Countries – Page 2 – NorthAmericanDarrell

Real Madrid & Barcelona FC stadiums!

04/08/2025

by Darrell Barcelona Madrid Spain Travel bucket list Travel memories

The first week of April 2025 was my last week on this adventure. I left on January 12th, and it was time to return home to Arizona. My Airbnb tenants were checking out, and I had a home to go back to, finally.

The plan was to hang around Italy since my flight left from Rome on April 7th.

My first day, I toured the Colosseum, and the second day was the Vatican. I did not want to spend five more days in Rome, and the train to Venice was over $200 return.

I checked out my Wizz Pass to see if there was availability to depart and return within a 72-hour window. My choices were Gdansk, Poland, or Madrid, Spain. I honestly did consider Poland before I found the Madrid flight.

Ultimately, I chose Madrid so I could also visit Barcelona with a quick train ride.

There is no better feeling than booking a last-minute flight for $10 on an all-you-can-fly pass!

One minute, I am in Italy and the next day flying to Spain, watching football locals in a Madrid pub! It sure beats working for a living!!

I also like to think that I am responsible when traveling, but not this time. Once I arrived in Madrid, I was very hungry, so I went to find food. I thought there was food in the Irish pub, but only beer.

I was going to find a hostel after the game as I stayed for the whole game, plus, whoopsie!

GOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!! ⚽🥅

After the game, slight panic started as it was after midnight, dark, rainy, and in a City I had never been to in my life. How is that for an adrenaline rush! I reset and looked for food and nailed it!

I have honestly never had Tapa’s before, as it reminds me of the foos-fos that go for Dim Sum or Sushi. Well, holy shit – I am foo fucking foo for this Tapa’s gig!! Check this out!

Pushing 2 AM, still no hostel, but new friends! We pigged out on so many items!

Since it was past midnight and check-in time, I set out on foot, in the rain and half in the bag, looking for a place to sleep.

** I have a string chain around my neck with two charms, a cross and a foot for adventure. I was rubbing the cross this time, and it always works out! ***

After knocking on door after door, I came to find out that the entire City center was sold out.

Well SHIT!! This is where I do my best thinking, WTF now dumbass? Why not head to the train station, catch a high-speed train to Barcelona for $40? Perfect recovery plan!!

I was able to get a couple of hours’ sleep on the train, even though it was going 300K/H. I woke up in Barcelona (huge bucket list,) and I was able to find a great hostel in the city center for $30 a night. After touring the city for a couple of days, I was off to find the biggest attraction, the Barcelona FC iconic Stadium, on my last day.

Ironically, the football stadium was closed for renovations. I visited the amazing team store and do not think I have seen anything else like it in the world. It was massive:

I cannot wait to reference this memory when the new ultra-modern stadium opens. I can say, I sat in this pub pre-gaming months/years earlier, preparing for the grand opening. LOL

I had better luck when I got back to Madrid. I was able to take the metro with fans to a Real Madrid game and experience gameday. I was flying back to Rome that night, so I could not go to the game, but this was amazing enough without paying hundreds of dollars for tickets.

It was a match between Barcelona FC and Valencia, and here is a little pre-game action:

After waiting an hour walking around as fans entered the stadium, I needed to leave. I was one of the few who headed the other direction on the metro as more fans arrived for the game.

It looks like I missed a great game which an exciting ending with the visiting team winning!

Spain – Madrid and Barcelona!

04/04/2025

by Darrell Barcelona Madrid

Spain and Portugal have always sat high on my European bucket list—mostly because they’re supposed to be two of the cheapest countries in Western Europe.
And yeah… cheap is relative. Because from what I saw, they weren’t dramatically cheaper overall—just different flavors of expensive.

Still, when a deal shows up, you don’t argue with it.

I grabbed a last-minute return flight to Madrid using my all-you-can-fly pass on Wizz Air. No overthinking. No spreadsheets. Just click.

The schedule was aggressive:

Land in Madrid late Wednesday night

Fly back to Rome on Saturday night

Then turn around and fly home to Phoenix Monday morning

Was it enough time?
Absolutely not.

Was it still worth it?
Also yes.

That’s kind of the tradeoff when you chase cheap flights and flexibility—you don’t always get enough time, but you get access. A taste. A reason to come back. And sometimes that’s all a city owes you on the first visit.

