According to the recently published World Happiness Report, Laos ranks 110th out of 156 countries in happiness.
Finland takes the crown as the happiest country on the planet, with all the Nordic countries ranking among the 10 happiest nations in the world. On the flip side, Burundi is the unhappiest place on earth according to the report, with the 10 unhappiest nations in the world hailing from Africa (with the exception of Yemen).
In ASEAN, Singapore is the happiest country (34th rank). Malaysia came in close at 35th rank in the world followed not too far by Thailand (46). The Philippines makes 71st place, while Vietnam and Indonesia take 95th and 96th places, respectively. Cambodia comes out a bit unhappier than Laos at 120th place, whereas Myanmar is the unhappiest at 130th place. Brunei was oddly omitted from the report.
For many countries there is a quite significant correlation between the Human Development Index (HDI) and happiness, but not true for all. Whereas Singapore ranks 5th in the HDI one would assume that the country would rank higher than 34 when it comes to happiness; the opposite is true for the Philippines – in HDI they rank only 116 but when it comes to happiness they are ranked 71st. Therefore, there may be, in the end, a grain of truth in the Filipino tourism slogan “it’s more fun in the Philippines.”
From electro-folk to gritty blues, the live music scene in Bangkok is one of the best in South East Asia…with a song for everyone to sing.
Sawai Kaewsombat has his hands wrapped around his khaen – the tips of his fingers dancing over the bamboo pipes as his cheeks fill with air. The sound the 76-year-old makes on the traditional mouth organ is trance-like. It’s accompanied by the equally hypnotic plucking of the phin (Asian lute). It’s the kind of music that has been performed for centuries in the heart of Laos, but this evening it’s being played in a dimly lit bar full of 70s furniture in Bangkok. Before long, the traditional instruments are joined by modern bass, drums and percussion, leaving the audience of beat-loving expats and Gen Z Thais with no choice but to dance… welcome to Studio Lam…
STUDIO LAM
The Molam revival
STUDIO LAM
Back in 2009 DJs Maft Sai and Chris Menist decided they wanted to share their vintage collection of molam – a traditional style of music – with their friends. They had no idea that this desire would lead to a music revival and the birth of one of Thailand’s most successful music exports – The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band – fronted by Kaewsombat on his khaen. The band has performed sell-out shows from Bucharest to Berlin and played festivals like Glastonbury in the UK. They’ve also given a new generation of Thais and foreigners a reason to fall in love with a style of music that was dying out the region.
These days, Studio Lam is known as one of the most inspiring live music venues in the Thai capital – where, on any given night of the week, you can hear DJs mixing the reggae beats of Kingston in Jamaica with the sounds of Korat in northeastern Thailand, the folk songs of Aceh in Indonesia with the rhythms of Accra in Ghana.
3/1 Sukhumvit 51, Klongton-Nua, Wattana
Still got the blues
Saxophone Pub
SAXOPHONE PUB
From beats to blues, the Saxophone Pub is a Bangkok institution that has been offering tourists and Thais quality live music since 1987. The stage is at the centre of this cosy pub, allowing the audience to sit in a semi-circle around the performers, creating an atmosphere of intimacy. With walls covered in music paraphernalia, a menu consisting of delicious western and Thai food, and world-class musicians on stage each night, it’s no wonder this bar, which is located near the Victory Monument, has reached legendary status. Some of Thailand’s most popular artists perform regularly at the establishment, including Koh Mr. Saxman, the ska-reggae outfit known as T-Bone Band and Bangkok’s version of B.B. King – Chai and The Blues Maniacs.
3/8 Phayathai Road, Victory Monument
Adhere The 13th Blues-Bar
ADHERE 13TH BLUES BAR
Across town, you’ll find the unusually named Adhere 13th Blues Bar – a hole-in-the-wall venue where you have to squeeze past the band to get to the bar. If you’re looking for a music experience that’s gritty and real, this is the place for you. With its honky-tonk vibe and friendly staff, Adhere is always packed with musicians and backpackers, as well as the sounds of Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Robert Johnson. Most nights end in a free-for-all jam, and on weekends the audience tends to be pushed out onto the street due to the popularity of the place, so be sure to go early if you want a seat!
13 Samsen Road, Bangkok
Rockin’ in the Free World
The Rock Pub
THE ROCK PUB
From thrash to black, funk to death, if you’re in need of a heavy metal hit while in the City of Angels, then be sure to stop by The Rock Pub, near Ratchathewi BTS Station. It’s quite possibly the loudest live music venue in the city. If you have a tattoo and like to wear black, you’ll fit in just fine. But it’s not all hardcore rock; the venue also hosts 80s and 90s themed nights, as well as tributes to popular bands like Nirvana.
