Personal History – NorthAmericanDarrell

Birthdays – getting older is tough!

02/03/2026

by Darrell Buy me a beer Cebu City Freedom 50 Personal History Siquijor/Dumaguete islands Snuffaluffagus Travel bucket list Travels Deals Travels Stories Your name here!

The number goes up, but at least the stories keep getting better.

This absolute GEM still makes me laugh, mostly because… not much has changed.

February is peak season in Arizona, so my Airbnb is rented every year.

Translation: I’m forced to travel.

As a result, I’ve spent the last few birthdays in some pretty incredible places—and this year is no exception.

(Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia)

This year’s birthday destination?

Hong Kong.
3 days, 2 nights; $225 USD RT flight, $50 a night pad!!

Aging is inevitable.
Dropping new pins is optional—but highly recommended around here!

Booking flights is like playing chess while most people are still playing checkers.

To bounce between Cebu and Hong Kong, I booked three one-way tickets instead of a single round-trip—and the math worked in my favor:

Cebu → Manila: $20

Manila → Hong Kong: $70

Hong Kong → Cebu: $135

Not glamorous. Not obvious to most.
But flexible, intentional, and cheaper than forcing a “normal” itinerary.

That’s the game:
Stop thinking in straight lines and start thinking strategically.

I tried to pick a destination that was actually high on my bucket list, and Hong Kong landed exactly where it should, near the top!

Bonus: it doubles as a visa run, since I have to leave the Philippines every 30 days. Inexpensive, efficient, and exciting—my favorite combo.

Winner winner—Peking chicken dinner.

Honestly, it’s been a pretty solid run so far, and I still have two more months to explore on this adventure.

Not bad for someone who claims to be grumpy and bored all the time.

01/15 – Tokyo, Japan

01/23 – Cebu, Philippines

02/10 – Hong Kong

02/19 – Siquijor, Philippines

02/29 – Siargao, Philippines

03/07 – Cebu lease expires → TBD

04/15- home to Mesa, AZ

Possible next moves before 04/15 (because why not):
Stay in Cebu, Seoul, Phuket, Bali, Da Nang…

We’ll see where boredom strikes next!

I really shouldn’t complain—this trip has been incredible so far.

Now, excuse me while I yell at the clouds due to my missed meds!

Welcome to #Freedom54! 🥳

And … Get off my lawn, damn kids!

02/01/2024 – Mandatory meeting!👋🏻

01/31/2026

by Darrell Autobiography Buy me a beer Freedom 50 Personal History Slow travel Travel bucket list Travel memories Travels Deals Travels Stories Work experience

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

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

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

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

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

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

The travel dream was finally coming to fruition.

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

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

Again, so far so good!

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

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

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

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

Just another example, life cannot always be planned.

“Freedom 54” is just around the corner!

Cheers to another year living the dream!

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Cebu, Philippines – Moalboal! 🚌

01/29/2026

by Darrell Accommodations AirBnb Freedom 50 Personal History Philippines Travel bucket list Travels Deals

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

The contradiction is the sweet spot for me.

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

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

Thanks, Mom!!.

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

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

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

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

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

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

That beats a trip to the bathroom!

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

That low price included a wake-up call!

🐓📢🛌🏻

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

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

Hong Kong, 9th visa run; $225 ✈️

Dumaguete / Siquijor, 19th; $60 ✈️🚢

Siargao, Philippines, 29th; $60

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

Cebu, Philippines – It’s HOT!♨️😎

01/25/2026

by Darrell AirBnb Asia Buy me a beer Cebu City Countries Freedom 50 Personal History Philippines Siquijor/Dumaguete islands Travel bucket list Travels Deals

Schawetty

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

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

Affordability is non-negotiable:

$450 a month for rent

Meals under $5 USD

Movies cost around $5

Cheap road trips:

Uber/Grab/local bus are super inexpensive

Flights around Asia for under $100 (often less)

Ferries to nearby islands for under $20

Convenience matters too:

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

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

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

No planning my life around business hours.

That’s the slow-travel sweet spot:

Productive Day One.

One-hour chair massage — $5

Movie ticket — $5

Favorite Korean BBQ – $3

Favorite noodle spot – $2

Old food photos (food was gone, quickly!)

And the big win?

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

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

Day one delivered.

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

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

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

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

Everything is inexpensive, keeping the options wide open!

Living life to the fullest in the Philippines!

Eurorail-10 day pass CANCELLED!

01/09/2026

by Darrell Countries Europe Freedom 50 Greece Personal History Spain Travel bucket list Travels Deals Travels Stories United Kingdom

I’ve bought three Euro rail passes so far.

2 of 3 have now been cancelled and refunded!

(Make sure you buy the cancellation insurance).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Traveling with financial responsibility, but make it European.

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

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

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

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

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

Could I have flown? Of course.

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

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

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

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

My Mexican life – everyday, something new! 👀

01/03/2026

by Darrell Accommodations Buy me a beer Countries Mexico Personal History Rocky Point Travels Stories

Why I Stay Here

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It just wins—every time.

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

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

(Favorites below )

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

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

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

Peak tortilla experience!

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

And yet—somehow—I’m pulling it off.

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

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

Vietnam slow travel like Bourdain!

01/01/2026

by Darrell Autobiography Buy me a beer Freedom 50 Slow travel Travel bucket list Travels Deals Travels Stories

I spent a month traveling slowly through Hanoi, Vietnam, with a brief stop in Malaysia and Indonesia along the way.

I started the journey on November 17th, 2025, carrying with me the influence of Anthony Bourdain—his insistence on slowing down, eating where locals eat, and staying far away from anything that felt packaged or performative.

Anthony Bourdain loved Vietnam because it hit everything he cared about at once:
cheap plastic stools, perfect food, zero pretension, and a country that doesn’t apologize for being itself.

Vietnam showed him that:

Great food doesn’t need luxury — just balance, patience, and obsession (hello, phở broth simmered for days).

Street food is democracy — everyone eats together, shoulder to shoulder.

History lives at the table — wars, survival, pride, and resilience all show up in a bowl of noodles.

Hanoi, especially, felt like home to him: chaotic but calm, blunt but generous. He once said Vietnam changed his life, and it wasn’t poetic exaggeration — it reset how he understood food, travel, and humility.

In short:
Vietnam wasn’t a destination to Bourdain — it was proof that the world makes sense if you sit down, shut up, and eat what locals eat.

This is exactly how I like to travel, as he adds so much truth in his stories.

What I found personally during my time spent all over in Vietnam in 2025 echoed everything he preached. The best meals on plastic stools, the richest conversations in unplanned moments, and the most meaningful experiences far from the tourist traps. It wasn’t about checking boxes or chasing luxury—it was about paying attention. It was one of those trips that reminds you why you travel in the first place.

One for the Anthony Bourdain books but first was the long ass travel day!

I left my home base in Rocky Point, Mexico, pointed myself halfway across the world, and landed in Hanoi. I rented an Airbnb for 30 days—not to rush through highlights, but to live slowly, observe, and settle into the rhythm of the city the way Anthony Bourdain always encouraged.

Hanoi wasn’t a stop on a checklist. It was a place to wake up early, start with a great walk, amazing coffee and/or tea, and let the days unfold without forcing meaning or accomplishment onto them.

Anthony Bourdain had this quiet belief that home wasn’t a fixed place—it was something you could build anywhere by paying attention. In Hanoi, I really understood that logic, and it hit me in the feels, big time!

My condo sat beside a man-made lake with miles of walkways, and each morning I fell into a rhythm: long walks as the neighborhood woke up, Vietnamese coffee strong enough to slow time, and—on game days—listening to the Oilers from halfway across the world.

Nothing about it felt temporary or borrowed; it just screamed this is what you have been looking for.

That was the lesson Tony kept trying to teach: when you slow down, eat simply, and let life happen around you, even the most unfamiliar place can start to feel like home.

From my experience, there are exactly two kinds of Vietnamese people: chain smokers, and those who walk and exercise tirelessly, as if it’s a second full-time job. There’s no in-between.

My days in Hanoi followed that rhythm—long walks around the lake, endless steps on quiet paths, and daily coffee stops that felt less like breaks and more like rituals. Watching life unfold from a plastic chair with a strong Vietnamese egg coffee became one of the highlights of the trip.

Amazing all around, and without a doubt, a place I’ll stay again.

I had every intention of staying in the Hanoi area the entire time. That was the plan. Then I checked flights—because that’s usually where good plans go to die—and remembered Anthony Bourdain’s unofficial rule:

When the door opens, you walk through it.