Madrid wasn’t done with me.
I just ran out of runway.

As I blogged about in my Spain football blog,

I managed to squeeze in both Madrid and Barcelona—along with their legendary football stadiums—by bouncing back and forth on Spain’s high-speed rail.

The train itself was unreal. I’ve taken the Channel Tunnel between London and Paris, but somehow this felt even faster. Smooth, quiet, no drama—and at times we were pushing nearly 300 km/h.

Blink and you’re in another city.
No airport security.
No wasted hours.
Just sit down, watch the countryside blur, and suddenly you’re somewhere else entirely.

Being able to visit Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and Camp Nou on the same short trip felt borderline unfair—in the best way.

Spain’s rail system alone is reason enough to come back and do it properly next time.

Fast trains, football temples, and not enough time—
a recurring theme of this trip.

One of the best parts was having real competition on the route. There were multiple high-speed rail companies to choose from—Renfe, iryo, and Ouigo—which kept prices refreshingly reasonable.

I paid $40 to go from Madrid to Barcelona, and $63 to head back on a Saturday night. For speeds pushing 300 km/h, that’s borderline absurd value.

Barcelona itself was instantly likable—especially the city center. Narrow, cobblestoned streets, tight corners, and that old-world layout that forces you to slow down and wander. It felt lived-in, textured, and human-scale in a way that makes getting lost part of the experience.

Fast trains, fair prices, and streets meant for wandering—
Spain quietly does this part very well.

I spent two days in Barcelona, which barely scratched the surface. If there’s one obvious advantage Barcelona has, it’s the location—you get the best of both worlds: a major city and the sea.

Being right on the Mediterranean Sea changes the whole feel of the place. I took a bus tour that covered roughly 30 miles of coastline, and even in the off-season it was impressive. Beaches, waterfront neighborhoods, long promenades—it just keeps going.

I couldn’t help but imagine how unreal it must be in the summertime, when the city fully leans into that coastal lifestyle. Barcelona feels like a place where you could slow down, stay longer, and let the city and the sea split your attention evenly.

Two days wasn’t enough.
But it was enough to know I’ll be back.

I spent most of the day just riding the metro around the city.

I only spent a few hours in Madrid before bolting to Barcelona, so I made sure I came back to Spain for a proper wrap-up.

I arrived back in Madrid on 04/04/25, checked into an excellent hostel, and booked just one night. One of the underrated perks of hostel life is flexibility—you can store your bags, grab a towel, and even shower later in the day. That worked perfectly since my flight didn’t leave Madrid until 9:00 PM on 04/05/25.

With limited time, I kept the list tight. There were only a few things I needed to see:

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

Royal Palace of Madrid

Puerta de Alcalá (Madrid’s Arc de Triomphe)

No rushing.
No overplanning.

Just enough time to close the Spain chapter properly—exactly the way it deserved.

Real Madrid — pre-game vibes!

I caught the buzz outside Santiago Bernabéu Stadium as fans poured in and the energy started to build. Scarves out, chants warming up, that unmistakable match-day electricity in the air.

Unfortunately, I had to catch a flight back to Rome later that day, so I couldn’t stay for the match itself.

Still—soaking in the atmosphere was more than enough to remind me why football culture in Madrid hits differently.

Naples and Rome – pizza everywhere!🍕

04/04/2025

by Darrell Italy

High School gym class

My first stop was Naples—or Napoli, as the locals correctly call it—the original, unapologetic version reminded me of High School gym class.

Fast-paced, intense, a little rough around the edges, and absolutely unforgettable history.

Home of the Pizza!

The history of pizza began in antiquity, as various ancient cultures produced flatbreads with several toppings. Pizza today is an Italian dish with a flat dough-based base and toppings, with significant Italian roots in history.

A precursor of pizza was probably the focaccia, a flatbread known to the Romans as panis focacius, to which toppings were then added. Modern pizza evolved from similar flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, between the 16th and mid-18th centuries.

The word pizza was first documented in 997 CE in Gaeta[4] and successively in different parts of central and southern Italy. Furthermore, the Etymological Dictionary of the Italian Language explains the word pizza as coming from dialectal pinza, ‘clamp’, as in modern Italian pinze, ‘pliers, pincers, tongs, forceps’. Their origin is from Latin pincere, ‘to pound, stamp’.

