#NorthAmericanDarrell – NorthAmericanDarrell

Tokyo, Japan – $12 on points Feb 1st, 2026!

12/20/2025

by Darrell Buy me a beer Internet travel search tips Slow travel Travel bucket list Travel memories Travels Deals Travels Stories

A few years ago, during a perfectly innocent fishing trip to Hawaii, I applied for a Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard.

Somehow, this resulted in 70,000 points.

Those points have been burning a hole in my pocket ever since—quietly judging me every time I checked my balance.

Until now.

I officially booked a trip to Tokyo, Japan, departing February 1st, 2026—paid entirely with points. Turns out, the long game does pay off.

Especially when it ends in Tokyo.

That’s right—$11.20 to get from Phoenix to Tokyo using points.

Eleven dollars.

And twenty cents.

I haven’t finalized my return flight yet—because commitment is overrated and flexibility feels very on-brand. Plus, Korea is just around the corner and on the bucket list.

The plan is to stay two and a half months, since my Airbnb is locked in until April 15th.

If you’re curious how a fishing trip turned into a trans-Pacific flight for the price of a vending machine snack, you can read more about the Hawaiian Airlines credit card on my blog by clicking:

HERE.⬅️⬅️

You can read my long-winded Kona fishing blog.

No refunds. Never getting that time back by clicking

HERE

Why Japan Tops the Travel Charts

Japan is often ranked the number one travel destination because it’s a magical mix of tradition, technology, and sheer wow factor. You can go from serene ancient temples and cherry blossom gardens to bustling neon-lit cities and bullet trains in a matter of minutes.

Add to that world-class food, from Michelin-starred sushi to street-side takoyaki, ultra-clean streets, incredibly polite locals, and a culture that balances the ultra-modern with centuries-old customs—and it’s easy to see why travelers can’t get enough.

Plus, every season brings something spectacular: spring for cherry blossoms, autumn for fiery leaves, winter for skiing, and summer for festivals that make your Instagram explode. Japan isn’t just a trip—it’s a full-on sensory adventure.

All you can fly! September 2025!!✈️

08/14/2025

by Darrell Europe Travel bucket list Wizz - AYCF!

This pass worked for me because it matched how I like to travel now—not how I used to think I should travel. I wasn’t trying to optimize every dollar or squeeze in as many flights as possible. I wanted movement, flexibility, and the freedom to change plans without feeling locked in.

The standby nature of the pass turned out to be a feature, not a flaw. It kept things light. I booked late, went where there was space, and let availability decide the route. That removed the pressure and made each trip feel more like an experience than a checklist.

It also fit my schedule and temperament. I don’t mind odd flight times, backtracking, or staying put an extra day if that’s how things unfold. That kind of loose structure wouldn’t work for everyone—but for me, it made travel feel spontaneous again.

Most of all, it worked because I’ve learned that I enjoy the journey more than the plan. Whether it was hopping cities, riding trains, or sitting in an airport with nowhere urgent to be, the pass supported that mindset. No rush. No maximizing. Just moving through places when the timing felt right.

I picked up the All You Can Fly pass from Wizz Air for €599 (£500), mostly because it promised something I’ve always liked—freedom without overspending. The catch was that flights run on a standby basis and can only be booked within 72 hours of departure, which sounds limiting until you lean into it.

Once I was registered, it turned travel into something lighter. Instead of planning months ahead, I’d check what was available, pack a bag, and go. It wasn’t about maximizing flights or hacking the system—it was about saying yes to movement, short trips, and places I probably wouldn’t have visited otherwise.

The all-you-can-fly pass gave me the freedom to say yes more often—quick trips, last-minute plans, and places I probably wouldn’t have visited otherwise.

I’ve come to appreciate that not everything in life needs to be permanent to be meaningful.

Some things are meant to be used for a while, learned from, and then set aside. The gear, the hobbies, the passes—they all mark where I was at a given moment. This one gave me movement, freedom, and a sense of possibility when that’s exactly what I was looking for. And like the others, it did its job. That feels like a good ending.

Geoarbitrage! Retire sooner!!

08/07/2025

by Darrell Accommodations Travels Deals

Geoarbitrage refers to the strategy of relocating to a lower-cost area while maintaining the same income.

This allows individuals to stretch their dollars further. It involves taking advantage of differences in living costs between locations to maximize financial returns and purchasing power. This practice can significantly enhance personal finance management by reducing expenses and increasing savings.

I have used this concept throughout my life and now during my run at retirement!

I fell in love with the idea of making your money go farther!

Using my first experience with the concept

Geoarbitrage isn’t about chasing the cheapest place to live—it’s about aligning where you earn, where you spend, and where you invest.

In my case, moving from Canada to the United States created an immediate advantage. The currency exchange boosted my purchasing power back home by roughly 30%, while the role itself came with a higher salary and a relocation bonus.

The real leverage came from travel. Because I was on the road full-time and living off per diem, my personal expenses stayed low even as my income increased. That gap—higher earnings with reduced costs—is where geoarbitrage actually works.

Instead of inflating my lifestyle, I banked the difference and sent money back to Canada, where it went toward my first property purchase—paid in cash.

The takeaway is simple:
Geoarbitrage works best when you resist lifestyle creep, stay mobile, and think across borders instead of within them. The opportunity isn’t just where you live—it’s how you structure the entire system.

Another example, to a lesser extent.

I’ve lived in Arizona for the last ten years, and one thing that still stands out is how inexpensive fresh produce can be—especially if you pay attention to seasonality.

A simple example: avocados.

Geoarbitrage isn’t just about big moves like changing countries or jobs—it shows up in everyday life.

Living in Arizona, where produce is grown nearby, and the seasonal supply is high, means things like avocados can be cheap, fresh, and abundant. In Canada, the same avocado is often imported, older, and easily costs $2 or more—unless you’re in a very specific region.

That difference adds up fast if it’s something you eat regularly. The same goes for beer, fuel, housing, and utilities. It’s not about deprivation—it’s about geography.

Geoarbitrage works when you align your lifestyle with places that naturally support it, instead of fighting the math.

Small choices, repeated daily, are often more powerful than big financial hacks that will not expose you financially like a bad avocado in Canada.

An Everyday Example of Geoarbitrage

You probably drink coffee. I know I do—two cups every morning. You’ve also probably been to Starbucks more than once a year, or at least passed through places like Tim Hortons, Second Cup, or one of the countless pop-culture cafés that have become part of daily life.

Post-COVID, the math is pretty consistent:
A decent coffee runs $3–7 USD, and a breakfast pastry is another $3–4 USD. Totally normal. Totally accepted.

Now let’s change geography.

I had a favorite coffee shop in Lima, right next to my Airbnb in Miraflores—arguably the nicest area in the city. Every morning I’d go for a walk (easy to do year-round in Lima), stop in, and treat myself.

My order:

A fairly fancy mocha

A small breakfast treat

Often a fresh-pressed, organic juice

Total bill before tip (about 10% in Lima): under $5 USD.

(Try tipping 10% in America and getting out alive!)

For the same order at Starbucks or a similar café in the United States or Canada, I’d estimate the total would be around $14 USD, give or take a few dollars. And that’s without the ocean view—plus you’re probably wearing a heavy jacket and warming up your car for 30 minutes beforehand.

The arbitrage didn’t stop there.

On two separate trips to Lima, I never did laundry or shaved. Weekly laundry service—with overnight turnaround, folded and ready for the drawer—cost less than $2 USD. I also found a local barber (as I do in most low-cost cities) who gave me a hot shave and a trim for under $4 USD per visit.

Those prices barely cover the cost of a laundry pod or a single shaving cartridge back home.