93/26-28 Hollywood Street Building,Payathia Rd
THE HARD ROCK CAFÉ
Despite its name, the Hard Rock Café caters more for fans of soft rock. Here you can listen to Thai cover bands singing the songs of The Beatles and Elvis Presley whilst eating a big juicy burger with fries. If you’re a fan of this chain of restaurants, Bangkok’s Hard Rock Café won’t disappoint.
424/3-6 Siam Square SOI 11 Siam Square 7 Alley Pathum Wan
All that jazz
Brown Sugar
BROWN SUGAR
If Louis Armstrong was alive today and happened to be living in Bangkok, you’d find him tooting his trumpet at Brown Sugar. A larger-than-life portrait of the jazz great can be found on the walls of this much-loved club and his music is played there often – along with the works of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock. From Tuesday to Sunday, you can enjoy some of the country’s coolest cats performing everything from experimental jazz to big-band standards. The venue is open as a restaurant and café during the day.
469 Phrasumen Road, Banglumpoo
THE BAMBOO BAR
For a more upmarket experience, there’s the Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s Bamboo Bar with its sophisticated dark wood, marble interiors and elegant mirrored ceiling. Here, international artists perform the songs of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday as members of Bangkok’s high society sip their cocktails.
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Oriental Ave, Khwaeng Bang Rak
Party and government leaders, led by President Bounnhang Vorachi, laid a wreath at the Monument of Unknown Soldiers on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, offering thanks and respect for the fearless revolutionary spirit of those who laid down their lives for the revolutionary cause.
President Bounnhang and his delegation then visited the Kaysone Phomvihane Museum, offering a bouquet of flowers to honor Kaysone Phomvihane for his dedication in leading the revolutionary war, and bringing peace to the Lao multi-ethnic people.
Meanwhile, the government cabinet, led by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, met for a plenary meeting inside a cave in Viengxay District, Huaphan Province, to commemorate the nation’s liberation forces.
Viengxay is famous for its caves, used as refuges for the political commanders of the Lao People’s Liberation Army.
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Thongloun said that the government had decided to hold its first plenary meeting of this year in the cave because it had been a major stronghold of the revolutionary leaders.
During the war, Viengxay District and its caves offered protection against bombardment by enemy forces for nine years. Plans were drafted and meetings held in the caves, and assaults to liberate other parts of the country were directed from deep inside the limestone stronghold.
The plenary meeting discussed the 2018 socio-economic development plan, government projects, investment promotion, investment authorization through a single channel, and the implementation of Laos-Vietnam and Laos-China cooperation plans.
The state budget will be reviewed today, with forecasts for the first quarter and first half of the year to be announced.
The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party had its roots in the Communist Party of Indochina, founded by Ho Chi Minh in 1930. Originally almost entirely Vietnamese, a small Lao offshoot of the party was founded in 1936.
The party has governed Laos since 1975, with policy-making organs including the Politburo, Secretariat, and the Central Committee. A party congress elects members to the politburo and central committee every five years.
The European Union Delegation to Laos, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and the European Chamber of Commerce and Industry have called on members of the public to save the date for this Saturday, the 24th of March, for the 7th Annual European Food Festival at the National Culture Hall (parking lot area) in Vientiane.
Over 30 restaurants and food vendors are expected to participate in the festival, all of which will be presenting their signature dishes from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Spain.
“The festival aims to promote the tourism campaign Visit Laos Year 2018 of the Lao Government, and the European Food Festival will help draw more visitors to Laos,” said Leo Faber, EU Ambassador to Laos, at a press conference several days ago.
It has been observed that the food and beverage sector in Laos is growing. The festival aims to provide a support framework for European companies interested in exporting to or investing in Laos. The festival also is expected to support the local food and beverage industry and overall trade relations between Europe and Laos.
The event will start from 10am to 11pm at the parking area of the National Culture Hall on Samsenthai Road. Performances will begin at 3:30pm – celebrity artists and entertainers will be keeping the music live for festival enthusiasts until almost midnight.
The jet-setting lifestyle of a flight attendant has long been viewed as a glamorous and glitzy affair, and one which continues to fascinate us. We’ve all experienced that little hush that befalls the airport crowd each time the stewards and stewardesses saunter purposefully by, captains in tow. And the rest of us stand idly by clutching our tickets and passports. While we may dream of exotic destinations and extravagance, there is more to these supercrews of the sky than meets the eye.
The life of a flight attendant includes a rigorous training schedule with frequent retraining for new emergencies or possibilities. A flight attendant in some ways must be a doctor, a mechanic, a pilot, and a diplomat all rolled into one impeccably groomed package.
Here are seven things you didn’t know about Lao Airlines flight attendants:
1. They are a small emergency response team
All flight attendants are required to have a comprehensive understanding of each aeroplane on which they operate, including the location of every piece of emergency equipment. They are required to use fire extinguishers, oxygen units, life rafts, external defibrillators, and emergency locater transmission equipment.
