http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32476838


Quote:

More than three decades ago, Amy Chanthaphavong's parents fled their home country of Laos. Her father had been a fighter pilot in the Laos air force, supporting the Americans in their war on neighbouring Vietnam. As communists tightened their grip on Laos, he decided it was time to leave. Fearing punishment from the country's Marxist-ruled administration, he decided it would be too dangerous ever to return to the country of his birth. But 35 years later, his daughter Amy made a life-changing decision. She left San Diego, California, for the small South East Asian country of Laos, intent on becoming part of its rapid economic development. Economic revival As one of the world's last few remaining communist states, Laos was closed off to much of the world until the 1990s, when reforms started being introduced to tackle severe poverty. It is still one of the poorest countries in East Asia. But over the last decade its economy has been growing rapidly - by up to 8% a year thanks to the construction of huge hydroelectric dams and a boom in commodity exports. However, its people remain predominantly poor and unskilled. Amy's mission is to help change that.

Hate this b*tch. Ugly as a dog's ass but still won Miss Asia.

Also wants to westernize Laos.

she is profiting by making films! hahaha!

China saw it before.

yeah and that's all she cares about, profit. Profiting at the expense of Lao people. A true parasite.

What skills does an Asian American beauty queen have to offer that will help lift Laotians out of poverty?


Many foreigners, including many foreigners who are actually highly skilled in practical fields, live in Laos but they do not receive any recognition from anyone.

Be wary of people who promote and present themselves as altruistic and righteous. She just wants recognition for her 'selfless acts' although the recognition is payment in and of itself for a narcissist.

Cambodia is unfortunately filled with these types of people trying to make a name for themselves.

I cannot stand people who think they're doing good work by volunteering to do manual labor or some other type of unskilled work. Then they talk to a few villagers through an interpreter and get a few selfie shots and call it a day

Southeast Asia does not have a shortage of unskilled laborers so they aren't accomplishing anything other than making themselves feel good.

Miss Amy is doing a sales and marketing specialist roles for the social, health and economic development of Laos. She probably has a college degree and highly experienced with people skills. Plus sex sells in any industry and she is somewhat of an eye candy in my opinion. :neatstuff

You guys are a bunch of jealous type. ;D ;D ;D

comeon guys she not that bad to look at. I would hit it

In my opinion, Miss Amy has good intention in helping Laos and Lao people and not about herself. Also, why would she risk her well being for being over there during this current diplomatic and democratic uncertainties in Laos?

[quote author=684D5045477D664B4F4351220 link=1434085710/7#7 date=1485290293]In my opinion, Miss Amy has good intention in helping Laos and Lao people and not about herself. Also, why would she risk her well being for being over there during this current diplomatic and democratic uncertainties in Laos? [/quote

German help more in poverty alleviation

Europeans are there to enjoy the undeveloped landscape of Laos. They are tired of the hustles and bustles of city life from western civilization and wanted peace and tranquility from Laos. I knew a couple of German chicks I used to work with and they told me they did backpacking for 6 months straight right after high school in southeast Asia and did some hitchhiking through Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

They must have massive scale of fans with their twitter! ;D


Satan wrote on 25^th Jan, 2017 at 6:07am:

Europeans are there to enjoy the undeveloped landscape of Laos. They are tired of the hustles and bustles of city life from western civilization and wanted peace and tranquility from Laos. I knew a couple of German chicks I used to work with and they told me they did backpacking for 6 months straight right after high school in southeast Asia and did some hitchhiking through Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

The European are not very materialist . They spent their money on travel . They are very open minded unlike
AMericans. These idiots wouldn't even eat fish with head
on it or duck .

I like wild duck.



ba dac wrote on 25^th Jan, 2017 at 11:09am:

The European are not very materialist . They spent their money on travel . They are very open minded unlike AMericans. These idiots wouldn't even eat fish with head on it or duck .

I'll try anything 1 time. But wild duck is very good

I like Bamboo Rat...have you seen any around lately? Making me hungry  :)

Those critters are very hard to catch

they aren't that hard to catch. you just put up a neck snaring trap outside its hole. I've done it before, it grips nice and tight around their neck and usually they're struggling to get out.

I bet it taste great grill with some lemon grass

Grilled Bamboo Rat with Lemon Grass sounds good to me 😊 Just have to get Mak Nad to teach me how to catch them

Europeans are more adventurous and not as materialistic than your typical Americans.

Set up little trap with fishing line . In utube they show these hmong in mountain of Laos catching bird. I'm pretty sure it will work for the rats

Bunch of real Hmong folks in Gran Torino.

