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Good morning, Vietnam!

by with No Comment HCMC / Saigon

Good morning, Vietnam!

Good morning, Vietnam was made by one of my favorite actors and released in 1987 which would have made me 15 years old at the time. Each time I visit I new Country, I look back at things that happened earlier to my life.  

I saw the movie at Londonderry Theatres, which was the neighborhood mall growing up. I wouldn’t have dreamed that I would someday visit Saigon. The funny part is that I thought MASH was also filmed in Vietnam, and thankfully, I was corrected before I wrote a blog on MASH instead of GMV.

I visited the Vietnam War Remnants Museum in Saigon, which was heartbreaking.

The torture the Vietnamese people endured was horrible to witness for me:

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Made in Vietnam! That is a good thing!!

by with No Comment HCMC / Saigon

I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on January 14, 2025. I knew street food would be great, but I never imagined it would be better than Thailand. I wrote a blog on street food here.

I also knew that most apparel and shoes are made in Vietnam too! How is that for a shopping win-win!!

Admittedly, I am not a big shopper. I try to keep it simple when traveling, as I do not pay for bags. The problem becomes when items are so cheap that they are almost disposable (setting up a Crocs joke here).

District one in HCMC has Bein Than market along with many other pop-up stores that sell knock-off brands. I know, you get what you pay for, but this stuff was worth it even if some of it does not make it home.

I always said that I would never buy a pair of Crocs, but I do not recall saying that I would not buy TWO pairs of Crocs. 🤓 

I am going to take so much shit for this but honestly, I do not care as they were $10 bucks each. I also bought a couple of shoulder travel bags that were $10 each also making it a total of $40 for all four items. 

I also bought a Nike jacket made of the same wicking material as the authentic.  I knew it was a knockoff as the sizing is off on Asia products but again, it was $12 so what the hell:

You cannot even buy one of those items in North America for the total price of all five, screw it!

Here are some YouTube Videos of the famous Ben Thanh market:

The market outside Ben Thanh is better IMO and where I bought my items.  There are so many other knockoff items that we overpay for in North America.  These knockoffs items in some cases are made in the same factories and you cannot tell the difference and even go as far as to use the same tags:

I was wearing my $50 USD “Osprey Daylite” sling shoulder bag that has thousands of miles on it and did a side-by-side comparison. 

The original is definitely made better and that is the reason it is guaranteed for life with the “Almighty guarantee“. I do not know of many other brands that stand behind their products forever so that makes sense.  

The North Face, Patagonia, Nike and Crocs appeared to be authentic without a negative person’s overview.

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North Shore, Oahu Hawaii! Hammock life!

by Honolulu

There are not too many places in the United States that are as nice as Hawaii in general. My absolute favorite place to go is the North Shore on the island of Oahu. 

I can reach there by bus from my $35-a-night Honolulu Airbnb which I have stayed at a few times for $2.50. I stay in the single occupancy, but she has seven properties that vary in size and price.  I can help you find the perfect pad for cheap!

I normally take my Tommy Bahama beach chair you can grab at the Costco down the street.  I pack a few seltzers and grab my traveling hammock. There are several beaches to choose from but close to Foodland where you can grab some fresh poke bowl for under $10. 

Talk about a perfect day in Hawaii for under $50 with accommodations! 

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Ants marching – Ho Chi Mihn City!

by HCMC / Saigon

I have been to a few Countries in Asia (Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, and now Vietnam), and the general mode of transportation is a scooter. I am blown away by the traffic flow each time and always explain it as ants marching.

Everyone gives way to the other all while getting to their destination, fast.

If you took the time to watch any of the videos, you would notice that almost everyone smiles and says hello to me.  That is the first thing I notice in a new Country, so I know how much I can use my charming personality to have more fun. 

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Montevideo, Uruguay

by Montevideo

I avoid using “eclectic” because it sounds similar to “expensive,” which I find amusing!

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 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 below was directly across from the wall unit of antiques so 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.

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Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

by Puerto Vallarta (PV)

I have been going to Mexico since my teens and my favorite place always changes.

Hilarious story to start!  The first time I went to PV, I guess romantic zone meals gay zone, whoops! I knew I f#cked up when there was a flag on the door. The homo that checked me in was rude AF which is why I labeled him a homo!

I asked if it was ok for a straight dude to stay the night. He never gave me a pillow or blanket which did not matter as I could not sleep knowing broke Back Mountain was in the building.

(There is nothing wrong with being gay, there is something wrong with me having to change myself for your gayness).

 

I have since stayed at the below Airbnbs:

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 got and gave my only one start at the below place:

Amazing View, close to the beach and boardwalk – Apartments for Rent in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – Airbnb

I specifically asked for an early check-in as I was taking the red-eye.  He said, no problemo, well, there was a big problemo as the room was not clean.  I asked what happened and he said things changed and to go hang out at the pool. I may or may not have topped the shelf the place, LOL.  I would not do that but he deserved it 100%!!

Here are a couple of great hostels in Centro PV and Uncle Gueilleromos and both were boomer-friendly, LOL. 