The Lesson

Geoarbitrage isn’t about sacrifice—it’s about context.
The same lifestyle can cost dramatically different amounts depending on where you place yourself. When everyday expenses drop, quality of life often goes up, not down.

That’s the power of geography.

Geoarbitrage Taken to the Extreme: Asia

If you really want to see geoarbitrage at work, Asia is where the concept goes from interesting to undeniable.

People with income in USD, Euros, or Pounds regularly take advantage of this by living full-time or part-time in places like Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Colombia, Peru, and across Eastern Europe and Central America. Many do it on Social Security, CPP, or seasonal income—and they live extremely well doing it.

Now imagine this.

You’re living in a brand-new, furnished studio apartment with air conditioning, a full kitchen, hot water, reliable internet, and often a balcony view for your morning coffee or evening nightcap. Downstairs? A resort-style pool that makes hot days a non-issue.

You wake up without an alarm. Walk ten minutes to a gym that feels more like a resort—free weights, machines, pool, sauna, steam room. Afterward, you grab a massive garden-fresh salad and a freshly squeezed juice made right in front of you. Not shipped across continents. Not $25+. Just food.

Lunch happens while you work—or don’t. You walk home, drop your laptop, then head out again for dinner at either a local spot or a North American-style restaurant. After that, you meet friends—expats or locals—for drinks at a bar within walking distance. A good beer? Often under a couple of dollars.

Then you go to sleep.
No alarm.
Rinse. Repeat.

You stop thinking about money—not because you’re rich, but because you can’t realistically overspend. As long as you’re not living like a drunken sailor (different blog post ), it’s almost impossible.

What Does This Actually Cost?

In places like Thailand, Vietnam, Peru, Colombia, and the Philippines, this lifestyle typically runs $1,000–$1,500 USD per month. Many people do it for $700–$800 by living slightly outside city centers and cooking more at home.

That number is often less than a monthly pension or Social Security check. Some people split the year—six months abroad, six months back home—and still come out ahead.

Vietnam: A Concrete Example

Vietnam is one of the clearest examples I’ve experienced.

$500/month on a 6–12 month lease (slow travel) gets you an apartment with a pool and full gym

My month-to-month rent was about $300 USD (more expensive than long-term)

Pho: ~$2

Bánh mì: ~$0.85

North American-style meal (burger + fries): ~$5

Beer: ~$1

I could live comfortably under $1,000 USD per month.
Live very well at $1,500.
Live like a king at $2,000.

The Real Lesson

This isn’t about luxury.
It’s about leverage.

When your income comes from a strong currency and your expenses exist in a lower-cost environment, life opens up. Time, freedom, health, and choice replace budgeting apps and financial anxiety.

That’s geoarbitrage—taken to its logical extreme.

Here are some examples and an explanation of geoarbitrage from YouTube:

Here’s a great way to introduce YouTube examples of geoarbitrage for early retirement on your site — with context, value, and a smooth transition:

Geoarbitrage in Action: YouTube Examples That Inspire Early Retirement

If you want to see geoarbitrage in real life, there are a ton of great YouTube creators who explain how living abroad or in low-cost regions can accelerate retirement goals. Below are some channels and videos I recommend checking out — whether you’re curious about spending less, earning smart, or retiring early.

Recommended Geoarbitrage YouTube Examples

1. Nomad on a Budget
Focus: Living abroad cheaply while earning remotely or on savings.
What you’ll learn: realistic cost breakdowns in Asia, Central America, and Eastern Europe.

2. Retire Early Overseas
Focus: Retiring early in affordable countries.
What you’ll learn: how retirees use pensions, Social Security, or remote income for long-term low-cost living.

3. The Expat Money Show
Focus: finances for expats and digital nomads.
What you’ll learn: geoarbitrage basics, tax considerations, and investment strategies for location-independent living.

4. Cheap Living Abroad
Focus: detailed city guides and monthly budget videos.
What you’ll learn: exact prices for housing, food, transportation, and entertainment.

Why Watch These

Watching real videos from people doing this gives you:

Real cost comparisons between countries

Day-in-the-life insights (not just theory)

Budget breakdowns that reflect real choices

Inspiration for your own retirement or travel plans

Here are two of the many you’ll find with a simple search:

Credit card points game – #winning!

05/28/2025

by Darrell All you can fly Asia Hawaii Internet travel search tips Travels Deals

I’ve been back and forth to Hawaii several times over the last few years, mostly by stacking credit card points and being flexible with travel dates.

At one point, I even worked remotely there for four months, which was every bit as amazing as it sounds. Same workday… wildly different backdrop.

A few of those trips were on Hawaiian Airlines, where I signed up for their credit card bonus on the plane (yes, that’s a thing). The offer was 70,000 points, with a $100 annual fee that was waived the first year. Between that bonus and flying back and forth—and hopping around the islands—I ended up with 100,000+ points without much effort.

That’s really the theme here:
nothing extreme, nothing fancy—just pay attention to opportunities, stay flexible, and let the math work in your favor.

Hawaii doesn’t have to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. With points, timing, and remote work, it can just be… life for a while. 🌴✈️

I’ve already burned some of the points over the last couple of years, but I still had 103,000 points sitting there—just waiting to be used.

So I put them to work and booked my February 2026 trip to Japan and South Korea.

And let me tell you… This booking is an absolute GEM.

This is exactly why I’m obsessive about points and flexibility. Credit card bonuses, strategic flights, and a little patience turned into a massive trip that would’ve cost a small fortune out of pocket.

Sunshine in Hawaii , neon nights in Tokyo , street food in Seoul
All powered by points.

That’s the game.

You read that correctly…

30,000 points.
Five bucks.
Plus tax.

That’s not a typo. That’s a credit-card-points mic drop. ✈️🔥

#NorthAmericanDarrell

This is where points nerd magic really paid off.

I was also able to transfer the remaining 7,500 miles from Hawaiian Airlines to Alaska Airlines to cover my flight from **Phoenix

So if you’re keeping score at home…

👉 Phoenix → Tokyo, Japan:
$11.20 total.

That’s not a typo.
That’s points, patience, and playing the long game.

This is why I preach flexibility, credit-card strategy, and thinking a few trips ahead. You don’t need luxury spending or manufactured nonsense—just consistency and timing.

Sometimes the best travel wins aren’t about where you’re going…
They’re about how little it costs to get there.

Norse Airlines – Inexpensive, but worth it!

05/26/2025

by Darrell Internet travel search tips Travels Deals

Pro Tip: Check Multiple Airports:

When you’re searching for flights, don’t just check your local airport:

Search multiple departure airports that Norse services:

(LAX, NYC, etc.)

Search multiple arrival airports that Norse services:

(London, Paris, Rome)

Search arrival for flexibility

Try flying into one city and out of another

I’ve saved hundreds doing arrive-one-place, depart-another trips — like flying into London and flying home from Rome.

It might cost $50 to get to another airport for departure, but you might also save hundreds.

Travel math doesn’t have to be mysterious.
It just requires flexibility, curiosity, and a willingness to look past the first search result.
That’s how deals become stories… and how aisle seats become lifestyles.

Make sure you go to their website and sign up for their Tuesday takeoff mailer! This one starts with $129 to London to grab your attention.

They are always sending out teasers that may not fit your schedule, but you never know! I booked my return flight from Los Angeles to London for only $402 return! 👍🏻

Flying into one airport and departing from another airport would be more adventurous and possibly cheaper, too. Fly into Athens and leave from Paris, using Los Angeles as an example. I have blogged/bragged about the deals I have taken advantage of in the past using Norse Airlines:

These are the two one-way flights that I have already taken, which included a carry-on bag and a personal item:

LAX-LGW $109

(Los Angeles to London Gatwick)

FCO-LAX 216 Euro/USD

(Rome to Los Angeles)

If you’re interested, sign up for their weekly email. They send out a rundown of their best deals every week—you can do that by clicking HERE.

