by Daryle Rico | May 5, 2026 | Favorite Tours, History, Vietnam
As a child of the 60s, I grew up watching the Vietnam War unfold from the living room. Nightly news. Grainy footage. Numbers scrolling across the screen that somehow tried to measure something immeasurable. I remember the protests. The division. The questions that...
by Daryle Rico | Apr 29, 2026 | Favorite Tours, Vietnam
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to stand before some of the world’s great wonders—places that make you pause, look around, and quietly admit, “Alright… that’s pretty spectacular.” Think Crater Lake, the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, and the Grand Canyon. And...
by Daryle Rico | Apr 24, 2026 | Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Favorite Tours, History, Temples
People often ask what led me halfway across the world to Southeast Asia. The answer is simple: Angkor Wat. Some trips begin with a flight deal. Others with a vague sense of wanderlust. Mine began with a quiet, growing curiosity that eventually turned into, “Alright… I...
by Daryle Rico | Apr 11, 2026 | Ayutthaya, Favorite Tours, Thai Smiles, Thailand
My afternoon tour of the ancient city of Ayutthaya had just wrapped up, and my guide and I were making our way back to Bangkok when we passed what looked like a rustic roadside corral… filled with elephants. As one does. My guide casually asked, “Have you ever fed an...
by Daryle Rico | Apr 8, 2026 | Ayutthaya, Culture, Favorite Tours, Thai Smiles, Thailand
One doesn’t usually associate a casual trip to the local market with thoughts of mortality. Maybe a tough decision over mango versus pineapple, sure—but not a moment where you quietly wonder if your life insurance policy is up to date. But this is Thailand, my...
by Daryle Rico | Apr 8, 2026 | Bangkok, Culture, Favorite Tours, Temples, Thailand
There are temples in Thailand… and then there is Wat Arun. Now, that’s saying something in a country with more than 44,000 temples. It’s a bit like saying, “This is my favorite beach in Thailand”—you’d better have a strong case. Wat Arun doesn’t just make the list. It...
