase. Because the days have to be consecutive, it only really shines when you cluster your long-distance moves into a tight window.

The sweet spot looks something like this:

Base yourself in one city first (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto). Do your slow exploring on local transit

Then, “turn on” the pass and go into movement mode

For example, a 7-day run could cover something like:

Tokyo → Kyoto
Kyoto → Hiroshima
Hiroshima → Osaka
Osaka → Kanazawa
Kanazawa → Tokyo

Those individual legs can each be $80–$120+ on their own. Stack four or five of them inside one week, and the pass pays for itself fast.

I just need a solid plan before I pull the trigger.

Not a minute-by-minute itinerary—just a clear idea of:

where I’ll start

where I want to end

and which long hops you’ll make in between

Once that’s sketched out, choosing between a 7-day, 14-day, or no pass at all becomes pure math instead of guesswork.

Click HERE for more information on the pass options from the website:

In the meantime, below is a great summary:

Shinkansen: The Japanese bullet trains

Shinkansen bullet trains are the fastest way to discover Japan. Discover more about the high-speed trains and the 9 rail lines they cover.

Shinkansen bullet trains are the fastest and most convenient way of discovering Japan. The Japan Rail (JR) network is extensive, and the trains reach a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph). This allows you to get to wherever you need in little time.

The nine Shinkansen lines take you in different directions around Japan. From Tokyo to the south runs the Tokaido Shinkansen line, connecting the capital with Osaka. The Sanyo Shinkansen line connects Osaka with Fukuoka and, from there, the Kyushu Shinkansen line runs through the island of Kyushu from north to south.

The other six lines either take you north or inland from Tokyo. These are the Akita, Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Joetsu, Tokoku, and Yamagata Shinkansen lines. The Hokkaido line takes you the furthest north, all the way to Hokkaido Island.

Using the Japan Rail Pass

The Japan Rail Pass gives you unlimited access to all Shinkansen high-speed trains.

The JR Pass also allows you to make seat reservations free of charge. You can make seat reservations at any JR Ticket Office or ticketing machine in any JR station.

A supplement is required for travel on the Nozomi and Mizuho express trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. This special complementary ticket can be bought at ticket machines or station counters in Japan, and it’s cheaper than riding a Nozomi or Mizuho train without the JR Pass.

The Hikari and Sakura bullet trains are the fastest trains you can board using the Japan Rail Pass without a supplement. They make just a few more stops than the Nozomi and Mizuho trains.

It’s worth noting that several of the JR Regional Passes also cover certain trips on Shinkansen bullet trains.

Types of bullet trains

On each of the Shinkansen lines,s there are fast trains, semi-fast trains, and local trains:

The fast trains only stop at the main stations

Semi-fast trains make a few more stops

Local trains stop at every station

For instance, on the Tokaido Shinkansen line (which links Tokyo to Osaka), the fast train makes 6 stops, the semi-fast train makes between 7 and 12 stops, and local trains stop at all 17.

Shinkansen lines

The Shinkansen railway network includes several lines that cover most of Japan and connect all the main cities.

Thanks to this great railway system, you can travel quickly and comfortably throughout the country without too much of a second thought.

Absolutely. No matter which pass I choose, Japan is one of those places where moving is part of the magic.

Whipping through the country on trains that feel like they’re gliding through the air, watching cities blur into mountains and coastlines, stepping off in places that feel completely different every few hours—that’s travel in its purest form.

Fast or slow, planned or improvised, Japan rewards curiosity.
And every stop is going to feel like a new world.

However, I plan it… It’s going to be awesome.

All aboard!

Eurorail-10 day pass CANCELLED!

I’ve bought three Euro rail passes so far.

2 of 3 have now been cancelled and refunded!

(Make sure you buy the cancellation insurance).

It has become obvious that Europe in general is not affordable for my adventures. I have turned my attention to the Philippines and Asia in general.

Here WAS the plan when I bought the THIRD pass before cancelling AGAIN:

The first two months/ten-day pass I canceled—I was burned out on Vietnam train travel.

The second, a one-month pass, I actually used, which immediately justified the obsession. (Portugal, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, and the UK)

And now I’m already planning number three, a ten-day over two-month pass for a late 2026 adventure.

At this point, it’s not even about spontaneity—it’s about saving stupid amounts of money with the possibility of dropping pins across 33 countries in Europe.

Trains beat planes in Europe, bags don’t cost extra, and the scenery alone makes it feel like I’m hacking travel.

Traveling with financial responsibility, but make it European.

The pass I used in 2025 turned out to be so awesome that when it went back on sale, I didn’t hesitate—I booked another one immediately.

When something actually delivers on its promise and fits your travel style, the decision makes itself.

I’m not entirely sure how it will all unfold—I just know that late 2026 is going to involve seeing a lot more amazing places by rail throughout Europe.

These rail passes go on sale 25% off fairly often, and when you run the numbers. It works out to less than $50 a day to ride the train for up to 24 hours at a time for ten days over two months.

My cheap ass took the train from Venice to Paris in a single day.
Fourteen-plus hours. Multiple connections. Less than $50.

Could I have flown? Of course.

But the quiet satisfaction of watching entire countries slide by looking out the window was mesmerizing.

Honestly, it wasn’t even that bad. Comfortable seat, snacks, scenery, and a beer cart.

I’m fairly certain I can push this to 16+ hours next time just to prove a point.

At this stage, European rail isn’t transportation—it’s unlimited adventure at my fingertips!

Travel insurance – don’t leave home without it!

Insurance is probably one of the biggest scams in the world.

And the worst part?
You absolutely need it.

