Darrell – Page 2 – North American Darrell

Ko Tao Island, Thailand! It is paradise!!

03/13/2025

by Darrell

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

(The plan was to spend a couple of days in Ko Pha Ngan, but I put in a few days in the bathroom with my bi-yearly food poising, bug, heat stroke bullshit). Some people say I am insane to travel like this and agreed for three days. LOL

I respond the way I always do when I feel better, LFG!I respond the way I always do when I feel better, LFG!

This is the second time I have visited Ko Tao and Koh Samui. I was here for six weeks during my paid sabbatical from PayPal in January 2022. I did a lot more touring during that time, so I knew exactly where I wanted to go this time.

That is my ultimate goal traveling, find amazing places that are affordable that I would like to return longer term.

Lima, Peru – The beauty of Mira Flores!

03/04/2025

by Darrell

I have to 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 on the same Airbnb on the cliffside oceanfront.

Most importantly; the cost of living, walkability and activities are amazing in Mira Flores:
A single room on Airbnb is less than $500 a month.
– Studio or one bedroom can be found for about $800.
– Miles of scenic walking, biking, and running paths along the ocean.
– North American restaurants like Chilis and Fridays with meals half price.
– My weekly laundry washed, dried, and folded is a few dollars.
– Everything else is so much cheaper except for imports which cost the same.
I could easily live on my $2K monthly budget and love every day there! 🙌

Phnom Penh to Siem Reap/Ankor Wat, Cambodia

03/01/2025

by Darrell

I am 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 Pehn 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 (/ˌæŋkɔːr ˈwɒt/; Khmer: អង្គរវត្ត, “City/Capital of Temples”) 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.

Koh Samui/Phagan/Tao and the Phi Phi Thailand Islands.

02/22/2025

by Darrell

I was in Thailand three years ago from my time in Vietnam. It was pretty cool getting Facebook memories reminding me how awesome it was when I am, so close. Well, I am going back next week! I also have a daily reminder on my left ankle of a bamboo tattoo:

Time for a new bamboo tattoo!

See you soon my homies->>

After looking at the memories and reviewing the pictures, it would be dumb not to go for a couple of weeks before I leave Asia on March 22nd. Here are some of the memories, I am sure you will agree too. What an amazing set of Islands as they all mesh together as paradise in my mind:

3 main Thail beers–>

I remember the below A-frame cabin on the Island of Koh Tao. It was storming and I was listening to music from the hammock on the patio. It was fucking fantastic!

I visited post COVID, so the island was just reopening, and prices were so awesome deals on accommodations. I was able to get five-star Airbnb for two-star prices in Samui and on the beach in Koh Phi Phi. Here is one of my all- time favorite Airbnb and beaches in Thailand.

I was on the beach for $20 a night and both of the places go for $75 a night now:

The food is amazing everywhere you go. Here is satay:

Phnom Penh, Vietnam – inexpensive hostel experience!

02/22/2025

by Darrell

I have been staying at the Poolside Villa hostel for a few days since arriving in Phnom, Penh on February 18th, 2025.

I spent the first two nights in a studio room paying USD 21 a night. I was kicked out of my room because it was reserved, so I stayed in a dorm last night for $7 USD. There are a few people saying long-term in the dorm rooms. I would guess their monthly budget is under USD 1000. Here is an example:

$7 x 31 days = $217 accommodations.

$20 a day eating out every meal = $620 (This would be less than half if you ate out like a local outside the hostel).

$5 a week for laundry service = $20

$30 a week for transportation = $120

That is under USD 900; insurance, cell phone, and incidentals based on your lifestyle would need to be added.

If you upgraded to a studio room for some privacy, your cost would jump to $434 a month. If that was the case, you could rent an apartment. A fully furnished studio or one-bedroom can be found for around $400-$600 which would allow you to cut back on the $620 meal costs by eating healthier at home.

Honestly, who wants to cook, clean, and do their laundry but that is a cost savings option? LOL

The prices at the bar and restaurant at the hostel are incredible coming in at $1.50 a beer ($1 for HH) and most meals are under USD 5. The same beer can go for as low as 75 cents with different meal choices for ~$5 at other restaurants.

Imagine, a beer and lunch for $6 with an amazing menu to choose from as well.