So I said yes.

I found myself on an unplanned road trip through Malaysia and Bali, crossing off two massive bucket-list items not because it was efficient or sensible—but because the inexpensive opportunity was there.

That was always Tony’s point. The best trips don’t come from sticking to the plan—they come from having the nerve to abandon it. He has basically reached legend status for me at this point!

Keeping my rent under $300 back at my home base in the eco park in Hanoi was the quiet enabler of all this. That single number is what turned the road trip from a cautious “should I?” into a very relaxed “why not?”.

When your biggest monthly expense isn’t chasing you down, spontaneity stops feeling reckless and starts feeling practical. Flights become opportunities. Detours make sense. And saying yes—like Tony always preached—suddenly costs a lot less.

15 Countries visited in 2025📍🌎😎

12/31/2025

by Darrell All you can fly Asia Austria Bangkok Barcelona Countries Europe Freedom 50 Frontier - AYCF!Greece HCMC / Saigon Italy Koh Phi Phi London Madrid Mexico North American Personal History Philippines Rocky Point Rome Singapore Slow travel Spain Thailand Travel bucket list Travels Stories United Kingdom United States Vietnam Volaris - AYCF!Wizz - AYCF!

2025: My first full year taking a run at retirement!

2025 turned out to be my most traveled year ever—and somehow, I feel that I’m just getting started.

January – Vietnam
(HCMC, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Phu Quoc)

February – Cambodia & Thailand
(Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao)

March – UK & Europe
(London, Greece, Iceland, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Italy)

April – October–US & Mexico

(Mesa and Rocky Point—two incredible home bases)

November & December – SE Asia
(Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Bali)

Every trip felt different. Every move resets my brain. And somehow, it all worked out absolutely perfect!

2026: Already Booked (Of Course It Is!)

January to mid-April
Mexico, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Philippines

May to October (Homebases in Mesa/Mexico)

Volaris + Frontier all-you-can-fly chaos—route TBD, cheap is guaranteed

Nov and Dec– Europe by Rail-pass

Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Southern Spain/Portugal…
Eastern Europe is still being self-negotiated with my grade-three attention span.

Christmas 2025 – You’re a mean one …

12/26/2025

by Darrell All you can fly Autobiography Buy me a beer Countries Dual Citizenship North American Slow travel Travel bucket list Travel memories Travels Stories United States

Christmas time is for kids, since I do not have any minions, it is not my favorite holiday.

We all have regrets, but again, we all have to play the cards we dealt ourselves!

It’s not meant as pity, pride, or judgment—just a sincere look at my life, told with a level of honesty most people rarely allow.

Thinking about having a family—and then creating a fake one on ChatGPT—hits a special kind of loneliness during the holidays, with just enough imaginary alimony and child support to keep it extremely real.

That’s part of why, most days, I am grateful for my life, as this is how it was supposed to work out.

Not because family is bad or wrong—but because forcing a life that didn’t fit would cost me more than it gave back. Freedom mattered more to me than appearances. Movement mattered more than checking boxes that society forces you to check whether you want them or not.

I didn’t have a good father, and the fear of becoming anything like him was always front and center. He bailed on my mom and me in the worst possible way, and that kind of exit leaves a mark whether you want it to or not.

For a long time, that experience quietly shaped my decisions.

That awareness didn’t fix everything, but it ultimately changed my thought process. And sometimes, that’s enough to start choosing differently—on purpose.

Chasing a different dream became my outlet, my structure, and, honestly, my mission. I have lived life in many different cities, having a lot of conversations and many life experiences with people who saw life differently. It became pretty obvious that the way most people lived life was not the only option.

It was not the same generational life, over and over.

Go to College

Get married

Buy a house and have kids

Work until you’re 67+

Enjoy maybe five to ten years of retirement while your body starts to fail you.

I didn’t opt out of life—I opted into my version of it.

Less scripted.
Less predictable.
More honest with who I am

I’m learning to be good with that, and people who judge my alternative lifestyle should, too.

The Grinch that hated winter in Canada!

The cold.

The snow.

The shoveling.

Driving on a skating rink.

The heating bills should feel normal.

Extreme taxes at every angle.

(carbon taxes?!)

The lies people told themselves, “It was normal not to feel your face going outside.

While Family and friends in Canada scraped windshields, living a great Family life!

The Grinch did the math.

Sunshine was cheaper elsewhere.

A lot of money could also be made elsewhere.

So, while others layered sweaters, he booked a one-way ticket south.

He turned in his snow boots for flip-flops.

He drank iced coffee in December.

They said he “You missed the reason for the season,” and called him a sellout!

The Grinch said, “I optimized my life,” in my own way!

He didn’t steal Christmas.
He *Geoarbitraged it!

*Geoarbitrage is the practice of living in a location with a lower cost of living while maintaining the same income, allowing individuals to save and invest more effectively. This concept is often associated with the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement, where individuals leverage geographic differences to maximize their financial resources.

Click to read more on my Geoarbitrage goals

“Geoarbitrage – retire sooner “

Hanoi, Vietnam – water puppet show!

12/24/2025

by Darrell Buy me a beer Freedom 50 Personal History Slow travel Travel bucket list Travel memories Travels Stories Vietnam

One of the coolest tourist traps in Hanoi is the traditional water puppet show—and I snagged front-row seats for about $12 USD. Absolute steal, especially since I could see all the behind-the-scenes chaos too. Turns out it’s mostly smoke, mirrors, and very committed puppeteers.

The traditional water puppet show in Hanoi—especially at the famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre—has been running continuously every single day since it opened in 1969, making it one of the rare shows in Asia to perform water puppetry 365 days a year without a break.

The traditional water puppet show in Hanoi has been running every single day since 1969.

That’s over 55 years of zero sick days, no holidays, and puppeteers and other artists who absolutely do not mess around.

The quest for the best Pho … 😋🍜🤤

12/23/2025

by Darrell Buy me a beer Dual Citizenship Personal History Slow travel Travel bucket list Travel memories Travels Deals Travels Stories

I do sometimes wonder how I’m not at least moderately famous with gems like this. Then I immediately remember (and genuinely don’t care anymore) that these blogs may never get read. And honestly? That realization was freeing.

Once I got past feeling like a total failure and a loser, everything else went downhill—in the best possible way. No pressure. No audience chasing. Just writing because I actually enjoy it. Even if this all ends up being an autobiography for myself, I’m good with that.

Phew.
That one came straight from the therapist’s chair.

Anyway… back to Pho

I remember when people used to pretend to like sushi, pho, dim sum, and whatever else was trendy at the time. They’d make sure you knew they were going, had gone, or had just returned from eating “the best ever,” while clearly forcing enthusiasm.

Well… look at me now.

That’s me.
I love pho.
I love sushi.

Turns out trying things for yourself beats talking about them from the sidelines. Funny how that works.

FOFO, indeed

Other than Google, there’s a foolproof way to spot a great place to eat: look at the line—and more importantly, who’s in it.

This one was packed. And not with tourists holding cameras and guidebooks—this line was full of Asians, which is always a very good sign. A quick Google check confirmed what my instincts already knew: this spot was serving some of the best pho in the Hanoi Old Quarter.

Turns out it wasn’t just “one of the best.”

It was #1 on the list.

Rich broth, perfectly cooked noodles, tender meat, zero nonsense. The kind of bowl that makes you slow down halfway through because you don’t want it to end.

I’ll talk about #2—aka Obama Bun cha version of Pho (and yes, it absolutely nailed it too). But this one?

Pho 10 was undoubtedly the benchmark.

Sometimes the line tells you everything you need to know.

I’ll talk about #2—aka Obama Bun cha version of Pho (and yes, it absolutely nailed it too). But this one?

I’ll talk more about #2—aka the Obama Bún Chả version of pho—later in the blog (and yes, it absolutely nailed it too). But this place deserves its own moment.

The visit gave rise to the now-iconic “Combo Obama”, which includes:

Bún Chả (grilled pork with noodles and herbs)

Crab spring rolls

A local Hanoi beer

Simple. Perfect. Universal.

This spot became famous after Barack Obama shared dinner here in 2014 with Anthony Bourdain, during an episode of Parts Unknown. Obama was president at the time, Bourdain was doing what he did best—using food as a bridge between cultures.

Plastic stools.
Cold beer.
No security theater.
No ego.

Just two people eating great food in Hanoi, proving once again that the fastest way to connect across cultures isn’t politics—it’s dinner.