I love watching those prices drop!

My YouTube @NorthAmericanDarrell

05/26/2025

by Darrell Countries Internet travel search tips My Airbnb Slow travel Travel bucket list Travels Stories

I’ve technically had a YouTube account since 2011, but for most of that time I was just a viewer—no content, no audience, no plan.

When I started this blog in January 2025, my YouTube channel had one subscriber and one lonely video with zero views. That’s it. Nothing glamorous.

Once I started blogging, I decided to finally upload all the videos I’d been hoarding on old phones, hard drives, and cloud folders over the years—along with new clips from my travels. No strategy, no algorithm obsession… just hitting publish.

Slowly—but consistently—it started to grow.

As of 12/24/25:

1,675+ videos

~208 subscribers

150+ blog posts (and growing daily)

~242,000 total views, which honestly blows my mind

Building the YouTube channel has been just as fun as working on the blog. I embed videos directly into posts so readers can see places the way I experienced them, not just read about them. I’ve also organized the videos by country, so they’re easy to browse if you’re planning a trip or just wandering.

If you feel like it, I’d love the support—give me a follow or a thumbs up here:

Darrell – YouTube

No pressure. No expectations. Just sharing the journey.

Here is a cheat sheet to get a glimpse of my YouTube channel:

Click to subscribe to @NorthAmericanDarrell’s YouTube channel

Click to view a list of all the 850+ videos on the channel

Click to view a list of all the short videos on the channel

Click to view the fast-growing posts on the channel.

Click to view the playlist of all the videos broken down by Country.

Click to view the featured videos on @NorthAmericanDarrell YouTube channel

Please take the time to become a subscriber and ring that bell to see if I can grow my channel even more.

Darrell – YouTube <— clickity click

https://www.youtube.com/@northamericandarrell <— clickity click

Finding flight deals! It’s too damn easy!!✈️🤑

05/16/2025

by Darrell Internet travel search tips Travel bucket list Travels Deals

I’m always hunting for a deal—and honestly, finding a cheap flight gives me an irrational amount of joy.

I’m always hunting for flight deals—and honestly, I still get a rush every time I find a good one. It never gets old.

The first place I always start is Google Flights. It’s the fastest way to see which airlines are running sales and which routes are suddenly cheap. It also gives you a big-picture view instead of locking you into one airline too early.

The first thing you’ll want to do is set your home airport and country. That part matters more than most people realize. I’ll often switch countries or check prices from different locations because many sites use cookies and regional pricing. Sometimes the same flight is noticeably cheaper just by changing where you’re “searching from.”

You can enter exact departure and return dates, but I usually leave them blank at first. I want to see what’s cheap before I decide when or where to go. Let the prices guide the plan, not the other way around.

Right now, I’m scanning flights for Europe and Southeast Asia, and starting with an open search gives me a much better sense of where the real deals are hiding before I narrow anything down.

That flexibility is where the magic—and the savings—usually happen.

My go-to search method

I usually leave the dates blank at first.

This gives me a high-level snapshot of the best prices available right now, which helps set expectations before I commit to anything. It’s especially useful when you’re flexible or just fishing for ideas.

When I was looking at Europe and Southeast Asia, this approach instantly showed me:

The cheapest round-trip prices

\Which cities were on sale

Which airlines were driving those deals

If a price catches my eye, I click into the city, and Google Flights shows:

The exact dates

The airline

How long is that price likely to last

From there, I either:

Book immediately, or

Take note of the price and keep checking until it drops closer to my ideal dates.

I will typically charge the flight to my PayPal credit card. That way, I can pay it off at the end of the month or make minimum payments and place it in the budget down the road.

If you’ve made it this far and are actually paying attention, you’ll notice a pattern: Asia prices were lower last year. That’s exactly why I keep checking and tracking them. Deals come and go—but trends matter.

Flights from Los Angeles to London are almost always a steal. It’s one of the most consistently cheap long-haul routes out there. One-ways are often under $200, and round-trips regularly hover around $500 on Norse Atlantic Airways.
I even spotted a $402 round-trip deal today, which is absolutely worth watching.

The tradeoff with cheap one-way tickets is simple:
You’re gambling on the return price.

Sometimes it works beautifully.
Sometimes it doesn’t.

That’s the cost of flexibility—but it’s also the upside. A one-way ticket gives you the option to:

Stay longer

Change countries

Or fly home from an entirely different city

That’s how one trip quietly turns into a bigger adventure.

In the end, it always comes down to:

Timing

Patience

And knowing when “good enough” is actually a great deal

I also have a bit of an ace-in-the-hole—a friend who can get me home on a buddy pass if things go sideways. Not mad about it.

Last time, she even snagged me an emergency exit bulkhead seat with extra legroom and free drinks. Honestly, that felt like winning the airline lottery without losing half in a divorce.

Moral of the story:
Always have a Plan B.
And if Plan B includes legroom and booze… even better.

A legend in my mind is the best way to describe it.

I think differently from most people!

I was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and raised in the early eighties when life was simple. We rode our bikes, played outside, and didn’t have the internet and cell phones like kids today.

Canada was the only thing I knew until my first vacation to Southern California, Las Vegas, and Mexico in my early teens. My first memory of travel was falling asleep under the Christmas tree with the paper airline ticket after reading it 100s of times.

Yes, they used to have paper carbon copies of your actual legs of an airplane return trip, wild!

Just like now, I would tell anyone who cared about my travels (most didn’t and still don’t) that I was going to California, Acapulco, and Mexico (some things never change, LOL)! We drove all around Southern California into Las Vegas and then flew to Acapulco with those initial memories engraved in my mind forever.

Unimaginable at the time, I would later live in Southern California, Las Vegas, and now spend part of my time in Rocky Point, Mexico, and Mesa, Arizona, when I am not traveling. Looking back, I had a plan, and no matter what happened along the way, I would selfishly follow it, even if I didn’t know it at the time of my decisions.

The makings of a solo traveler!

After graduating from high school in Edmonton and trying a few things, my first break happened. I wanted to work with satellites for some unknown reason, so I enrolled in Telecommunications at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton. It would take me three years to complete my two-year Telecommunications associate’s diploma. I was not the most dedicated student, to say the least, plus my favorite bar was just across the field, Ezzies.

The week before graduating from NAIT in December 1995, I would interview with Canada’s largest Company, Northern Telecom. Looking back, it was a miracle as I was in the bottom half of my class. I aced the interview, and it was the biggest break in my life! I was going to make $13.80 an hour from the part-time $5.50 I was making in 1995; life was good!!

I needed to relocate to Calgary, AB, and started on January 4th, 1996. Within a couple of years, I was traveling back and forth to our Richardson, TX head office, which is a suburb in Northern Dallas. It seemed that I was going there every month, making contacts while falling in love with the American dream. I would board a plane in freezing Calgary, and three hours later, I was wearing shorts! How awesome was that!!

After traveling back and forth, I met someone who was a flight attendant, which again was another sign of things to come.

Eventually, I was offered a job in Richardson, TX, given a work visa, and was traveling full-time.

I bring this up as looking back, she was a major part of my decision to move to the United States. Work would have me crisscrossing the United States and eventually internationally. My girlfriend would follow me and also fly me anywhere I wanted, whenever I wanted.

Holy shit, my dreams were happening! After a few crazy years, it never worked out, but I still thank her to this day when I ask for free flights, LOL. Thankfully, she has a great life raising twin boys along the way!

Little did I know, but these events would severely warp my crazy traveling mind into what it is today. A travel junky who cannot stay put and is always looking for a deal. I was turning into North American Darrell!