I have had the big breakfast, pancakes, and curry chicken off the hostel menu. I have also had the Khmer amok with chicken and rice and loc lak with chicken which was as good as any restaurant. Both are amazing Cambodian dishes:

There are a shit ton of meal options around USD 5 and drink choices are ll lower priced too:

The hostel itself has a perfect setup some a simple inexpensive stay. Studio rooms and door rooms are depending on your preference. Since the studio rooms are USD $21 and there is an adequate pool, so it is a no-brainer if you are on a budget.

It is also walking to “Score” which is a great sports bar where I can catch a hockey game in the morning.

There are all the bar food and drinks you can find anywhere at half the price including 75 cent draft beers for happy hour. I will remember this place forever as it is where I watched Canada beat the Americans on February 20th, 2025, on a Connor McDavid OT winner!

I could watch this clip 100 times and it wouldn’t be enough!

The city itself is very congested, so I have not made an attempt to checkout any sights yet. My next stop is Angkor Wat, Cambodia will give me all of the culture in Cambodia.

Vietnam cost summary – 35 days with road trips!

02/21/2025

by Darrell Vietnam

Here are some videos of some of the fun times I had during my time in Vietnam:

I wanted to take the slow travel approach when I planned this trip.

Slow travel is a deliberate, unhurried approach to exploring destinations, emphasizing meaningful experiences, and cultural immersion. Here are some benefits of slow travel using my experience to date:

– I learned more about Vietnam and its culture other than just the tourist traps. ✅

– Slow travel can help you save money on accommodations as I rented monthly and took local transportation. ✅

– It allowed me to relish my surroundings, build a routine, and live like a local. ✅

– Slow travel reduces stress levels as you are not always on the go (I took too many road trips). ❌

– It promotes me visiting local restaurants and engaging in local cultural events (TET – Chinese New Year). ✅

– It is the polar opposite of an all-inclusive vacation resort vacation as you’re living like a local. This is a strategy that I need to prioritize now that I am taking a run at full-time travel!

I did well on the Vietnam leg of my trip but there is always room for improvement. I took too many road trips which brought the cost up. I knew I could do that as it happens the first time, I visit a new country.

Here is a summary of the approximate costs to see how they stack up against my USD $2K monthly budget.

~ USD 600 for accommodations ($420 for Homebase and $180 for road trip Airbnb’s)

~ USD 750 for credit card. (broken down below).

~$800 cash ($200 a week cash for incidentals).

~$2150+ (I would assume this is a bit higher, but this is a summary).

Here are my Airbnb accommodations:

(I rented the first one for the whole time and the others were road trips)

I stayed at some of these places for a few nights, but this gives you an idea of what you get for a very low nightly price. I will use an average price of $15 a night for the 12 days I was on road trips away from home base HCMC.

I used my credit card, when possible, to track my spending after the fact:

This allows me to see where some of my money was spent.

Credit card charges: ~$750

Since I spent a lot of money on my road trips, it skews the actual cost of living in Vietnam. I can tell you without a doubt in my mind that I could live like a king for $2K a month in any of the cities in Vietnam I visited.

Here is the order of cities I would choose when returning to Vietnam:

1. Phu Quoc Island (one of the most beautiful Islands I have ever visited).

2. Da Nang (there was a huge EXPAT community making it feel domestic)

3. Nah Trang (there was also a huge EXPAT community making it feel domestic)

I would choose one of these for one month each the next time I return to Asia.

One month in The Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, and, Thailand. I would just need to decide which cities in the other three Countries to keep my costs down with monthly rent.

Since I have visited all of these Countries, here are my current choices as of today:

– Thailand (Koh Samui – it is also an easy ferry ride to Koh Phagan and Koh Tao as they were all my favorite islands).

– Philippines (Siquijor Island – it was also my favorite place I visited).

– Vietnam (Phu Quoc Island)

– Cambodia (Phnom Penh – it is the only place I have visited but it is very nice and inexpensive).

The key is to pick a place that also can access other places for inexpensive road trips. This keeps things from getting boring being stuck in the same spot for the whole time.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – night market!

02/20/2025

by Darrell

My first couple of days in Cambodia have been incredible!

I honestly had no idea what to expect but Cambodia pins needed to be added to the map so I made the trip. I was already in Vietnam so I could get to Cambodia with a ferry and bus ride and the visa process was seamless. Why not, right?

