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Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt!

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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 ÂŁ2.50.
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. 🙌

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Naples, Italy – home of PIZZA!🍕

by Italy

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.

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Istanbul Turkey! The Med, cheap!đŸ€‘

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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

 

I can promise you that there is a full head of hair under my hat! LOL
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My big fat Greek weekend!

by Greece

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!!

This family kept the feta flowing for me!

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. đŸ‘đŸ»

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: áŒĄ ገÎșÏÏŒÏ€ÎżÎ»Îčς Ï„áż¶Îœ áŒˆÎžÎ·Îœáż¶Îœ, romanized: hē Akropolis tƍn Athēnƍn; Modern Greek: ΑÎșÏÏŒÏ€ÎżÎ»Î· ΑΞηΜώΜ, romanized: AkrĂłpoli AthinĂłn) 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 ጄÎșÏÎżÎœ (akron) ‘highest point, extremity’ and πόλÎčς (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.

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Asia – getting fat eating with two sticks!🍜

by BangkokBoholCebu CityKoh Phi PhiPhilippinesPhucketSingaporeSiquijor/Dumaguete islandsThailand

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 đŸŒ¶ïž

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 đŸș🧊

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

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Singapore! Amazing place to visit!!

by Singapore

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 â€œI’m glad I saw it.” The airport was enough for me now.

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Koh Samui, Thai! Paradise Island!!đŸïž

by Thailand

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! 🙌

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Ko Tao, Thai! Divers Paradise!đŸïžđŸ€ż

by Thailand

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.

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Lima, Peru – Mira Flores district! 😍

by Mira Flores (Lima)

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! 

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Siem Reap/Ankor Wat, Cambodia

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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 Yaƛodharapura (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.

It would be a lot more comfortable to spend 2-3 days, as I felt rushed towards the end and was worn out.

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Phnom Penh, hostel experience!đŸ«”đŸ»đŸ˜ŽđŸš

by Vietnam

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

I spent my first two nights in a private studio for $21 a night. When that room was booked, I moved into a dorm for $7 a night. A few people here are staying long-term in the dorms, and it’s easy to see how their monthly budget stays under $1,000.

Here’s what that looks like in real numbers:

$7 × 31 days = $217 for accommodation

$15 a day eating out for every meal = $450

$5 a week for laundry (washed, dried, folded) = $20

$30 a week for transportation = $120

That’s about $800 a month. Add insurance, a phone plan, and personal spending based on your lifestyle, and you’re still hovering around the $1,000 mark.

If you upgrade to a private studio for some breathing room, your accommodation jumps to about $434 a month. At that point, you could just rent a furnished apartment instead—studio or one-bedroom places can be found for $400–$600. With a little discipline on food (eating some meals at home), you can still stay near that $1,000 range.

Honestly, who wants to cook, clean, and do laundry?
But it’s there if you need it. 😂

The hostel bar and restaurant are shockingly affordable:

Beer is $1.50 (or $1 during happy hour)

Most meals are under $5

Walk down the street,a nd you’ll find beers for $0.75 and full meals for around $5

Imagine lunch and a beer for $6—with an actual menu worth choosing from.

I’ve worked my way through the big breakfast, pancakes, curry chicken, and then went full local with Khmer amok (chicken in coconut curry) and lok lak (peppery stir-fried chicken with rice). Both are classic Cambodian dishes, and both were as good as anything I’ve had in proper sit-down restaurants.

This is what makes slow travel so powerful:
Low daily money burn.
Good inexpensive food.
Simple, inexpensive routines.
And a life that doesn’t feel like it’s constantly going to the ATM.

There are a shit ton of solid meal options in the $3–$5 range, and drink prices are just as friendly. Fresh noodle bowls, rice plates, curries, sandwiches, smoothies, iced coffees, fruit shakes—it’s all right there, all day, for pocket change.

Most places don’t feel “cheap” either. They’re clean, relaxed, and actually good. You’re not sacrificing quality; you’re just paying local prices. When a full meal costs less than a coffee back home, you stop thinking in terms of “treating yourself” and start thinking in terms of living normally.

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 was 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, remembering that moment in Cambodia, and it wouldn’t be enough!

My next stop was Angkor Wat, Cambodia—a place that deserves its own blog.

You can read that full story by clicking the link below.

HERE.

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Vietnam – 35 days cost analysis!âŹ‡ïžđŸ€‘

by 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 beyond 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!

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 Phangan 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 can also access other places for inexpensive road trips. This keeps things from getting boring, being stuck in the same spot for the whole time.

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 happened the first time I visited 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 credit card bill

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

~$2000+ (I would assume this is a bit higher, but this is a summary).

If I stayed in one city instead of touring, it could be a lot less!!

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Phnom Penh, Cambodia – night market!

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My first couple of days in Phnom Penh, Cambodia were incredible.

I honestly had no idea what to expect, but Cambodia needed a few pins on the map—so I went. I was already in Vietnam, which made it an easy decision. A ferry, a bus ride, and a seamless visa process later, I was there. Why not? felt like the right travel philosophy in that moment.

What I found was a city with its own rhythm and personality. Even the night market felt different from anything I’d experienced in other parts of Asia—familiar in structure, but distinct in energy, food, and vibe.

It was one of those stops that reminds you why saying “yes” to the unknown.

It is almost always worth it!

When you’re up against the night markets of Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines, the bar is set incredibly high. Phnom Penh’s night market didn’t have the same sheer variety of goods or the endless maze of food options you find in those places.

But what it did have was character—and one standout that stole the show for me: Amok chicken with rice.

That dish alone was worth the stop. Creamy, fragrant, gently spiced, and deeply Cambodian—it felt like comfort food with a story behind it. Even without the overwhelming spectacle of other Asian night markets, that single plate made the experience memorable.

Sometimes it’s not about having everything.
Sometimes it’s about finding one thing that hits just right.

Amok is a traditional Cambodian dish and is widely considered the national dish of Cambodia. It’s often described as a light, fluffy curry made with steamed fish or chicken, cooked in coconut milk and a fragrant blend of spices, then served in a banana leaf. The most famous version is Fish Amok, made with local freshwater fish. It’s a cornerstone of Cambodian cuisine—celebrated for both its flavor and its cultural significance.

To me, it felt like a distant cousin of chicken tikka or curry chicken
 only better.

Maybe it was the setting. Maybe it was the custom bamboo-leaf bowl. Maybe it was the fact that I was eating it in Cambodia, where it actually belongs. But whatever the reason, it was incredible. Creamy, aromatic, comforting, and unforgettable—the kind of dish that stays with you long after the plate is gone.

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Cumming, GA – Home 2003-2010

by Georgia

In 2003, I finally got off the road from my telecommunications job and took a desk role in Alpharetta, which felt both responsible and slightly suspicious.

I’d been traveling nonstop for about five years, and honestly, I was done. Fortunately, an old manager reached out and offered me a desk job supporting Verizon Wireless 3G operations for Georgia and Alabama as a Customer Support Associate (CSAM). My role was to make sure the Norel product behaved itself—and when it didn’t, I worked directly with Verizon to manage outages and issues.

Once problems were identified, I handled root cause analysis, presented the findings, explained how we’d fix it, and—most importantly—made sure it never happened again. In theory.

I was also responsible for ensuring new network components were introduced, upgraded, and deployed properly. It was a 24/7/365 operation, with other states backing each other up. Stressful? Absolutely. But it was also a great time in my life, and Georgia turned out to be an amazing place to land after years of living out of a suitcase.

What made it especially pivotal was the timing. I was in the middle of building a house in Edmonton while simultaneously being offered this desk job in Georgia. Two very different lives pulling in opposite directions.

I still think about that decision. I’m almost certain that if the Georgia job hadn’t come along, I would have moved to Edmonton. I was finished with road work—and road work was finished with me. I couldn’t keep up with the demand anymore, which would have meant losing my job. And since my U.S. work visa was tied directly to employment, staying in the States wouldn’t have been an option.

I loved that Edmonton house. I loved it even more because it didn’t have a mortgage.

Thanks to years of road work, favorable exchange rates, and converting USD to Canadian dollars at exactly the right time, I was able to pay for it in cash. đŸ€‘ That part still makes me smile.

I can’t remember the exact model of the house, but I do remember the square footage and the builder. If this wasn’t the exact model, it was close—it definitely had a bonus room above the garage, which at the time felt like peak adulthood.

What I remember most clearly, though, is that I chose the worst possible color scheme. Think teal siding with brown trim. Not tasteful teal. Aggressively teal. The kind of choice you make when you’re more excited about square footage than aesthetics.

This was also pre-smart home, pre-everything. So naturally, despite the fact that wireless Bluetooth and Wi-Fi were already a thing, I ran cables everywhere like an absolute dumbass. Through walls. Into places that never needed them. All because I wanted security cameras and—wait for it—a TV above the TV. A bold vision in the early 2000s, and one that required way more effort than it deserved.

Looking back, it was wildly overengineered and completely unnecessary. But at the time? It felt futuristic.

I’ll write a separate blog about the Edmonton house at some point, because honestly, it was an incredible experience in my life and deserves its own spotlight.

But for now, back to the choice that actually got made—the house in Georgia. And no, that one was no slouch either.

These pictures were taken ten years after I moved out. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this ended up being the last annual maintenance trip I’d ever need to make. For years, I’d fly down, trim the bushes practically down to the roots so they’d survive another twelve months, and this time I would’ve finally fixed and painted the fence too.

Funny how you never know it’s the last time when you’re in it.

You can see the empty spot on the patio where the hot tub time machine used to live. That backyard saw a lot of good times. There was a fire pit, and a pergola-style gazebo over the hot tub, complete with lights and speakers—basically a perfectly engineered relaxation zone before I even knew I needed one.

The same guy who rented the house for over ten years eventually bought it as is. I gave him a fair deal and worked directly with him and his financer to get everything done smoothly. I was relieved to be done with the ongoing headaches of long-distance ownership—but I’d be lying if I said I don’t miss that house, and that area, quite a bit.

Some places just stick with you.

And of course

GO Atlanta Braves! đŸȘ“đŸȘ“đŸȘ“

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Moorseville, NC – Home 2010-2015 (Acerage life)

by North Carolina

In 2003, after nearly five years on the road in telecommunications, I transitioned into a desk role in Alpharetta, Georgia. The move provided stability, but more importantly, it set the foundation for more deliberate financial decisions.

I was brought in to support Verizon Wireless 3G operations across Georgia and Alabama as a Customer Support Account Manager (CSAM). The role was operationally demanding—24/7/365 availability—and involved outage response, root-cause analysis, network upgrades, and ensuring system reliability. It was high accountability work, but it also came with consistent income and upward mobility.

By 2010, the company secured the 4G contract for North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and I was promoted to manage all three states. That promotion triggered a relocation to Mooresville, North Carolina, a growing area near Lake Norman.

Rather than renting, I took an asset-first approach.

I purchased acreage with an existing manufactured home and a three-car garage with a loft. The strategy was straightforward:

Rent the front house to cover the mortgage

Live in the loft above the garage at minimal cost

Maintain flexibility while building equity

I later acquired the adjacent lot, bringing the total to three acres, increasing long-term land value and optionality.

At the same time, I kept my Georgia property as a rental, using the tenant’s payments to aggressively pay down that mortgage. That tenant remained for over 13 years and eventually purchased the property as-is, eliminating renovation costs and maximizing net return. Rising home values and higher interest rates later made that outcome even more favorable.

This approach wasn’t about lifestyle—it was about leverage:

Stable W-2 income

Cash-flowing real estate

Minimal personal housing costs

Long-term appreciation

Living near Lake Norman was a bonus, not the goal. The real value was in structuring housing as an asset rather than an expense—something that has quietly supported every major move I’ve made since.

Bonfires, riding mowers, lake life, and a lot of beer, working on the yard!

The loft above the garage turned out to be an incredible setup—two bedrooms and a full kitchen overlooking the common area. It was functional, comfortable, and honestly better than most apartments I’d lived in, with the added bonus of costing me almost nothing to live there.

I poured a meaningful amount of capital—and even more sweat equity—into preparing the property for an eventual flip. I knew the 4G assignment had a shelf life, so the strategy was always clear: improve the asset while I was living there basically for free while waiting for the phone call from HR.

I also picked up the adjacent lot, pushing the total footprint to just over three acres. That added real utility—room to maintain, expand, and justify an endless stream of projects. More space meant more optionality, both operationally and on resale options.  I could move them together or separately, which is what eventually happened.

But the real differentiator was the garage. Three full-sized bay doors and a bathroom turned it from storage into infrastructure. A legitimate man cave, yes—but more importantly, a flexible, future-proof space that made the property easier to live in and easier to sell for a tradesperson.

That’s the throughline: every upgrade pulled double duty. Livability on the front end. Liquidity on the back.

I eventually rented out the loft, so I added a temporary wall and split the garage accordingly. Two bays stayed with the house; one bay—with a washer and dryer—went with the loft. It was an absurdly good setup. Honestly, if Airbnb had been a thing back then, I would’ve printed money. And given where the market went, the property has probably doubled by now anyway.