The food lives up to the story.
The story lives up to the moment.

Some meals are famous because they’re good.
Others are famous because they mean something.

This one managed to be both.

Honestly, visiting this restaurant wasn’t about Barack Obama for me—it was about Anthony Bourdain.

Vietnamese food—and pho in particular—was something Bourdain genuinely loved. He talked often about Vietnam as a place that shaped him, not just as a cook but as a traveler. What always stuck with me was how far he was willing to go for food: wandering down side streets, eating at hole-in-the-wall spots, and staying out until absurd hours just to find something real. The ironic part is that once he found something real, it turned into a tourist trap.

That mindset influenced how I travel. I’ve always tried to do the same—skip the polished places, follow instincts, watch where locals eat, and say yes to places that don’t look impressive on the outside.

So sitting there, eating Vietnamese food in Hanoi, felt less like a tourist stop and more like paying quiet respect to someone who showed a lot of us how to travel differently—through curiosity, humility, and a love of good food.

For me, that’s what made the place special. I try to live life the way he did, as he was such an absolute travel legend.

Here was my experience eating the “Bourdain” combo!

Only a few things make me happier than finding these kinds of places that fuel more travel.

25 most visited Countries *21 completed!🌎

11/10/2025

by Darrell AirBnb All you can fly Buy me a beer Countries Freedom 50 Internet travel search tips Personal History Travels Stories

“I hope that giddy ‘new place’ feeling never goes away. At this point, I’ve only got 4 of the top 25 most visited countries left to catch… but who’s counting?”

Completed:

1-France, Paris twice, and leaving was the best part!

2 Spain, Madrid and Barcelona!

3-USA, So much fun, so many places lived and visited!

4-China, Guangzhou airport counts, right?

5-Italy, Venice, Rome, Naples, and Milan

6-Turkey, Istanbul, and the Princes’ Islands.

7-Mexico, so many Coronas and a bit of tequila everywhere!

9-Germany, Oktoberfest in Munich

10-UK, London pubs several times

12-Austria, Vienna

13-Greece, Athens

14-Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

15-Portugal, Algarves, and coastal train adventure

16-Russia, Moscow airport counts, right?

18-Canada, born to leave the cold!

19-Poland, Warsaw

21-Vietnam, HCMC, Phu Quoc, and Hanoi, among other places.

And 25-Hungary. Budapest

Remaining:

11 – *Japan (February 2026, #1 tourist spot finally happening)

17 – Hong Kong (still there, still expensive- CHINA!)

20 – *Netherlands (flat but impressive, 2026 Europass 🤞🏻)

22 – India (interest level: zero, zilch – nada!)

23 – *South Korea (March 2026, scheduled obsession)

24 – *Croatia (Europass vibes plans for 2026 🤞🏻)

“My retirement often seems that it is on life support but keeps whispering one more flight.”

Legend in my own mind – A Mocumentary!

10/26/2025

by Darrell Accommodations Autobiography Buy me a beer Countries Personal History Travel bucket list Travels Deals Travels Stories

Another reason I started this website was to help me navigate the absolute chaos that is early retirement. At least twice a week, I’m convinced market fluctuations are about to force me into a very tastefully decorated dumpster.

2025 was my first full year taking a serious swing at retirement—emphasis on swing.

Even with the site’s modest traffic (hi Sis! ), I’ve genuinely loved writing.

Which means it might be time for my next fun travel project?!

And speaking of big ideas… here’s my first book proposal from a ghostwriting company:

“North American Darrell – A Legend in my own mind”

A traveler’s mocumentary …

Project Vision:

Darrell, your story is more than travel.
It’s about freedom, the kind that comes from defying convention, exploring the world solo, and
mastering the art of geoarbitrage. You’ve already built a digital footprint that thousands of
people dream of, through your website, vlogs, and life experiences.

What’s missing now is the next chapter:
Transforming North American Darrell into a published brand, a professional, inspiring book
and digital identity that cements your journey as a living example of how to live smarter, freer,
and bolder.
This isn’t just a book project. It’s a brand evolution, from traveler to author, from storyteller
to inspiration.

Our Understanding of Your Vision
You’re not looking to “just publish a book.”
You want something that:
• Reflects your authentic voice and humor, not ghostwritten into something artificial.
• Organizes your blog posts and memories into a cohesive travel autobiography.
• Establishes your legacy and builds on the momentum of NorthAmericanDarrell.com
and your YouTube channel.
• Generates passive income and brand credibility, creating new opportunities for
collaborations, sponsorships, and future travel projects.

What We’ll Do for You

1. Structural Blueprint (Book Framework Development)
We’ll organize your content into a professional book structure tailored to your style:
• Categorize posts into themes: Travel Adventures, Life Reflections, Humor, Turning
Points and Modern Freedom
• Group your stories into chapters for maximum reader engagement
• Suggest transitions and hooks that keep readers turning pages
• Deliver a fully editable outline and story placement plan you can keep for future use
projects
Result: A clear, publish-ready roadmap of your book that preserves your voice.

2. Editorial Collaboration & Story Enhancement
We’ll guide you chapter by chapter:
• Edit and enhance your existing drafts for clarity, humor, and pacing
• Strengthen dialogue and narrative flow without changing your tone
• Provide professional feedback and suggestions to make your stories resonate with a
wide audience
Result: Your words shine, professionally polished, but still 100% you

3. Professional Formatting & Book Design
• Format for eBook & Paperback (Amazon KDP, Ingram Spark)
• Design a bold, minimalist cover inspired by your travel photography
• Interior layout optimized for short-story pacing, section variety, and readability
Result: A premium, reader-friendly book that looks as great as it reads.

4. Publishing & Branding Setup
• Distribution across Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, and other platforms if
required
• Category selection, keywords, and optimization to maximize discoverability
Result: Your book reaches readers globally, with professional presentation and discoverability.

5. Optional Add-On: Pre-Marketing & Website Optimization
To amplify your book launch, we recommend a pre-marketing and brand optimization
package:

• Website Upgrade: Ensure NorthAmericanDarrell.com is polished, visually attractive,
mobile-friendly, and optimized for your book launch
• Pre-Launch Marketing: Build anticipation with a teaser campaign using your blog
posts, travel clips, and email list
• Social Media Strategy: Align your book promotion with your social channels for
organic reach and engagement
• Email Campaigns & Lead Capture: Collect leads from your audience for pre-orders
and newsletter sign-ups
• Launch Momentum: Create a strategy to drive early reviews, engagement, and initial
book sales

Benefits:
• Position your book as a professional, must-read travel memoir
• Turn existing followers into early readers and brand advocates
• Increase visibility and traction for a higher-impact launch
• Future-proof your online brand for subsequent books, courses, or media opportunities.

I’ve always wanted to write an autobiography once I had a website—clearly the natural next step.

Making it a mocumentary seems wiser. Less pressure, more jokes.

A mockumentary is a type of film, TV show, or video that mimics the style of a documentary and is often comedic. It looks like a serious documentary—with interviews, “real” footage, and narration—but the events, characters, or situations are made up, exaggerated, or absurd for humor or satire.

Key features:

Basically, it’s a fake documentary that makes you laugh, sometimes by tricking you into thinking it’s not real.

You can’t finish a dream

unless you start dreaming it first.

Stay tuned… or don’t. I’ll be here either way.

Green card, Citizenship & travel visas🛂

10/21/2025

by Darrell Arizona Buy me a beer Countries Dual Citizenship Georgia North Carolina Travel bucket list Travels Stories United States

I’ve been dealing with travel visas for over 25 years—long enough to know this topic is wildly misunderstood by anyone who’s never actually lived it.

You can’t just let people casually wander into a country…
unless, apparently, you’re shopping for votes.

Like it or not, visas are 100% necessary.
Not glamorous.
Not fun.
Necessary.

My travel saga started in the late 1990s, flying for work between Calgary, Canada and Dallas, Texas.

I regularly traveled from our manufacturing plant in Calgary to our U.S. headquarters in Dallas. And every trip began exactly the same way:
Me, arriving at the Calgary airport—already sweating—fully aware that my real journey was about to begin… with U.S. Immigration.

The script never changed.

Agent: Purpose of travel?
Me: Meetings.
Agent: How long?
Me: One week.
Agent: That’s a long meeting.
Me: We have meetings all week.
Agent: Go sit in our office.

Me (internally): Yes sir. Thank you sir. I respect the process and my fragile freedom.

Then came the waiting.