I have never put Cambodia in the same category as Thailand, the Philippines, or Vietnam due to their not having the same quality of beaches. The beach is just something that drives me to travel so it is up there on the list when choosing a place to visit almost every time. It is not like I go swimming but walking the beach. Boardwalk or Malecon depending on where you are is something that makes the destination perfect for me.

The night market had its twist from other Asian countries too.

When you are up against Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines night markets, the standard is set very high. It was not near the same quality of assortment of goods or different food.

It was still neat to see how Cambodia rolled out the cards and tents just like other Countries. The one thing, I recommend is their homeland dish of Amok chicken with rice.

“Amok is a traditional Cambodian dish and is considered the national dish of Cambodia. It is often described as a light and fluffy curry made with steamed fish or chicken, cooked in coconut milk and a blend of spices, typically served in a banana leaf. The most famous version is Fish Amok, which uses local freshwater fish as its protein source. The dish is a cornerstone of Cambodian cuisine and is celebrated for its unique flavors and cultural significance. If you’re interested in making it, there are many recipes available that detail the preparation process”.

It reminded me of chicken tika or curry chicken but so much better. Maybe because I was having it in Cambodia from a custom bamboo leaf bowl, but it was amazing!

One of the biggest disappointments for me is the massage shops. They just feel shady, and I have not felt comfortable walking into any of the shops I have encountered day or night.

This has never been an issue in any part of Asia for me. I could tell the difference between a legit massage, or a shady shop based on the staff out front. I can promise you that if I am getting cat calls, the place is not legit. LOL

It is too bad as the prices are also great here too!

Cumming, GA – Home from 2003-2010

02/20/2025

by Darrell Georgia

I got off the road with my telecommunications job in 2003 and took a desk job in Alpharetta, GA.

I had been on the road for five years and, it was time for a change. I was offered a desk job by an old Manager to support Georgia/Alabama Verizon Wireless 3G as a Customer Support Associate (CSAM). My job was to ensure that the Norel product worked as designed and work with Verizon if there was an outage or any issues. Once the issues were identified, I would work on root cause analysis, present it, explain how we will fix it, and ensure it does not happen again.

I also needed to ensure new network parts were introduced, upgraded, and deployed. This was a 24/7/365 assignment with other States backing each other up.

It was such a pivotal time as I built a house in Edmonton while simultaneously being offered a great desk job in Georgia. I often look back at the decision, I am positive that I would have moved to Edmonton if I was not offered that job. I was done with the road works, and the road work was done with me as I could not keep up with the demand. That would mean, I would have been out of a job, and I could not have stayed in the USA as my work visa was tied to my job.

I loved that Edmonton house and loved the fact it did not have a mortgage even more.

I cannot remember the exact model, but I do remember the square footage and builder. If this is not the exact model, it was very close as it had a bonus room above the garage. I picked the shittiest colors as it was a teal with brown trimming. This was pre-internet, so I ran a bunch of cable throughout the house like an absolute dumbass.

I just remember wanting cameras and a TV above the TV which was a lot to ask back in those days. I will write another blog on the Edmonton house as it was an amazing experience in my life.

OK, back to the choice that was made, the house in Georgia which was no slouch either.

These pictures are ten years after I moved out. I did not know at the time, but it would be the last time I would need to visit for my yearly maintenance trip. I would trim the bushes to the root so they would last a year and had the fence fixed and painted this time.

You can see the empty spot on the patio where the hot tub time machine used to sit. I had so many great times in that backyard. There was a firepit and a pergola gazebo above the hot tub with lights and speakers for a perfect relaxing environment.

Moorseville, NC – Home from 2010 -2015

02/19/2025

by Darrell North Carolina

I got off the road with my telecommunications job in 2003 and took a desk job in Alpharetta, GA.

I also needed to ensure new parts of the network were introduced, upgraded, and deployed. This was a 24/7/365 assignment with other States backing each other up.

Fast forward to 2010, our Company won the 4G contract for North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. I was allowed to manage those three States, and I relocated to Mooresville, NC. Most normal people would rent but since I am not normal, I bought an acreage to rent out and make money.

It was a great plan on paper as I was going to rent my Georgia house to pay down that mortgage and buy the NC property and rent part of it out to pay that mortgage. Sounds awesome except tenants are assholes more time than not, useless which is why they cannot buy themselves.