But at some point, scale stops being impressive and starts being exhausting.

I was working 60-hour weeks, traveling across the Carolinas and Tennessee on short notice. At the same time, I was managing a rental in Georgia and had my Arizona condo leased out to snowbirds. I used to joke that I had “seven toilets for one asshole,” which was funny right up until it wasn’t.

The day I officially decided to sell is burned into my memory.

The septic tank was seeping. The yard smelled awful. I could see pools forming, and I knew that whatever was happening wasn’t going to be cheap or simple. I called someone out, and sure enough, the yard had to be dug up. One of the two septic fields wasn’t working properly—turns out a switch had failed, leaving one field to do all the work until it overflowed.

On top of that, the tank itself was full and needed to be pumped.

Shitter. Was. Full.

That was the moment it clicked: this wasn’t about money anymore. It was about bandwidth. I’d built something impressive—but I was managing it alone, and the margin for error had vanished. Selling wasn’t a failure. It was triage.

And honestly? It was the right call.

The septic repair itself ran about $5K, but the real cost was psychological. The idea that it could turn into a $50K full replacement was enough. On top of that, both the front and back houses needed new roofs, and every spring came with the annual termite situation. It was always something. Manageable in isolation—exhausting in aggregate.

Not long after, I was laid off after 18 years with the same company, which effectively decided for me. After more than 12 years in the South, I was done. I packed it up and moved to Arizona, where my condo was already waiting.

I knew my telecom days were winding down, which is exactly why I’d bought that condo in the first place—a soft landing spot closer to home in Canada. The timing worked. I was able to bank the sale of the acreage, move west, and reset without scrambling.

All told, it was a great run: seven years in Georgia and five more living the acreage life in North Carolina. I wouldn’t trade it. Especially not my time in Mooresville, better known as Race City USA, where most of the drivers and garages are based.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. lived about 15 minutes from me on his western ranch. No invites for me—but proximity counts for something, right?

Thanks for the memories, Mooresville.
No regrets. Just chapters, and those five years were amazing!

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Hello Phnom Penh, Cambodia!

by

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

I woke up in Phu Quoc, Vietnam,m Airb, 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 Kampo, where most of the passengers were headed. 

5A.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 draft, signing 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 hosted site,l 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?

 

 

Goodbye, Phu Quoc, Vietnam!  

You are one of the most beautiful Islands I have ever visited!! 🙌🙌

 

Hello Cambodia, we are going to meet to get to know each other this week!

 

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Phu Quoc, Vietnam – Amazing!

by Vietnam

I arrived in Vietnam on January 14th, 2025, and left on February 18th, five weeks or exactly 35 days!

It has been an up-and-down experience, but mission accomplished. I found the areas I would and could live in for under  2 KK. Right off the bat, I know I could live almost anywhere in Vietnam comfortably on my budget. It is now up to me to weigh the pros and cons of each city when I decide to come back.

I will write a separate blog with my budget for each city, along with the probability of my returning.

Today, I want to focus on my last stop, the amazing Island of Phu Quoc, Vietnam. The hotel and Phem Beach are one of the nicest beaches I have experienced in the world. It has everything you would want for a long-term stay. I am unsure if it fits the vacation criteria, as it is too hard to get here for a week or two weeks from North America on a budget. Anything can be done by Daddy Warbucks, so do it if you can!  

Here is my $15 a night Airbnb/hotel with a four-minute walk to beach beers:

It was low season and only a few guests were in the hotel!
My hotel was $15 a night and a five minute walk to an amazing beach!
paradise

53X around the sun â€ŽïžđŸŒžâ€”ïž Addicted to travel! 🌎

by Vietnam

We all love to travel and find a good deal, right?

That’s why I started this site—to share my love for saving money while traveling. It’s not perfect. The grammar might wander. The editing might be questionable. And yes, you’re absolutely welcome to judge me for any of it. 

But it’s been a blast so far!

The best part? People have actually reached out—asking about deals, routes, points, and how to make trips more affordable. 

That was always the goal. If you’re looking for ideas or help, you can reach me via WhatsApp or email through the homepage.  I helped my first guest book his dream trip in 2026!

I also get that this site isn’t for everyone. We’re all different—and that’s fine. You can even wear your first-class slippers while sitting in coach here. No judgment.

I’ve come a long way
 kind of.
I still like cake.
And I had the same number of people at my birthday this year.

Progress is progress. 😄

I spent my 53rd birthday doing what I love, traveling in Asia and Europe! 

(I had Pho and a beer this time around in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam!)

After getting laid off in February 2024, I spent the next 12 months traveling, so I welcomed 53 times around the sun. I planned to wait until 55, but I’m giving it a shot now to see how it goes!

Mexico-Guatemala-Costa Rica-Peru-Chile-Argentina- Uruguay-Arizona-Philippines, and now Vietnam. I am traveling, trying to understand which Countries I can live in for my $2000 USD 2500 USD budget, and all of those passed the test.  How confusing!!

We never know where our future will take us, but having the time, freedom, and financial freedom to travel has been amazing.

    

 

My Airbnb guests also left early on April 7th, 2025, so I headed home to Arizona.

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Phu Quoc – Vietnam Island paradise!🌞😎

by Vietnam

I wrapped up the first 28 days of my Vietnam adventure on February 11th, 2025.

During that stretch, I spent time exploring much of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC/Saigon) and made my way through a wide swath of central and southern Vietnam—getting a real feel for how different each region can be, even within the same country.

What stood out most wasn’t just the places themselves, but how quickly Vietnam shifts in tone:
big-city chaos to quiet riverside towns, motorbike madness to morning markets, tourist centers to places that still feel almost untouched.

Every stop felt like a new chapter, not just a new pin on a map.

After two days of plane, bus, and ferry travel, I reached my last destination, the island of Phu Quoc.

It took a night bus and ferry, and a full day of travel, but I made it to Vietnam Paradise Island!

I took the train North, stopping in Nah Trang, Da Nang, and went as far as Hue, Vietnam.  It was a great experience, but exhausting.  My longest train ride was 18 hours.

After riding trains for what felt like forever, I came down with a pretty severe case of “fuck it” and booked a flight back to my home base in Ho Chi Minh City.

Sometimes slow travel is about patience and rhythm.
And sometimes it’s about recognizing when you’ve had enough of moving sideways and just want to reset.

The train had been great. The scenery was unreal. The experience was worth it.

But in that moment?
I didn’t want another platform, another timetable, or another overnight seat.

So I flew.

And honestly—that flexibility is part of the whole point.

The ironic part? The flight barely cost more than the train.

I loved the train—the views, the slow-paced touring Vietnam. It was absolutely worth doing. But clicking buy on that flight and being back in HCMC in a few hours later felt incredible.

Sometimes the best travel move is resetting—it’s the one that gets you home, rested, and ready for whatever’s next.

I started my bus and ferry journey from HCMC to Phu Quoc!

Below is the legendary night bus—the rolling cocoon many travelers use to reach their next destination.

No seatbelt.
No personal space.
No hotel was needed that night.

Once I wedged myself into that pod, my ass wasn’t going anywhere, but somehow
 it worked.

It’s not luxury. a 
It’s not comfort.
But it adventureturous to say the least.

The ferry is a lot more comfortable for me, and watching the water go by is great too!

Here’s the walk from my hotel to what might be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

No taxi, short walk, and no rush.

Just a few quiet streets away, warm air, and that moment when the sand finally appears and you realize this is part of your daily routine—not a $200 excursion.

This is what slow travel looks like in practice.

Phu Quoc was less than half price compared to most of the islands I visited in Thailand and the Philippines.

It is perfect for someone on a lower travel budget like me!đŸ€‘

đŸ‘šđŸ‘šđŸ»đŸ§”đŸ»â€â™‚ïžđŸ‘šđŸ»â€đŸŠ°đŸ‘šđŸ»â€đŸŠ±đŸ‘šđŸ»â€đŸŠłđŸ‘šđŸ»â€đŸŠČđŸ‘±đŸ»â€â™‚ïžđŸ‘ŽđŸ»

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Nah Trang, Vietnam – Beachin’ place!!

by Vietnam

I woke up with a train hangover from the long ride, sore throat, and my body just hurt.  The good news is that a massage can be had for about $5., I was able to fix my body with a couple of massages.  

$2 lemongrass peach bubble tea with an ocean view while listening to the Oilers’ pregame show.

I am also staying in an amazing Airbnb for $15 a night to catch up on my rest for a few days.

I eventually found a $75 flight to get back to HCMC to avoid another 10-hour train ride: 

NAD for the bounce-back win in extra time!! đŸ€“

 

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Where is Waldo – NorthAmerican Darrell (NAD)đŸ€”

by Personal History

May 13, 2026

This week marks a full month back home in Mesa, Arizona.

I’ve kept things pretty quiet while working on paying off my three month trip to the Philippines. I am also putting together a smarter budget for next year. I spent far more than I planned—but honestly, it was worth every penny.  

You can read my 2027 Philippines budget by CLICKING HERE

In other news; Arizona EXCESSIVE HEAT has officially arrived 
 

110F/42C+ and wow, it’s gonna be HOT for months.

April 22nd, 2026

I have been back in Arizona for almost a week.  I had a quick four day visit with my Sister, caught a couple of Blue Jay games live and the Oilers won their first playoff game.
 
 it’s good to be home!!

 

April 14th, 2026

After 82 days, today is my last day in the Philippines!

What started on January 15th in Tokyo, Japan has come to an end.  I feel like I have been gone forever, yet it feels like it flew by at the same time.

It is going to be a long day is the only thing I am positive about now!

1.5 hours – Cebu to Manilla

3.5 hours – Manilla to Taipei, Taiwan

11 hours – Taipei to Phoenix, AZ

I leave at 3:30 AM Cebu time and arrive at 3:00 PM Phoenix time.

Door to door, that is ~30 hours of travel time with16 hours in the air!

April 3rd, 2026

Less than two weeks left in Cebu, Philippines until I head back home to Arizona on April 15th.

I haven’t updated this “Where is NAD?” blog in over a month—which, for me, is pretty incredible.

And honestly, that tells me everything.

It means I settled into a routine and I am content.

For a while, I didn’t even realize it
 until everything shut down for Holy Week and it hit me—I had been living the same awesome day on repeat.

And to be honest, it was a pretty good routine for me:

Working out in condo gym 

Coffee with the EXPATs from all over the world

Walk one of the malls and grab lunch

Weekly vitaility treatments that you can read about by CLICKING HERE.

Happy hour at TGIF/Social/Mango 

Meeting amazing new people.

I would sub in some things on some days and other things on other days and just going with the flow of living life in Cebu.  You can ready by “Life in Cebu” blog by CLICKING HERE.

Not a bad life for someone that cannot settle down!

But if I’m being honest, routine and I have a complicated relationship.
Give me too much of it
 and I start to feel it.

Perfect timing too.

Still, I’m genuinely excited to head back to Arizona—and my little casita in Rocky Point, Mexico.

My sister is coming to visit the day after I get back. We’ve got Toronto Blue Jays baseball on deck and Edmonton Oilers playoff hockey.

That’s a pretty great welcome home.

And the best part?

I still have trips to Bantayan and Siquijor Islands planned before I leave.

Also, this isn’t a goodbye, it is see you again soon! đŸ‘‹đŸ»

Before I know it, I’ll be right back in Cebu on August 19th, 2026, for a month
 ready to do it all over again—just a little differently next time from my lessons learned.

LFG Oilers and Blue Jays!!

March 5th, 2026

After seven unforgettable weeks in Cebu, Philippines, I’m getting ready to sign one last month-long lease that will carry me through April 7th. It’s hard to believe this chapter is already winding down. From there, I’ll have one final week to soak it all in before making my way back to Arizona on April 15th.

Thankfully, this isn’t a farewell — it’s just an intermission. I’m already booked for four months in 2027! đŸŒŽâœˆïž

Looks like The Philippines isn’t done with me yet
 and honestly, I’m perfectly okay with that.

I’ve just returned from an incredible four-day road trip to the breathtaking island of Siargao — a slice of paradise filled with palm-lined roads, turquoise waters, and that laid-back island rhythm you wish you could bottle up and take home. You can read all about the adventure by clicking HERE. 🌮✹

 

February 22nd, 2026

It’s been a month in Cebu, Philippines—and somehow it feels like I’ve been here way longer than that. Hard to believe I left Tokyo on January 23. The original plan was to return to Japan for a full month since I only spent a week there


Fast forward, and instead I’ve settled into EXPAT life in the Philippines. I extended my lease until April 15th—and then went a step further and locked in a four-month lease for next year.

You can read why I extended my lease by CLICKING HERE.

Safe to say, plans changed but, for the better!

Philippines
 did we just become best friends?

 

February 6th, 2026

Two weeks in Cebu, Philippines and all is well! Starting to Island hop which makes the Philippines amazing! ✈⛎


January 23rd, 2026

Eight days into a month-and-a-half-long adventure in Japan, and plans are already changing.