Hmongs caused a lot of problems in Laos and the government doesn't really like them. Here they are another one of the low-class Asian races that act like blacks.

In Laos they actually were bold enough to claim the entire northern part of Laos as their own Hmong country..In Thailand I can't say they're much better..Now I see why the government wants to stamp out their ethnic culture.

Buk Nut wrote on 26^th Jan, 2017 at 12:46pm:

Hmongs caused a lot of problems in Laos and the government doesn't really like them. Here they are another one of the low-class Asian races that act like blacks. In Laos they actually were bold enough to claim the entire northern part of Laos as their own Hmong country..In Thailand I can't say they're much better..Now I see why the government wants to stamp out their ethnic culture.

They can say, hmongs lives matter.  ;D

Satan wrote on 26^th Jan, 2017 at 11:12am:

Europeans are more adventurous and not as materialistic than your typical Americans.

They discovered America, now America found Europe. ;D ;D

Buk Nut wrote on 26^th Jan, 2017 at 12:46pm:

Hmongs caused a lot of problems in Laos and the government doesn't really like them. Here they are another one of the low-class Asian races that act like blacks. In Laos they actually were bold enough to claim the entire northern part of Laos as their own Hmong country..In Thailand I can't say they're much better..Now I see why the government wants to stamp out their ethnic culture.

I really didn't know this.I thought they were victims cause
they fought against the commies

Lao government should allow to have their own country in my opinion. What would be the name though...?

I don't know about that. They even want Vientiane. Why would Laos give away their own capital?

I am talking about northernmost regions of Laos, nearest to China and Burma. 'North Laos' would be a good country name. Just like North Korea and South Koria.

Satan wrote on 27^th Jan, 2017 at 6:00am:

I am talking about northernmost regions of Laos, nearest to China and Burma. 'North Laos' would be a good country name. Just like North Korea and South Koria.

Laos as a whole is much much better

Too slow though. They need a Lao Donald J. Trump as a leader.

I don't think they would call it "North Laos."

It would probably be something like "Hmoob Land" or such...

'Land of 100 Elephants'? Because there could be only 100 elephants left in the jungle.

no, that's the part you don't get. The Hmong wouldn't name it after anything Lao, as they consider themselves a separate nationality.

'Land of Mountains'? Because topographic map suggests northernmost Laos appears to be very mountainous.

Here is the map

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http://www.dw.com/en/vietnams-hmong-christians-protest-for-greater-autonomy/a-6520648

They had a name for it and it was in Hmong but I forgot what it was called. Anyway in Laos that group is known as the Jao Fa and they were executed..

Vietnam ain't going to fudge in giving up land space because they are running out of land space with 100 million people already. Vietnam intrudes into Laos already and taking natural resources from Laos to benefit their kind.

Where are you from Mark? Australia or New Zealand perhaps?

Can anyone translate 'Land of Mountains' into Hmong language?

I'm from the USA, how about you?

Me too...I'm half Navajo and half Lao.

It's hard to see the Lao government ever dividing Laos up to give to the Hmong

Exactly. Laos and Vietnam are still the least democratic countries in the ASEAN block.

Anyway, Navajo and Lao. That's a mix no one would expect. I knew you were Lao though, I could tell by the way you type.

I practice mostly southern culture with a twist of Navajo flavour in the mixture. Not too sue about Lao though.

what is Navajo?

American Indian.

ba dac wrote on 4^th Feb, 2017 at 12:05pm:

American Indian.

That is my plan to have visit some regions still with American Indian culture.  :applause

White men and chinamen used to call us Engines.

peterpan wrote on 4^th Feb, 2017 at 2:06pm:

ba dac wrote on 4th Feb, 2017 at 12:05pm: American Indian. That is my plan to have visit some regions still with American Indian culture.  :applause

New Mexico and Arizona are good places to check out

Engine? the motor? run fast and full of energy? becaus of venison?


Satan wrote on 10^th Feb, 2017 at 6:24am:

White men and chinamen used to call us Engines.

Engine or Injun?

Our main business is casino business and we don't even have to pay tax on our earnings.

Satan wrote on 12^th Feb, 2017 at 8:00am:

Our main business is casino business and we don't even have to pay tax on our earnings.

A podcast talked about mines and gas.

A lot of beauties around casino business?

Beautiful women are everywhere.