My next break was getting a job at PayPal after 18 years at my first job out of college. The job fell in line with my strong beliefs in managing money, so I could eventually travel. It was a great company, a shitty call center job, but it showed some additional money management skills learning through others.

I would get yelled at via email, chat, or on the phone by people being broke-ass douchebag, not being able to manage their money. I could have also easily moved up and might still be employed, but I just didn’t have the piss and vinegar needed. I had health insurance and investments in place, and I was burning time for the Freedom50 traveling dream.

Fast forward, and I was laid off for the second time by a greedy corporation.

Northern Telecom after 18 years in 2014, and now PayPal, 7 years in 2024, 25+ years of service gone after both started cleaning house. Here I was in 2024, unemployed, 52, single AF. I was somewhat financially stable and able to travel whenever and wherever I wanted, again. I started looking back on previous decisions in life.

Almost everyone had a kid, and grandkids, worked 9-5, took their one-week all-inclusive vacation, and spent the summers at the lake. They were living the life we were taught to live by generations. You’re supposed to get married, have 2.5 kids, live in a house with a white picket fence, pay a mortgage, be in debt, retire, and then die. That is just how it works out for the majority of people, and there is nothing wrong with it, but again, I am just different.

Statistically, if you’re a man, you die when you’re 73, if I am lucky to make it that far.

That gives some people 5-10 years of retirement, depending on their health, after working their whole life. I watched it happen over and over in my Telecom career while losing so many family members at a young age as well.

Should I have kept my houses in Edmonton, Atlanta, and Charlotte, where I had some stability?

My first 2,400-square-foot Edmonton house that I designed and built did not have a mortgage. I was able to pay cash from my work travels. I would have been set with no mortgage, surrounded by my friends and family, living like a normal person. I didn’t even use one of the three bathrooms before I sold it, FFS!

Who in their right mind would move on from that situation?

I could have also settled in other amazing cities that I worked in long-term (Calgary, Dallas, Southern California …)

What about all the other shorter stops along the way (Las Vegas, Austin, San Antonio, Mexico City, Acapulco, and even Brazil)? I had corporate condos for months at a time, met some women and friends, and had a good job opportunity to possibly settle down. There were also so many amazing situations in their way, and I still think about all of them from time to time. I am slowly convincing myself that as we get older, life is a mirage, and we see it the way we want.

Instead, I settled into my small, turnkey, mortgage-free condo that I Airbnb in AZ in 2015 for the long run.

I have always wanted to blog about my travel years of work and personal travel. This is the second attempt, so here we go, again! I hope to share my idea of inexpensive travel through slow travel and geoarbitrage blogs.

Slow travel is a deliberate, unhurried approach to exploring destinations, emphasizing meaningful experiences and cultural immersion. Think of it as living like a local on vacation, where your dollar goes a lot further, geoarbitrage.

Welcome to NorthAmericanDarrell.com LFG!

Rocky Point, Mexico 🌮Taco Tuesday🌮

05/14/2025

by Darrell Accommodations Airbnb recommendations Mexico Rocky Point

Celebrated Taco Tuesday the only responsible way—fish tacos to start, hard-shell chicken tacos to finish, and absolutely zero regard for sequencing, nutrition, or personal dignity.

If this is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

Taco Tuesday went off the rails with beers, the Oilers are winning, and I’m dangerously close to texting people I shouldn’t.

Pray for me. 🙏

Suddenly, I’m pacing, yelling at the TV, talking to tacos like they understand hockey

LFG tacos and burritos.

LFG, whatever this version of adulthood is..

Wing Wednesday hits are different when you are at the beach on that glorious Humpday!

The Edmonton Oilers knock out Vegas and are headed to the Western Conference final!

A City that never sleeps?

Goodnight Vegas!!

Wizz Airlines – all you can fly update …

05/10/2025

by Darrell All you can fly Internet travel search tips Travel bucket list Travels Deals Wizz - AYCF!

In September 2024, I bought a one-year all-you-can-fly pass with Wizz Air for about $499 USD/EUR (they were basically at par at the time).

It was absolutely a leap of faith, considering you have to actually get to Europe before the pass is worth anything. But I made it work—three separate trips to Europe in twelve months, all on Norse Airlines, paying anywhere from $109 to $250 one-way out of Los Angeles.

That alone made the pass viable.

I ended up booking 24 flights on the Wizz pass—roughly $23 per flight—and cancelled four of them as plans changed, which is kind of the whole point of traveling this way.

I didn’t renew the pass for 2026. I’m taking a year off. Not because it wasn’t worth it—but because I squeezed the hell out of it.

High risk? Maybe.
Great value? Absolutely.
Would I do it again? Ask me after I get bored.

The part I enjoy most about the pass is the pure spontaneity. I log in, look at availability, and suddenly I’ve got 52 countries staring back at me like, “Pick one.”

There’s a three-day booking window, which means I could be leaving the same day or within the next few days. No overthinking. No long-term planning paralysis. Just momentum.

I paired the pass with a Eurail train pass on my third trip, making it even more convenient to decide between flying or taking the train.

I found myself canceling flights and taking the train as I blogged about HERE.

Here is a list of the Countries available for booking:

Visiting Mi casita in Rocky Point Mexico!

04/23/2025

by Darrell All you can fly Rocky Point Wizz - AYCF!

I took the shuttle from Phoenix for $55, and it dropped me off down the street from my casa, which is perfect. It takes me about four hours to drive door-to-door from my condo in Mesa. The shuttle leaves from West Phoenix and takes about the same time. The USA van takes you to the border, and you walk across, and the Mexican van is waiting. It works out perfectly!

I keep my truck here as it is only $175 a year to insure and inexpensive to maintain. It is a 2003 F-150 I bought off the showroom floor, so I don’t want to let it go. Any major issues will be the end in the United States. My mechanic here is a tenth of the price, so it is a good place to try to keep it on the road. I only drive it around town, which should keep it going for a long time.

When I arrived, my landlord greeted me with a high five. It always feels so good to open that door, as it feels like home.

I have everything I need here to live a simple life. Comfy bed, beer fridge, grill, office, and a 55″ TV all for $150 a month.

I have zero issues keeping it empty most of the year. It is here when my AZ Airbnb is rented or when I want to just get away.

I always have a couple of first stops to see local faces and grab some of my favorites when I come to town.

I had my favorite chicken enchiladas with green sauce (pollo enchiladas verde.

Lower prices, oceanfront beers, playoff hockey, and everyone always has a great time!

2-for-1 wings!

The most famous restaurant in Rocky Point is Pollo Lucas (Lucas Chicken). It is a short ten-minute walk from my pad, and it is amazing.

You can order 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, or the whole chicken and eat it or take it to go.

Each order comes with onions and lettuce, with the awesome homemade salsa and tortillas.

I get the 1/4 chicken for 65 pesos, which is $2.50 for the best lunch ever! The half chicken is $120 Pesos, which can feed two people easily for $6 USD. The whole chicken can feed larger families for about $12 with all the fixings!

Friday nights are surf and turn night at my local watering hole down the street.

The price cannot be beat, as that was $15 USD with a draft beer and hockey.

$150 a month rent easily explains why I have been renting here for over 7 years! Awesome setup!!

Naples, Italy – Pompeii Museum

04/15/2025

by Darrell Accommodations Italy Travels Deals Travels Stories

Look for the cost, accommodation, and how to get there cheap at the bottom of this blog!

I am the first to admit that I knew very little about the history of Greece and Italy until my visit in the spring of 2025. Due to rain, I did not make it to the actual city, so this post will be dedicated to the Pompeii Museum in Naples, Italy.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This article is about the ancient city of Pompeii. For the Classical Roman leader, see Pompey. For the Roman family, see Pompeia gens. For the Pacific Island, see Pohnpei.