A buddy is leaving Cebu, Philippines, ten days early, so I’m sliding into his place—for free. I stayed in this exact condo back in 2024 and absolutely loved the area, so this felt less like a detour and more like fate tapping me on the shoulder.

I might come back to Japan and finish this trip.

I might set up shop in Cebu until the end of April.

There’s no real point in locking anything in—history suggests I get bored everywhere eventually.

What I do know with 100% certainty:

I just had seven glorious spa days in a row at my Tokyo Airbnb, 

I’m leaving freezing and relatively expensive Japan.

This is what’s waiting for me in the Cebu area for pennies on the dollar.

(Quarters on the dollar just doesn’t sound right but, you get it!)

Some people will never be happy.
Some people will always try to find it.

I know which one I am, today! 😐

 

January 15/16, 2026

After two-plus weeks in Rocky Point, Mexico, I was done feeling like crap to start 2026, and very aware that the beach beers can’t fix everything—especially when your brain is the problem.  Loco Gringo!! đŸ€Ș

The original plan was to head back to Canada. Sensible. Responsible. Family.

That wasn’t enough to shake me out of the funk, so instead, I bailed on paid flights and pulled in my trip to Japan.

Fast forward two days: I’m sipping a Starbucks in Tokyo, 10K steps already logged, surrounded by smiles, neon, and efficiency as I have never experienced in my life—and I feel alive again.

Sometimes all it takes is changing the channel for me.

Life moves fast. If you’re not paying attention, you might miss it while waiting for the “right time.”

We’ve trained ourselves to postpone happiness.
Once I finish this.
Once I save more.
Once I retire.
Then I’ll live.

Why not now?  So here I am two weeks early!

Sushi.
Ramen.
Sake.
Japanese BBQ.

But first


Starbucks Coffee, Tokyo roast. ☕

 

January 7th, 2026

It has been a quiet start to 2026 here in Rocky Point, Mexico.  

A new year brings reflection and planning, and that is pretty much all I have done besides beach beers and tacos.  

It is time to hit the gym and eat better, starting tomorrow-ish! 😐

In the meantime …

The best torulla soup, ever!
Landlords amazing pazo;e soup and tamales!
The best burrito in town!

The tortilla soup and burrito are from Compadres Restaurante in Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point).

This town is full of imitations—but this place is the real deal.
Mexican-run.
No shortcuts.
No tourist fluff.

Just honest, classic food done right—and honestly, as good as it gets. đŸŒźđŸ”„

After dinner, head over to Zay’s Western Bar & Grill to catch the game—or grab the mic and sing a tune.

Because let’s be honest

Travelers really are the champions of the world. đŸ†đŸŽ€

 

December 31, 2025

Another year gone! What in the actual FUCK!? 

I had the amazing maids prepare my AZ Airbnb for my grateful guests and headed back to Rocky Point. 

 Next up: 

Canada on January 15th (weather permitting)

Japan on January 30th!

Happy New Year: đŸ„ł

www.NorthAmericanDarrell.com and his trusty assistant ChatGPT!

 

December 26–30, 2025

After thirty-nine days away and two Airbnb guests rotating through while I was gone, I finally made it home to AZ.

The weather is absolutely beautiful. đŸŒ”đŸŒ„đŸ˜Ž

Just enough time to hit my favorite local spots, reset, and prep the condo for the next four months. That will cover the rest of the snowbird season, with two more amazing repeat guests already lined up.

This season worked out better than I probably expected.

And yet
 I can still find a reason to worry.

Some habits travel with you no matter how many miles you log, as something always needs to be planned, perfectly!

I leave on November 30th to spend New Year’s Eve in Rocky Point: tequila in one hand, taco in the other, resolutions postponed indefinitely. Life is very bueno, mis amigos.

 I regret nothing until New Year’s Day! 

ÂĄSalud! đŸŒźđŸŒŻđŸ»

 

December 17–18, 2025

The Long Way Home

After almost 40 hours of travel, I finally made it home to Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco)—coming all the way from Hanoi.

Here’s how it unfolded:

11:00 AM – Grab (Uber equivalent) to Noi Bai International Airport

3:45 PM – Flight from Hanoi → Guangzhou ✅

4-hour layover ✅

13-hour flight from Guangzhou → Los Angeles

3-hour layover ✅

1-hour flight from Los Angeles → Phoenix ✅

(I planned to take the bus
 but flying won this round)

6-hour layover ✅

4-hour shuttle to Rocky Point ✅

They say the journey is more important than the destination


After this one?
Yeah. No kidding.

Still—The tacos and corona hits different after crossing half the planet.

December 7, 2025

I wrapped up my road trip through Kuala Lumpur and Indonesia, ending it in Bali—and Bali turned out to be exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

After months of movement and big cities, I found a sense of stillness during my five days there, especially once I got away from the more crowded areas. Quiet mornings, slower days, and space to breathe made all the difference.

I finally understand why Aussies practically invade Bali. It’s beautiful, relaxed, and incredibly affordable, with a quality of life that punches way above its price point.

This was just a short stay, but it left a lasting impression. I’ll absolutely be back—next time for much longer.

December 3rd, 2025

After two weeks in Hanoi, I was ready for a breather. I booked a quick side trip to Kuala Lumpur for a few days and officially dropped another pin—this time in Malaysia. 📍

One of the best decisions was hopping on the double-decker city tour bus, which made it easy to get oriented and take in the scale of the city. Kuala Lumpur’s architecture really stands out—modern skyscrapers sitting right alongside historic buildings, with the skyline anchored by the iconic Petronas Twin Towers.

It was a short stop, but a perfect reset: less chaos, great views, and just enough time to appreciate how diverse and visually impressive the city really is.

December 3rd, 2025

After two weeks in Hanoi, I was ready for a breather. I booked a quick side trip to Kuala Lumpur for a few days and officially dropped another pin—this time in Malaysia. 📍

One of the best decisions was hopping on the double-decker city tour bus, which made it easy to get oriented and take in the scale of the city. Kuala Lumpur’s architecture really stands out—modern skyscrapers sitting right alongside historic buildings, with the skyline anchored by the iconic Petronas Twin Towers.

It was a short stop, but a perfect reset: less chaos, great views, and just enough time to appreciate how diverse and visually impressive the city really is.

November 9th, 2025

I checked in my first guest of the snowbird season and then headed back to my pad in Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco). Another season officially underway.

With that taken care of, my focus shifted to what’s next.

I’m now gearing up for my next EPIC adventure—heading to Hanoi on November 17th. Knowing there’s income coming in while I’m on the road makes these kinds of trips far more sustainable. That extra cash generated from Airbnb goes a long way when you travel often and travel far.

This balance—owning a base, hosting snowbirds, and staying mobile—is exactly what makes the lifestyle work for me.

Welcome to Arizona.

The Rocky Point Rally always attracts thousands of motorcycles from all over North America, and it was already in full swing when I arrived in Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco).

It’s one of those events that’s amazing and annoying at the exact same time. The energy is wild, the bikes are incredible, and the noise
 relentless. I was honestly glad I only caught the tail end of the final day, which was more than enough.

This was my second year in a row experiencing the absolute madness, and that was plenty to remind me why people love it—and why I don’t need to see the whole thing from start to finish.

Here are a few shots of the yearly visitors and their souped-up bikes. Love it or hate it, the Rocky Point Rally definitely makes an impression on how you see bikers!

It’s been a year since I started blogging, and the 2024 Rocky Point Rally was one of the very first posts I put out. Looking back at it now, it’s wild to see how much has changed—and how much has stayed the same.

I’ve come a long way since that first post, but I know there’s still a long way to go. And honestly, that’s part of the appeal to keep on blogging.  

You can read last year’s blog by clicking HERE!

 

November 1st, 2025

After two and a half weeks at my pad in Mexico, I headed home to Mesa just in time for Game 7 of the World Series.

I needed a change of scenery after watching the Toronto Blue Jays blow a chance to close it out in Game 6. And then
 history repeated itself. Game 7 didn’t go our way either. That said, it was still an incredible showing against the best team in baseball.

Credit where it’s due—congrats to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Well earned.

Now it’s time to switch gears and prep my Airbnb for snowbird season. One chapter closes, another opens.

And as always—big travel plans coming soon.

Exactly two weeks after getting home from a month-long European adventure, I was already restless. Jet lag was winning, the gym was losing, and motivation was nowhere to be found.

The obvious solution? A quick reset at my place in Rocky Point, Mexico. That move never fails. Instant relaxation, deep sleep, system reboot.

Night one: watched a Blue Jays game and slept 12 hours.
Night two: Oilers game, followed by another 10 hours.
Add in a $15 haircut and hot shave, and suddenly life made sense again.

LFG Jays. LFG Oilers. And LFG daily trips to ProFitness to get fully back on track. đŸ’Ș

 

September 29th/30th, 2025

Home sweet home! Mesa, AZÂ đŸ™đŸ»

Planes, trains, and automobiles—home edition.

Train from Paris to London.
Flight from London to Los Angeles.
Rental car from LA to Mesa.
eBike home after dropping the rental
 because why not?

All just in time for playoff baseball and the start of the NHL season.

LFG Jays. LFG Oilers. đŸš€đŸ’âšŸïž

September 28th, 2025

Later that day—and officially over the snobs in France—I hopped on the train from Paris to London to spend my final day there.

 

September 28th, 2025

I lasted less than one day in Paris.  I have never met such rude people in my whole life than the French!  No, I don’t “Parlez-vous français ?” Most people will not help you unless you speak French.  I say most because I did meet a few nice people there but not enough to keep me around more than 12 hours.  

Peace out!! 🍟

September 27th, 2025

Not sure anyone actually reads these updates, but they’ll be helpful if I bump my head. 😂

After missing two connections, I somehow ended up on a first-class high-speed train to Paris. Total accident. Absolute treat.

September 26th, 2025

After going back and forth, I decided it was time to leave Italy. I booked the final two legs of my trip and head to Belgium tomorrow via Munich.

It’s a 12-hour train ride, so I may stop along the way—depending entirely on how I’m feeling.

September 23rd, 2025

After a 12-hour travel day winding through Switzerland, I finally arrived in Venice, Italy. I missed Venice on my last trip to Italy, so this time I made it a priority—and it was absolutely worth it.

I found an amazing hostel for $20 a night and plan to enjoy a couple of days soaking it all in one seltzer at a time. 

 

September 22, 2025

Traversing the Swiss Alps including the famous Bernia Express!

September 20th, 2025

Just when I thought Prague had locked down the title of favorite city, Munich showed up—and camping for Oktoberfest absolutely kicked the door in.

Are you fucking kidding me?!

Sleeping in a tent, waking up to beer songs, lederhosen before breakfast, massive tents, endless laughs, and a nonstop parade of good times. It wasn’t just Oktoberfest—it was Oktoberfest in pro mode, and it was glorious.

September 18th, 2025

My first full day in Prague was absolutely amazing.

From wandering the Old Town to crossing Charles Bridge and taking in the layers of history everywhere you turn, Prague makes it easy to slow down and just soak it all in. The city feels lived-in, beautiful without trying too hard, and effortlessly walkable—one of those places that pulls you in right away.

A perfect first impression, and the start of what I already knew was going to be a great stay.

September 17th, 2025

My time in Poland has come to an end. I spent almost a week here, with a quick side trip to Iceland mixed in, which made the stretch feel even more memorable.

I really enjoyed my time in Poland. The familiarity of the Ukrainian language, the food, and—most of all—the people made it feel comfortable and welcoming in a way I didn’t fully expect. It’s one of those places that quietly grows on you the longer you stay.

Now the trip is building toward what I’ve been looking forward to most.

Next up: crossing the Swiss Alps and then heading straight into the madness of Oktoberfest in Munich.

But first—just a quick stop in Prague.

 

September 13th, 2025

Back in Warsaw, Poland!  After a whirlwind trip to Iceland, I wanted to spend a few more days relaxing. Next up, the Czech Republic.

September 11th, 2025

What an EPIC 48-hour road trip to ReykjavĂ­k, Iceland!

This was one of those fast, intense trips where you pack in as much scenery as humanly possible and run purely on adrenaline and awe. Endless open roads, dramatic landscapes, unpredictable weather, and that unmistakable Icelandic feeling that you’re driving through another planet.

Short trip. Spent most of it in the hot springs.

Big impressions on the lava flowing and,
absolutely worth every mile.

I spent my last day and the budget for these days at the famous Blue Lagoon hot springs. 

Entry included one facemask; I went with white! LMAO! 🎭

September 8th, 2025

What a full week!! 4 planes, 2 buses, and 1 train!

âœˆïžâœˆïžâœˆïžđŸšŽđŸšŽđŸš…âœˆïž

Phoenix-Los Angeles-London-Faro-PortimĂŁo-Lagos-Porto, Portugal-Warsaw, Poland!

I am looking forward to spending a few days enjoying Old Town Warsaw as it looks amazing!

My next adventure is Reykjavik, Iceland, on September 11th!


September 4th, 2025

Holy Cow!  I made it to Faro, Portugal, after a ~24-hour journey.