You pay for it, hoping you’ll never use it.
When you do need it, you fight to prove you deserve what you already paid for.
And if you don’t have it? One bad day can wreck years of progress.

It’s a necessary evil—designed not to help you, but to protect you just enough to stay in the game.

No one loves insurance.
But everyone learns the hard way why it exists.

That’s adulthood in a nutshell.

I’ve carried a pretty wide range of insurance policies:

Homeowners and rental insurance policies in Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona.
Policies for a Truck, Jeep, Cadillac, UTV, boat, and travel trailer, and a balloon (umbrella) policy in case any of the above didn’t fully cover a worst-case scenario

(All at the same fucking time!)

Paid health insurance through Healthcare.gov, along with expat travel insurance policies.

Individually, each policy made sense.
Collectively, it was a constant reminder of how expensive and complicated “having stuff” had become.

It wasn’t until I started simplifying my life that the insurance stack finally stopped growing—and the stress dropped right along with it. I was done keeping up with the Joneses as I blogged about HERE.

I was also done being an owner and landlord in GA, NC, AZ, with my own personal parking lot!

Downsizing to two policies (AZ condo on Airbnb and Jeep) and trying to eBike and scoot now.

For me, simplifying my life—fewer assets, fewer policies, fewer “what ifs”—did more to reduce stress than any insurance plan ever did. Less stuff didn’t just lower premiums; it lowered the background anxiety that comes with trying to insure everything you own.

OK – that sets up this blog, EXPAT travel insurance.

This is, by far, the easiest insurance policy I’ve ever dealt with, and it should be for you, too!

My agent sends me a link, I fill out the information, make the payment, and the policy lands in my inbox. No phone tag. No pressure. No nonsense.

Less than $5 USD a day!

(Enlarged for viewing purposes)

Plan:	Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions Single Trip Platinum
First Name:	DARRELL
Last Name:	OLYNICK
Email:	NorthAmericanDarrell @gmail.com
Certificate:	XXXXXXXXXXX
Date of birth:	02/10/197X
Effective Date:	January 30, 2026
Termination Date:	April 30, 2026
Amount Charged:	$410.41
Medical Limit:	$1,000,000
Deductible:	$500

The policy above is already lined up for my February 2026 trip to Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.

I’ve probably purchased five long-term travel insurance policies over the years and—knock on wood—never had to use one. But at less than five dollars a day, the peace of mind is a complete no-brainer for me.

Again, it should also be mandatory for anyone traveling internationally.

Travel is unpredictable. Accidents happen. Bodies do weird things. Stuff happens when you ask someone to hold your beer.

Having coverage doesn’t mean you expect problems—it means you’re prepared if they show up.

If you’re planning a trip and want a quote, reach out to my agent.
And tell him NorthAmerican Darrell sent you—because I’m apparently hard to forget.

FREE QUOTE HERE!

Click HERE to email Brett for more information!

My Mexican life – everyday, something new! 👀

Why I Stay Here

I stay in Rocky Point because life here constantly reminds me that the world doesn’t have to run the way everyone was taught it should. It is a different lifestyle, and I see things differently here. The baseline is not the newest iPhone or iPad; it is the smile on their faces when they ask to wash your car for $5.

After more than seven years of $150 a month rent, it’s not just the low cost of living or the ocean views—though those help. It’s the lifestyle that the local people live. Things move a little slower as there is always tomorrow (mañana) as the workers say, when you need help. Locals interact more with the tourists. And every so often, something completely unexpected happens—like horses casually sharing the road with traffic—and you’re reminded that not everything needs to be optimized, scheduled, or stressed over, which is what I normally do.

I don’t stay here because it’s perfect. I stay because it works—for me, right now. And that’s the whole point of slow travel: choosing places that fit your life instead of forcing your life to fit one place forever.

Like the Grinch, the don’t-give-a-shit energy is strong here, which is exactly why Rocky Point works so well for me as a part-time home.

You see things around town that would absolutely short-circuit people elsewhere. Yesterday, I passed an SUV cruising down the road with no doors, no side windows, no windshield, and no back window—just vibes and optimism.

Other things happen right out in the open, too. Nothing dramatic, nothing hidden. Life just unfolds in broad daylight, casually, like someone stopping to buy bubble gum. It’s not chaos—it’s indifference. And oddly enough, that creates its own kind of calm knowing if you leave them alone, youre fine!

That’s what I’ve fallen in love with here. A slower pace. Fewer rules that matter. Less pretending. Rocky Point doesn’t try to impress you—it just is. And for me, that’s more than enough.

My favorite food and drink choices tend to change as I travel, but somehow, I always circle back to Mexican food.

It just wins—every time.

In Rocky Point, there are so many great local spots that it’s easy to fall into a routine without getting bored. I’ve got my go-to places for breakfast burritos, plus a rotating cast of other favorites that keep pulling me back.

Simple, cheap, fresh, and done right—the kind of food that quietly ruins you for everywhere else.

(Favorites below )

The best tortilla soup of my life.
Hands down. No debate.

Deep flavor, perfect heat, crispy tortilla strips with the avocados, cheese and creme doing their thing—
Muy bueno!! 🌶️🥣

There’s fresh… and then there’s straight off the press fresh..

Peak tortilla experience!

I always dreamed of moving to Mexico. For a long time, even the idea of having a part-time home here felt completely unfathomable.

And yet—somehow—I’m pulling it off.

This wasn’t a lottery win or some grand master plan. It was a series of choices, timing, and learning how to live differently. Slower. Smarter. On my own terms.

Now I get to live la vida loca, at least part of the year—and honestly, it still doesn’t feel real most days.