I had pizza every day that I was in Italy and even had a couple two a day!!

The below was one of my favorites near Vatican City. The Chef will make pizzas on massive sheets and then place them in the window for display. Once you decide on a flavor or three, in my case, on this day, in the top left. They take a pair of scissors, cut to your desired size and weight it for the amount.

Below is fried pizza—basically a calzone that made better life choices and went into the fryer instead of the oven.

The second photo is my first meal after landing in Naples.
Stromboli is my favorite, so this one felt less like a meal and more like a reunion.

The rest?
Just random pizza stops along the way.
No plan.
No regrets for eating and not even being hungry!

Yummy!!

I definitely ate my share of pizza throughout Italy, especially Naples.

Every now and then I’d think, “Maybe I should order something else…”
And then immediately decide—
nope.

When you’re in the birthplace of pizza, branching out feels less like curiosity and more like betrayal.

You tell ’em, Boss!

Rome – The Vatican & St Peter’s Basilica

04/02/2025

by Darrell Rome

When in Rome – visiting the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica was not an option! I needed to throw a few Hail Mary’s so not a better place to make some peace. We had a good talk, and we are good! 👌 The Vatican grounds were a short 15-minute metro ride from my hostel and easy to access. It was amazing to think that I could hop on a metro train and be there in under 20 minutes.

I blogged about my second time visiting, but here are more details, pictures, and videos.

The train ride from my hostel to Vatican City was under 20 minutes:

Once you exit the Vatican station, there is a short walk to St Peter’s Square.

The Pope has been very sick and made his last appearance the week I was in Rome before passing away.

Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until he death in 2025. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American, and the first born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to a family of Italian origin, Bergoglio was inspired to join the Jesuits in 1958 after recovering from a severe illness. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969, and from 1973 to 1979, he was the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina. He became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the 2013 papal conclave elected Bergoglio as pope on 13 March. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Throughout his papacy, Francis was noted for his humility, emphasis on God’s mercy, international visibility, commitment to interreligious dialogue, and concern for the poor, migrants, and refugees. Francis believed the Catholic Church should demonstrate more inclusivity to LGBTQ people, and stated that although blessings of same-sex unions are not permitted, individuals in same-sex relationships can be blessed as long as the blessing is not given in a liturgical context.[2] Francis made women full members of dicasteries in the Roman Curia.[3][4] Francis convened the Synod on Synodality, which was described as the culmination of his papacy and the most important event in the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council.[4][5][6] Francis was known for having a less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors by, for instance, choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by previous popes. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments devoid of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as cardinal.

Here are some additional pictures of my two days spent in Vatican City.

RIP Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025)

Italy train travel! Fast and faster!!

04/02/2025

by Darrell Italy Rome

I am at the point in my travels where I was supposed to be using a Europass to travel Europe by train.

I bailed on that plan a month ago after taking a 20-hour train trip up and down the Vietnam coast. I realize that taking a train across Europe would be a lot nicer than Vietnam but sitting in coach would be the same back breaking experience.

Here was the plan, and I still feel good about my decision as it is time to go home:

I did get a chance to take a train from Naples to Rome, which was pretty awesome and had me second-guessing. The ten-day Europass was an amazing deal, but taking the train once scratched that itch for $13 USD.

It was not the highspeed train as that was $60 and would have been an hour a half instead of four hours.

Since I enjoyed my first train experience in Europe, I followed it up with another train trip later that week!

This time, I took the smoking fast-speed train between Madrid and Barcelona, Spain.

The train almost hit 300KM/H (292KM hour was the highest I noticed as I fell in and out of sleep for the three-hour trip.) Imagine a flight doing ~500KM/H is about an hour and a half, and the train doing ~300KM/H is about three hours.

Amazing!

I had taken the “Chunnel” from London to Paris in the past, but this was a great reminder of how fast train travel can be compared to flying. The line at the train station was a lot longer than most airports, as they do not have the same setup, which can delay travel.

Lucky for me, I am a dumbass and went to the wrong departure station. Once I realized it, I took a 15-minute taxi to the correct station and cut to the front of the line with my sob or SOB story, so it took less than five minutes as opposed to over an hour.

It was stressful, but it worked out perfectly as I did not sleep. I landed in Madrid and took the subway to the City Center and there was a football game on, so I jumped into the fun without finding a hostel.