30-minute Uber PHX airport ✅

1.5-hour flight to LA ✅

8 fucking hour layover ✅

10-hour flight to London ✅

2-hour layover ✅

3-hour flight to Faro✅

I took a few needed naps to address some serious jet lag!  I toured old town Faro for a day, and took a 2-hour bus to the beach in PortimĂŁo and Lagos the next day at crack ass AM in the morning!

 

 

September 1st, 2025

The start of my most EPIC adventure yet! 

Crisscrossing Europe by airplane and train on Standby for a month!!Â đŸ„ł

Wizz Air fly's to 52 Countries (above) and the EuroRail pass will work for 32 Countries (below). They are both standby so the exciting part will be how it all unfolds.

Armed with an all-you-can-fly pass with Wizz Air and a EuroRail pass, the possibilities are endless!

I leave Phoenix on September 1st and arrive in London the morning of Sept 2nd.

 My first all-you-can-fly flight choice was to Faro, Portugal, leaving that afternoon! 

I will take the train North to Lisbon and Porto from there is the plan! đŸ˜Ž

 I hope to visit 7-10 new countries during September! 🛃

 

 

Taco Tuesday, April 19, 2025!

After just over two weeks at my pad in Rocky Point, Mexico, it is time to head home to Arizona!

I may as well have driven the shuttle! 😎

 I did everything I set my mind to during my visit, including eating well, going to the gym, and avoiding alcohol (for the most part). I did overdo it the last night, but that was well deserved, and I paid the price.

NO MAS Mexico until October! 😎 

I also had a very productive two weeks working on my website and my YouTube channel.  

My site is ready for September 2025, where I will use my Wizz Airline pass and Europass train pass to blog while I crisscross Europe.

If I go crazy, will you still call me Superman!?Â đŸŠžđŸ»đŸ˜‚

 

 

 

 

August 1st, 2025!  Puerto Penasco, Mexico, casa! 😎

After spending the last week of May, June, and July home in Mesa, I headed back to Mi Casa in Rocky Point, Mexico, for a couple of weeks of beach time.  

Four-hour shuttle from home, who doesn’t love the beach? 

My goal was to spend the Summer taking better care of myself at home in Mesa.  

LifeTime Fitness Gym/Spa almost every day after getting home from Mexico, the last week of May! ✅

I have been going to LTF for over 15 years on and off.  I love it there! đŸ•ș

I also took a break from drinking alcoholic beer!  This was during the NHL playoffs, too! đŸ•ș

It was a day-to-day calendar challenge; kicking its ass for 70+ days! 😎 

Check out the blog on how I did it HERE! ✅

I pulled my cardio equipment out of storage and used it religiously every day for over 60 minutes before heading to the gym/spa.  I would do intervals on the bike for 30 minutes and row for another 30 minutes.

(Rowing is the absolute best cardio as it works your entire body head to toe).✅

The biggest reason I swore off beer was due to my last trip to Mexico, Oilers playoff hockey shitshow that lasted a month straight.  I needed to slow down and lose some weight, and had a plan headed back to AZ!  I knew coming back to Mexico would be a challenge, so I put together a game plan to hopefully help.  It was no secret that what I was doing in Arizona would also work in Mexico, so I am doing my best to incorporate it here, too.

I brought 24 yummy non-alcoholic IPAs from AZ! ✅

I joined the best gym in town for the time I will spend here for a couple of dollars a day! ✅

I ordered Tecate Zero last night with dinner, with some Clamato. Yummy, so I bought some too for the fridge! ✅✅

My first favorite stop, Zays, served up Heineken Zero and my favorite beach sport, Tecate 0.0 Cheladas for the win!

I know there will be beer mixed in in the next couple of weeks, but if I stick to the plan, that is ok!đŸ•ș

Out of the gates, looking good! Like golf, it’s all in the follow-through, but I suck at golf!! LOL

This will be a great character test, as there is not a lot to do in Rocky Point other than drink, eat, and go to the beach!

I will also leave for Europe in a month to traverse the Country for a month by plane and train, knocking off bucket lists.  

I will also attend Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, the last week of September 2025, where real beer will go down! LOL

 

 

 

Late May, 2025

After almost five months away from home, I made it back to my amazing condo in Mesa, AZ!  Every time I get home, I am reminded of how lucky I am to live in AZ and this this complex. If you’d like to check it out, you can click on the link below.

My next flight is not booked until September! 

đŸš«Mind the GAP!!đŸš«

Photo tour – Listing editor – Airbnb

It has also been a great reset from my travels getting back into a routine and getting back to the gym or as I like to call it “The Spa”.  They have everything needed to work out and relax. Steam, sauna, hot tub, cold plunge, inside pool, outside pool and lounge chairs to sit outside just like a five-star resort.  

Memberships Gilbert | Life Time

I have been going to LifeTime Fitness for over twenty years on and off, starting in Georgia in 2003ish when I moved there.

I remember them building one near my office in Alpharetta, GA, and selling memberships out of a trailer.  I am pretty sure they were $49.99 a month back in 2005ish.

Today, I pay $99 a month and am able to put the membership on hold when I travel for $15 a month.  If I were to cancel, the rate for new members is currently $179 in AZ and $199 in GA, which is crazy.  

I am going to have to be pretty broke to cancel “The Spa”. LOL

It is also a great time to be home and watch the Oilers!

 

Previous blog from the first week in April, 2025.

I was home in Mesa, Arizona, for exactly two weeks before I bolted for my pad in Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point), Mexico.

– My nephew booked my condo in AZ for a week.

–  A friend needed a place to stay for a week and a half.

– I got a nine-day reservation on Airbnb, which is odd for this late season.

It is times like these that I am so thankful for my pad here in Mexico. It is only four hours away, and I keep my truck here for times like these when my condo is unavailable to me.  

It has been great hanging out at the beach and coming home to the NHL playoffs. 

LFG Oilers!! 

 

 

Previous blog from the first week in April, 2025.


I made it home to Mesa, AZ, on the evening of April 7th!

How is this for my last week of travel (blogs hyperlinked)?

  1. Naples, Italy.
  2. Rome, Italy.
  3. Madrid, Spain
  4. Barcelona, Spain.

My flight home from Rome to Los Angeles was 12 hours, followed by an hour flight to Phoenix.

It is time to enjoy the HOT Arizona and Mexico Summer and learn to edit!

 

Previous blog from March 2025

 

After spending 70 days in Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore), I will then leave Asia for the last time this trip on March 21st. It was an amazing experience living like a local in each country. I would rate them in this order:

 

1. Cambodia (Super cheap and a large EXPAT community with easy access to Vietnam and Thailand).

2. Vietnam (Although it was not as inexpensive as Cambodia, $2K goes a long way each month)

3. Thailand (It is a super nice Country with amazing beach,s but it has become saturated with tourists and expensive)

4. Singapore (I only spent a few days in Singapore and do not need to return other than the airport, too expensive!).

 

I will start my European leg in Athens, Greece, and plan to crisscross Europe using my Wizz all-you-can-fly pass for three weeks. I have a flight from Rome, Italy, heading home to Arizona on April 7th.  I cut the European trip three weeks short as I am ready to go home. You might want to check out this pass in the link above, as it is a spectacular adventure!! 

 

That will total 84 days of travel this time around, which was fun and exhausting at the same time.

 

I visited these Countries the first time I used my pass earlier this year: Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the United Kingdom, and the United Emirates.  Starting next week, I hope to expand this list by four to seven Countries. 

 

I am currently touring Athens, Greece, and I have booked my first two flights on my pass. 

Headed off to London for a pint and some fish and chips on an eight-hour layover. I will be back at the airport and off to amazing Istanbul, Turkey for 20 Euro/USD!  

 

It is a seven-hour flight, so I can catch up on my sleep in the air, which is how it should be done.

 

The standby flight options are endless, including Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East:

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Hoi An, Vietnam – This river is incredible!

by Vietnam

After a few days in Da Nang, it was time to shuttle down the road to Hoi An.

It was a $6, 45-minute ride from one Airbnb to the next, which is pretty wild when you realize both cities are this close and yet feel completely different. Da Nang has that big, modern, melting-pot energy. Hoi An leans slower, softer, and more storybook. It’s perfect when you start craving calm—or when Hoi An’s tourist buzz sends you back the other way.

Right now, I’ll call it a tie. Hoi An is winning on pure laid-back charm.

In Da Nang, the anchor is the Dragon Bridge. In Hoi An, it’s the river.

And that river is something else.

I’ve seen it on YouTube, but nothing prepares you for it in person. Hundreds of boats drifting by, glowing lanterns floating across the water, reflections dancing everywhere. It feels unreal—like stepping into a moving painting.

Hoi An is definitely in Vietnam’s top 5 for me:

Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Nah Trang, Hanoi, and Hoi An in no particular order.

Here are a few videos to give you a sense of it.
But honestly? Even those don’t quite do it justice.

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The Dragon bridge – Da Nang, Vietnam!đŸ”„đŸ‰

by

It is almost impossible to watch YouTube in Vietnam without the Dragon Bridge as a must-visit.

Well, February 2nd, 2025, was that day for me on my second full day in Da Nang.

The Dragon Bridge only does its fire and water breathing show on Saturday and Sunday at 9 PM, so if it was going to happen, it had to be today.

Just like every other tourist trap, the lead-up was better than the actual show, but glad I went. I was able to walk to the bridge from my Airbnb in Da Nang as it was only two miles. 

Here are some videos of the amazing walk:

Once I arrived at the bridge, I put myself in the middle of the maze of people to prepare for some pictures. I have to say that some Vietnamese people have zero clue about how normal shit works.  They just parked in the front when they arrived five minutes before the show. 

Here are some more videos before I threw a few of them in the river:

I am glad I visited, but it is just a tourist trap with a ton of people!

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Da Nang, Vietnam – I could live here too!

by Vietnam

After a 17-hour train ride, I blogged about here and YouTube videos here, I made it to Da Nang, Vietnam!  

I planned to do voiceovers with the YouTube videos, but I have not grasped the challenge, yet.

Maybe if I start getting more views, I will step up my game! HINT!!  LOL

I have 259 videos, and almost 10K views in the first month of my channel and my website:

Let me make this easy for you sitting on the fence.  Here are the links you just need to CLICK:

www.NorthAmericanDarrell.com to bookmark and YouTube link to subscribe or here to buy me a beer!

I never thought anyone would buy me a beer let alone watch my videos, but it’s been a lot of fun:

YouTube pays for the advertising clicks, not the actual site visits so it is impossible to make money without millions and millions of views.  Plus, YouTube pays you for the amount of ad views your video gets. If your video has a million views but no advertising on it, you won’t be making any money. If your video has a million views but only 10,000 ad views, you’ll be making money only on the 10,000 ad views.

OK – selfless plug complete and back to the regularly programmed blog on Da Nang, Vietnam:

There is a very North American feel to Da Nang. It is a hot spot for a lot of Europeans leaving the cold wanting a cheaper way of life in paradise from what I am told.

This was a microbrewery on the beach and the second one visited already with $5 pints of goodness.  I had a $7 burger and fries with coffee and carrot cake for dessert for USD 23. It is not super cheap but for a beach. đŸ€‘

One of the biggest things when traveling is the walkability of the area. Most nice beaches have a boardwalk or Malecon as they call it in Mexico.  Da Nag is no different, but it just seems much more inviting.

Besides the countless inexpensive coffee/tea shops, street food, and restaurants there is hiking on the mountain in the bay. The hiking can take you to other remote areas on the beach along with a large statue of Lady Buddha on the oceanfront which looks spectacular from the boardwalk.  

I have not visited there yet so here are pictures from the internet and the supporting blog:

“From the East coast, visitors can see an enormous white statue with a mountain backdrop, that is the Lady Buddha Da Nang. Located on the ground of Linh Ung Pagoda, she was sculpted by artisans in a Non-Nuoc marble village. Thanks to its huge size and importance in local belief, hundreds of visitors come to this statue daily. That makes it one of the top tourist attractions in the city. So why did people place it there? What does it mean? Or why Lady Buddha? are frequently asked questions. Now, all secrets are opened, to help visitors to know better about the monument and everything around it.”

 

 

My best travel days always start by hitting my 10K steps followed by a local coffee. This place is perfect for me as there are so many options for my morning walk/hike and coffee.  Day one was absolutely perfect, but I replaced the coffee with two micro-brewery which is a great substitute for a couple of days a week!

The last video started with a roofie or in this case a 7% IPA! Look at that amazing view with the mountain in the background. Also, If you drive the opposite way, the amazing city of Hoi An is about a 30-minute drive making it a two-for-one destination. 

Vietnam railways – HCMC to Da Nang, Vietnam

by Vietnam

Vietnam Railways – HCMC to Da Nang was a 17-hour trip!

We started at the downtown station at 6 AM and worked our way South, traversing the Oceanside and rice field, arriving in Da Nang at 11 PM.  It was neat to see the Countryside through a window, most of the trip. 

It would have been about the same price to fly with an advanced ticket, but I’m glad I did this trip once. It also gave me a pretty good idea of what it will be like using my Europass.  