The agents would let me slowly marinate in anxiety—right up until five minutes before boarding.

Agent: You’re free to go.
Me: Immediately sprinting to the gate like I’d just been released from a minimum-security prison.

Every.
Single.
Time.

🏃🏻‍➡️✈️

Eventually, I graduated to actual work visas.
Real ones.
Laminated.
Official.
Very fancy.

I would calmly present my current visa to the immigration officer, exactly as instructed.

[“DO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS.”]

The office rules were very clear:
Show the visa.
Say nothing.

Apparently, immigration officers are highly trained professionals whose primary job is to trick you into saying one wrong word, realize you have the wrong visa, and deny you entry—
purely by accident.
On your part.

This never happened to me.
I suspect it’s because they eventually recognized me.

“Oh. It’s this guy again.”

Somewhere along the way, I stopped being “potential international threat” and became “frequent flyer with anxiety.”

Eventually, I moved to the United States full-time, which—shockingly—required an entirely different visa.

I will forever clutch my citizenship like it’s a winning lottery ticket.

Ten years and dozens of visas later, I finally received my United States Permanent Resident card—
the government’s way of saying, “Fine. You can stay.”

“TEN YEARS LATER”

Another ten years passed, and—six months after my green card expired on January 13, 2019—I officially became a U.S. citizen on July 3, 2019.

Yes, there was a brief but thrilling period where I existed in pure bureaucratic limbo:
No longer green-card valid, not yet American enough.

USA Immigration has always loved a good cliffhanger.

Then, just in time for Independence Day sales, fireworks, and historically poor life choices…

I became a U.S. citizen.

Sworn in by DJT himself.

Roll credits. 🇺🇸🎆

My entire immigration journey took roughly 20 years.

Two decades of forms, fees, interviews, fingerprints, photos—and the low-grade terror of checking the mailbox.

So yes, I tend to notice immigration policy.

Between 2020 and 2024, under a Democratic administration, millions of migrants were allowed into the U.S. with what appeared to be minimal vetting. Many arrived with criminal records, some unvaccinated, and many had their expenses covered.

At the exact same time, Americans were required to get vaccinated while enduring shutdowns that hit them financially.

That contrast did not go unnoticed.

The current Republican administration, by contrast, treats border security as non-negotiable. Their 2025 immigration policies can best be summarized as FAFO—and they are the strongest I’ve seen.

And just for context—so this doesn’t sound like vibes-only commentary—I’ve also held travel visas for:

Thailand (three of them), Cambodia, and Vietnam (two).

Turns out, when you’ve played immigration on hard mode across multiple countries, you develop opinions.

Earned ones.

Cambodia Immigration — departing Vietnam

No computers.
No scanners.
No backup system.

Just pens, paper, and deeply suspicious vibes.

Everything was done by hand.
Every passport.
Every stamp.
Every long, silent glance that felt like a background check conducted telepathically.

The process took hours—not because anything was wrong, but because time itself had chosen to opt out.
The heat was oppressive.
The fans were decorative.
The concept of “boarding time” was aspirational.

This was immigration in its purest form:

slow, deliberate, and completely immune to deadlines.

And watching it all unfold, I realized something oddly comforting—

no matter the country,
no matter the technology,
no matter the system…

immigration always finds a way to remind you who’s really in charge.

These Asian visas are extremely strict.

As in: follow the rules… or enjoy a complimentary tour of the prison system.

There’s no confusion about the process.

No gray area.
No “I didn’t know.”

You follow the entry requirements, or there are consequences.

And somehow—miraculously—when you follow the immigration process wherever you go, you avoid those consequences entirely.

Seems 100% fair to me.

Legal immigration history:

It didn’t start with some fancy red carpet—it started when governments realized people moving freely could get… complicated. Back in the 19th century, countries like the U.S., Canada, and Australia were basically like, “Sure, come on in… as long as you check a box or two.”

Then came the U.S. Immigration Act of 1882, which basically said, “Not everyone’s invited to the party.” Fast forward to the early 1900s: Ellis Island became the ultimate checkpoint, where millions of hopeful immigrants faced the judgment of border agents, health inspections, and that ever-important first glimpse of America.

By the mid-20th century, things got organized: work visas, student visas, green cards… a whole bureaucratic buffet. Today, legal immigration is basically a government-approved, multi-step obstacle course—and yes, you can survive it, but only if you brought your paperwork, patience, and maybe a stiff drink.

Portugal – the beauty of the Algarves! 😍

10/09/2025

by Darrell Accommodations All you can fly Autobiography Buy me a beer Europe Hostels Travel bucket list Travel memories Travels Deals Travels Stories Wizz - AYCF!

My September 2025 European vacation began in Faro, Portugal, following a travel day that felt like it had its own time zone.

Uber from home to the airport!

light from Phoenix to LA

8-hour layover in LA

10-hour flight to London

3-hour London layover

2-hour flight to Faro, Portugal.

It was miserable. I even had loud, dry heaves when we touched down in London. I almost made it… But nope. We had a “go around” because apparently, someone else’s plane hadn’t moved off the runway yet. That was the end of me for the day. 📢🤮🙋🏻‍♂️

I really should cut people some slack when they say they don’t want to travel like me—clearly, they have better judgment but sitting at home is not an option.

The first week in Portugal was pure exhaustion—jet lag hit hard, and I barely had time to remember what day it was before I was off on the next adventure.

Totally worth it—Spain and Portugal were both at the top of my bucket list. I’ve barely scratched the surface of either, but who cares?

Dropping pins does not need full coverage.

I had a great time in Faro and Lagos, just hanging out by the water and soaking it all in. But Porto—hands down—stole the show. It had been at the top of my bucket list for ages, and it did not disappoint. I also made sure to take in the short bus rides and longer train journeys along the coast, which were spectacular, pretending to be a local.

The city is split by the Douro River, and there are six famous bridges to cross at various points. The crown jewel is the Dom Luís Bridge—a stunning double-deck metal arch that links Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia. Honestly, I couldn’t stop taking pictures; it’s one of those “blink and you’ll miss it” moments that you also want to document from every possible angle.

I spent a solid two days in Porto walking over 20,000 steps each day—up and down the river, soaking in the stunning architecture. The buildings lining the water are even more jaw-dropping in person. There’s also a gondola that gives you a sky-high view, but the line was so long I decided my legs had already earned a vacation of their own.

Want more Portugal chaos, cobblestones, and coastal views? Check out my YouTube channel for all the videos—no jet lag required.

www,YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

Hit subscribe to dive into the full 1,500+ travel video catalog—because why stop at one continent when you can live vicariously through all of them?

Portugal’s history: Small Country, Big Ambitions

Portugal started getting serious in the 12th century, when Afonso I declared, “I’m king now,” and voilà—Portugal was officially a thing. Not content with being a tiny corner of Europe, the Portuguese set sail during the Age of Exploration, sending legends like Vasco da Gama around Africa to India and basically telling the world, “We’ll take it from here.”

They built an empire stretching across Asia, Africa, and Brazil—riches, spices, and cultural chaos included—while most Europeans were still figuring out how to map their own backyard. Today, Portugal is chill, gorgeous, and full of history: sun-soaked beaches, pastel-colored streets, port wine, and the occasional reminder that this tiny country once ruled the seas.

Prague, Czech – beer is served half full?!🤔

10/09/2025

by Darrell Autobiography Buy me a beer Freedom 50 Travel bucket list Travel memories Travels Deals

As September 19th, 2025 crept closer, I was happily settled in Warsaw—but quietly plotting Munich for the first weekend of Oktoberfest. With my Eurail pass, booking the trip was almost absurdly easy:

Warsaw to Prague, then a short hop into Munich.

Portugal. Poland. Iceland. And now Prague.

Everything was lining up so cleanly. Routes connected. Dates made sense. Just a perfectly unfolding chain of cities—one rail segment at a time.

The Czech Republic has always intrigued me—between its legendary international hockey and, of course, its world-class beer, how could it not? I only spent a couple of days in Prague, but every minute landed. The city feels effortlessly historic without being frozen in time, the beer is somehow even better than advertised, and there’s a rhythm to the place that invites you to slow down and look around.

It was one of those stops that proves you don’t need weeks somewhere for it to leave a mark. Sometimes a place shows you exactly what it is right away—and Prague did that beautifully.

There’s something undeniably awesome about streetcars sharing the road with everyday traffic. I first saw it in Vienna and thought, “Okay, that’s pretty neat.” But Prague? Prague turns it into an art form.