After the game, I grabbed some tapas and beer and quickly found out that the prices were $150 euros that night. After a bit of panic, walking in the rain and soul searching my shitty situation, I headed to the wrong train station. It all worked out amazingly as always!

Check out all those tapas and awesome local beer!

The closest I have ever experienced Tapas is when a Ukrainian whips up a meal with whatever is in the fridge, and it turns out to be a five-star meal. Same idea, a little bit of everything and refilling your plate.

What an amazing sequence of events, which is why I love to travel so much!

Italy! The Colosseum experience!!

04/01/2025

by Darrell Rome

Below is the Colessem location about Rome and Italy in general.

The top can be zoomed in and out if you are curious!

I am not a big history guy, but Athens, Greece, and now Rome, Italy, had me caught up in the experience!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, for all of us, as it was so overwhelming:

The Colosseum ultimately derives from the Ancient Greek word “kolossos,” meaning a large statue or giant. It is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum.

It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world, despite its age. Construction began under the Emperor Vespasian (r. 69–79 AD) and was completed in AD 80 under his successor and heir, Titus.

Further modifications were made during the reign of Domitian (r. 81–96). The three emperors who were patrons of the work are known as the Flavian dynasty, and the amphitheatre was named the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium; Italian: Anfiteatro Flavio by later classicists and archaeologists for its association with their family name (Flavius).

The Colosseum is built of travertine limestone, tuff (volcanic rock), and brick-faced concrete. It could hold an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 spectators at various points in its history,[4][5] having an average audience of some 65,000; it was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles including animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, dramas based on Roman mythology, and briefly mock sea battles.

The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.

Although substantially ruined by earthquakes and stone robbers taking spolia, the Colosseum is still a renowned symbol of Imperial Rome and was listed as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. It is one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions and has links to the Catholic Church, as each Good Friday, the Pope leads a torchlit “Way of the Cross” procession that starts in the area around the Colosseum. The Colosseum is depicted on the Italian version of the 5 euro cent coin.

It was about a 30-minute walk from my hostel to the Colosseum and the ancient ruins area.

I rarely pay to enter tourist traps, but this was another one that I could not miss out on. Here are some pictures and videos of the Colosseum inside and out. It was so amazing to see, and unsure if these will help portray it properly

The area around the Colosseum, including the ruins, is an incredible experience.

Naples, Italy – home of PIZZA!🍕

03/31/2025

by Darrell 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.

My big fat Greek weekend!

03/26/2025

by Darrell 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!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Another big draw was the temple of the Olympian Zeus:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Asia – getting fat eating with two sticks!🍜

03/22/2025

by Darrell Bangkok Bohol Cebu City Koh Phi Phi Philippines Phucket Singapore Siquijor/Dumaguete islands Thailand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Singapore! Amazing place to visit!!

03/22/2025

by Darrell 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 “I’m glad I saw it.” The airport was enough for me now.

Koh Samui, Thai! Paradise Island!!🏝️

03/19/2025

by Darrell 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!

Ko Tao, Thai! Divers Paradise!🏝️🤿

03/13/2025

by Darrell 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.

Lima, Peru – Mira Flores district! 😍

03/04/2025

by Darrell 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!

Phnom Penh, hostel experience!🫵🏻😎🏨

02/22/2025

by Darrell 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.

Vietnam – 35 days cost analysis!⬇️🤑

02/21/2025

by Darrell 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!!

Cumming, GA – Home 2003-2010

02/20/2025

by Darrell 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. 🤑 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! 🪓🪓🪓

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

02/19/2025

by Darrell 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!

Phu Quoc, Vietnam – Amazing!

02/17/2025

by Darrell 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:

53X around the sun ⤴️🌞⤵️ Addicted to travel! 🌎

02/14/2025

by Darrell 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.

Phu Quoc – Vietnam Island paradise!🌞😎

02/13/2025

by Darrell 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!

Nah Trang, Vietnam – Beachin’ place!!

02/08/2025

by Darrell 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!!

Hoi An, Vietnam – This river is incredible!

02/05/2025

by Darrell 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.

Da Nang, Vietnam – I could live here too!

02/02/2025

by Darrell 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. 🤑

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

01/31/2025

by Darrell 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.