I actually went to PV 4-5 times in a row on my Southwest (SWA) Airlines credit card for free using points. I have played the travel credit card game for most of my life and couldn’t tell you how many cards I have opened/closed/opened/closed …

Yeah, it can affect your credit score but rarely miss payments, and am hovering around 750+ so no problem. Currently, I carry my Frontier, SWA, and Hawaiian credit cards. I have previously held Spirit(3X), AA(2X), and Delta revolving every couple of years to take advantage of free offers.

As part of SWA, you can really save money by going to COSTCO and buying their $500 SWA gift cards for $430. At one point, I bought $2000 worth of cards to meet my SWA credit card minimum spend to get the bonus miles. I have a shit ton of rapid reward points and SWA credit but rarely fly SWA these days. I always have a backup travel plan to my back travel plans, so SWA is there when I need them at a massive discount or free.  

The Costco deal happens several times a year so get your credit card and wait for the sale and BOOM, tons of cheap travel. 

“You know, like nunchuck skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills… free flight skills are here at NAD! LOL

OK – back to PV, focus Darrell …

I would land in PV, grab the local bus to either downtown PV Malecon or Nuevo Vallarta where Kenny the dickhead lives. He and his sidekick Dana drive me ape shit but deep down I am sure they are not dickheads. 

Centro has been my favorite as there is everything you need within walking distance,

Hurricanes can be a problem in PV and landed the week after a terrible Nora in 2021. It was horrible to see the destruction and a notable story was a woman getting swept away in her car.  They were looking for her when I was there and never did find her body which is horrible.  

GH – such a downer, sorry!  It is always safe bets are at The AZ Devils bar (left) and Margarits bar (right). 

A couple more not pictured: Los Muertos brewery and Monzons for the best beer and slice lunch special.

Just to lighten things up, the first time I got my nose and ear hair waxed was in PV for $3.  Honestly, something was lost in translation as it was an “upgrade” after a haircut and hot shave, LOL.  I have since done it a few more times knowing what to expect.  What a shit show but had everyone entertained!  You’re welcome for the laugh! 🤓

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Rocky Point – Monday morning coffee

by Rocky Point

Monday’s suck, always have, and always will!

My biggest worry now on Monday these days is watching the NYSE hoping that it does not crater. Once past that point, I normally start my Monday by getting a coffee and breakfast sandwich at Coffee Point at Las Palomas Golf Club and Resort.

This is by far the nicest condo complex in Rocky Point making sense as it is five starts.

It has three pools for each phase and more importantly three swim-up bars with magnificent ocean views. I have my clubs here in Rocky Point but have yet to swing them at the course even though there are weekly events including scrambles which are perfect for my shitty golf game.  There is also another nice course at Isla Del Mar here, so I need to get my ass in gear and swing away.

I would be lying if I did not mention that I stayed for a margarita or five after coffee if I was still there in the afternoon. They have been known to say to me, it is afternoon Amigo, do you want a margarita. If the market is green, I stay and if the market is red, I leave – simple.

Here is a walking tour of two of the phases including the newest phase on the top right that is just finishing.

If golf was more like hockey, I would play more as you can drop the guy next to you for chirping my game! LOL

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Varna, Bulgaria

by Varna, Bulgaria

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

I had bought the pass months prior, and this was a test trip to see how it worked and couldn’t have been happier. I was able to fly standby to anywhere I wanted for the most part even though it was a short ten-day trip. I have been able to use it five times which paid for itself already. I paid 499 Euros which was approximately USD 550. I flew my Phoenix to Los Angeles to catch my Norse Airways from London Gatwick. I have found many deals over my lifetime, but the Norse Airline flight was one of the best deals.

I found a one-way flight for USD 109 which is still unbelievable as I type this right now.

PRO TIP: Always check one-on-one trips as they are often cheaper than round trips as I blogged here:

Once I landed and cleared Customs, I went straight to the Wizz app to see what was available knowing the Varna flight left a few hours after I landed doing prior research. Boom, the first flight was booked, and I was off to the ticket counter to better understand the baggage rules.

PRO TIP: Use compression bags to fill your free personal item bag as you can squeeze tons in them.

I waited in line for an hour, and I was starting to get worried. Once I got to the counter, the agent advised that I did not check in online for my flight and it would not cost USD 65. I f#cking paid 10 Euro or USD 120 for my flight so I was pissed. Lesson learned as discount airlines will always try to nickel and dime. I got my boarding pass, and I was off to my gate with plenty of time.

My first Wizz all you can fly flight went off without a hitch after screwing myself not checking in online.  If you want to know more about the Wizz pass, you can check or my blog here.

Once I arrived in Varna, I got the familiar feeling that I was back in the 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 Ukranian, the prices were right up may alley too!  I paid under $5 for some awesome cabbage soup with a roll and drink.  The buses and Ubers were also very inexpensive to tour the city.

I realize that taking pictures inside a Church may not be cool with some people but, I asked first.