HoliDaze Archive

don't do what derek did

World’s Only Aerial Video of the 1,000 Year Old Khajuraho Temples

The Khajuraho Western Group of Temples is the most well-preserved of all the Khajuraho temples.

Located in the middle of nowhere in Madhya Pradesh, the 1,000 year old Khajuraho temples are one of the most amazing — and overlooked — destinations in India. I spent a week here producing a film on the annual Khajuraho Dance Festival but since that was a nighttime event, I used the daytime to capture … Read More

Trekking Annapurna Conservation Area Guide: What (Not) To Do

Annapurna South, also known as Moditse, as seen from our hotel in Ghorepani

My first experience in Nepal was filled with earthquakes and relief work, so it was not until my third trip to Nepal that I finally got a chance to go trekking Annapurna Conservation Area, something most people do their first trip. Was great to cross another thing off my travel bucket list (because we all … Read More

How Long-Term Travel Ruins Your Life

The view from an airplane window is quite nice. Nothing beats air travel.

Pssst! Hey! Yes, you. Come closer. I have a secret to share with you. Something that everyone should be aware of. TRAVEL RUINS YOUR LIFE. It’s more addictive than heroin and there is no rehabilitation, no cure. Much like herpes, you are stuck with it for life. The best prescription you can hope for is … Read More

Travel Fucktastrophes: The Stories I’ve Never Told

Nicaragua Resort

When traveling, there are those stories that are never told. No, not the ones about what happened in Bangkok or Berlin or Las Vegas — those always get told, often with “my friend” or “this guy I know” substituted in place of the slightly more embarrassing “me” 😉 I’m talking about those crazy embarrassing stories. … Read More

Life In An Immigration Detention Center

Derek Freal is locked up abroad

Recently I happened to find myself locked up abroad in Indonesia for 16 days all because of a tweet. (Yes, a tweet…a deleted one at that!) Now let me show you around my cell at the immigration detention center, my new (and hopefully temporary) home.   This post was written while I was locked up … Read More

Derek Eats That! Episode 01: Sup Torpedo (Bull Penis Soup)

Found all sorts of strange foods in Chow Kit for Derek Eats That! from penis to tongue to intenstines -- oh my!

For the first episode of Derek Eats That! it seemed only fitting to start with the big one: bull penis. Or as it is known locally in Malaysia, “sup torpedo” (torpedo soup — can you guess why it’s named that?) I had long since heard of people eating animal penis, as it’s common practice in … Read More

Top Culinary Achievements Of 2014 + Photos & Videos

Derek Freal's top culinary achievements of 2014

2014 has been a fun-filled and food-filled year but not one without it’s share of trials and tribulations (case in point getting locked up abroad for 16 days and eventually deported because of a tweet). But through it all I’ve kept on the hunt for more tasty foods to try, whether strange or taboo or … Read More