I put together the below trip, but thinking about it for 17 hours may change the aggressive but inexpensive plan:

If I do stick with the plan, I will make shorter trips. I initially thought I would see the countryside via train which still may be the case in Switzerland and colder countries in the Northern part of the map.  I have ten legs for 60 days available to use so trying to get the biggest bang for the buck was going far but that thought process will not work for me again.

Here are some more videos from the train trip:

There were plenty of rice farms.  It was amazing to see how each farmer had their land set up.  Water sources and flags were indicating the readiness of each separate patch of land. 

A lot of the trip was along the Oceanside which was neat to see.  Most locals were out there fishing.

I was in car three of over twenty cars on the train.  Being it was New Year’s holiday, the train was relatively full.  We probably made 10-12 stops along the way, picking up and dropping off passengers as well, but it appears most of us were there for the full 17-hour trip. I also booked a one-way trip as I was unsure how long I was going to stay in Da Nang and then Nha Trang on the way home.

I just checked the tickets, and there is an 80% surcharge on the tickets due to the holiday!

How about that BS?  The actual train ticket is 16% or $8.39 of the entire $52.42 cost of the ticket without fees.  That is only my halfway point home, too, so another $50+ to get back, which is more expensive than flying!

The overall shitty experience gave me no hesitation to cancel my Euro-rail pass this morning:

I knew there was a chance I would need to cancel so I bought the $8 cancellation insurance. I am sad that I will not see that part of the world via train but thankfully it was the only money lost.  Ultimately, it sounded like a great idea and the price was phenomenal price for a ten-day pass.  

I can still hit some of the cities with my Wizz Air all-you-can-fly pass as detailed in this blog.

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Vung Tau, Vietnam – Ferry road trip!!⛎

by Vietnam

January 2025 – I had been itching to get out of the big city of HCMC/Saigon for a few days. The problem is that it is New Year’s week, and everything is super busy and crowded. 

No problem, I found a way, as I always seem to when traveling, and took a fun two-hour ferry ride to Vung Tao.

I noticed a lot of Lunar New Year displays in HCMC, but Vung Tao goes all in, as it was incredible to see. 

Chinese New Year 2025 is also called Spring Festival or the Chinese Lunar New Year. In Mandarin, it’s called Guonian or Chunjie. 2025 is the Year of the Snake.

Chunjie starts on Wednesday, January 29th, and goes on until the Lantern Festival on February 12th. It’s also the first Spring Festival after it was successfully added to the cultural heritage list. People in China get an 8-day holiday for the Chinese New Year 2025.

During this holiday, they gather with their families and watch the wonderful Spring Festival Gala while enjoying a delicious reunion dinner. A series of celebrations will continue until the 15th day of the lunar calendar, the Lantern Festival.”

I hope the pictures and video do it justice, as a lot of hard work and passion go into all of these displays.

I only stayed for a couple of days, but I enjoyed my stay!

I will always remember Chinese New Year 2025, also known as Táșżt 2025, in Vung Tau, Vietnam! 

Thank you for the memories!

If you’re superstitious, you can click the above YouTube videos for more information on the year of the Snake traditions!

IMG_20231006_071532

Hammock camping – St Croix BVI đŸïžđŸ•ïž

by British Virgin Islands (BVI)Carribean IslandsFreedom 50St. Croix

This was an adventure for the ages—
outdoor camping, rain, wind, and cold-soaked everything.

The kind of trip that’s miserable in the moment
 and legendary forever.

I headed to beautiful St. Croix and camped through a tropical storm.

It was Wednesday, October 4th, 2023


And it was the very first flight I ever took using my Frontier Airlines All-You-Can-Fly pass—which immediately set the tone by becoming one of the biggest (and possibly craziest) adventures I’ve done.

I’ve traveled with my hammock all over the place. It’s compact, lightweight, and all I need are two trees to be comfortable. This trip was no different. I packed my hammock, a rain fly, and the bare-bones camping essentials and figured I’d let the island handle the rest.

What I didn’t plan on was a tropical storm.

Wind.
Rain.
THUNDER and lightning.
More rain.

Still, there’s something oddly satisfying about riding out nature with a plan for the next night.  I hunkered down in the fort and never saw another drop of rain or wind for the rest of the trip.  

It wasn’t glamorous, but it was unforgettable—and that’s the point.

I had all the base-camp essentials dialed in—running water, a flushable toilet, a beer fridge, and a perfectly chosen setup spot.

This wasn’t roughing it
 this was Living Life to the Fullest with a side of regret …

Everything was in place for an amazing few days exploring the island of St. Croix. I had the gear, the location, and the mindset. All that was left was to let the island do what islands do best—surprise you.

There was a tropical storm in the islands that first night—which, for the record, is technically less intense than a full-blown hurricane.

I had convinced myself it meant “a little rain.”

I was buckled in, hammock tight, rain fly secured, feeling smugly prepared


LMAO. đŸŒȘ

What I actually got was wind, sideways rain, and Mother Nature reminding me who really runs the campground.

If I’d used proper tent pegs that first night, everything would have worked out just fine. Instead, I spent the evening soaked and shivering, with my rain fly snapping like a flag in a hurricane—every gust reminding me that optimism is not a weatherproofing strategy.

But after that brutal first night, everything changed.

Once the storm passed and I fixed my setup, it transformed from the worst night of rest into the absolute best. I slept peacefully, wrapped in my hammock, listening to the forest breathe—leaves rustling, insects humming—while a gentle breeze from my little ceiling fan kept things cool.

From survival mode to pure bliss in one night.

It was about a 30-minute walk to the beach, which was another reason the camping was so inexpensive—just far enough to save on accommodations and justify the next beer. The beach bar had an unreal view too. 😎

Nothing like earning your sunset with a walk, then immediately undoing it with a cold drink and a front-row seat to the horizon.

Lesson learned—and filed under experience beats theory.

Next time, I’ll bring proper tent pegs.

And yes

I will absolutely be hammock camping in the islands again. 🌮

IMG_20240303_120125

Riding the chicken bus around beautiful Guatemala!!🚌🐔🍗

by Guatemala City

I used my all-you-can-fly pass to get from Phoenix to Los Angeles for about $15. Once I was in Los Angeles, I tapped into my Volaris all-you-can-fly pass and flew to Guatemala for roughly $60 in taxes and fees.

That’s the real power of these passes when you stack them correctly—cheap positioning flights unlock much bigger opportunities together.

To be clear, you do need to purchase the airline passes to use this strategy. Each one has its own rules, quirks, and limitations, which I break down in the blogs linked below for each airline’s pass.

It’s not effortless.

But if you’re flexible and understand how the passes work, the travel opportunities can get very interesting very quickly.

Frontier All You Can Fly Blog

Volaris all you can fly blog

I have always heard the term “Chicken bus,” but I never really understood it until I visited Guatemala!

It does not take a big imagination to understand the term, as almost everyone uses the chicken bus as their main source of transportation within Guatemala. If you ever wondered what happened to the school bus you took as a kid, there is a good chance it ended there.

 

I visited Guatemala twice (San Jose and Antigua) on my Volaris All-you-can-fly pass (AYCF). 

.There are direct flights out of Los Angeles, and in some cases the same plane continues on to San José—so I took advantage of that as well. Using my all-you-can-fly pass, the flight came out to around $60 in taxes and fees.

Once there, you can easily find an Airbnb in either city for $20–$30 a night. If you’re able to stay a full month, it gets even better—around $600 a month for a simple, clean place isn’t hard to find.

That’s the sweet spot where cheap flights meet slow travel.
Stay longer, spend less, and actually enjoy where you are instead of rushing through it.

My first-ever ride on a chicken bus was from San JosĂ© up to Antigua—a loud, colorful, slightly chaotic introduction to Central America that immediately reminded me why slow travel beats convenience every time. It wasn’t fast. It wasn’t polished. But it was unforgettable—and exactly the point.

My first experience riding the chicken bus was from the capital of San Jose to the amazing city of Antigua.

It was a great way to start the crazy mode of transportation, as the road was relatively straight with no cliffs, LOL. Although nothing would prepare me for the trip to Lake Atitlan was a start.

Lake Atitlán is the deepest lake in Central America—and getting there from Antigua requires a three–chicken bus transfer.

I am not exaggerating when I say I was chicken-shit scared.

These drivers are absolutely fearless, and I swear everyone on the bus was hanging on for dear life as we carved along roads with cliffs on both sides—no guardrails, no mercy, just vibes.

And yes

I’m fairly certain some of these buses are still running on the same tires they had when we were kids riding them to school.

I plan to write individual blogs about each of the cities I visited in Guatemala, but I wanted to start with the chicken bus—because it perfectly sets the tone for what traveling here is really like.

And somehow
 absolutely worth it.

I remember vividly asking this guy if they checked the brakes! He no hablo English! LOL

Here are a few videos from inside the chicken bus—
so you can experience the chaos, the cliffs, and the questionable life choices


from the safety of your couch. 🚌🎱😄

No seatbelt.
No guardrails.
No problem (for you).

Guatemala has a way of pulling you in quietly. The pace, the people, the landscapes—it all feels grounded and real. But Antigua in particular stuck with me. Cobblestone streets, colorful facades, volcanoes looming in the background, and a rhythm that practically forces you to slow down and look around.

Here are a few moments from beautiful Antigua, Guatemala—one of those places that doesn’t need hype to be unforgettable.

One thing that really stood out to me was how Americanized parts of it have become.

Walking through Antigua, I passed a massive McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Burger King—all with outdoor seating, blending almost seamlessly into the colonial streetscape. There was even a Little Caesars that seemed to have a line ten people deep every single time I walked by.

It wasn’t necessarily good or bad—just noticeable. A reminder of how globalized even historic, culturally rich cities have become. The contrast was striking: centuries-old cobblestones and volcano views on one side, dollar pizza and combo meals on the other.

What surprised me most wasn’t that the chains were there—it was how busy they were. It really drove home how travel isn’t just about discovering new places anymore; it’s also about watching cultures overlap, adapt, and evolve in real time.

I normally only get McD for coffee but needed to try breakfast and had a Big Mac attack!

(The breakfast was under $5, and the Big Mac meal was $6ish)

I never once ate at Burger King, Taco Bell, or Little Caesars—because the local food was incredible and ridiculously inexpensive. đŸ€‘

When amazing meals cost less than fast food back home, the choice makes itself.
Eat local.
Spend less.
Enjoy way more.

My favorite part of my experiences in Guatemala was going to Lake Titicaca, which is a hell of a ride from Antigua, as I already mentioned.

The lake has a maximum depth of about 340 metres (1,120 ft)[1] and an average depth of 154 metres (505 ft).[4] Its surface area is 130.1 km2 (50.2 sq mi).[1] It is approximately 18 km × 8 km (11.2 mi × 5.0 mi) with around 20 km3 (4.8 cu mi) of water. Atitlán is an endorheic lake, fed by two nearby rivers and not draining into the ocean. It is shaped by deep surrounding escarpments and three volcanoes on its southern flank. The lake basin is volcanic in origin, filling an enormous caldera formed by a supervolcanic eruption 79,500 years ago.[5] The culture of the towns and villages surrounding Lake Atitlán is influenced by the Maya people. The lake is about 50 kilometres (31 mi) west-northwest of Antigua. It should not be confused with the smaller Lake Amatitlán.

Here are some amazing pictures of the water taxi visiting the cities around the lake that are all surrounded by volcanoes. 

Here is my $15 a night Airbnb in Panajachel, Guatemala, which is the biggest town on Lake Atitlan. 

I met a local in Antigua that gave me a tour of some of the streets, attractions, parks and Churches.

This Church is over 200 years old!  So amazing to set foot in there and imagine all the people before me who did the same. 

The Cathedral of Antigua Guatemala in 1894. Photo by Lindesay Brine.

See you again soon, Guatemala, as you are very top on my inexpensive travel list! đŸ€‘

Click here

Panglao Island – The Philipines

by Panlao IslandPhilippines

I took a five-week trip to the Philippines at the end of 2024. I rented a a condo in Cebu City for the entire time and made several road trips to neighboring islands including the beautiful island of Panglao.

The trip included a two-hour ferry ride from Cebu City to the port of Tagbilaran, a bus ride and then a short tuk tuk ride to the beach. This was an amazing stop and one of my favorites on my trip. You could say I was relaxed!

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Hot shave and a massage a day! Vietnam!!

by HCMC / Saigon

Each time I have visited Asia (Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, and now Vietnam), I get a hot shave every Monday morning.

Since the cost is pennies on the dollar, I also treat myself!

USD $5 for a hot shave with the same crew, too!

Each experience has been fantastic and well worth the money each time. 

Most legit massage parlors are down an alley with someone advertising at the entrance.

Imagine a lifestyle where you can casually rack up hundreds of dollars’ worth of massages a week for literal pennies on the dollar.

A basic massage? $12.
Every day for a week? $84 total.

That’s the price of one massage back home in North America—before tip, taxes, and the awkward upsell.

Same hands. Same quality. Zero guilt.
At that point, it’s not indulgence
 it’s just good math.