Largely preserved under the ash, Pompeii offers a unique snapshot of Roman life, frozen at the moment it was buried, as well as insight into ancient urban planning. It was a wealthy town of 10,000 to 20,000 residents at the time it was destroyed. It hosted many fine public buildings and luxurious private houses with lavish decorations, furnishings, and artworks, which were the main attractions for early excavators; subsequent excavations have found hundreds of private homes and businesses reflecting various architectural styles and social classes, as well as numerous public buildings. Organic remains, including wooden objects and human bodies, were interred in the ash; their eventual decay allowed archaeologists to create molds of figures in their final moments of life. The numerous graffiti carved on outside walls and inside rooms provide a wealth of examples of the largely lost Vulgar Latin spoken colloquially at the time, contrasting with the formal language of classical writers.

Following its destruction, Pompeii remained largely undisturbed until its rediscovery in the late 16th century. Major excavations did not begin until the mid-18th century, which marked the emergence of modern archeology; initial efforts to unearth the city were haphazard or marred by looting, resulting in many items or sites being damaged or destroyed. By 1960, most of Pompeii had been uncovered but left in decay; further major excavations were banned or limited to targeted, prioritized areas. Since 2018, these efforts have led to discoveries in some previously unexplored areas of the city.

Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, owing to its status as “the only archaeological site in the world that provides a complete picture of an ancient Roman city.

It is among the most popular tourist attractions in Italy, with approximately 2.5 million visitors annually.

Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24, 79 CE. The volcanic debris covered the city, burying it beneath a blanket of ash and pumice.

Following its destruction, Pompeii remained largely undisturbed until its rediscovery in the late 16th century. Major excavations did not begin until the mid-18th century, which marked the emergence of modern archeology;[5] initial efforts to unearth the city were haphazard or marred by looting, resulting in many items or sites being damaged or destroyed.[6] By 1960, most of Pompeii had been uncovered but left in decay;[7] further major excavations were banned or limited to targeted, prioritized areas.

Since 2018, these efforts have led to discoveries in some previously unexplored areas of the city.

Less than ten years ago, which is what made this museum so fascinating to me. Here is the entrance:

I must have taken over a hundred pictures and videos, as everywhere you looked was incredible.

Here are some favorite pictures, a nd you can find all of the pictures here:

One of the most incredible things about Pompeii is that they are still discovering new things as they continue to roll back time, excavating the site.

The ruins at Pompeii were first discovered late in the 16th century by the architect Domenico Fontana. Herculaneum was discovered in 1709, and systematic excavation began there in 1738. Work did not begin at Pompeii until 1748, and in 176,3 an inscription (“Rei publicae Pompeianorum”) was found that identified the site as Pompeii. The work at these towns in the mid-18th century marked the start of the modern science of archaeology.

Here is a recent article I found that explains they are still discovering ruins:

Archaeologists make a breakthrough as life-size sculptures are discovered in a Pompeii tomb

Archaeologists make a breakthrough as life-size sculptures are discovered in a Pompeii tomb

Visitors to the site of Pompeii, the ancient Roman town buried (and so preserved for thousands of years) by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, don’t often think to look beyond the city walls. And it’s easy to understand why: there’s plenty on offer within this monumentally well-preserved town, from jewel-like wall paintings of myths and legends like Helen of Troy, to the majestic amphitheatre and sumptuously stuccoed baths.

But step outside the gates for a moment, and you’re in a very different – yet no less important – world.

For the ancient Romans, the roads and paths leading into and out of cities were crucial: not just for getting places, but as a very real kind of “memory lane”. Tombs lined these ancient byways – some simply bearing inscriptions to the memories of loved ones lost, others, more grand, accommodating space for friends and family to feast in remembrance of the dead.

Some of the tombs even address the passerby directly, as if their occupant could speak again, and pass on what they’ve learned. Take one Pompeian example, set up by the freedman Publius Vesonius Phileros, which opens with ineffable politeness: “Stranger, wait a while if it’s no trouble, and learn what not to do.”

Going into Pompeii, and leaving it, was about being reminded of ways of living and ways of dying – as well as an invitation to tip your hat to those who trod the path before you, and to learn from their example.

Click the link to read the entire article.

During my travels, I try to balance the cheap, thrifty and going for it while trying to remain on budget. It normally makes me feel like I missed out when leaving a new City/Country.

Rain or Shine, I will visit Pompeii as I missed out. I will share some sweet dance moves too! 🕺

How to get to Italy, cheaply: I recommend flying Norse Airlines from Los Angeles to Rome for $220. You can get to Los Angeles cheaply from anywhere in Canada and the United States using Google Travel. Consider staying in LA a day or two, doubling up your vacation, and saving a ton of money. It is a quick ~$13 train ride from Rome to Naples. Keep in mind that the high-speed train can be very expensive, so check out the milk run to see the countryside.

Where I stayed: Hopestel Secret Garden. It was a great hostel in a historic building in the city center. I paid $28 euros / USD 30 a night, which is spectacular for Naples City center. There are also studio rooms that can be rented for about $12,5, which is also a steal in the area.

The best local beer and meal: PIZZA! It was a no-brainer since Napoli is where pizza was invented. I tried several different variations and washed it down with a local Ichnusa unfiltered brewski, which hit the spot every time.

Would I return? 100% YES! I missed the most important historical area due to rain, Pompeii.

Three months looking out windows!

04/13/2025

by Darrell Accommodations AirBnb Asia Barcelona Europe HCMC / Saigon Italy London Madrid Rome Singapore Spain Thailand Travel bucket list Travels Deals Travels Stories Vietnam Wizz - AYCF!

I left Arizona on January 12th and didn’t return until April 7th, 2025, heading first to Vietnam and then bouncing across the globe. In order, I visited:

Vietnam → Cambodia → Thailand → London (twice) → Singapore → Greece → Turkey → Egypt → Italy → Spain

Eight of those ten countries were brand-new pins on my map, which made the whole thing feel even more unreal.

I spent the first three months slowly moving through Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. After that, I flipped the switch and went full chaos mode with my all-you-can-fly pass—whizzing (Wizz Air style) through London, Singapore, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Italy, and Spain.

Here’s the actual chain of planes, trains, ferries, and buses that somehow all worked:

Phoenix → Los Angeles
Los Angeles → Singapore
Singapore → Saigon (HCMC)

Saigon → Nha Trang
Nha Trang → Huế
Huế → Da Nang
Da Nang → Hoi An
Da Nang → Saigon
Saigon → Phú Quốc
Phú Quốc → Saigon

Saigon → Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh → Siem Reap
Siem Reap → Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat → Bangkok
Bangkok → Koh Tao
Koh Tao → Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan → Koh Samui

Koh Samui → Bangkok
Bangkok → Singapore
Singapore → Athens

Athens → Istanbul
Istanbul → Princess Islands (day trip)
Istanbul → London
London → Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Sharm El Sheikh → London
London → Naples
Naples → Rome

Rome → Madrid
Madrid → Barcelona
Barcelona → Madrid
Madrid → Rome
Rome → Los Angeles
LAX → Phoenix

(That doesn’t even include all the local buses, metros, tuk-tuks, and 25+ ride share ((Grab/Uber/Bolt/InDrive)) rides along the way.)

Three months in Southeast Asia.
Then a rapid-fire lap through Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

It sounds insane written out like this—and honestly, it kind of was.

But that’s part of the fun.
And after traveling like this for three straight months…

Sometimes all you can do is drop a blog and watch miserable people be jealous.

This was, by far, the longest—and most expensive—trip of my life.

I blew through my budget. And once that happened, I made the call to keep going anyway, because I was already there. I ended up canceling my Eurail pass and coming home three weeks early to stop the financial bleeding.