I will write a separate blog on my Georgia rental. That tenant paid my mortgage down for 13+ years rented and then bought it “as is”. We did each other a favor as he got a deal, and I did not have to fix anything. Looking back, he was really lucky as the price really increased along with the mortgage rates and he would have never been able to buy anything. WIN-WIN as I banked!

OK, here is the scoop on my five-year stint living in North Carolina five minutes away from beautiful Lake Norman.

The acreage had a manufactured home on the front of the property and a three-car garage in the back of the property with a loft above the garages. I would rent the front house to cover the mortgage and live in the loft above the garage for free. I also bought the lot next door:

Here is a picture from the loft on one of the few snow days we would have during my time there:

It was an amazing setup with two bedrooms a kitchen that overlooked the common area:

It was not technically free as I spent a lot of money and sweat equity getting the property ready to flip as I knew this 4G gig would not last a long time. I also ended up buying the lot next door, so I had just over three acres to move, weed, and piddle around in the three-car garage.

It was so awesome as there were three full-sized garage doors and a bathroom.

I would end up renting the loft, so I put up a temporary wall. Two bays went with the house, and one bay with a washer and dry went with the loft. It was such a badass setup, and I would have made a fortune if Airbnb was a thing. Plus, the property probably doubled at this point too.

It just became too much for one person to manage. I was often working 60 hours a week, traveling all around the Carolinas and Tennessee at a moment’s notice. I also had my Georgia rental, and my condo rented out to snowbirds at the same time.

I used to say “I had seven toilets for one asshole” due to having so much going on at once.

I remember the day clearly when I had officially decided to sell the place. The septic tank was seeping and the year smelled terrible. I would see pools of leaking in the yard and knew it was not good, so I had someone come out and take a look.

I had to get the yard dug up as one of the two septic fields was not working. Thankfully, it was just a broken switch between the two fields, and one was doing all the work and overflowing.

The septic tank was also full and needed to be pumped out too! Shitter was full!

I think it cost me $5K to fix the septic issue but the thought of it possibly costing $50K for a new septic system was enough for me. The roof on both front and back house needed to be replaced and there was also a termite issue every spring. It was one thing after another.

Soon after, I would get laid off which made it official.

I was done with the South and moving my ass to Arizona where I had my condo waiting. I knew that my telecom days were coming to an end so bought it as a soft-landing spot closer to home in Canada. It worked out well, I was able to bank on the sale of the acreage and move west.

Such a great five years living the reck neck life with the local NASCAR people. Mooresville, NC is known as race city USA (click link) most of the drivers and garages are located there.

Dale Earnhardt JR lived 15 minutes from me on his amazing western ranch. No invites for me!!

Guess which one is my rental and which one is Earnhardt’s ranch. LOL

Goodbye Vietnam – Hello Phnom Penh, Cambodia!

02/19/2025

by Darrell

I always say that travel is always as adventurous as the destination and this was no different.

I woke up in Phu Quoc, Vietnam Airbnb where I spent the last five days. I was packed and ready for the day:

1. Uber/Grab to the ferry terminal to catch my 9 AM 90-minute ferry to Hua Hin, Cambodia.

2. 10-minute Uber/Grab to the bus terminal for the shuttle to the Cambodian border. There was an awesome group of traveller that fought through the same cirumstances like champs too!

3. Two hours in the Cambodia immigration office sweating my balls off.

4. 60-minute shuttle to Kampot where most of the passengers were headed.

5. 115-minute Tuk-tuk to another bus station where my shuttle to Phnom Penh was waiting.

6. Two and a half hours to Phnom Penh.

7. Tuk-tuk to Airbnb – The host would not reply so I could not check in.

8. Amazing mango salad and 75-cent drafts figuring out my next step.

9. Tuk-tuk to the amazing poolside hostel where studio rooms are $2.

How is that for an adventurous day and 100% winning at the end of a brutal day!!

What a rush not knowing if things would work out each step of the way!

Ferry transfer to the border shuttle bus. ✅

Finding an ATM for Cambodian currency and getting a visa approved. ✅

Tuk-tuk transferred from one Kampot shuttle station to the next while the Phnom Penh driver waited for me. ✅

Finding amazing accommodations for the few days I will spend here. ✅

As I blog here at my hostel having breakfast, here are some random pictures and videos from the amazing race. Phu Quoc, Vietnam to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. How is this now awesome?