ScandAsia South East Asia - August 2014

MalaysiaIndonesiaPhilippinesVietnam

CambodiaLaos

AU

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ScandAsia.dk ScandAsia.fi ScandAsia.no ScandAsia.se

MadeleineMandorff

the New Directorof MASBA

ScandAsia is the only magazine that covers all the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish residents in South East Asia.

We also publish a ScandAsia magazine in China, Thailand, and Singapore.

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Please sign up for your own FREE copy: www.scandasia.comPublisher : 211 Soi Prasert Manukitch 29Prasert Manukitch RoadChorakae Bua, Lad PraoBangkok 10230, ThailandTel. +66 2 943 7166-8, Fax: +66 2 943 7169 E-mail: [email protected]

Editor-in-Chief : Gregers A.W. Mø[email protected]

Managing Editor:Thana [email protected]

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Daily news and features here:www.scandasia.com

Coming Events

Visit Volvo Assembly line with MASBADate: 4 September, 14.30Venue: Volvo Car Manufacturing Malaysia, Shah Alam, Selangor

A couple of times every year, the Malaysian-Swedish Business Associa-tion visits a company. This September the trip goes to Volvo’s factory in Malaysia. The duration of the tour is around 2 hours and ends with a few refreshments. Apart from networking, you will get a chance to learn every stage of the production line in the Volvo plant.

For more information, contact: [email protected]

Season Starter - Scandinavian Golf PhilippinesDate: 17 August, 2014, 09.00Venue: Navys Golf Club, Fort Bonifacio, Manila

Scandinavian golfers will tee off the new season at Navys Golf Club south Manila on Sunday the 17th of August. The club is conveniently located right next to the skyway and since the course is public there is access for everyone. Both new and old members are very welcome to join. The game will be followed by a small awarding ceremony.

For more information, contact: http://www.scangolf.ph/contact-us/

Indonesian Independence DayDate: 17 August, 2014

The week up to 17th August, Indonesia is being draped in red and white. Flying the flag is an important warm-up to Independence Day. The flag was introduced on the 17th of August 1945. This was the same day Indonesian independence from the Dutch was proclaimed, and a flag hoisting ceremony at The National Monument in Jakarta has been a vital part of the celebration ever since. While the day has its larger ceremonies, you are also likely to encounter fun and games as “Panjat Pinang” where prices are hung from a greased pole. People will then try to climb the pole in order to win the prices.

4 ScandAsia.South East Asia • August 2014

A shipment of missile com-ponents bound for Ukraine and intercepted by Finnish

customs originated in Vietnam, re-ports the daily Helsingin Sanomat. The paper wrote on July 18 that in June Finnish customs officers blocked the large consignment because it lacked the permits required to transit through Finland.

BUK M2E anti-aircraft missile launcher By Vitaly V. Kuzmin (http://vi-talykuzmin.net/?q=node/384) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

It was still not clear whether the missile parts were linked to the down-ing of MH17 flight of the Malaysian Airlines plane over pro-Russian rebels’ stronghold in Ukraine.

News Brief

Defence and Security Compa-ny Saab will be exhibiting its latest range of cutting-edge

technologies across the aerospace domain, covering defence, surveil-lance, and combat management sys-tems at the Asian Defence & Security (ADAS) 2014 in Manila. saabgroop

Saab will be participating in the Philippine’s largest and most important aerospace and defence exhibition being organized in Manila at stand 1740 between July 16-18, 2014. The exhibition will be held at World Trade Centre, Metro Manila.

Saab showcases cutting-edge techs in Manila’s aerospace, defence show

Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, has confirmed its continued support to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, ECCC, by making available a

contribution of SEK 30 million (approximately USD 4,5 million) to the inter-national component of the ECCC for the period 2014-2015.

The ECCC provides a significant contribution towards justice, account-ability and reconciliation in the Cambodian society.

- The Swedish contribution to the ECCC will assist in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime. It is a manifestation of Sweden’s strong commitment to the respect for human rights, international criminal justice and the principle of rule of law, says Hillevi Engström, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation.

With the new contribution, the total Swedish support to the ECCC for the period 2012- 2015 amounts to SEK 68 million (approximately USD 10 million).

