From a story on Buakaw’s life, feature on Thai prison, to a video of a bad backpacker, we had a pretty diverse list of top stories this year.
We’ve previously released our picks of the best animal stories and the worst facepalm stories, but this one is on you guys. Let’s take a look at what most people read on Coconuts Bangkok this year.
10. Seven million people watched a busty Isaan model make spicy somtam (VIDEO
Out of all the sexy ladies and dudes that made the news this year, this busty model who made somtam while the internet watched was obviously the winner.
Thailand’s two favorite things — somtam and a top-heavy pretty — unite in this 20-second clip that set the internet on fire over the making of spicy salad. The video itself has got over 10 million views currently.
9. Thailand starts 90-day trial of cigarette beach ban, violators to face one year in jail
The news of cigarette bans on Thai beaches — and the hefty punishments that can come with violating the ban — became one of the top news stories in a country that gets a major chunk of its revenue from tourism.
Starting Feb. 1, smoking will be strictly banned on all Thai beaches, which means having even a quick ciggie could land you in a Thai prison for a year or fined up to THB100,000 ($US3,000).
8. Airport Insult: Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi lands on list of world’s worst airports
Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport ranked 9th on the list of the world’s 10 worst airports by Airhelp, a legal firm that serves airline passengers.
In the same week, Suvarnabhumi quickly clapped back at Airhelp, saying their data collection was totally unreliable.
We think the picture says it all — this backpacker should not be allowed on any public transportation ever again.
The Thai man wrote on Facebook, “The smell from her feet was filling the whole bus. I asked her many times to put her legs on the ground and she would not do it.”
6. Thai food blogger proves Bangkok hot enough to cook steak and eggs in car (PHOTOS)
Just how hot is Thai summer? The heat is enough to cook steak and eggs through a window.
A Thai cooking blogger demonstrated how the raw pork and egg could get cooked when left in a car in the summer heat. Fancy a medium-rare pork steak cooked naturally?
5. Thai woman can’t recognize her son after he goes on Korean surgery show
A Thai factory worker shocked his mother with a total transformation after he had a series of plastic surgeries on Let Me In Thailand, the Thai edition of a Korean popular surgery TV show.
In the Season 3 premiere of the makeover series, Noppajit Monlin underwent a series of plastic surgeries in South Korea. The internet agreed this was one of the best transformations of all three seasons.
4. PHOTOS: Muay Thai hero ‘Buakaw’ becomes a monk
Muay Thai star Buakaw Banchamek, who is loved by many Thais for his down-to-earth persona, was ordained in a Bangkok temple in October. Buakaw remained in the monkhood for a symbolic nine days as a dedication to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
3. Life behind bars: Ex-prisoners describe a typical day in Thai prison
Rumors about Thai prisons have not changed for decades. Low hygiene standards, overpopulation, and hidden self-governing systems are among the open secrets whispered about life in a Thai jail.
In a feature by Coconuts Bangkok, former political prisoners Rangsiman Rome and Pronthip Mankong walked us through a typical day in Thai prison and spoke out on the harsh conditions and issues for inmates that desperately need fixing.
2. Ten most beautiful transwomen in Thailand (2017 edition)
It was six years ago that Coconuts introduced you to the hottest transwomen of Instagram, so this year we thought it was time to revisit the subject and give you an updated Top 10.
You may know them from their pageant titles, successful modeling careers, or profitable social media presences. While they’re all equally beautiful, these ladies are ranked based on their following and how often their names come up in media.
1. After dating 5,000 guys, Thai woman creates course on catching rich white men
And the most read story of 2017 goes to … the professional gold digger coach.
Praiya Suriya advertised herself as having dated 5,000 rich men, and she became the talk of town this year with her social media stunt vowing to train other Thai women to become gold diggers.
For a fee, Praiya promised to teach women English and Arabic sentences used to ask rich men for money, sex strategies, and how to negotiate cash up front before “a date.”
But Praiya wouldn’t just teach anyone, she only wants to work with women who are serious — about getting rich.
