Eric B, whose song Jop Jop Kan Pai (The End of Love) is now popular on the radio waves in Vientiane, has set back the launch of their self-titled album from March to April.

Managing Director of Modern Music Company, Mr Oudalai Nusyhalad, said that the change of plans was because the album is not completed yet and half of the group, Mr Eric, or Air, is in the US and unable to return for a concert.

“Eric B is the newest hip hop act from our company. There are two lyricists - Mr Eric and Ms Phouvilai Seng-akhom, also known as Noy. The forthcoming album also features a performance from rapper Lair who is in the band Laoster,” Mr Oudalai said...more >>

“The two main reasons for the delay in the album and concert are that we want to launch the audio CD and VCD at the same time, and we have had some problems during our work, which has wasted time. Another problem is that Eric, and also Lair, are unavailable due to work commitments and they asked to move the launch back so they can be here,” he said.

“We are still working hard on the album, with only about 5-10 percent to go. So now we can plan for a special event with a launch concert in April to coincide with the Pi Mai Lao celebrations,” he said.

The album features 12 songs, all of them recorded and produced in Vientiane . Many of the songs reflect the social lives of young people and mix both Lao and English lyrics.

The rappers have already released two singles, You My Girl and Jop Jop Kan Pai, both currently hitting the airwaves in Vientiane.

Eric B and the company started work on the album in 2006 with extensive song production from Sam and Mee, who helped in the writing and creating of the album and videos.

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
Vientianetimes

PUTRAJAYA: Direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane in Laos will resume from July after nearly a decade of hiatus. Budget carrier AirAsia will be operating between the two cities, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar announced yesterday.

This was agreed upon by both governments at the third joint commission meeting for bilateral co-operation here.

The decision to resume direct air links was made as part of steps to increase co-operation in tourism and to boost trade and investment, he said after the two-day meeting.

Syed Hamid led the Malaysian delegation, while Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Thongloun Sisoulith led the Laos delegation.
Malaysia Airlines had mounted flights into Vientiane beginning in 1996 but ceased operations since 1998 due to the Asian financial crisis...more

Syed Hamid said resumption of direct flights was mutually beneficial as Laos was keen to have more Malaysians invest there.

Malaysia is the ninth largest investor there, with interests in hotels and hydropower facilities.

Trade with Laos is now worth US$58 million (RM197.7 million).

Both countries also discussed plans to exchange plots of land in Putrajaya and Vientiane for the building of their respective embassies and ambassadors’ residences.

Other areas of co-operation such as capacity-building to help develop Laos’ economy were discussed, including plans for the country to explore rubber planting.

Laos has also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to visit the country.

The next bilateral meeting will be held in Vientiane in 2009.

Source: The New Straits Times

Lao Airlines will add extra round-trip flights from Vientiane to Luang Prabang and Pakxe from April 10-19 to meet the needs of passengers travelling to celebrate the Lao New Year.

According to the Commercial Director of Lao Airlines, Mr Rada Sunthorn, the airline will increase the number of return flights from Vientiane to Luang Prabang from three to seven daily.

Return flights from Vientiane to Pakxe will increase from three a week at present to five times weekly... more info

“If we find demand increases even further, we will add more flights. Every year, more and more people travel to Luang Prabang at this time of the year,” he said.

“Not only is it well known as a World Heritage Site, it is a very popular destination for local people and foreign residents of Laos , who like to go there to celebrate the traditional activities staged at New Year.”

Mr Rada said that over New Year, this group constituted 60 percent of visitors to the city whereas, normally, overseas tourists formed 70 percent of the total number of visitors.

The second most popular destination in Laos was Champassak province, which is home to the World Heritage Site of Vat Phou.

Overseas visitors usually go there by plane during the New Year, whereas most local people drive there.

He said that the prices of these flights would remain unchanged, with people of Lao nationality paying 470,000 kip and foreigners paying US$63 for a one-way ticket from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. From Vientiane to Champassak, the cost was 750,000kip for Lao people and US$95 for foreigners.

“We have cancelled flights from Vientiane to Houaxai airport in Bokeo province for a further two weeks because of poor visibility due to smoke from forest fires and slash and burn farming. We are waiting for the skies to clear before we resume flights on this sector,” he said.


By Panyasith Thammavongsa
vientianetimes