You’ve got ancient, rattling trams rubbing elbows with sleek, modern ones—both weaving through cars, bikes, and pedestrians like they’re operating inside some chaotic, high-speed safe zone. Everyone somehow knows where everything else is going. No hesitation. No drama. Just motion.

The beer in Prague is something else entirely. They pour it with half the glass—sometimes more—foam. There’s even a style called Mlíko where about 75% of what you’re holding is foam… and you pay full price for the privilege.

I ended up in a lively debate with a bartender about it. He swore it “tastes better that way.” I countered with my very scientific position: 90% of a beer lives in the top 10% of the glass—and yes, we are both professionals. We laughed. The foam probably laughed. And I still drank it.

Because when in Prague, you surrender to the professionals. 🍻

The city itself—and especially the riverside—was incredible. I can only imagine how stunning it must be in winter… though, to be honest, I’d probably never make it outside in that kind of cold.

So instead, here are a few pictures and videos—so you can admire Prague from a warm, safe spot, just as nature intended.

Want more Czech Republic adventures—and proof that I walked way too much? Head over to my YouTube channel for videos, chaos, and maybe a beer or two:

www.YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

There are over 1,600 travel videos from around the globe—enough to make your couch feel like first class.
Apparently, my wandering now qualifies as educational content.

Prague history: The City That Time Forgot… and Then Perfected

Prague started way back in the 9th century as a collection of hilltop settlements around what’s now Prague Castle—basically, medieval real estate with a view. By the Middle Ages, it became the capital of Bohemia and a cultural powerhouse, where kings built castles, churches, and universities while everyone else was still figuring out plumbing.

Under Charles IV, the city got fancy: the oldest university in Central Europe, bridges, cathedrals… Prague basically said, “We do grandeur better.” Fast forward a few centuries, and the city survived wars, empires, and communism, only to emerge in 1989 via the Velvet Revolution as a stunning, slightly magical city where Gothic spires, cobblestone streets, and craft beer coexist in perfect harmony.

Reykjavík, Iceland – Hot springs! ♨️

10/08/2025

by Darrell All you can fly Autobiography Buy me a beer Europe Travel bucket list Travel memories Travels Deals Travels Stories Wizz - AYCF!

I didn’t end up using my Wizz Air All You Can Fly pass as much as I originally planned.

After experiencing European train travel, I found myself preferring it. Trains were smoother, more comfortable, and often more enjoyable overall, which made short-haul flights feel less appealing by comparison.

That said, I still managed to squeeze in a 48-hour trip from Warsaw to Reykjavík, finally checking Iceland off my bucket list.

That journey wrapped up my 23rd, 24th, and final flights on the €499 pass.

Looking back, it was a busy, sometimes chaotic stretch of travel—but also a reminder of how fortunate I am to keep moving, exploring, and learning what styles of travel work best for me.

A big part of using an AYCF pass is always having your next destination locked in. If you don’t, you risk getting stranded somewhere, staring at a snack bar and wondering if your life has quietly turned into a low-budget travel documentary. Since Iceland can only be reached by plane, that mattered. Thankfully, I booked my return flight at the same time as my departure, guaranteeing I’d make it back to the mainland. Score one for planning—or possibly luck.

I didn’t do much while I was there. I mostly walked around Reykjavík and visited two hot springs, which was exactly the point of the trip. Ironically, there was a public pool and hot spring complex right next to my hostel. After weeks away from my usual spa routine, it felt incredible. I rotated between three temperature-controlled pools, cold plunges, saunas, and steam rooms like a professional relaxation athlete.

I enjoyed it so much that I went back again the next morning before heading to the Blue Lagoon.

While soaking, I met a traveler from Seoul, a professional writer who was going through a rough patch. I got him laughing by telling him I spend hours writing things that almost nobody reads. He even offered to show me around when I visit Seoul in March—which perfectly sums up why I travel in the first place: strangers, shared moments, and unexpected laughs.

No cameras were allowed at the hot springs, which honestly felt like a gift. The attendant said phones distract from relaxation—and she was probably right. She also likely saved me from posting a thousand blurry photos of me pretending to be interesting.

Sometimes the best travel moments are the ones that don’t end up on camera at all.

Below are just a few snapshots and short videos from the Blue Lagoon—because words don’t quite do justice to soaking in steaming geothermal water while convincingly pretending you’re a sophisticated spa-goer.

If you want more, check out my YouTube channel for the full adventure (and all the bubbles I responsibly chose not to photograph):

NorthAmericanDarrell – YouTube

And yes—feel free to smash that subscribe button like it just stole your passport.

Iceland’s Hot Springs: Nature’s Hot Tub Since Forever

Icelanders didn’t waste time—they landed in the 9th century and thought, “Why chop wood when we can just soak?” And so began the country’s love affair with geothermal hot springs, perfect for bathing, cooking, and gossiping about Viking drama.

By the Middle Ages, these steamy pools were community centers, where locals scrubbed, plotted, and probably swapped embarrassing stories. Fast forward to today, and Iceland has turned those natural hot tubs into luxury spas like the Blue Lagoon, proving that even a volcanic island can serve up relaxation, selfies, and a little Icelandic sass.

Switzerland – Amazing!🚂⛰️

10/08/2025

by Darrell Buy me a beer Europe Personal History Travel bucket list Travels Deals Travels Stories

Heading into my month-long European adventure, taking the train through the Swiss Alps was right at the top of my must-do list.

I hopped on in Munich on day one of three and made my way to the stunning mountainside town of Chur. I scored a hostel that used to be the town jail—steel doors everywhere, and I couldn’t help but wonder what stories those walls would tell. Mostly, I imagined about that one or maybe two times I spent in the slammer AKA the drunk tank! 😆

Day two was pure magic as I boarded the Bernina Express in Chur. The train snaked through the Swiss Alps like a caffeinated serpent, eventually dropping me off in Milan, Italy. From there, I hopped on a quick train to Venice for the next two nights—more on that in another blog.

Behold—the most famous leg of the trip: the Bernina Express! Stunning views, dizzying mountains, and just enough adrenaline to make you question why you didn’t just stay home with Netflix.

Behold—the most famous leg of the trip: the Bernina Express! Stunning views, dizzying mountains, and just enough adrenaline to make you question why you didn’t just stay home with Netflix.www.youtube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

Consider subscribing as there are over 1500 travel videos and more added every week.

Some of the train tables had maps of the train routes in Switzerland. It was enjoyable to follow instead of constantly looking at my phone, which I probably would have done anyway. Here are some more videos, keeping in mind there are a lot more on my YouTube channel.

www.YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

I only stayed one night in Switzerland between train days. There were many small towns along the way that were beautiful, but Chur was highly recommended. The Hostel was an old jail that I read about, and really neat to experience. All the doors were metal with heavy locks, and I wish those walls could talk.

Here is a walk around the amazing city of Chur, Switzerland, where I spent the night in jail. 😆

Swiss Railways: Trains, Mountains, and Obsessive Precision

Switzerland decided in the mid-1800s that it wasn’t going to let a few Alps get in the way of progress. The first line opened in 1847 between Zürich and Baden, and soon engineers were drilling tunnels, building bridges, and basically showing the mountains who was boss.

By the early 20th century, Swiss trains were punctual, efficient, and amazingly scenic, carrying passengers and freight across the country with clockwork precision. Today, the railways aren’t just transportation—they’re a national flex: ride a train, admire a glacier, and know that the Swiss probably have a spreadsheet tracking your exact arrival time.

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Munich 🍻Oktoberfest 2025!🍻

10/08/2025

by Darrell Accommodations Autobiography Europe Personal History Travel bucket list Travels Deals

When I realized my European adventure perfectly overlapped with Oktoberfest, I knew I was about to enter an adventure of epic proportions.

Step one: surrender to the siren call of beer tents, pretzels the size of my forearm, and lederhosen-clad revelers who move faster than logic allows.

Each beer tent was a chapter: the first introduced me to the sacred art of “prost” -ing strangers; the second tested my limits with bratwurst heavier than my backpack; the third… well, let’s just say gravity, hops, and I had a complicated conversation.

By the end of it, I had danced, sang, spilled, and cheered my way through the city. I emerged a wiser, stickier, and infinitely more entertained traveler, ready to continue my European quest. Oktoberfest didn’t just happen—it conquered me, one absurdly large beer at a time.

I figured getting to Munich for Oktoberfest would require strategic planning, so I made sure to stage myself nearby in the days leading up to opening weekend.