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Good morning, Vietnam!đŸŽ™ïž

by HCMC / Saigon

Good morning, Vietnam! đŸŽ™ïž

Good morning, Vietnam was made by one of my favorite actors, Robin Williams, and released in 1987, which would have made me 15 years old at the time.

There is zero chance I even dreamed of visiting Vietnam when I was that age. 

In January 2025, I visited the Vietnam War Remnants Museum, which had a lot of aircraft and artifacts from the war.

The torture the Vietnamese people endured!

K1

Made in Vietnam! Inexpensive knock-offs!!đŸ€‘

by HCMC / Saigon

I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on January 14, 2025.

I expected the street food to be good. I did not expect it to dethrone Thailand in my personal rankings.

Vietnam didn’t just meet the hype—it recalibrated my standards. The flavors are sharper, the broths deeper, the herbs brighter, and somehow everything still lands at prices that feel like a clerical error. Every block is a menu. Every sidewalk is a kitchen. And every meal makes you wonder how you ever paid $18 for lunch back home.

I ended up writing a full breakdown of Vietnamese street food—the dishes, the prices, the daily rhythm of eating your way through a city. You can read it by clicking

HERE.

I knew, in a vague “fun fact” way, that most clothes and shoes are made in Vietnam.

What I did not fully appreciate was how quickly that information would turn me into a shopper.

I swore that I would never own Crocs. Which is still technically true. I just forgot to clarify that I wouldn’t own two pairs of Crocs. Language matters.

I also grabbed a Nike jacket made from the same moisture-wicking fabric as the real thing. Same feel.

You can’t buy one of the items in North America for what I paid for all five in Vietnam.

I didn’t go shopping.
I hacked the supply chain.

Ben Thanh Market was wild — tons of stalls selling every kind of knock-off brand you can imagine. If it exists in fashion, someone there is selling a version of it (and usually with excellent negotiation skills).

Here are some YouTube videos of the market in action — they give a great sense of the chaos, the colors, the haggling, and the creative branding:
👉 Click the link to explore more videos and info

YouTube definitely captures the vibe better than I ever could with words — and honestly, watching people barter for “authentically–authentic” sneakers in a crowded stall might be the closest travel gets to performance art.

Ben Thanh market:

The North Face, Patagonia, Nike, and Crocs all looked authentic to me—which, at this point in my life, is the only certification I require. 😎

If it keeps me dry, comfortable, and unbothered while I’m wandering through a new country, it’s doing the job. Brand purity is a luxury tax. I’m optimizing for function, not corporate approval.

VietnamRobinGIF

Ho Chi Mihn! Scooter mayhem!!đŸ›”

by HCMC / Saigon

I’ve been to a few countries in Asia—Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, and now Vietnam—and the dominant mode of transportation is almost always the scooter.

Every time, I’m completely blown away by how the traffic actually works.

On paper, it looks like chaos. In reality, it flows. No rage. No honking wars. Just constant motion. I always describe it the same way:

It’s like ants marching.

Everyone knows the rhythm. Everyone adapts. Instead of fighting for space, they share it—moving together in a strangely efficient, self-organizing system.

From the outside, it looks insane.
From the inside, it somehow makes perfect sense.

Everyone gives way to everyone else—constantly adjusting, flowing, and somehow still getting exactly where they need to go.

That’s what makes crossing the road such an adventure.

You don’t wait for traffic to stop.
You don’t sprint.
You just
 commit.

Step out slowly, stay predictable, and trust that the moving swarm will bend around you—like water around a rock. It feels insane the first time, mildly terrifying the second, and oddly empowering after that.

As you’ll see in the video below, it looks like chaos

but it’s actually cooperation in motion.

This was my Airbnb neighborhood—the loop I walked every day. What I loved most were the familiar faces and friendly waves. After a while, it stopped feeling like a place I was staying and started feeling like a place I belonged.

That’s the whole point of slow travel for me.

By the end of the month, I had my coffee shop, my barber, and a short list of favorite restaurants that recognized me and welcomed me back like a regular. Small routines, simple connections—nothing flashy, but deeply grounding.

It’s amazing how quickly a neighborhood becomes home when you give it time.

This is an amazing temple in my neighborhood—one I walked through often as part of my daily routine.

At some point, I noticed something funny: I always end up facing the camera in the same direction I’m looking. Not sure if that’s good or bad, but it definitely gives away where my focus is as I walk—eyes forward, mind wandering.

I tried not to catch the lady praying in the shot
 and to be fair, I mostly succeeded.
She did ask for my number afterward though—after she finished praying.

Dreams really can come true.
Just kidding. I’ve still got jokes. 😁

If you take the time to watch any of the videos, you’ll notice something pretty consistent—almost everyone smiles and says hello to me.

That’s always the first thing I pick up on in a new country. It tells me a lot about the place
 and exactly how much I can lean on my charming personality to get into (and out of) trouble.

When smiles come easily, travel gets easier.
And when they don’t, you adjust.

Either way, it’s one of the quickest ways to read a place—and decide how much fun you’re about to have.

Rocky13

Rocky Point, Mexico – Foodie!!

by Rocky Point

Did I mention that I have rented here since June 2017 for $USD 150 a month đŸ€‘

It is not fancy, but I always have a fun and inexpensive trip, and I blogged about my pad here: 

Here is a clip Facebook put together that includes my first trip to Rocky Point in 2017 until January 2024!

I am going to try to keep adding to this post with inexpensive and home cooked meals around town.

I keep my Blackstone grill and an air fryer in Rocky Point, as it is perfect for whipping up tacos! 🍖🌼🌯

ItSMoreAffordableSamusPaulicelliGIF-2

Hawaii ~$99 one-way? $35 a night Airbnb!

by Internet travel search tips

I’ve also flown to Hawaii for as little as $5.60—using free points from my Hawaiian Airlines credit card.

There’s no minimum spend to earn the 70,000-mile signup bonus, which immediately puts Hawaii on the table. I’ve seen one-way flights as low as 12,500 points, though 17,500 points is a more realistic expectation. That still works out to four free one-way trips—with taxes being the only thing coming out of pocket.

This is what I mean by leverage: keep fixed costs low, stack points, and let geography stop being a constraint.

Apply here:

If you are not interested in free flights with the card.

Here are some of the latest flights on sale that I was emailed on 01/07/24:

 

This is the $34-a-night, single-occupancy Airbnb I’ve stayed in three separate times in Honolulu, which should tell you everything you need to know. I’ve written about it in more detail on the blog here: Honolulu, as blogged here:   

If you need double occupancy, there are other rooms available in the same house. Just keep in mind this is a shared kitchen and shared bathroom setup—no illusions, no surprises.

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Montevideo, Uruguay ferry trip from BA⛎

by Montevideo

I had a few days to kill when I was in Buenos Aires, so I took a side trip to Montevideo, Uruguay.

I am glad that I took a chance, as I stayed in one of the nicest Airbnbs I have ever experienced!

I avoid using “eclectic” because it sounds similar to “expensive,” but you can see by the video what I mean!

There is no other way to describe my Airbnb experience in Montevideo, Uruguay. It was the most amazing Airbnb I have ever stayed in, and it was $35 a night. The owners are lawyers from Argentina, and they put all of their love of travel, music, antiques, and heart into this stay.

It even had a record player in each room! Three of the four pictures are in the lobby when you walk up the stairs. From the lobby, you can access four different rooms by small ladders to slightly different floors.

Music is played during the day, and there is a couch to look at the wall antiques. My room, pictured now, was directly across from the wall unit of antiques, so I often left my door open, looking at them.

The bed and desk were in the loft area with about ten steps, and it felt like a different room.

Montevideo is a rather small town, and the Airbnb was right down from the walking street in one direction and the ocean in the other direction, with the best view to top things off. They use a fancy filter, but I can promise you that the view was amazing from my room in every single direction.

OK, I will settle my eclectic ass down and tell you about getting there, and the travel is half of the adventure. I grabbed an Uber from my Airbnb in BA to the ferry terminal. Once arriving, I bought a one-way ticket as I was unsure how long I would stay.

I need to take the ferry to Colonia and then a bus ride totaling five hours to get to Montevideo.

I only spent two nights in Uruguay to get a feel for the landscape. Beautiful, but nothing made it stand out to me.  The food was basic and on the expensive side, and it is so small that I have no reason to go back. Here are a few pictures of the architecture:

As I said, I only stayed two nights, and here are my two dinners, which were borderline gross.  I could count on McDonald’s for breakfast, and I even had lunch there once, too, due to my dinner experience:

The meal on the left was a cheese-covered sandwich with probably two pounds of cheese, and I couldn’t even chase it down with a beer.

The middle was $65, and it was not cooked at all, so I left it and called my credit card company, as that is bullshit!

If you’re from Uruguay, I apologize; the world can see the passion of the people from their football team and their fans! 

It just didn’t do anything for me other than the awesome Airbnb where I spent most of my time relaxing, counting down the hours to leave. 

MiraFlores

Mira Flores, Peru – cliff side pad!

by Mira Flores (Lima)

When I bought my Volaris AYCF pass, the very first thing I noticed was that I could get to Lima for under $100.

Naturally, I went twice in the first six months—because when the universe hands you a cheap flight, you don’t ask questions.

The first trip? I stayed in downtown Lima, which—how do I put this politely—is not recommended. It’s extremely crowded, and I was repeatedly told it’s not exactly the place you want to be wandering around at night unless you enjoy unnecessary stress and poor decision-making.

The second trip, however, was the charm.

I found an incredible Airbnb with a cliffside ocean view in Miraflores, and it was everything. These were my daily views for less than $20 a night—or about $480 a month on a long-term stay, which feels borderline illegal in a good way.

It was pretty easy to get my 10K steps here!  What a beautiful place to walk!

The historic area of Lima is amazing!

The cost of living in Lima is surprisingly reasonable for a major city—and yes, it still caters to your occasional North American comfort-food relapse.

If you absolutely need a fix, Lima has familiar places like TGI Fridays and Chili’s—at roughly half the price you’d pay back home. Same questionable menu decisions, far less financial regret.

That said, you’d be doing yourself a serious disservice if you stopped there. Peruvian ceviche, locally roasted coffee, and local beer are on an entirely different level. Easily some of the best you’ll find anywhere in the world—and at prices that make you wonder why you ever paid $18 for disappointment on a plate in North America.

In Miraflores, the cost of most things runs about 50–75% less than North American prices, which is where the lifestyle math really starts working in your favor.

$2–3 for a daily coffee and a small treat—with a cliffside ocean view, because apparently that’s normal here

$2 for weekly laundry, washed and folded (yes, really)

$20 for any meal at TGI Fridays or Chili’s, including two beers

$30 for a 90-minute massage—and yes, I got two a week, because self-care is cheaper than therapy

There’s also a large mall nearby with all the familiar global brands. Prices there aren’t dramatically cheaper, which makes sense—the products come from the same factories as everywhere else. But it’s comforting to know that if you suddenly need a North American retail fix, it’s right there.

 

The changing of the guards at the Presidential Palace and traditional Peruvian dancers! 😍

IMG_20230921_070356

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! 😎

by Puerto Vallarta (PV)

A great hostel in Centro PV with both dorms and private rooms—clean, social, and exactly what you want when location actually matters.

I’ll be back.
(Read in a Schwarzenegger voice. Non-negotiable.)

I’ve been traveling to Mexico since my teens, and somehow my favorite place here is always changing.

That’s part of the magic.

Most recently, I stayed at the Airbnb below in the Bay of Banderas—and once again, Mexico made a very strong case for rearranging my internal favorites list.

Your trip overview – Airbnb

Your trip overview – Airbnb

Your trip overview – Airbnb

Your trip overview – Airbnb

Your trip overview – Airbnb

Your trip overview – Airbnb

I went to Puerto Vallarta four to five trips in a row flying free on points using my Southwest Airlines credit card. I’ve been playing the travel credit-card game for most of my adult life, and honestly, I couldn’t even tell you how many cards I’ve opened, closed, reopened, and closed again.

Yes, it can affect your credit score—but I rarely miss payments, and I hover around 750+, so it’s never been an issue for me. At the moment, I carry Frontier, Southwest, and Hawaiian Airlines cards. In the past, I’ve cycled through Spirit (three times), American Airlines (twice), and Delta, usually rotating every couple of years to take advantage of signup bonuses.

One of my favorite Southwest hacks: Costco. They sell $500 Southwest gift cards for about $430. At one point, I bought $2,000 worth to help hit the minimum spend on my Southwest card and unlock the bonus miles. Between Rapid Rewards points and Southwest flight credits, I’m stacked—but I rarely fly SWA these days, so the coupons are sitting there waiting.

Once I landed in PV, I’d grab the local bus—cheap, easy, and reliable—either into downtown or out toward Nuevo Vallarta.

That said, Centro has always been my favorite. Everything you need is within walking distance: food, beaches, bars, markets, and that laid-back PV rhythm that makes staying longer feel effortless.

Hurricanes can be a real issue in Puerto Vallarta, and I happened to arrive the week after a devastating storm in 2021.