Sweden supports Cambodia’s genocide tribunal

The government of Denmark is actively implementing the new Growth Strategy for

Vietnam, encouraging Danish busi-nesses to invest in Vietnam, aiming to raise bilateral trade ties to US$1 billion in 2016.

Danish Foreign Minister Martin Lidagaard made the statement at a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on the sidelines of the 20th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) in Brussels, Belgium, on July 23.

Valuing Vietnam’s recent dynamic development and its increasing role globally, Lidagaard said Denmark con-siders the Southeast Asian nation one of its priority partners in the region.

Vietnam, Denmark eye US$1bln in trade by 2016

Finnish customs seizes Ukraine-bound missile parts from Vietnam

of products including the Gripen fighter jets, Erieye surveillance sys-tem, RBS70 NG air defence missile system, Giraffe AMB radar systems, 9LV Combat Management System and Maritime Aircraft Saab 340 MSA.

Saab aims to showcase the width of Saab product por tfolio, Saab technology transfer and efficiency of Saab products; aimed at strengthening Saab’s commitment to the Philippines.

Saab will be showcasing an array

August 2014 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 5

News Brief

Wealth management today involves much more than selecting the best stocks and bonds. At Nordea Private Banking, we offer you an experienced personal advisor and a comprehensive overview of your wealth based on thorough research and rigorous analysis. One private banker, many specialists – making it possible.

Contact Nordea in Singapore on +65 6597 1084, or e-mail [email protected]

Find one Private Banking advisor, then make sure he knows many specialists

Nordea Bank S.A, Singapore Branch is part of Nordea Group, the leading financial services group in the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions. Some products and services may, due to local regulations, not be available to individuals resident in certain countries and their availability may depend, among other things, on the investment risk profile of persons in receipt of this publication or on any legislation to which they are subject. Noth-ing in this publication should be construed as an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to purchase, subscribe to or sell any investment or product, or to engage in any other transaction or provide any kind of financial or banking service in any jurisdiction where Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch or any of its affiliates do not have the necessary licence. Published by Nordea Bank S.A., R.C.S. Luxembourg No. B 14.157 on behalf of Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch, 3 Anson Rd #20-01, Springleaf Tower, Singapore 079909. www.nordeaprivatebanking.com subject to the supervision of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (www.mas.gov.sg).

Kim Osborg Nielsen, Private Banker

AD_ScandAsiaThailand_Kim_192x135_eng NEW.indd 1 27/02/2014 14:24

Three of the world’s leading cruise companies-Carnival Corp, Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Lines-have expressed

interest to help develop the Philippines as a cruise-ship destination, the Philippine Embassy in Washing-ton, DC, said recently.

In a statement, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia Jr. said officials of the three companies provided feedback on how the Philippines could become a cruise destination that would provide their guests with a unique and memorable experience.

Norwegian Cruise Line is an innovator in cruise travel with a 47-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduc-tion of Freestyle Cruising which revolutionized the industry by giving guests more freedom and flexibility.

Today, Norwegian invites guests to «Cruise Like a Norwegian» on one of 13 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed, resort style cruise vacation on some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea.

Recently, the line was named «Europe’s Leading Cruise Line» for the sixth consecutive year, as well as «Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Line» and «World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line» by the World Travel Awards.

Norwegian Cruise Lines keen to develop Philippines as tourist destination


MadeleineMandorff

With Madeleine Mandorff having entered as Director of MASBA (the Malaysian-Swedish Business Association) in early 2013, the association

has received a boost, according to a member comment, and from what appears to be happening on the activity front. So it is clear that

she has injected some new blood into the organisation.

the New Director of MASBA

By Joakim Persson


Madeleine, who is Swedish and a retired expatriate in Kuala Lumpur (who looks like anything but!), with a long international career in her CV, introduces herself and explains

her new adventure so far. Just do itHaving worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sweden and the UN organisation IAEA for 25 years, (partly under Hans Blix) she is used to a being hands-on, and walking the talk. So at MASBA she has gone about things the same way, and that has meant a slow change process at times.

