The top Bangkok stories from CNNGo in 2009

It’s hard to believe CNNGo has only been around since September. In the three months since our official launch we’ve already built up a significant archive of insightful, bizarre and hilarious articles.

Here we look back on the stories our readers clicked the most, and throw in a few of our own favorites too.

Most popular CNNGo Bangkok stories of 2009

1. Controversy of the week: Bangkok's calendar girls
The allure of sexy Thai women wearing nothing other than body paint proved too hot for our readers to resist. Though the controversy surrounding a calendar created by a Thai beer brand only emerged earlier this month, it is our best read story to date.

2. World's Greatest City: 50 reasons why Bangkok is No. 1
This one requires little explanation. We served up 50 reasons why Bangkok is an awesome city, from the mundane to the crazy. Many Bangkokians agreed with delight, others said we needed to have our heads checked. Either way, it was our second most read story in 2009.

3. ‘Hitler is not dead’ billboard rattles Bangkok envoys
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from this story, it’s that anything related to Hitler is going to be well read, and may even get people angry. This piece addressed the controversy relating to a wax museum in Pattaya that posted a billboard with Hitler’s image on it and, in Thai, “Hitler is not dead.”

4. Bangkok’s real-life body snatchers
CNNGo contributor Richard Ehrlich headed out for a day with the city’s most famous rescue squad, providing a behind the scenes look at this essential city service by sharing some of their grisly stories and images. He also addressed some of the rumors surrounding the industry, including the alleged brawls that take place between rival squads.

5. The Bangkok Hot List: 20 people to watch
This list looks at the people we have our eye on in Bangkok these days not for their fame but for their originality, talents and ability to inspire. The beauty of this piece is that it gives credit to some of Bangkok's up-and-comers who are doing great things right now, as opposed to the usual celebrities who tend to hoard the spotlight.

Editor’s picks for 2009

1. Don’t call me a lesbian: Tom-dee culture in Thailand
Though Thailand is renowned for its open attitude to sexual orientation, its gay culture can be a challenge for outsiders to understand. For instance, in this country you can't merely define a woman as gay or straight. They might even take offense. Contributor Patrick Winn does a great job of decoding Bangkok’s confusing multi-moniker girl-girl pair-ups.

2. Bangkok's snake hunter
Nobody living in Bangkok likes to think about what’s crawling beneath us. That’s why this video/article is so darn unsettling yet incredibly cool. 

3. U.S. missionaries target a tough sell: Bangkok bar girls
Richard Ehrlich pops up again with this piece, another insightful article that covers an issue you wouldn't normally see elsewhere. He talks to an American couple trying to convert some of the city’s bar girls to Christianity, finding out their methods and success rates. There's also a gallery of photos displaying some of the bars and the house where they teach the women who decide to join them.

4. Gallery: Charms of Bangkok taxis. Literally
For over two years, blogger Dale Konstanz has been photographing Bangkok taxi charms and interiors. Today his blog features a fascinating collection of shots of these icons, amulets and bizarre trinkets that always ride shotgun with Bangkok's cabbies. He continues to update his blog regularly and was kind enough to provide CNNGo with a gallery of some of his shots. 

5. Is it vintage, antique or just plain junk? Find it all at Bangkok's 3 top retro markets
This is not your typical Bangkok shopping piece. Our fashionable contributor Kitty Chirapongse, known for her eclectic tastes, explains why Bangkok's lovers of the old, torn and pre-worn prefer these superbly aged vintage markets and gives some insider tips on Bangkok’s market scene that we hope will inspire people to explore beyond Jatujak Weekend Market and the city's many shopping malls. There's also a gallery with some cool photos she has taken at each market.