Seeing the aftermath firsthand was sobering. Entire areas were damaged, cleanup was still underway, and the mood was noticeably different from the PV most people imagine. One story in particular stuck with me—a woman had been swept away in her car during the flooding. Search efforts were still ongoing while I was there, and tragically, her body was never found.

Just to lighten things up a bit—the first time I ever had my nose and ear hair waxed was in Puerto Vallarta.

Bold choice for a first-timer.

I’ve since done it a few more times, now that I know what to expect—both physically and emotionally. Character-building stuff, really.

You’re welcome for sharing the laughter, as that is what I try to do around here. 😄

morningmarg

Rocky Point – Monday coffee! ☕🌅

by Rocky Point

Mondays suck.
They always have.
They always will.

These days, my biggest Monday stress isn’t meetings or emails—it’s watching the New York Stock Exchange and hoping it doesn’t crater and blow up my budget. Once that hurdle is cleared (or emotionally ignored), I kick off the day properly—with coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Coffee Point, located inside Las Palomas Golf Club & Resort.

Las Palomas is easily the nicest condo complex in Rocky Point—which makes sense, since it’s five-star. Three phases, three pools, and more importantly, three swim-up bars, all with ridiculous ocean views. Priorities.

I keep my golf clubs here, though I’ve yet to actually play the course—despite the weekly events and scrambles, which are perfect for my aggressively mediocre golf game. There’s also another solid course at Isla Del Mar, so at some point I really need to get my act together and start swinging.

And yes—I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that coffee sometimes turns into a margarita
 or five if I’m still there in the afternoon. I operate on a simple system:

Market green? Stay.

Market red? Leave.

It’s a flawless strategy.

Below is a walking tour of two of the phases, including the newest phase in the top right, which is just finishing up. If you’re going to survive Mondays, you might as well do it with ocean views and questionable decision-making. đŸč

Las Palomas even has an amazing golf course—Las Palomas Golf Club—with ocean views, palm-lined fairways, and just enough wind to keep your ego in check. It’s one of those courses where you can play a terrible round and still walk away happy
 especially knowing a swim-up bar is waiting afterward. đŸŒïžâ€â™‚ïžđŸč

If golf were more like hockey, I’d play a lot more—mainly because you could legally drop the guy next to you for chirping your swing.

“Nice drive.”
Gloves off.

And just to make the day even better: the Edmonton Oilers eliminated the Vegas Golden Knights from the NHL playoffs today.

V4

Varna, Bulgaria – The black sea!

by Varna, Bulgaria

My first flight on my Wizz all-you-can-fly pass was from London, Gatwick, to Varna, Bulgaria.

I found a one-way flight for USD $109 so I could start using my pass!

If you want to know more about the Wizz Pass, you can check my blog here.

Once I landed and cleared Customs in London, I went straight to the Wizz app to see what was available. l knew the Varna flight left a few hours after I landed, having done prior research. 

It was still available, so the first flight was booked on my pass!

If you want to know more about the Wizz Pass, you can check my blog here.

Once I arrived in Varna, I got the familiar feeling that I was back in Ukraine.  It has been over 20 years, but Eastern Europe is not as developed. The language felt familiar even though I failed Ukrainian 10 in high school, LOL!

Being Ukrainian, the prices were right up my alley!  I paid under $5 for some awesome cabbage soup with a roll and a drink.

This was one of the most beautiful Churches I have visited!

Rocky8

My Point, Mexico casita! 🛖

by Rocky Point

The drive takes about four hours door-to-door from my condo in Mesa.

I leave my truck there often enough that it just makes sense to shuttle in from downtown Phoenix instead—$60, no parking stress, no airport traffic roulette.

Sometimes, convenience is worth more than saving a few bucks since I go back and forth so often.

I’ve been renting a small room in Puerto Peñasco—aka Rocky Point—for almost seven years now.
Time really does fly when you can’t remember half the things you did while you were there. 😂

I first stayed here as an Airbnb on June 24, 2017, and somehow
 never left.

I talked with the owners—amazing people—and asked if I could rent monthly. They said yes, and I never looked back. I’m paying less per month than my HOA in Arizona, so it doesn’t bother me at all that I’m not here constantly.

It’s become a second home, anchored by my Mexican family:
Fortunado (El Jefe) and Lupe—absolute legends.

Some places you visit.
Others quietly claim you as home. đŸ™‹đŸ»â€â™‚ïžđŸ™ŒđŸ»

   

Lupe is posing with her legendary pozole—made for guests during the Rocky Point rally. I shared the full story and details earlier because this soup deserves documentation.

El Jefe (literally “the boss” in Spanish) is pictured with an old promotional photo they once used in movie theater advertising credits in Phoenix. I call him El Jefe because that’s exactly what he is—the boss man of the Airbnb operation. Between him and Lupe, they run a tight ship.

And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Like most things in life, my visits to Puerto Peñasco have evolved over the years.

When I first started renting, I was working five days a week and hoping to make it down once a month. A couple of years later, I dropped to four days a week and came more often. There were stretches where I was here every weekend—and other times when months passed between visits.

But I always knew something important:
I had a pad in Mexico.

That alone was enough. I didn’t need to jump on a plane to get my fix. Sometimes it was almost too convenient to escape to Mexico for playtime.

Fast forward to 2024, and I had what I thought was a solid plan—to work part-time from Rocky Point.

I’d just spent four months working remotely in Hawaii, quietly and successfully, so I figured: Why not Mexico?

I went all in.

I set up a proper office.
Installed backup power.
Bought Starlink for internet redundancy.
Covered every possible failure point.

Every base covered—except one.

A backup job. 😂

I finished setting everything up around Christmas 2023, ready to roll in January.

Then, on February 1st, 2024, I received an email inviting me to a mandatory meeting. Conveniently, this was the same week the media announced layoffs.

It didn’t take much analysis to realize I was toast.

My first thought?
Thank God I have a place to stay.

My Airbnb back in Mesa was rented out for another three months, so at least housing wasn’t a problem.

Sure, I was annoyed I’d invested money in the office—but honestly?
I hated the job anyway. I was just hanging on for healthcare and needed maybe two or three more years.

Instead, I got a decent severance package and six months of healthcare to figure out my next move.

And my next move was the same as it’s always been:

Travel, I just did not need a return ticket this time!

I mounted a 50-inch TV, added a kickass Sonos speaker, and had my laptop and tablet dialed in. Electrically speaking, I was fully operational.

Around the room, I hung my paddleboard on the wall, parked a fat-tire bike, and lined up the golf clubs, snorkel, and fishing gear—all untouched so far. Honestly, just having them there makes me feel younger
 and theoretically athletic, if I ever step away from the computer.

I also upgraded the essentials:
a comfy mattress,
a beer fridge (priorities),
an air fryer, microwave, BBQ, and a Keurig.

Small space.
Fully loaded.
Adventure-ready
 eventually.

People tell me all the time that nobody wants to travel the way I do.


I take it as a compliment—usually from someone saying it while standing barefoot at an airport security line, looking deeply unhappy. LOL.

What really sticks with me, though, is when people say I remind them of my mom.

She was a simple Ukrainian woman who lived much the same way in retirement. She spent her later years in a small trailer in Yuma, did most things herself, and answered criticism with a philosophy she perfected over time:

“If they don’t like it, they can kiss my ass.”

Mom was lucky enough to live the snowbird life for over 15 years, and she made it to 84 doing things her way. That seems like a pretty solid blueprint to me—so yes, I take the comparison as a compliment.

I miss you every day, Mom.
And just to be clear—I’m bragging, not complaining. ❀

Little reminders, everywhere!
Mom visiting me in Arizona, always driving me crazy!
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Cebu, Philippines! Just awesome!!

by Cebu City

 I spent five weeks in the Philippines in the fall of 2024. It reminded me of the importance of slow travel as I was able to immerse myself in the Philippines’ culture with a home base the entire time. 

I rented an Airbnb studio condo for the full five weeks in Cebu City:

It reminded me of the awesome feeling of learning a new city and not having to rush.

I was able to live like a local and able to take advantage of the inexpensive lifestyle.

I was bringing American dollars, and everything was in Philippine pesos, making everything super inexpensive. I had a local barber that I used every Monday for a $5 hot shave, drop-off laundry service was $4 a week, and a fast-food meal was a few dollars a week to give you an idea.  

Everything you would do was so much cheaper, too! I would get a chair massage almost daily for  $5, including a great tip.  Going out to eat was amazing, too, as Cebu is a call center hub.  Since they worked the overnight shift to support the Americas, everything was always open to keep the city moving.  

I would see people going to work at 8 PM with McDonald’s breakfast and coffee, for example.

I could get my favorite Korean BBQ or noodle fix 24/7/365 at a fraction of the cost of back home. The next time you check your credit card bill or warranty and get to the Philippines, just know they are eating well, LOL.

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Abu Dabhi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

by Abu Dabhi

I flew from Budapest, Hungary, to Abu Dhabi, but the following illustration shows how far from home I was on this trip.

I have always seen the Emirates football (soccer) jerseys and Emirates Airlines’ amazing first-class service on social media. An Uber driver once told me it was not expensive, and I have been intrigued ever since.

When I bought the Wizz Air all-you-can-fly pass, Abu Dhabi and Dubai were at the top of the list. When I planned my European trip in the fall of 2024, I kept checking the standby availability and accommodation options. I was able to make it happen after Austria with a little logistics. I took a Flix bus from Vienna to downtown Budapest, Hungary, and an Uber to the airport. Once I arrived (hungover AF), I had a few hours to spare for my six-hour direct flight. Holy shit, it was happening!

I was still fired up from the reality that I was actually in Abu Dhabi and got to visit Dubai too. Once I arrived at my hostel, I went outside as they had a nice courtyard to relax. The first person I met was who we all called Bahrain, as that is where he was from, and that was easy to remember, and what an absolute GEM. 

He was wearing a traditional men’s abaya, smoking cigarettes, and drinking a beer. đŸ„ł

Over the next several days, Baharan (left), Syria (right), and I would spend a good amount of time talking about life.

Baharan (left) could not speak English, so a lot needed interpreting, but his body language and animation made it pretty clear what was going on most times. I was constantly laughing at him, and he knew it, so he kept up the entertainment. 

We were visiting the Presidential Palace and then had lunch at a Yemeni restaurant! 😂

The manager sat with us and sent me home with some tea from Yehman that they use with their tea.  Yummy!!

After lunch, Bahrain dropped me off at the airport and gave me one of these traditional headscarves.

 

I was headed back to London on my way back to America, as I was at the end of my trip after visiting Varna, Bulgaria, Vienna, Austria, Budapest, Hungary, and both London Gatwick and Heathrow areas of London.

I wrote a post on a day trip to a camel farm, and here are a few more pictures from my visit!

The amazing architecture in Abu Dhabi is almost impossible to share, so I added a Google link here to help share what I saw in the five days I was there. I also made a day trip to Dubai, but I will post about that amazing trip.

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Bohol, Philippines – What a beauty!

by Bohol

This was my first ferry road trip after spending my first week in Cebu in January 2024—because nothing says “welcome to Southeast Asia” like committing to multi-modal transportation before your body knows what time it is.

I’d taken ferries before while island-hopping in Thailand, so I figured I was prepared. Plus, almost everyone speaks English, which immediately lowers the chaos level by at least 40%. Still, jet lag had other plans. I woke up at 3:00 a.m., wide awake, courtesy of the brutal 13-hour time difference and my brain’s refusal to cooperate.

By then, resistance was pointless. I packed a knapsack, took a shower, and headed out like a responsible adult who definitely wasn’t questioning their life choices. I caught the 3:30 bus, arrived at the terminal at 4:30, and bought a ticket for the 5:10 a.m. ferry to Tagbilaran—the first stop, and hopefully not the last.

After that, they transferred all of us onto a bus for the rest of the trip, which is when it became clear that this was less a ferry ride and more a transportation sampler platter.

Once I got off the bus after the ferry ride, I needed to take a 20-minute tuk-tuk ride.  I had been

Once I got off the bus after the ferry ride, there was only one final hurdle left: a 20-minute tuk-tuk ride. I’d taken plenty of tuk-tuks in Thailand, so the concept wasn’t new—but this was my first one in the Philippines, carrying me toward Alona Beach and whatever level of consciousness I still had left.

By this point, I was running almost entirely on fumes. The lack of sleep had me a little on edge, which you can probably detect in the video. That said, I generally felt safe—just mildly disoriented, under-caffeinated, and questioning whether time was even real anymore.

n many tuk-tuks in the past in Thailand, but this was my first in the Philippines to get to Alona Beach. 

I was a little on edge due to the lack of sleep, as you might be able to tell from the video, but I normally feel safe.  

Mission accomplished! 😎

Once I got settled in my $15-a-night Airbnb, it was time to check out the amazing beach!

The kids thought I was crazy, too, but loved the great TIPs! 

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Honolulu, HI – incognito office!

by Honolulu

I have stayed in the same Honolulu Airbnb three times, and I love it!  I stayed there for two months to start 2023 working incognito.  My AZ condo was rented on Airbnb, so it was like an awesome house swap while living in Hawaii.