Vung Tau, Vietnam – Ferry road trip!!⛴️

01/26/2025

by Darrell 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 Tết 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!

Hammock camping – St Croix BVI 🏝️🏕️

01/25/2025

by Darrell British Virgin Islands (BVI)Carribean Islands Freedom 50 St. 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. 🌪️

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.

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

01/24/2025

by Darrell 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 José 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.

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. 🤑

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.

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

Panglao Island – The Philipines

01/24/2025

by Darrell Panlao Island Philippines

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!

Hot shave and a massage a day! Vietnam!!

01/24/2025

by Darrell 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.

Good morning, Vietnam!🎙️

01/22/2025

by Darrell HCMC / Saigon

Good morning, Vietnam! 🎙️

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!

Made in Vietnam! Inexpensive knock-offs!!🤑

01/20/2025

by Darrell 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.

Ho Chi Mihn! Scooter mayhem!!🛵

01/16/2025

by Darrell 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.

Rocky Point, Mexico – FB mashup!

01/11/2025

by Darrell Rocky Point

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

Rocky Point, Mexico – Foodie!!

01/11/2025

by Darrell Rocky Point

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

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! 🍖🌮🌯

Montevideo, Uruguay ferry trip from BA⛴️

01/06/2025

by Darrell 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.

Mira Flores, Peru – cliff side pad!

01/06/2025

by Darrell 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! 😍

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! 😎

01/06/2025

by Darrell 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

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.

Rocky Point – Monday coffee! ☕🌅

01/06/2025

by Darrell 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.

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. 🏌️‍♂️🍹

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.

Varna, Bulgaria – The black sea!

01/06/2025

by Darrell 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!

My Point, Mexico casita! 🛖

01/04/2025

by Darrell 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. 🙋🏻‍♂️🙌🏻

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.

Cebu, Philippines! Just awesome!!

01/03/2025

by Darrell 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.

Abu Dabhi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates

01/03/2025

by Darrell 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.

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.

Bohol, Philippines – What a beauty!

01/03/2025

by Darrell 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!

Honolulu, HI – incognito office!

01/02/2025

by Darrell 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.

🏄🏻‍♂️🏄🏻‍♀️🏄🏻🏄🏽‍♀️🏄‍♂️

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

🏄🏻‍♂️🏄🏻‍♀️🏄🏻🏄🏽‍♀️🏄‍♂️
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!

Vienna, Austria! Schnitzel!! 😋

01/01/2025

by Darrell 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.

Lesson learned.

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

Great white north, Edmonton!

01/01/2025

by Darrell 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. 🤔
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!

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!

I am the only one who does!

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.

Feeding and mud bathing the big guy! 🐘

12/31/2024

by Darrell Phucket

The one on the right, LOL!

Alice the camel has … go Alice go!!!

12/30/2024

by Darrell United Arab Emirates

One of my goals in visiting the United Emirates was to ride a camel just like my favorite cartoon!

I did not get to ride a camel but did visit a camel farm on the outskirts of Abu Dabhi. I was just like the movies; the camels in the Desert are for real, they were everywhere!

I never pay for an excursion anywhere in the world as it goes against my life-like aspirations.

My Uber driver told me, you’re a dumbass and I will cut you a deal. Fair enough, I can be a dumbass trying to save money. He did cut me a deal for the day to find a camel farm.

It was awesome as they are such interesting animals, and my driver gave me a great tour explaining their importance locally. We also visited a camel racing track where these guys will run 8 km with big money betting from the rich culture within the area.

Those were to good days and if you think this is silly …

Bugs Bunny is smarter than most of us!

Koh Phi Phi, Thailand! 🌴🥥

12/30/2024

by Darrell Koh Phi Phi

I consider my six-week trip to Thailand in 2022 to be free!

It was my fifth anniversary working for PayPal, and I was eligible for my four-week sabbatical. I tacked on two weeks of vacation and also rented my AZ condo on Airbnb the entire time. How sweet a deal was that setup!

In January 2021, Thailand was reopening for tourists after COVID-19. There were so many strict rules, but as always 90% of the stuff we worry about never happens.

Bring a negative COVID test within 48 hours of departure.

Buy travel insurance that covers COVID.

Take a COVID test once arriving at the hotel in Bangkok.