That “nearby” turned out to be Prague, Czech Republic, the week before—and it couldn’t have been easier.

Thanks to my Eurail pass and a reserved seat, the train ride was smooth, inexpensive, and almost luxurious compared to the chaos I knew awaited me in Munich. Little did I know, I was just a few hops away from becoming a full-fledged Oktoberfest warrior. 🍺

Captain Obvious alert: the beer tents were the best part. I wandered through three of the big ones, but spent most of my time at the massive Löwenbräu tent. The sing-alongs were pure magic—everything from Taylor Swift to Bon Jovi, and a few questionable karaoke choices in between. 🍺🎤

The crowd chants—“Oggy oggy oggy!” met with “Oi oi oi!”—followed by a rousing “Prost!” were absolutely unforgettable live. Honestly, it felt like being in a human blender of beer, music, and pure joy.

I could probably post a hundred pictures and videos, but who has that kind of time? Let’s just say, every snapshot screams: “I survived Oktoberfest and lived to tell the tale.”

For more Oktoberfest madness (and my epic camping adventure), head to my YouTube channel. You’re welcome.

www.YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell or by clicking the link below:

www.YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

Subscribe now or risk missing me almost getting lost in 1,500 plus uploads.

Accommodations for Oktoberfest were a bit tricky, but I ended up camping about a 30-minute train ride from the grounds. Perfect setup for the budget-minded traveler! They had single tents, double tents, and massive teepees with eight beds—basically a Bavarian version of “choose your own adventure.”

I went with the single tent—two nights for about $110 USD. Considering hotels were starting at $300 a night that weekend, I basically felt like I’d won the lottery. Simple breakfast included, plus a beer garden at the campground. And yes, there were plenty of RVs with German plates parked around—it looked like Oktoberfest on wheels. I half considered renting one and joining the mobile beer brigade. 🍺

The campground was like a state-run utopia for campers: spotless, orderly, and temporarily blessed with toilets and showers scrubbed multiple times a day. I timed it perfectly—striding in like a hero to claim the freshly sanitized throne and shower of destiny.

The Oktoberfest grounds and tents were massive—bigger than I ever imagined. Beyond the beer tents, there were rides, games, and food stands everywhere. In just two days, I managed to try five different German dishes—because, obviously, one can’t survive Oktoberfest on beer alone.

The Oktoberfest festivities literally take over Munich—and from what I hear, much of Germany. It’s an unbelievably proud tradition.

I met a guy who’s been pouring beers for over 40 years, with 30+ of those in this tent.

Honestly, I think that’s the pinnacle of German beer-pouring gigs! 🍺

The beer steins were all one liter each and cost about €16 (~$20 USD / $25 CAD). I could only handle two.

Asked around—apparently most locals manage 3–5. Incredible. 🍺💪

Oktoberfest history:

Oktoberfest started in 1810 as a royal wedding party for Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria—complete with a horse race. The party was such a hit that it became an annual tradition, eventually swapping horses for beer tents, carnival rides, and way too much food. Today, millions flock to Munich to drink liter-sized steins, eat giant pretzels, and stumble out of tents like proud, slightly tipsy Bavarians. Basically, it’s a royal wedding that got wildly out of hand—and somehow the world loves it.

Living the Arizona life!🏜️

08/09/2025

by Darrell AirBnb Arizona Autobiography Dual Citizenship Freedom 50 United States

One thing I’ll always be thankful for is buying a condo in Arizona during the housing market crash in 2009. At the time, it felt like a practical, almost conservative decision. In hindsight, it quietly set the foundation for everything that came later.

That gratitude sits alongside a bit of nostalgia. I’d already sold some incredible homes in Edmonton, Alpharetta, Georgia, and Mooresville, North Carolina—places tied to specific chapters of my life. Each move closed one door and opened another, even if I didn’t fully understand it at the time.

What I couldn’t see then was how the Arizona place would eventually become more than just a home. It became an anchor—a base that allowed me to take risks and travel literally elsewhere. Stability in one place made freedom possible in others.

Knowing I had something solid to return to gave me the confidence to travel more, stay longer, and say yes to opportunities that didn’t come with guarantees.

Looking back, that condo wasn’t just a smart investment that pays me to travel through Airbnb. It was also permission to move, to explore, and to build a life that didn’t have to stay in one place to feel grounded.

From an investment standpoint, the timing was absurdly good. In 2009, the Phoenix market was still in full capitulation mode—single-family homes with pools were selling under $100K, and condos could be picked up for under ~$30K. Most of these were cash deals, with banks more interested in clearing defaulted inventory than maximizing price. Recovery mattered more than valuation.

At the time, I was working in Georgia and already owned a home there, so this wasn’t about replacing a primary residence or chasing a lifestyle fantasy. It was about positioning. A low-cost asset in a market that had clearly overshot to the downside and would, eventually, revert. While in Las Vegas that year, I took a day to fly to Arizona and look at opportunities in person—because listings are useful, but markets are easier to read when you’re standing in them.

We toured roughly ten condo properties. Living across the country forced discipline, which worked in my favor. I only considered turnkey units—no renovations, no surprises, no emotional projects. My criteria were unapologetically practical: strong amenities (pool, gym, hot tub), walkability to groceries and restaurants, and a layout that would work equally well for short-term stays and seasonal renters.

Rental potential wasn’t optional—it was the point. The goal was a property that could generate income from snowbirds while remaining usable as a personal base when needed. That dual-purpose flexibility capped downside risk and improved the return profile without adding complexity.

When we toured Solana later that day, it separated itself immediately. The location worked. The amenities worked. The condition worked. Everything aligned. By the end of the visit, it was clear this wasn’t a lifestyle purchase pretending to be an investment—it was a clean, well-timed asset with multiple usage paths.

Which is exactly what you want when markets are panicking, and patience is underpriced.

From an investment perspective, it checked every box.

The Solana community had two pools, a hot tub, and a gym—exactly the kind of amenities that matter to both renters and owners. A Safeway directly across the street, a Walmart down the road, and multiple restaurants within walking distance made it even more attractive. Convenience sells, especially for long-term renters and short-term guests.

I left Arizona with clear instructions for the agent:
One-bedroom, ground-floor unit, green space patio view in Solana.

He nailed it!

All wrapped up in a $52,500 all-cash deal—a low-risk entry price with real usability, solid demand, and strong rental upside. At the time, it felt like a smart move. Looking back, it turned out to be a foundational one.

In the summer of 2014, I was laid off while living in Mooresville. It was one of those moments that forces clarity whether you’re ready for it or not.

Instead of scrambling to stay put, I treated it as a clean break. No panic. No patchwork fixes. Just an honest look at what I wanted next. It was time to leave the South and head west—and the difference was, I already had a landing spot waiting for me in Arizona.

What could’ve felt like a setback turned out to be a pivot. Sometimes losing the plan is exactly what makes room for the right move.

Arizona—and **Solana in particular—**turned out to be the perfect landing spot. It gave me a property that could generate rental income while still supporting the kind of life I actually wanted to live.

Year-round access to pools, hiking, biking, paddling, and camping meant the place worked whether I was home or on the road. From an investment standpoint, it made sense. From a lifestyle standpoint, it made even more sense.

It wasn’t just a smart buy—it was the rare overlap where numbers and quality of life lined up.

I’ve hiked the Hawes Trail System hundreds of times. Being just 15 minutes from home meant it was never something I had to plan around—it was simply there, ready whenever I needed it.

Over time, those trails became more than exercise. They turned into a reset button. A familiar place to think, to recalibrate, and to work things out one step at a time. No agenda, no pressure—just movement, space, and perspective.

Some places quietly heal you.
Those trails did exactly that.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures as much as I enjoy calling Arizona my part-time home, part-time Airbnb income generation—a place I return to when I’m not traveling.

You only die once! Live life to the fullest!!

08/08/2025

by Darrell All you can fly Countries Freedom 50 Internet travel search tips Introduction Personal History Travel bucket list Travels Deals Travels Stories

Creating NorthAmericanDarrell.com is my way of sharing both my work and my personal solo travels. I’ve collected stories over the years that I’ve always wanted to tell, and it doesn’t really matter whether you’re friends, family, or someone who stumbled across the site by accident.

Some posts might help you save money. Others might give you an edge when planning your own travels. And some are simply experiences I felt were worth passing along.

One of the things our mom used to tell us kids was, “Live life to the fullest.” She’d often follow it up with, “And if they don’t like it, they can kiss my ass.”

