Carlos Menendez
Pure Travel Rebel
Latest from Carlos Menendez
20 Articles
Malls as Town Squares: An Afternoon in Lad Prao
The other day, my wife and I had to go to Lad Prao to have a business meeting with a friend of hers. I’d never been, and had no idea how impressed I’d be with t
Beyond the Mona Lisa: The Paris You Miss When You Rush
I’ve been thinking about some of my earlier travels ever since things settled down here in Bangkok. Most especially, I’ve been reflecting on my first big intern
Bringing Pets to Thailand: What I Learned the Hard Way
Moving to Thailand from the USA felt like two experiences wrapped up into one. On the one hand, there was the process of getting my wife and I there. This was p
Terminal 21: A Bangkok Experience Disguised as a Mall
I wasn’t originally planning to visit Terminal 21 when my wife and I first saw it. We had to take care of some errands in the Asok area near the BTS station, an
From Toasties to Weekly Shops: Grocery Life in Bangkok
So my wife and I have been living in Bangkok for a few months now, and one of the more interesting shifts we’ve noticed has been in our shopping habits as we've
Wat Arun: Where Devotion, Daily Life, and Tourism Collide
If I had to describe Wat Arun with a single word, that would be it. It was the word that came to mind the moment I first saw it rising above the Chao Phraya Riv
3 Lessons Training Muay Thai in Bangkok Taught Me
I didn’t move to Bangkok to have my own little Eat, Pray, Love experience. What I mean is, I didn’t come to the Land of Smiles to “find myself.” After serving s
The Caribbean Has Always Had Its Dangers — But As a U.S. Citizen, I Still Think It’s Worth Visiting
I was about 18 years old when I visited Puerto Rico as a proper adult. Before then, I’d gone during summer trips as a child, usually staying with my grandparent
5 Small Essential Items to Bring to Thailand (I Use These Every Day)
The Coast Guard motto is “Semper Paratus,” meaning “Always ready.” My time in that service instilled in me the most vital of all concepts: preparation. I really
Rajadamnern Stadium: The Beating Heart of Muay Thai
I first heard about Rajadamnern Stadium around two or three years ago. I knew it was a significant place in Muay Thai culture, but I had no idea just how massiv
I Left the Military and Moved to Thailand – Here’s What No One Warns You About.
I medically retired from the military, and my wife and I decided to move to Thailand. After taking a trip there for a Muay Thai tournament a year prior, she yea
Puerto Rico: Dancing in Between
I sometimes like to joke that I’m a bad Puerto Rican. In spite of being born there, my family moved to the mainland United States when I was a little over a mon
Antwerp, Belgium's Historic Hidden Gem
A year after my first trip to Paris with my uncle, I found myself returning to Europe—this time entirely on my own. I traveled to Antwerp for a convention and t
Healthy and Cheap 7-Eleven Finds in Bangkok (That Actually Help With Weight Loss)
One of the first things I heard when I moved to Bangkok was that it’s oftentimes cheaper to just eat out rather than try to cook meals regularly at home. I can
3 Culture Shocks that Americans Experience in Thailand
For many Americans, the media makes up a sizable portion of what we know about the world. Before moving here, I repeatedly heard some version of: “Everything I
An Ex-U.S. Military Look at Muay Thai, Thailand’s Art of Eight Limbs
Back when I was first trying to enlist in the US military, I was initially rejected due to being overweight. It wasn’t much of a surprise; I came from an overwe
Mistakes That Ruin a Thailand Trip (And How to Avoid Them)
I like to think I’m a pretty cautious and attentive person. So, when I first came to Thailand, I did some homework to avoid any social faux pas. Despite my effo
Chinatown in Bangkok: A Gastronomic Assault on the Senses
Bangkok has been quite the experience since we arrived. It simply has so much to offer, in so many different spheres of interest as well. Last night, my wife an
The Invisible Weight: Living with Smog in Bangkok
When I first decided to move to Bangkok, one of the first questions my wife asked was, “What are we going to do about the air pollution?” She’d traveled to Bang
Catching the Moon: Thai Art Refusing to Be Overlooked
Between the two of us, my wife is the artsy-fartsy one. So, being the loving and attentive husband that I am, I decided to take us to the Bangkok Art and Cultur