It was perfect for me as I was only home to sleep and work; otherwise, I was touring the island or fishing in Kona, and I wrote a post about the amazing fishing here. 

It is a studio with a single bed in a complex that has five units with a shared bathroom and kitchen. There is occupancy, a nd it is not in the best area near Chinatown, but I have never had an issue, as I am normally home by dark or soon after.  

I was working incognito in Hawaii for three months, which was awesome as I only worked a four-day week.  

I spent the first six weeks in Kona and the second six weeks here in Honolulu.  I normally like to pack light but, I brought two container of crap this time.  Just to be fair, one was my home office, and stuff that was needed day-to-day work.  Thanks, Southwest Airlines, for the two free bags/containers so I could work seamlessly under the radar in paradise.  

As you can see, I even brought the Keurig and watched sports the whole day while working!  Thanks Phil!! 

I also brought my slow cooker as I knew I would be eating at home four days a week.  I would go to the grocery store down the street and get different flavors of fresh ahi tuna.  I would eat it with rice and then eat the leftovers almost every single day!  So fresh, affordable and awesome with a local beer.

The walk to the bus stop is five minutes with buses going directly to Waikiki in 30 minutes or the North Shore in two hours. 

I have taken both buses many times for $2.50, packing a cooler, hammock, and lawn chair.  Both beaches are spectacular for different reasons.  Waikiki is famous for Duke’s, but there are always thousands of people packing the beach.

Here is the North Shore experience, which is incredible!  

Surfin’ U.S.A.

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At Waimea Bay (inside, outside)
Everybody’s gone surfin’

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Surfin’ U.S.A.

Grabbing some fresh ahi and a couple of local seltzers between naps is amazing, too!

Here is the Waikiki experience!

My favorite thing to do in Waikiki is catch happy hour at the Yard House, which is 2-5:30 Monday to Friday.  Waikiki is not the cheapest place, so grabbing an early dinner and beer is affordable.  The pole and poke nachos and a Coconut porter brewed in Hawaii are my favorite, as shown below:

After dinner, I stroll down main street and sit at the Mai Tai beach bar or Dukes and listen to live music and the waves. 

There is a fun catamaran that will take you out to make it makes for a perfect day!  Check Groupon for different sailing adventures or cut a cash deal with them if you want to go a few times!  

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Vienna, Austria! Schnitzel!! 😋

by Vienna

I flew to Vienna from Varna, Bulgaria, on my all-you-can-fly pass on Wizz Air.

The flight was delayed six hours, and we sat in the Varna airport. The good thing is that European law states we need to be compensated. I made $300 for a $20 flight, hell yeah!

Make sure you understand the laws, so you do not miss out on compensation. It is available in Canada, the USA, and Europe, and I wrote a post here to explain the parameters. 

Essentially, it has to be outside the airline’s control, so weather will not work, which is most of the delays.

Just familiarize yourself with them and do not use a third party to collect, as they will take a cut for simply filling in an online form.  I will get paid to sit in an airport bar any day, LOL!

I finally arrived in Vienna well after midnight and checked into my Airbnb. It was an overpriced bedroom that only fit the bed and nightstand. I did not mind and slept like a dog for 12 hours.

The problem is that when I woke up, it was time to check out, and the owner wanted $200 for another night, as it was a holiday. There was zero chance that was happening, so I found an amazing hostel down the road. 

Europe is known for its hostels, and people from all age groups use them, but this one was beyond recommendation. It had over a hundred rooms of all types and prices. I spent the first night in a studio for $75, which was over budget. That’s USD 2300 a month for anyone who feels that they need to judge me from first class while I am back here in coach.

The next two nights, I spent in a dorm room for $35 a night, and here is a tour of the hostel:

There were so many cool things packed into Vienna, and I barely scratched the surface. Between the architecture, the streets, and the overall vibe, it’s one of those cities where you constantly feel like you’re walking past something important—even if you have no idea what it is yet.

Here are a few more shots of Vienna before I quietly exited with my tail between my legs.

I’ll be back—guaranteed—but next time I’m heading north to the mountains, pacing myself, and seriously rethinking my strategy of trying to keep up with crazy Austrians and their drinking culture. đŸ˜‚đŸ»

Lesson learned.

Vienna won this round, but I will have schnitzel there again someday!

advise

Retiring early – bucket method!💰đŸȘŁ

by Freedom 50

People often wonder how I can take a run at retirement at 52. 

I call it taking a run at retirement, as I honestly don’t know how things are going to work out. Some days feel great, others not so much, watching the stock market go up and down almost a percent daily.  

I just know that I do not want to wait to travel with compression socks and flip-flops!😎

I will share how I was able to make it happen. Proceed at your own risk!

First and foremost, I never got married or had any kids. I also jokingly say that I got divorced three times before getting married.  We both dodged bullets is the way I see it!

It is sometimes hard watching friends and family get married and have kids, living the life we were taught to live by generations. Watching their kids play sports was the hardest part.

I can live without the getting married part based on my history and statistics.

I can recall so many instances that would have had me stuck in a shitty situation, keeping it real for me.

Here are some options for residual income, and I bolded those I used:

– Real estate investing, such as leasing or renting out a property, ✅

– Stocks and bonds that pay dividends or interest in my buckets are explained below ✅

– Royalties from intellectual properties, such as books, websites, music, movies, or patents, ❎

(I always said I was going to write a book or blog) “NAD – A legend in my mind!” ✅

– Donations or royalties from advertisements on a blog or website (buy me a beer! LOL) ✅

– Compound interest paid on investment accounts, or what I call buckets below. ✅

I have used all of these over my lifetime, with some working and others tanking.  

Let’s talk about the bad before getting to the good stuff. đŸ‘ŽđŸ»

I worked for a company for 18 years that had a problem with cooking the books.  I would put ~10% of my pay towards my RRSP/401K, and the company would match 6% for a lot of those years, which worked out.  

The problem was that I would put more money into the company stock throughout the years.  I also received stock bonuses along the way, making this account grow really fast on paper, I thought! đŸ“‰đŸ’„

“At its height, Nortel accounted for more than a third of the total valuation of all the companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), employing 94,500 worldwide, with 25,900 in Canada alone. Nortel’s market capitalization fell from C$398 billion in September 2000 to less than C$5 billion in August 2002, as Nortel’s stock price plunged from C$124 to C$0.47. 

When Nortel’s stock crashed, it took with it a wide swath of Canadian investors and pension funds and left 60,000 Nortel employees unemployed. Roth was criticized after it was revealed that he cashed in his stock options for a personal gain of C$135 million in 2000 alone.”

Well, shit, that was a couple hundred thousand stock dollars on paper, gonzo Malonzo! The amazing part is that I was able to keep my job for another 12 years and recover.

I learned so much from losing all of that money at a young age, and I needed to be aggressive to make it back.

I somehow stumbled across the bucket system:

“A time-tested strategy many investors use is called the ‘bucket’ system, which, when implemented correctly, guarantees income in the short term while setting your longer-term investments up for longer-term success”.
 

It essentially means, pile money in different buckets to use at different times.  My buckets were based on early retirement: “bucket one 55-62”, “bucket two 62-67”, and bucket three 67-six feet under or in my case shot into space. 

Someone call Elon, LOL! 🚀

I found an investment firm that would help me implement this strategy.  The plan was to work until 55, but I was laid off at 52, so “taking a run at retirement,” as I already mentioned.

The hard part, filling the buckets so the power of compound interest can do its thing:

Bucket one 55-62: This was a house that I bought in 2003 when I moved to Atlanta. I left in 2010, and I was able to rent it to the same person for over ten years.  He paid down the mortgage, and then he eventually bought it. I originally bought into a 15-year mortgage, so aggressively paying it down and selling it worked well. 

Bucket two 62-67: I moved from Atlanta to Charlotte in 2010 and bought an acreage.  It had a house in the front and a three-car garage in the back with a loft above.  I was able to rent the front house to cover the mortgage. I lived in the loft and played around in the massive garage for free.  I would spend a lot of money and sweat equity to prepare the property to flip, which happened when I was laid off in 2015.   This also worked out well for me! 

Bucket three 67-X: This was the traditional retirement fund that I cannot touch until I am sixty-two, but shooting for sixty-seven.  I can access it at any time after 59 1/2, depending on how the other buckets are doing. I can also decide when to take my Social Security and Canadian pension plan, as I am eligible for both. 

I plan to take Social Security at 67 to max out the return. Did you know that payday can be ~30% higher at 67?

Another source of income is the condo I bought in Arizona during the housing crash in 2008. 

As mentioned, I kept my job throughout the crash and recovery, and I was able to pay cash for the amazing AZ condo I live in now.  I paid $52,500 for a one-bedroom that is now worth ~ $250K+. How is that for a return on investment!

I do not plan to sell this condo, but it is another option for me to supplement my travels. It is currently on Airbnb for snowbirds, and the proceeds help me get to bucket one.

Well, there you have it!  I set up my buckets based on my timeline and the money needed to retire early. Bought and sold real estate and Airbnb my condo based on this strategy. 

A solo slow traveler, vlogger, geoarbitrage, and a legend in my mind. 

You can read my blog on geoarbitrage by clicking HERE.

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Great white north, Edmonton!

by Edmonton

Growing up in Edmonton, I loved the familiarity of it. It was home, it was comfortable, and for a long time, it was enough. But once I started traveling, something shifted. I realized the world was far bigger—and that staying put simply because it was familiar wasn’t going to work for me.

Travel didn’t make me dislike Edmonton. It just made me curious about everything else.

My first real attempt at leaving came in my early 20s, when I moved to Calgary to work in a bar. That experience taught me something important early on: not every move is forward progress. The routine—sleep late, eat cheap, work nights—felt like drifting, not building. And that discomfort turned out to be useful. It pushed me back to school and forced me to think long-term instead of week-to-week.

That’s where my travel mindset really started to form.

I learned that movement alone isn’t the goal—intentional movement is. You don’t travel just to escape; you travel to test things. Places. Lifestyles. Versions of yourself. Some fit. Some don’t. And that’s okay.

When I later returned to Calgary in 2006 with a real career and a stable paycheck, I missed another lesson entirely. Instead of exploring the city—or taking advantage of how close I was to places like Banff—I spent most weekends driving back to Edmonton. Comfort won again. Looking back, that was a missed opportunity.

That’s when it finally clicked for me:
If you don’t intentionally experience where you are, you’re just passing time—no matter how far you’ve traveled.

That mindset is what drives how I travel now. Slow travel. Staying longer. Living locally. Paying attention. Choosing experiences over routines that feel safe but stagnant. I don’t believe in rushing through places anymore. I believe in letting them reveal whether they fit—or whether it’s time to move on.

Edmonton gave me roots. Travel taught me not to cling to them.

Here are the before-and-after photos of the guys—some of whom I’ve known for over 35 years.

Time did its thing.

And yes, I’d like to point out that I still have hair, unlike that married crew. đŸ€”
Make of that what you will.

We grew up watching the Edmonton Oilers win five Stanley Cups in seven years. At the time, it felt normal—almost expected.

Looking back, that early dominance absolutely screwed us.

They haven’t won a championship since, and we’ve watched almost every game along the way. That’s 35 years of mostly losing hockey, punctuated by just enough hope to keep us emotionally invested.

Then came 2006 and 2024—both trips to the Finals, both ending in Game 7 losses, just to remind us that joy is temporary and fandom is pain.  Add another loss in the final in 2025 to the pain.

Honestly, it feels intentional that they’re messing with us at this point.

And yet

Go Oilers Go!! 🧡💙

Since the Edmonton Oilers have sucked for so long, we’ve had to entertain ourselves in other ways over the years.

Desperation breeds creativity.

Here are the three Oilers-themed songs I created while in Mexico—because apparently that’s where peak hockey content happens now for me. The first one somehow became our goal song, which still makes me laugh every time.

Rock bottom has its perks in the other two attempts!Â đŸŽ¶đŸ’

I spent a lot of time walking through the Edmonton River Valley in 2018–2019, during the period when I was seriously considering moving back home.

Those walks did a lot of the thinking for me.

I thought I could adapt, but then the Universe reminded me of who I had become.

I thought I was cool!đŸ•ș

I am the only one who does! đŸ„ł

I put in a lot of miles going up and down that river, with my longest walk clocking in at over 10 miles (16 km). Those weren’t casual strolls—they were thinking walks. The kind where decisions quietly sort themselves out one step at a time.

Below are a few of my favorite walks pulled from my Strava history—proof that sometimes the best clarity comes from just putting one foot in front of the other, over and over again.

It was cold AF some days—but also unbelievably beautiful.

The kind of cold where your body has no choice but to work overtime just to stay warm, which honestly made it a great workout. Nature plus suffering equals cardio, apparently.

Here are some of my favorite walks, all filmed in the Edmonton River Valley and posted on my YouTube channel:

NorthAmericanDarrell – YouTube

If nothing else, they’re proof that you don’t need perfect weather to get outside—you just need a decent jacket and questionable judgment, and good company. â„ïžđŸ‘Ÿ