This past year, Coconuts TV was everywhere covering some of the most interesting and sometimes controversial stories in Thailand and beyond. From the Bangkok’s “Mexican” gangsters to prisoners fighting foreigners for their freedom, we also explored issues of poverty tourism, transgender identity and the plight of animals.
Most puzzling was this feature on a bunch of Thai dudes who get together and act like Mexican Gangsters. Wait what?! Although these cholos love the “hard” look and music, most are ordinary professionals including a teacher, bureaucrat and policeman who bonded over their mutual love for super baggy white shirts and tattoos in gothic-baroque script.
Prison Fight: Thai Inmates vs. Foreigners
Thai prisoners literally fight for their freedom against foreigners. It’s like an unmade ‘80s film with Jean-Claude Van Damme but real. Any prisoner, regardless of the magnitude of their crime, can participate for a chance to reduce their sentence. Prepare for some fine prison brawling and intense kickboxing.
Psychedelic Salvation: Could ibogaine be the cure for drug addiction?
Ibogaine, a type of hallucinogen made from the African Iboga root, is a controversial treatment believed by some to be a radical last-measure for addicts to rid themselves of cravings for everything from alcohol to heroin. Having been used for centuries in rituals by the Bwiti people of Gabon, it was discovered by the West in the 1960s yet remains illegal in many countries, including the United States.
Exploring urban decay at Sathorn Unique Tower in Bangkok
For nearly two decades the Sathorn Unique Tower has stood as an abandoned reminder of the 1997 economic crisis which saw its lofty ambitions laid low. , infamous for being an abandoned residential project that had to be put on hold due to the 1997 Asian Financial crisis. The building has become popular among urban explorers and photographers for its vantage points, graffiti and decay.
Queer As Fuck: Trailblazing Transgenders (Episode #2)
Drag Queen Pangina Heels hosted our “Queer as Fuck” miniseries where she offered an unapologetic and joyous take on the world around her, guns literally blazing. In this episode, Pangina visits a crew of gorgeous trans models with Apple Model Management.
Imagine living in an acre-wide mud pit filled with feces and urine and surrounded by more than 1,500 dogs and cats. These are the living conditions of many of the animals that live at the “dog condo” at Wat Suan Kaew. Add top of that, all of their well-being rests on the shoulders of Taew and Lek, two women working 13 hours a day for minimum wage to care for them.
Despite craft beer’s worldwide popularity, home brewing is still illegal in Thailand. Coconuts TV visits several home brewers in Thailand who are actively defying the ban for a demonstration of their craft.
Following two previous surgeries for breast implants, model and singer Amy Maxim raised the bar in raised bra sizes with a third surgery to achieve her big ambition: to have the largest (fake) breasts in the kingdom. Why? Among her reasons, she wanted to distract her boyfriend from other girls on the Internet.
Freaky Feasts #6: Pig’s Brain soup (Samong Moo)
In a very special episode of of Freaky Feasts, the team’s mission to eat weird and possibly disgusting food takes them into the mind of a pig. Does the samong moo sold near the Giant Swing in Bangkok grant any special, porcine memories? Find out.
To all farangs, please watch carefully and take notes as this Thai lady schools you “How to eat Thai food” properly.
Hunting for sunken treasure under the Chao Phraya in Bangkok
Under the depths of the mighty Chao Phraya River lies treasure for centuries of commerce. Enter the crazy men who make a living diving to the bottom of the river using antique, homemade diving gear to feel around in the dark for trinkets and valuables to feed their families. Here is their story of how they spend every day hoping to strike gold.
Hong Kong’s Hidden Shame: Why is foreign domestic worker abuse so rampant?
A young Indonesian maid was brutally tortured and dumped at the Hong Kong’s International Airport. However, Erwiana’s case, as extreme as it appeared, was by no means unique. Her viral pictures sparked protests and captured international attention, shedding light on thousands of unreported cases of foreign domestic workers suffering slave-like treatment by Hong Kong employers.
No ordinary 17-year-old: Hong Kong protest leader Joshua Wong
At only 17 Joshua Wong has done something most of us probably couldn’t have imagined at that age: leading an enormous street mobilization to protest for democratic principles. He shared his experiences of being detained for 46 hours, his hopes for the protest and ideas about universal suffrage.
A tour through Manila’s infamous Smokey Mountain slum
Welcome to poverty tourism, where primarily wealthy Westerners spend their money to travel to some of the poorest places in the world. At Smokey Mountain, a slum in Manila that is literally situated on a garbage dump, visitors get an eye-opening experience about how how well-off they are, but some find this brand of tourism offensive and degrading.
The Force is strong in these Singaporean geeks who, as FightSaber, unite as a team of Jedi Knights dedicated to saving the world with lightsaber battles as performance art. The group comes together on weekends to rehearse lightsaber battles in their own Star Wars-inspired personas.
Freaky Feasts #13: Adobong daga (Field rats cooked adobo style)
Looking for something to spice up your dinner? We explore the food of the future with Adobong daga, aka field rats cooked adobo style. Preparation for the meal includes sending your dog out to hunt for the rats, butchering the rats, and of course, skinning the rats.
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