Just jumped over the border into Cambodia,Siem Reap to be precise on a work related issue and the girls are sure pretty and friendly here. Went to a restaurant for dinner and started talking to a girl who worked there and she asked me if I would like to go and see the temples at Angkor Wat as she was not working the next day.I was supposed to work but how do you say no to a pretty girl.Anyway we ended up having an enjoyable day together and had a couple of cold beers to wash the dust down on the way back to town.If you ever get the chance to see Angkor Wat make the most of the opportunity as it is something out of this world.Now back to work >:( >:( >:(

grant wrote on 22^nd Feb, 2017 at 7:22pm:

Just jumped over the border into Cambodia,Siem Reap to be precise on a work related issue and the girls are sure pretty and friendly here. Went to a restaurant for dinner and started talking to a girl who worked there and she asked me if I would like to go and see the temples at Angkor Wat as she was not working the next day.I was supposed to work but how do you say no to a pretty girl.Anyway we ended up having an enjoyable day together and had a couple of cold beers to wash the dust down on the way back to town.If you ever get the chance to see Angkor Wat make the most of the opportunity as it is something out of this world.Now back to work >:( >:( >:(

Nice, I heard Siem Reap was super-dangerous though, what would you say about that?

And, did you guys have sex?

It seems pretty safe here Mak Nad the local population are very friendly and their are lots of tourists around. And no we didn't get down and do it but will be going out again one night in the coming week.

Are you all eco-tourist type?

It is a wonderful place, and very big. I paid 10 USD and 10 RMB Yuan for about 2 hours guide. There are many guides approaching tourists, first, talking about local education and poor economic conditions and then showed you around, and last, money. Good to making a living like that. 

This pic was taken with Sumsung phone. The light is just right.

---

peterpan wrote on 28^th Feb, 2017 at 11:28am:

It is a wonderful place, and very big. I paid 10 USD and 10 RMB Yuan for about 2 hours guide. There are many guides approaching tourists, first, talking about local education and poor economic conditions and then showed you around, and last, money. Good to making a living like that.  This pic was taken with Sumsung phone. The light is just right.

Stunning.  I need to visit Angkor Wat someday.

What part of Laos is that?

Satan wrote on 4^th Mar, 2017 at 8:53am:

What part of Laos is that?

That photo is of Siem Reap, Cambodia

How is Siem Reap compared to Laos? Was thinking of going

It depends where to go in Laos. It is better spend 7 days visiting the sprawling temples complex covering a huge hill area.

Locals are good and kind, hotel is acceptable and 70 USD hotel is already excellent.

70 USD a night for hotels? Jesus christ. In Laos the most I'd pay was around $10-20

$70/night over there is a 5 star type hotel.

Buk Nut you can get a.reasonable hotel in Siem Reap for 20 or dollars a night. The entry to Angkor Wat has gone up to 37 dollars but still good value

With central air conditioner? If not, how can one survives without air conditioner in Southeast Asia?

Buk Nut wrote on 13^th Jun, 2015 at 5:10am:

Hate this b*tch. Ugly as a dog's ass but still won Miss Asia. Also wants to westernize Laos.

And this set of posts right here is why I went and looked up Amy and became friends with her several years ago.  (And found out that one of my Lao friends here in San Diego already knew her.)  Because I want to support what she does.  Because opening up free market capitalism in Laos is the only way that the Lao people are going to raise themselves out of poverty.  Just like they did in China. Because "Communism" is a fantasy.

Also: Contrary to silly opinions here, she is very pretty.

Peter wrote on 23^rd Feb, 2021 at 1:01am:

Buk Nut wrote on 13th Jun, 2015 at 5:10am: Hate this b*tch. Ugly as a dog's ass but still won Miss Asia. Also wants to westernize Laos. And this set of posts right here is why I went and looked up Amy and became friends with her several years ago.  (And found out that one of my Lao friends here in San Diego already knew her.)  Because I want to support what she does.  Because opening up free market capitalism in Laos is the only way that the Lao people are going to raise themselves out of poverty.  Just like they did in China. Because "Communism" is a fantasy. Also: Contrary to silly opinions here, she is very pretty.

Correct, communism is a fantasy. I agree with you there. It is a one stop path to fascism since all power is consolidated under the government and no one owns any property. Seems like you are actually looking out for the people of Laos..good on you..Although I believe the current leaders are Vietnamese puppets..anyway Lao people lifting out of poverty would help them greatly and surely raise the international community's "opinion" of them. The current situation in Laos is pretty dire for a lot of folks..But I believe rapid westernization would also result in many of the 100+ languages of the ethnic groups in Laos going extinct very quickly..just imagine how quickly their lifestyle would end..But maybe I am wrong, since Thailand is very westernized and still has culture to some degree..but it seems like it won't last another few generations. "Thainess" is shoved down every throat of every kid where the government manages to build one of their schools..haha..even in hill tribe villages...anyway it's been so long since i've posted here..I was looking for some old members but it seems they are gone..