At the time, I didn’t think I’d ever use my all-you-can-fly pass again, so I went into “see everything now” mode and stacked as many countries as I could. I still missed a few, which means there’s a pretty good chance I’ll give it one more run someday—especially since I’m not renewing the pass.

And here’s the truth:

I have zero regrets about spending money on travel.
Not at the end of this trip.
Not at the end of any trip.

What I do have is better awareness.

Travel is worth it.
The memories are worth it.
The experiences are worth it.

I just need to be smarter next time in Europe and use train travel—pace it better, plan a little tighter, and learn from the mistakes without losing the magic.

That’s not regret.
That’s learning and sharing.

Rome, Italy – Second visit to Vatican City!

04/08/2025

by Darrell Italy Rome Travel bucket list Travel memories Wizz - AYCF!

I spent the last day of my recent travels in Rome, a place I’d already explored before. I’d checked off most of the major tourist traps on earlier visits, but it still felt essential to revisit the Colosseum and Vatican City—some places deserve more than one look.

Ironically, I chose a Sunday, which meant the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel were closed. Not ideal—or so I thought at the time.

Unbeknownst to me, I was about to get a much bigger—and completely unexpected—treat that day.

Below is a video I took earlier in the week, showing St. Peter’s Basilica from the outside, walking inside, and soaking in the atmosphere. Even without the museums open, this place never disappoints.

It was simply a good feeling knowing I was there on a day when Pope Francis was well enough to make a public appearance. With Holy Week approaching, it felt like an important moment—likely a quiet test of strength and endurance ahead of what is normally an incredibly demanding time.

Sadly, I later learned that he had to cut his speech short due to shortness of breath—and that this appearance would turn out to be his final public speaking engagement before his passing. Knowing that now adds a weight to the experience that I didn’t fully understand in the moment.

As I walked through Vatican City, the atmosphere felt different—solemn, but meaningful. A massive crowd was lined up to enter St. Peter’s Basilica, far larger than anything I’d seen earlier in the week.

It was one of those rare travel moments where you realize you weren’t just visiting a historic place—you were quietly present for a small but significant piece of history.

How to get to Italy (cheap)

If you’re coming from North America, I highly recommend flying Norse Atlantic Airways from Los Angeles to Rome for around $220 USD.

Getting to Los Angeles is easy and inexpensive from almost anywhere in Canada or the U.S. if you use Google Travel. Even better—consider staying in LA for a day or two. You essentially double your vacation while still saving a ton of money overall.

Where I stayed

I stayed at Freedom Traveler, which offered a single bed for €40 a night. Hotels in Rome can easily run $150+, so this was a no-brainer.

If dorms aren’t your thing, they also have private studio-style rooms for under $100, which is excellent value if you just want a quiet place to sleep. I stayed here twice—once before and once after my trip to Barcelona—and the staff were fantastic, always helping me get the best room available.

Best local meal & drink

Pizza. Obviously. 🍕

Rome is packed with corner spots selling freshly made pizza, and walking past them without stopping should honestly be illegal. While wine dominates in Italy (vino everywhere), I kept laughing because I’d walk into places with 10 taps, and every single one was wine. Beer lovers, adjust expectations accordingly.

My favorite pizza spot was just around the corner from Vatican City. I grabbed three slices (yes, all at once—you can see them stacked in the photo), and it was hands-down the best pizza I had in Italy.

Would I return?

To Rome specifically? Probably not.

Once I spent a full day at Vatican City and the Colosseum, I was ready to move on. I’d originally planned to stay a full week, but instead booked a last-minute trip to Barcelona to break things up.

That said, Italy absolutely deserves more time—just maybe not all in Rome. Cities like Venice, Sicily, Milan, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast are all worth visiting. One important lesson learned the hard way: book train tickets early. Last-minute fares were over $200, sometimes 5× the normal price, which is no different than flights.

If you plan to stay within one country, trains are amazing—but procrastination is expensive.

Real Madrid & Barcelona FC stadiums!

04/08/2025

by Darrell Barcelona Madrid Spain Travel bucket list Travel memories

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!! ⚽🥅

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spain – Madrid and Barcelona!

04/04/2025

by Darrell Barcelona Madrid

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

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

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

The schedule was aggressive:

Land in Madrid late Wednesday night

Fly back to Rome on Saturday night

Then turn around and fly home to Phoenix Monday morning

Was it enough time?
Absolutely not.

Was it still worth it?
Also yes.

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

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

As I blogged about in my Spain football blog,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

Royal Palace of Madrid

Puerta de Alcalá (Madrid’s Arc de Triomphe)

No rushing.
No overplanning.

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

Real Madrid — pre-game vibes!

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

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

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

Naples and Rome – pizza everywhere!🍕

04/04/2025

by Darrell Italy

High School gym class

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

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

Home of the Pizza!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yummy!!

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

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

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

You tell ’em, Boss!

Rome – The Vatican & St Peter’s Basilica

04/02/2025

by Darrell Rome

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Italy train travel! Fast and faster!!

04/02/2025

by Darrell Italy Rome

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazing!

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

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

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

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

Check out all those tapas and awesome local beer!

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

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

Italy! The Colosseum experience!!

04/01/2025

by Darrell Rome

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt!

03/31/2025

by Darrell

When I bought my Wizz Air All You Can Fly pass, I knew one thing for sure: I was about to visit places I never would have dreamed of in my life.

It was the perfect setup for someone on my budget—suddenly, parts of the world that felt completely out of reach were not only possible, but practical. Cheap flights don’t just save money; they expand your map.

Since I’d already visited the United Arab Emirates in the past, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect this time around. That familiarity made it an easy yes—and a solid starting point for seeing a very different side of the world without blowing the budget.

There are places in the world you assume you’ll never see—not because you don’t want to, but because the math never works. Then I bought a Wizz Air All You Can Fly pass, and the math completely changed.

I could tell just by standing in the check-in line that this was a vacation destination. The passengers gave it away—flip-flops, relaxed faces, and not a single person looking like they were heading to a board meeting.

The flight cost £2.50.
That’s roughly $10 USD—less than airport coffee and far more exciting.

And the accommodation?
€19 a night (about $21 USD) right on the ocean.

Sometimes the math alone tells you everything you need to know.

My hotel had a castle next door, casually nicknamed “The Sandcastle.”
Because apparently that’s just a normal thing when you’re traveling on a budget, and the world decides to show off.

Below is the walk from my $20-a-night hotel to the outdoor mall—an easy stroll that somehow managed to include ocean air, ridiculous views, and zero stress. Not bad for pocket change.

The plan was to take a four-hour bus ride to Cairo and experience the Pyramids.

After two days, I had had enough of these shysters and headed to Naples, Italy, as Pizza was waiting for me.

In closing, I have to mention one moment that says more about Sharm El Sheikh than any guidebook ever could.

I accidentally left my jacket draped over a chair after airport security for more than an hour. Inside the pockets? My $600 camera and my $175 headset (replacement cost). Realizing this mid-panic, I ran back to security fully prepared for disappointment.

Instead, they immediately recognized me, smiled, and handed me my jacket—everything still inside. One of the officers insisted that Egypt was safe, and honestly, I believed him even after all the bad experiences I had there. I thanked him, probably more than once.

There aren’t many airports in the world where that outcome would be guaranteed—even if the item had been turned in. That single moment left me with an incredibly good feeling about Egypt.

Unfortunately, it came at the very end of my trip.

But I’ll never forget that feeling of gratitude you sent me off with.

Thank you, Egypt.

Naples, Italy – home of PIZZA!🍕

03/31/2025

by Darrell Italy

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza, you visit the home of the pizza!! There are several variations, and so far, the stromboli and fried pizza have been amazing.