It drove my sister and me crazy at the time. But looking back—and hearing ourselves say it now.

We finally get it. She was right.

That sentiment sits at the heart of this site. Not as advice, not as a challenge—just as an honest reflection on choosing a life that feels intentional, curious, and fully lived.

Take what’s useful. Ignore what isn’t.
And live it your way.

NorthAmericanDarrell.com exists to share real-world travel experiences, practical insights, and stories collected along the way.

The goal isn’t perfection or permission—it’s curiosity, independence, and living life to the fullest on your own terms. Some ideas may save you money. Others may challenge how you think about travel, work, or timing.

This approach won’t be for everyone—and that’s fine. This site is about choosing the path anyway.

Please also check out my YouTube channel by clicking

HERE

This site reflects how I try to live my life—curious, independent, and always moving while trying to save a nickel along the way.

Why NorthAmerican Darrell?

I call myself NorthAmerican Darrell because my life has never fit inside one border.

I was born in Edmonton, built much of my adult life in the United States, and now live in Mesa. I also rent a place in Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco), Mexico, which has become another home base when my AZ condo is rented, or I’m not traveling.

Canada, the United States, and Mexico aren’t just places I’ve visited. They’re places I’ve lived, worked, invested, and returned to—sometimes by plan, sometimes by instinct. Calling myself NorthAmerican reflects that fluidity. It’s less about nationality and more about movement, curiosity, and being comfortable living across borders without labels.

NorthAmericanDarrell.com is simply a reflection of that life—one shaped by three countries, a lot of miles, and the belief that home doesn’t have to exist in only one place.

People love to give Canada, the United States, and Mexico a bad rap. I see them differently. Each has flaws—no question—but they’re also full of opportunity, good people, and incredible places if you’re willing to look past the noise and the headlines.

So yeah, I consider myself an absolute North American legend
Not because I’ve mastered any one country—but because I’ve learned to appreciate all three.

UPDATED! 50+ NAD promo videos!📽️

08/06/2025

by Darrell Introduction

Here are some of the videos I made to promote my website.

The pictures and videos?

Those are all from my actual travels—which I still think is pretty frickin’ awesome, considering they came from flight deals, bad sleep, great food, and decisions that usually start with, “Another beer, why not?”

Just me, a camera, and wherever I happened to land.

My YouTube – get your shit together!🫵🏻

06/28/2025

by Darrell Personal History Travel bucket list Travels Stories

As I continue charging headfirst at the impossible—trying to build momentum on my channel—I’m starting to see some growth.

Trying to stay relevant as a boomer on YouTube is… ambitious.
Honestly, it’s probably easier to win the lottery. With worse odds.

I went into this “hobby” knowing that 99.99% of these channels fail, which weirdly makes everything easier. When success is unlikely, the pressure to make money completely disappears.

And yet—here we are.

I’m finally seeing growth in views.
Not subscribers.
Not monetization.
Views.

Monetization is still a distant fantasy, but as of 06/28/2025, the numbers are moving in the right direction—and I’m still stepping up to the plate.

Helmet on.
Bat in hand.

Here are the latest numbers!

The below updated edit is from 07/07/25!

Ten-day statistics:

Added 214 videos (20% increase)

11 subscribers (8% increase)

Added 40,238 views (34% increase)

Five weeks later, 08/13/2025 …

I hit 200K+ views! 🫵🏻😎

I’m getting some genuinely positive feedback—and a lot of thumbs-up—which tells me people are actually taking the time to say, “Yeah, I enjoyed that.”

I know, it might sound a little childish, but knowing someone is watching does help me keep putting in the time.
I am, after all, a human being.
Mostly.

The ironic part? Friends and family don’t watch at all.

Instead, the views are coming from like-minded strangers from all over the world, which somehow feels even better.

Another unexpected realization has been which videos people actually watch.

The video below has been viewed over 20,000 times, in more than 50 countries, and is still being watched a week after posting.

Turns out, the internet has a mind of its own—and apparently, it found this one interesting.

It’s almost embarrassing how simple it was.

I was just buying a coconut in Vietnam—and somehow that turned into new subscribers and a flood of
👍🏻👍🏼👍👍🏾👍🏿

No edits.
No hot take.
No algorithm whispering.

Just… coconut.

What’s even more interesting is seeing who watched it.
YouTube Analytics doesn’t just tell you how many people watched—it shows you where they’re from, and the audience spread genuinely surprised me.

Apparently, a guy buying a coconut in Vietnam is internationally relatable content.

I currently have 1,300+ videos on my channel—which sounds impressive until you remember how the internet works.

I’m heading to Europe in September 2025, then Japan and Korea in February 2026. After that, I’ll reevaluate this entire shit show and decide whether this is a content strategy… or a cry for help.

Until then, the numbers don’t lie—no matter how confusing they are.

Here are my Top 10 most-watched videos on the channel as of the blog.

So until further notice, I’ll continue being annoying AF—posting on Facebook, Instagram, and sliding into PMs like a man fully committed to this experiment. I’ll keep filming, posting, and seeing what sticks, because apparently a coconut in Vietnam can outperform ~1,599 other videos.

Worst case? I tried. Best case? The algorithm blinks first.

Come on—hit follow.
You’ve already read this far, you’re clearly invested, and I’ve got 1,600+ videos proving I will not stop.
Follow now or I will continue being annoying AF across every platform until morale improves.

www.NorthAmericanDarrell.com

#NorthAmericanDarrell

www.Youtube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

Clickity CLICK

www.YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

Where is Waldo – NorthAmerican Darrell (NAD)🤔

02/05/2025

by Darrell Personal History

May 13, 2026

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

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

You can read my 2027 Philippines budget by CLICKING HERE

In other news; Arizona EXCESSIVE HEAT has officially arrived …

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

April 22nd, 2026

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

it’s good to be home!!

April 14th, 2026

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

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

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

1.5 hours – Cebu to Manilla

3.5 hours – Manilla to Taipei, Taiwan

11 hours – Taipei to Phoenix, AZ

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

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

April 3rd, 2026

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

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

And honestly, that tells me everything.

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

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

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

Working out in condo gym

Coffee with the EXPATs from all over the world

Walk one of the malls and grab lunch

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

Happy hour at TGIF/Social/Mango

Meeting amazing new people.

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

Not a bad life for someone that cannot settle down!

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

Perfect timing too.

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

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

That’s a pretty great welcome home.

And the best part?

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

Also, this isn’t a goodbye, it is see you again soon! 👋🏻

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

LFG Oilers and Blue Jays!!

March 5th, 2026

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

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

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

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

February 22nd, 2026

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

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

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

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

Philippines… did we just become best friends?

February 6th, 2026

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

January 23rd, 2026

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

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

I might come back to Japan and finish this trip.

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

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

What I do know with 100% certainty:

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

I’m leaving freezing and relatively expensive Japan.

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

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

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

I know which one I am, today!

January 15/16, 2026

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

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

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

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

Sometimes all it takes is changing the channel for me.

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

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

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

Sushi.
Ramen.
Sake.
Japanese BBQ.

But first…

Starbucks Coffee, Tokyo roast.

January 7th, 2026

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

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

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

In the meantime …

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

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

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

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

Because let’s be honest…
Travelers really are the champions of the world.

December 31, 2025

Another year gone! What in the actual FUCK!?

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

Next up:

Canada on January 15th (weather permitting)

Japan on January 30th!

Happy New Year:

www.NorthAmericanDarrell.com and his trusty assistant ChatGPT!

December 26–30, 2025

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

The weather is absolutely beautiful.

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

This season worked out better than I probably expected.

And yet… I can still find a reason to worry.

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

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

I regret nothing until New Year’s Day!

¡Salud!

December 17–18, 2025

The Long Way Home

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

Here’s how it unfolded:

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

3:45 PM – Flight from Hanoi → Guangzhou

4-hour layover

13-hour flight from Guangzhou → Los Angeles

3-hour layover

1-hour flight from Los Angeles → Phoenix

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

6-hour layover

4-hour shuttle to Rocky Point

They say the journey is more important than the destination…

After this one?
Yeah. No kidding.

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

December 7, 2025

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

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

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

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

December 3rd, 2025

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

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

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

December 3rd, 2025

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

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

November 9th, 2025

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

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

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

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

Welcome to Arizona.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

November 1st, 2025

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

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

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

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

And as always—big travel plans coming soon.