2. They are the field medics of the air
“Help! Is there a doctor on this flight?” While this scenario has appeared in countless films, in reality it is the flight attendants who are trained to deal with medical emergencies. Flight attendants receive training in both first aid and CPR, and are capable of diagnosing patients in a medical emergency. Their knowledge covers anything from allergies to dentistry, and they have been known to assist sick or injured passengers until landing.
3. They are potentially backup pilots
Flight attendants are required to have a basic working knowledge of the cockpit and its equipment. Though an emergency landing may be a bit much to ask, a flight attendant may be required to assist the pilot should anything happen to his co-pilot during a flight.
4. They have a working knowledge of the aircraft
Lao Airlines flight attendants are required to have some knowledge about the basic workings of the plane. They are trained to follow flight statistics, measure engine power, and have a good understanding of what is happening in the cockpit and the outside atmosphere at any given time.
5. They are Zen masters
You may have noticed a flight attendant quietly seated facing the passengers during takeoff and landing. Far from merely looking pretty, the flight attendant is actually going through a mental checklist during this time. He or she will be ticking off items such as an evacuation plan, exits, passenger count, and ensuring everything else is in order.
6. They are cultural ambassadors
Flight attendants are considered cultural ambassadors, and are expected to act as good representatives of their country at all times. They must demonstrate a sound knowledge of all cultural traditions and customs, as well as language proficiency, and must ensure they are faultlessly well-groomed according to local traditions.
7. They have – and deserve – their special privileges
There are certainly some advantages: travel without a visa? Special privileges like free flights and accommodation? They definitely get to skip the queue, but you wouldn’t expect anything less!
Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public (BCEL) has entered into a strategic partnership with Thanachart Bank of Thailand to bring QR Code payment services to Thailand for Lao shoppers.
The two banks signed a partnership yesterday at the Bank of Thailand, with the QR Code payment service to begin in May this year.
Thanachart Bank will settle bill payments on behalf of Thai vendors that accept QR Code payments from Lao residents using the mobile application from BCEL, according to a statement by Thanachart Bank.
Around 1 million vendors have already registered for QR Code payment systems in Thailand, while in Laos the system is only just starting to take off.
The number of vendors in Laos registering for the BCEL OnePay QR Code system is increasing 10 percent per month, with transactions increasing 10 percent per month, according to BCEL, which claims to have 90 percent of the mobile banking business in Laos.
BCEL’s customers number about one million, out of a national population of seven million. About 200,000 of them use the mobile banking application, according to Nanthalath Keopaseuth, Deputy Managing Director of BCEL.
On Tuesday, a Thai criminal court handed down life imprisonment charges to drug ring leader, Xaysana Keophimpha on the charge of illegally trafficking 1.2 million methamphetamine pills to Thailand, after initially being sentenced to death. However, the punishment was reduced due to his cooperating with the authorities – specifically, his confessing to several other past charges of drug trafficking.
According to a judge, it was evidence pulled from mobile phones that linked Xaysana with a smuggling network that used Nong Khai, the Thai border point with Laos, to move drugs south.
Xaysana Keophimpha was the subject of much media scrutiny ever since his arrest at Suvarnabhumi Airport on the 19th of January. Lao, Thai and regional media brought to light stories of his rumored connections to powerful and influential factions in government and society in every country in which he conducted his illegal operations. Images of his ostentatious lifestyle have gone viral on social media in Laos where the majority of the public have condemned his actions.
Since then, he has been detained at the Central Correctional Institution for Drug Addicts in Thailand, awaiting his trial and subsequent sentencing. Standing handcuffed in his prison uniform, Xaysana did not react as the verdict was delivered. He faces another trial for possession of 3.3 million “yaba” pills which is expected to start in July.
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull held bilateral talks on Saturday, amid the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, which was held in Sydney from March 17-18.
The two premiers agreed to strengthen ties and cooperation between their two countries in a broad range of fields, including agriculture, public works and transport, finance, and human rights, according to the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Australia and Laos are parties to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), which entered into force in Laos on January 1, 2011. Australia has provided duty free and quota-free access for Lao goods exported to Australia since 2003.
PM Thongloun feeds a kangaroo at Sydney’s Tooronga Zoo
A press release from the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that PM Thongloun and PM Turnbull valued the friendly relations enjoyed between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic ties 66 years ago. The Enduring relationship between the two nations has included cooperation in various fields.
Australia has provided development assistance to Laos throughout the relationship, including in the fields of education, human resource development, and the clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXOs) that were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War.
The government of Australia has also provided scholarships for Lao students and civil servants, facilitating their study at distinguished Australian universities.
Meanwhile, more than 12,000 people in Australia identify themselves as having Lao ancestry, with over 10,000 born in Laos, according to the Australian Embassy to Laos.
PM Thongloun thanked his host, PM Turnbull, for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation, and congratulated Australia on hosting the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, and invited him to make an official visit to Laos in the near future.