Locked down in a hotel until the test came back negative in 48 hours.

I would be fed three amazing meals a day delivered to my door.

Allowed to wander around the hotel grounds during lockdown.

Pretty amazing time-out to take care of the 14-hour time difference and jet lag!

Once I received a clear email from the Thai government, I was off to tour Bangkok for two days before leaving. I would be back on my way home to finish touring the city.

I left for my island, hoping for adventures in the following days: Koh Samui, Koh, Phangan, Koh Tao, Phuket, and the topic of this post, my absolute favorite island in Thailand, Koh Phi Phi Island!

Unsure whether or not to jump! Damn right, that was a long way up for a big boy!

Watch for the body, UGH my shoulder, that’s a long way up for a big boy, LOL!

This was an amazing boat ride I took to tour the islands around Koh Phi Phi. We snorkeled and visited several bays in the area, including the famous Maya Bay where the movie “The Beach” was filmed. Although it was closed for swimming due to preservation, it was beautiful!

The water taxi (Panga) is a staple for locals in Asia. Here are a few variations of the boat as seen during my travels.

I took these underwater pictures on a panga snorkeling tour just off the Phi Phi islands.

Fishing in Kona, Hawaii! 🎣

12/28/2024

by Darrell Fishing in Kona

Meeting my first mate, Sue, and her husband Steve at Planet Fitness during my first week in Kona in the fall of 2022 was such an amazing sequence of events. I was there for two months, and it could not have started any better.

I found fishing buddies, and they were good at it too!

It would make my fishing dreams come true the following week, catching a 350 lb+ marlin, pictured above, getting weighed at the harbor. I remember it like it happened yesterday, and it was the largest fish caught on Captain Tom’s boat Honu Hua “at the time.

In the Summer of 2024, they broke my record with a 550 lb+ marlin, giving me reason to keep going back.

Look at the size of that marlin!!

Back to my fish story! Sue picked me up at crack ass so we could leave the docks at 6 AM. I walked up to the boat, and Sue introduced me to Captain Tom, Aunt Tootsie, and Uncle Bobby.

(Uncle/Aunt is a Hawaiian term of respect when introducing someone older than you.)

The first thing I said was that it was a dream to catch a marlin and watch it jump while reeling it i, and holy shit, did I ever! The first thing I remember reeling her in is seeing her jump, I said to the crew, Look at that Marlin jump way over there and the unanimous reply was;

“That’s your fish, dumbass, REEL”.

It took me about 90 minutes to reel her in, and we have some great videos below. I was not handing off the rod and had to crank with two hands at times. We laughed a lot as the marlin made it to the boat and took off a few times, with me yelling at her the whole time.

First things first, I caught a Mahi Mahi right off the hop in the first video! So awesome tasting too! After that, all hell broke loose with my marlin madness! Enjoy!!

What a fricken’ beauty, Marlin and Captain Tom! Reach out to fish if you are in Kona! Tell him NorthAmerican Darrell sent you, as he will share some of our fun time, guaranteed!

We went to Captain Tom’s and smoked her in an old shack behind his house, making the best-tasting fish jerky! It was marinated for days and hung on hooks for four hours!!

Here are some videos and pictures from another trip with other awesome peeps! The laughs and cruising are almost as fun as the catch, every single trip. We landed a double marlin, two on hook at the same time, which was total mayhem for about 15 minutes!!

I was able to reel mine in, but we lost the other one. Rookies, LOL!

I could literally share hundreds of pictures and videos of my fishing trips!

Here are 50ish, and you can find more on my YouTube, LOL!

www.YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

If you’re planning on being in Kona and would like to meet Captain Tom and first mate Sue for an amazing and cost-effective fishing experience, send me an email or a WhatsApp message from the homepage, and I can work out the logistics. Hell yeah!!

I catch myself saying that the marlin was 350lbs, busted! 338 is the official weight, and I have that paper too!

The picture of Captain Tom pointing to the hole in his shirt was my marlin nearly taking him out, so close! That is his favorite fishing shirt, and he wore it the next two times we went out for a good laugh.

On the right, you will see Tom and his family’s process of smoking the marlin and packaging the marlin. I cannot remember how many pounds they sell for, but I took a couple of pounds home, which is so amazing!

My Airbnb in Mesa, AZ. BOOK IT!!