As my European travels start to wind down on this adventure, I’ve found myself staying in hostels—and getting more comfortable with them than I ever expected.

In Naples, the average hotel costs around €75–€100 per night, which is roughly equivalent to the same price in U.S. dollars. The hostel I’m currently staying in? €28 a night—and honestly, it’s been great.

More importantly, I’ve met some genuinely like-minded people along the way. Good conversations, shared stories, and the reminder that travel isn’t always about where you stay—it’s about who you run into when you get there.

Turns out comfort isn’t always about square footage. Sometimes it’s just good people and a cheaper bed.

I honestly don’t remember ever paying to visit a museum. It’s just never really been my thing.

But after visiting Athens, and now Naples, the history became impossible to ignore—and even harder to resist.

So I did something completely out of character and spent my first day in Naples inside the Naples National Archaeological Museum.

And honestly?
I was blown away.

Room after room of artifacts, sculptures, and stories that somehow survived centuries—and here I was, just standing there in quiet amazement, wondering how this was never on my radar before.

These are some photos and videos from that first day—proof that even the most stubborn non-museum person can still be humbled by European history.

The weather has been cold and rainy, so I’m still debating how to spend the next day or two here before heading to Rome.

Fortunately, this is where hostels really shine.

Below are just some of the amazing options posted around the hostel—things to do, places to eat, and budget-friendly ideas I probably wouldn’t have found on my own.

That’s another underrated perk of staying in hostels:
Someone has already done the homework, and they did it cheaply.

Istanbul Turkey! The Med, cheap!🤑

03/30/2025

by Darrell

Since buying the Wizz, visiting Turkey has been on my radar since I purchased my All you can fly is pass. BINGO!

I was able to catch a flight from Athens, Greece, across Europe, so why not? The best part is that I was able to stay overnight in London again. Something about sitting in a pub in London is cool to me. Fish and chips and local pints!!

Here are some videos of my time in Istanbul, starting with a walk from my amazing USD 18 a night hostel. It was so comfortable after a long couple of travel days and a fun pub stop in London.

I did not have any plans other than to try to live like a local for a few days. As part of my experience, I ended up at a ferry port by absolute luck and visited three islands. I met a local who gave me a historical tour of the biggest and furthest South Princess Islands, Adelar. Here is the ferry ride and a tour of the island.

It was a great few days trying to understand what makes things tick in Istanbul!

Funny story: I was at the Istanbul airport, and I was noticing a lot of people with bandages on their heads and noses.

Ironically, I flew into and out of Istanbul from London with a guy who was getting a hair transplant done.

We had a short conversation about something, but did not discuss his intentions until we met again, leaving.

I jokingly asked him if MMA was in town, as everyone looked beat up like him. He explained that Istanbul is famous for hair restoration and nose jobs, and it is less than half the price of most places like London.

I think it is less than USD 5K if you are interested in getting that 1990s flow back, boys! LOL

My big fat Greek weekend!

03/26/2025

by Darrell Greece

Feta cheese – they put that amazing shit of everything in Athens. This is an amazing Armenian Family that kept the Greek dishes coming over the weekend.

The Greek salad with a slab of feta and olives and lamb gyro were the best!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Another big draw was the temple of the Olympian Zeus:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Asia – getting fat eating with two sticks!🍜

03/22/2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Singapore! Amazing place to visit!!

03/22/2025

by Darrell Singapore

Just when you thought this blog was a waste of time with zero useful information… here’s a random-but-handy travel fact:

You can chew gum in Singapore—but don’t get cute with it.

The sale of chewing gum has been illegal since 1992. The reason? People kept sticking used gum in places it absolutely did not belong—like subway door sensors, lock cylinders, and elevator buttons. Singapore responded the only way Singapore knows how: hard rules, zero tolerance.

Since 2004, there’s been a small exception for therapeutic, dental, and nicotine gum, which you can buy from a doctor or registered pharmacist.

Important clarifications:

Chewing gum itself is not illegal

Importing and selling it (with limited exceptions) is

Travelers can bring in a small amount for personal use

Spit it out improperly? There’s a fine for that

So yes—this blog did just save you from a mildly embarrassing (and possibly expensive) international gum incident.

You’re welcome.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

This was my sixth time passing through Changi Airport—but the first time I actually left the airport.

I grabbed a hostel right in the center of Singapore and picked up a two-day MRT (subway) pass to explore the city properly. The subway system was clean, fast, and stupidly efficient—exactly what you’d expect from Singapore.

The hostel? Honestly… it sucked. But it was the only affordable option I could find in an otherwise very expensive city—unless you’re cool paying $100+ a night to stay in a rougher area. That said, there are tons of options on Booking.com if you’re willing to hunt and compromise a bit.

Singapore isn’t cheap—but it’s incredibly easy to navigate, even on a budget, if you lean on public transport and keep expectations realistic.

Here was my route from Changi Airport into the city—smooth, fast, and almost comically efficient thanks to the Singapore MRT.

And then… the destination.

After that flawless transit experience, I checked into what can only be described as an absolute cubby—a tiny hostel bunk that barely qualified as a sleeping space. Two nights. No privacy. Questionable airflow. Just enough room to lie down and reconsider my life choices.

Was it glamorous? Not even remotely.
Was it cheap (by Singapore standards)? Unfortunately, yes.
Did it get the job done? Also yes.

That’s the tradeoff sometimes: world-class infrastructure on the way in, followed by a brutally humbling reminder that budget travel in expensive cities is all about lowering expectations and raising tolerance.

I survived.
I slept (kind of).
And I got out into the city—which was the whole point anyway.

The first thing most people think of when they hear Singapore is Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay.

And to be fair—they’re incredible. Seeing the building and the landscape in person absolutely lives up to the hype. It’s futuristic, perfectly manicured, and feels like something dropped in from another planet.

That said… this is as close as I’m getting.

Rooms at Marina Bay Sands run $560+ a night, which is—no exaggeration—more than I paid for my hostel. For that price, I’ll happily admire it from the outside, take a few photos, and keep my money for food, transit, and actually doing things.

Singapore does spectacle extremely well.
I just don’t need to sleep inside the spectacle to appreciate it.

Some people collect infinity-pool selfies.
I collect stories—and a much lower nightly burn rate.

Singapore is undeniably clean, efficient, and impressively built. The infrastructure is world-class. That said, I didn’t personally find much beyond that pulling me in.

That doesn’t mean you wouldn’t love it—this is just my opinion. Travel is subjective, and different places click with different people. Honestly, you could visit Singapore and never even leave the airport and still feel like you saw something special… which is a little wild when you think about it.

And that’s the strange part for me: one of the coolest things in the city was the airport.

To be fair, Changi Airport isn’t just an airport—it’s routinely ranked as one of the best in the world. Inside, you’ll find an entertainment corner, the world’s tallest airport slide, a butterfly garden, a movie theater, a swimming pool with runway views, the Skytrain, the massive Rain Vortex, and multiple indoor garden spaces. It’s less “terminal” and more “destination.”

So yeah—Singapore does precision, cleanliness, and efficiency better than almost anywhere. It just didn’t light me up the way other places have. And that’s okay. Not every stop has to be a favorite to be interesting.

Sometimes the takeaway isn’t “I want to stay longer”—
It’s “I’m glad I saw it.” The airport was enough for me now.

Koh Samui, Thai! Paradise Island!!🏝️

03/19/2025

by Darrell Thailand

The first time I visited, prices were down since they were just opening up after COVID in early 2022.

This was the view from my Airbnb. I only planned to stay a few days, but ended up staying ten days as it was so incredible.

It was a better experience as it was quieter and much more inexpensive than the busy season.