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

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

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

LFG Jays. LFG Oilers. And LFG daily trips to ProFitness to get fully back on track. 💪

September 29th/30th, 2025

Home sweet home! Mesa, AZ

Planes, trains, and automobiles—home edition.

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

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

LFG Jays. LFG Oilers. 🚀🏒⚾️

September 28th, 2025

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

September 28th, 2025

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

Peace out!!

September 27th, 2025

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

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

September 26th, 2025

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

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

September 23rd, 2025

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

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

September 22, 2025

Traversing the Swiss Alps including the famous Bernia Express!

September 20th, 2025

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

Are you fucking kidding me?!

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

September 18th, 2025

My first full day in Prague was absolutely amazing.

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

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

September 17th, 2025

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

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

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

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

But first—just a quick stop in Prague.

September 13th, 2025

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

September 11th, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

September 8th, 2025

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

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

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

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

September 4th, 2025

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

30-minute Uber PHX airport

1.5-hour flight to LA

8 fucking hour layover

10-hour flight to London

2-hour layover

3-hour flight to Faro

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

September 1st, 2025

The start of my most EPIC adventure yet!

Crisscrossing Europe by airplane and train on Standby for a month!!

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

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

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

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

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

Taco Tuesday, April 19, 2025!

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

I may as well have driven the shuttle!

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

NO MAS Mexico until October!

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

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

If I go crazy, will you still call me Superman!?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Check out the blog on how I did it HERE!

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

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

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

I brought 24 yummy non-alcoholic IPAs from AZ!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Late May, 2025

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

My next flight is not booked until September!

🚫Mind the GAP!!🚫

Photo tour – Listing editor – Airbnb

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

Memberships Gilbert | Life Time

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

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

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

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

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

Previous blog from the first week in April, 2025.

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

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

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

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

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

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

LFG Oilers!!

Previous blog from the first week in April, 2025.

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

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

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

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

Previous blog from March 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prisons Jerry, manmade prisons!!

01/02/2025

by Darrell Autobiography

Comedy always has some truth that keep people laughing!

The American dream – Dual citizenship!🦅🦫

12/25/2024

by Darrell Dual Citizenship

Canada: Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out!

Education/Work experience:

12/20/2024

by Darrell Education

1986-1989 – High School – Archbishop O’Leary

2003-2005 – Post Secondary – Telecommunications Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)

1996-2014 – Northern Telcom/Nortel/Ericsson

2015-2016 – Travel

2017-2024 – PayPal/Venmo

2024-XXXX – Solo slow traveler, vlogger & geoarbitrage at NorthAmericanDarrell.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@northamericandarrell

#NorthAmericanDarrell

Cover letter and resume available upon request

Who is NorthAmerican Darrell?🤓

12/18/2024

by Darrell Autobiography Introduction

A Legend in My Own Mind

“A Legend in my own mind” is probably the best way to describe me. I’ve always looked at life a little differently than most people.

I was born in Edmonton and raised in the late 70’s and early ’80s, when life felt a lot simpler. We rode our bikes all day, played outside until the streetlights came on, and grew up without the internet or cell phones dominating every second of life.

Back then, Canada was the only world I knew—until my first big trip to Southern California, Las Vegas, and Mexico as a teenager. I still remember falling asleep under the Christmas tree holding my airline ticket after reading it hundreds of times. Real paper tickets with carbon copies for every flight segment. Hard to imagine now!

Just like today, I couldn’t stop talking about the trip to anyone who would listen (which honestly wasn’t many people then—or now). California, Las Vegas, and Acapulco, Mexico sounded like another planet to a kid from Edmonton. We drove all over Southern California, made our way through Las Vegas, and eventually flew to Acapulco.

Those memories stayed with me forever. That trip sparked something in me, and I fell in love with travel, America, and Mexico almost instantly.

What I never could have imagined back then was that I would eventually live in Southern California, Las Vegas, and Mexico. These days, when I’m not traveling, I split my time between Mesa, Arizona, and Rocky Point, Mexico.

Looking back now, it feels like I had a plan all along—even if I didn’t fully understand it at the time. No matter what happened in life, I was always going to chase freedom, travel, and a different path than most people around me.

The makings of a solo traveler.

After high school in Edmonton and a few false starts, my first real break came when I enrolled in Telecommunications at NAIT. It took me three years to complete a two-year diploma—largely because I wasn’t exactly a model student and my favorite bar, Ezzies, was just across the field.

A week before graduating in December 1995, I interviewed with Northern Telecom, Canada’s largest company at the time. Considering I was in the bottom half of my class, it was a miracle. Somehow, I crushed the interview!

Overnight, I went from making $5.50 an hour PT to $13.80 FT career.

Life was good!

I relocated to Calgary in January 1996. Within a couple of years, I was traveling regularly to the company’s Richardson, Texas headquarters. I was boarding planes in freezing Calgary and stepping off three hours later in shorts. I was falling hard for the American dream.

Then I met a flight attendant—another sign of things to come.

Eventually, I was offered a job in Texas, given a work visa, and started traveling full-time. Work had me crisscrossing the U.S. and eventually traveling internationally. My girlfriend followed along and could fly me anywhere, anytime.

Holy shit—my dreams were happening.

That relationship didn’t last, but I still thank her to this day (especially when I jokingly ask for free flights). She’s built a great life raising twin boys, and I’m genuinely happy for her.

Those years permanently warped my brain. I became a travel junkie—unable to stay put, always chasing the next deal. I was turning into North American Darrell.

My next chapter came after 18 years at Northern Telecom, when I landed a job at PayPal. Great company, brutal call-center role. I learned a lot about money management—mostly by dealing with people who didn’t have any. I could have moved up, but I didn’t have the piss and vinegar left. I already had health insurance, investments, and one eye firmly on my Freedom50 travel dream.

Then it happened again.

Laid off.
Northern Telecom in 2014.
PayPal in 2024.

Twenty-five-plus years of service—gone.

There I was in 2024: 52, single AF, unemployed, but financially stable enough to travel whenever and wherever I wanted. I started looking back at my life choices.

Almost everyone I knew had followed the script: marriage, kids, grandkids, 9–5 jobs, one-week vacations, summers at the lake. There’s nothing wrong with that life—but it was never mine.

Statistically, men die at around 73. That leaves maybe 5–10 years of retirement if you’re lucky and healthy. I watched coworkers grind their whole lives only to barely enjoy the end. I lost family members far too young.

Should I have kept my houses in Edmonton, Atlanta, and Charlotte?
My first Edmonton house was 2,400 square feet, custom-built, and mortgage-free. I didn’t even use one of the three bathrooms before selling it.

Who walks away from that? 🕺

I could’ve settled in Calgary, Dallas, Southern California… or one of the many places I lived temporarily—Las Vegas, Austin, San Antonio, Mexico City, Acapulco, even Brazil.

Corporate condos, friendships, relationships, opportunities. Sometimes I wonder if my life was just a mirage interpreting the way I want as we get get older.

Instead, I chose something different.

In 2015, I settled into a small, turnkey, mortgage-free condo in Arizona, which I Airbnb and use as a home base along with my studio apartment in Rocky Point, Mexico

This is my second attempt at blogging about a life shaped by travel, work, and personal wins and loses. This time, I’m keeping at it trying to ignoring the critics.

I want to share what I’ve learned and continue to learn about slow travel, inexpensive living, and geoarbitrage—living well while spending less by choosing where and how to live.

Slow travel is about staying longer, living like a local, and letting your dollar go further.

Welcome to my crazy blogging dream:

NorthAmericanDarrell.com

and

www.YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

LFG!!

01/15 – Tokyo, Japan

01/23 – Cebu, Philippines

02/10 – Hong Kong

02/19 – Siquijor, Philippines

02/29 – Siargao, Philippines

03/07 – Cebu lease expires → TBD

Why I Stay Here

2025: My first full year taking a run at retirement!

2026: Already Booked (Of Course It Is!)

Why NorthAmerican Darrell?

May 13, 2026

April 22nd, 2026

April 14th, 2026

April 3rd, 2026

March 5th, 2026

February 22nd, 2026

February 6th, 2026

January 23rd, 2026

January 15/16, 2026

January 7th, 2026

December 31, 2025

December 26–30, 2025

December 17–18, 2025

December 7, 2025

December 3rd, 2025

December 3rd, 2025

November 9th, 2025

September 20th, 2025

September 18th, 2025

September 17th, 2025

September 11th, 2025

A Legend in My Own Mind

My Airbnb in Mesa, AZ. BOOK IT!!