As always, I found a way to find a good time when I returned in early 2025!

The Island is the biggest of the three chains of islands of Ko Tao, Koh Phagan and Samui so there is always a lot of options. The beaches are spectacular, and marijuana is now legal, so everyone is having a great time, all the time.

I never was a big pot smoker but when in Rome …

See you again, Samui!

Ko Tao, Thai! Divers Paradise!🏝️🤿

03/13/2025

by Darrell Thailand

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

Three islands, three very different vibes—all unforgettable—and a perfect reminder of why Thailand keeps pulling me back

This was my second visit to Koh Tao and Koh Samui. The first time, I spent six weeks here during a paid sabbatical from PayPal in January 2022. Back then, I did a lot more touring and exploring, which made this trip different in the best way—I already knew exactly where I wanted to be.

That’s really the ultimate goal for me: travel widely, move slowly, and identify places that are both amazing and affordable—places worth returning to long term. This trip to Thailand wasn’t about checking boxes; it was about confirming what already felt right.

Lima, Peru – The beauty of the Mira Flores district! 😍

03/04/2025

by Darrell Mira Flores (Lima)

I have so many amazing places in my life, I tend to forget some of them.

I wanted to share another post on how affordable and amazing Peru can be as an option to visit to get a bigger bang for your dollar. The country is impoverished, but the affluent Mira Flores district is amazing.

I visited Lima, Peru, three times on my Volaris all-you-can-fly pass, as it costs less than $100 each way on standby. The first time, I did not know the area, so I stayed in the city and commuted to Mira Flores on the local bus. I say this everywhere I go, but this traffic was insane.

The second and third time, I stayed at the same Airbnb on the cliffside oceanfront in Mira Flores district!

Mira Flores made a point to be inclusive for everyone. There are paths for walking, running, biking, roller blading, and people whipping around on scooters too. I saw basketball/tennis courts, BMX/Skate parks,

It is so impressive to see all of the gliders in the air and watch them take off and land.

Mira Flores has something for everyone and all ages. It is a great place to stay active too!

Siem Reap/Ankor Wat, Cambodia

03/01/2025

by Darrell

I was getting more comfortable navigating Asia every day. I nailed the bus trip from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and an Uber to my hostel. It was almost like I knew what I was doing, which is rare for me.

I chose to stay at the Poolside Villas in Phnom Penh, which was phenomenal. The rooms were $21 a night, and the food/drinks were very cheap, with beers $1.50/$1 happy hour and most meals under $5.

As my travels take me into March, I am starting to feel the pressure of running out of time in Asia. I am scheduled to leave on March 21st, and I still have not done some things.

For that reason, I took Cambodia by storm and did as much as possible in ten days.

I want to share my day trip to Angkor Wat, which was amazing!

Angkor Wat “City/Capital of Temples”) It is a Hindu-Buddhist temple complex in Cambodia. Located on a site measuring 162.6 hectares (1,626,000 m2; 402 acres) within the ancient Khmer capital city of Angkor, it was originally constructed in 1150 CE as a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Vishnu. It was later gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the century.

Angkor Wat was built at the behest of the Khmer king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura (present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple-mountain and the later galleried temple. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology, and is surrounded by a moat more than 5 km (3.1 mi). Enclosed within an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west, with scholars divided as to the significance of this.

Here are some of the many videos I took, and the rest can be found on my YouTube channel by clicking here.

My tuk-tuk driver was amazing! He picked me up at the hotel in the morning, drove me to each of the seven temples one by one. He gave me clear instructions to navigate each of the temples, including pick-up after each stop.

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

Phnom Penh, hostel experience!🫵🏻😎🏨

02/22/2025

by Darrell Vietnam

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

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

Here’s what that looks like in real numbers:

$7 × 31 days = $217 for accommodation

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

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

$30 a week for transportation = $120

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

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

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

The hostel bar and restaurant are shockingly affordable:

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

Most meals are under $5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I could watch this clip 100 times, remembering that moment in Cambodia, and it wouldn’t be enough!

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

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

HERE.

Vietnam – 35 days cost analysis!⬇️🤑

02/21/2025

by Darrell Vietnam

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

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

– I learned more about Vietnam and its culture beyond just the tourist traps.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

– Vietnam (Phu Quoc Island)

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

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

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

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

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

~ USD 750 credit card bill

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

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

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

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – night market!

02/20/2025

by Darrell

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

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

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

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

It is almost always worth it!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cumming, GA – Home 2003-2010

02/20/2025

by Darrell Georgia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some places just stick with you.

And of course…
GO Atlanta Braves! 🪓🪓🪓

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

02/19/2025

by Darrell North Carolina

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

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

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

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

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

Rent the front house to cover the mortgage

Live in the loft above the garage at minimal cost

Maintain flexibility while building equity

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

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

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

Stable W-2 income

Cash-flowing real estate

Minimal personal housing costs

Long-term appreciation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shitter. Was. Full.

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

And honestly? It was the right call.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hello Phnom Penh, Cambodia!

02/19/2025

by Darrell

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. Two and a half hours to Phnom Penh.

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

8. Amazing mango salad and 75-cent draft, signing out my next step.

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

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

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

Ferry transfer to the border shuttle bus. ✅

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

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

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

As I blog here at my hosted site,l having breakfast, here are some random pictures and videos from the Amazing Race. Phu Quoc, Vietnam to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. How is this now awesome?

Goodbye, Phu Quoc, Vietnam!

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

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

Phu Quoc, Vietnam – Amazing!

02/17/2025

by Darrell Vietnam

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

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

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

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

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

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

02/14/2025

by Darrell Vietnam

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

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

But it’s been a blast so far!

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

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

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

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

Progress is progress.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Phu Quoc – Vietnam Island paradise!🌞😎

02/13/2025

by Darrell Vietnam

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So I flew.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No taxi, short walk, and no rush.

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

This is what slow travel looks like in practice.

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

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

Nah Trang, Vietnam – Beachin’ place!!

02/08/2025

by Darrell Vietnam

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

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

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

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

NAD for the bounce-back win in extra time!!

Where is Waldo – NorthAmerican Darrell (NAD)🤔

02/05/2025

by Darrell Personal History

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:

Hoi An, Vietnam – This river is incredible!

02/05/2025

by Darrell Vietnam

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

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

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

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

And that river is something else.

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

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

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

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

The Dragon bridge – Da Nang, Vietnam!🔥🐉

02/02/2025

by Darrell

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

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

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

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

Here are some videos of the amazing walk:

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

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

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

Da Nang, Vietnam – I could live here too!

02/02/2025

by Darrell Vietnam

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vietnam railways – HCMC to Da Nang, Vietnam

01/31/2025

by Darrell Vietnam

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some more videos from the train trip:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vung Tau, Vietnam – Ferry road trip!!⛴️

01/26/2025

by Darrell Vietnam

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you for the memories!

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

Hammock camping – St Croix BVI 🏝️🏕️

01/25/2025

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

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

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

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

It was Wednesday, October 4th, 2023…

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

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

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

Wind.
Rain.
THUNDER and lightning.
More rain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LMAO. 🌪️

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

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

But after that brutal first night, everything changed.

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

From survival mode to pure bliss in one night.

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

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

Lesson learned—and filed under experience beats theory.

Next time, I’ll bring proper tent pegs.

And yes…
I will absolutely be hammock camping in the islands again.

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

01/24/2025

by Darrell Guatemala City

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

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

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

It’s not effortless.

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

Frontier All You Can Fly Blog

Volaris all you can fly blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And somehow… absolutely worth it.

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

from the safety of your couch. 🚌🎢😄

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Panglao Island – The Philipines

01/24/2025

by Darrell Panlao Island Philippines

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

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