Officially retired she has still had various consultancy work in the past few years and then increasingly become involved and active in various associations, of which MASBA is among the most important ones; certainly since she was appointed as its Director.

It soon appears clear that Madeleine is not the kind of person who sits down doing nothing. We start with MASBA.

“I learned that there was a lot that could be done – and that it could become a challenge in trying to improve MASBA. It has taken over a year ; longer than I had expected. But I’m hopeful now. It feels like all the work is paying off, and there is hope. And Sweden is the extended arm. Now I’m interested in Sweden,” says Madeleine over coffee near her home, not far from downtown Kuala Lumpur.

“We are focusing on what we are meant for, which is business, and then we can mix that a bit with social activities. And it shows that when one focuses on business, people attend as that is why they are part of MASBA,” thinks Madeleine.

“It’s on the up!“Though she says she wants to be modest about

her contribution.“I have taken on the task perhaps differently

than how it was done previously. I’m used to work in a structured way. If you say something you do it. So I just continued like I am used to work, for good and for bad.”

Madeleine encountered some obstacles – that things should be done in a certain manner and remain the same. Then she dropped the consid-eration and started moving forward; “going on like a steamroller.”

Swedish triangleThe breakthrough came this year, when the board agreed to proceed with a new approach and strengthen the collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden. They met and agreed to do things jointly and also partnered up with Business Sweden. Madeleine wants to strengthen this as the Swedish triangle, plus SWEA.

“I want to have quality and finally one began to realise that yes, one can have that. So we agreed and wanted to start with song and dance; with a quality event.”

This resulted in the networking evening, held in late April with a keynote speaker, Mr. Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Chief Executive, Institute for Democ-racy and Economics Affairs (IDEAS), held at the prestigious address the Royal Selangor Golf Club (RSGC) and with all the Nordic Ambassadors to Malaysia in attendance.

The event was a sounding success and where the speaker certainly captured the interest of the

audience by his informative talk about ‘’Malaysian Politics and Economy: an Update.’

They are now planning to hold evenings of this kind at least twice annually in the future.

Aside this the annual, traditional Ambassador’s Dinner continues as well as the Nordic Christmas Dinner.

Singapore preferred choiceOn the business front there is no improvement in sight in terms of the number of Swedish companies and Swedish expats. A recent study by MASBA actually showed that the quantity of companies from Sweden had declined even in Singapore, which is the preferred country of choice for most.

“Someone [from Sweden] about to set up business in Southeast Asia does their research. Then they see that most others are based in Singapore, and then they choose that as well. We

with rather young members enjoying both social exchanges, discovering Kuala Lumpur and doing cultural things together. As those working for Swed-ish firms in general have short contract, there is often a quick turnover of our members,” she says about SWEA.

She is also part of International Women and Malaysia Culture Group – “good for learning about culture in this region.”

During her working career she always preferred Southeast Asia and wanted to retire here. Actually she first had planned to settle down in Vietnam. But being solo and moving up healthcare on the priority list she had to reconsider.

“I decided to think logically, so certain countries could no longer come in question. By using the process of elimination I soon came to the conclu-sion that Malaysia was the preferred choice – as you have everything here.”

We are focusing on what we are meant for, which is business, and then we can mix that a bit with social activities. And it shows that when one focuses on business, people attend as that is why they are part of MASBA,

are a bit said about that, as we want to promote Malaysia. Yes, there may be more difficulties here with government agencies and all the permissions needed. But it would be much cheaper for firms to set up here; labour costs less, rentals are lower etc., but not everyone discusses like that.”

“And to succeed here, one must have strong nerves and be patient. You don’t make money here fast. You must work the market a long time and stay the course. You must learn and have enough capital to be patient,” is Madeleine’s advice based on what she has seen.

Choosing MalaysiaPrivately, she says she has worked a bit in Malaysia and enjoys a good life and rents a nice apartment. She is single so she has all the time in the world for herself.

“Then I have assignments in various associa-tions. As an, formerly, anti-association person I have become very active. I realised early on that I had to stop being against things - and then my life changed. I joined many associations.”

She is part of SWEA (Swedish Women’s Edu-cational Association), where they are between 50 to 6o local members.

“The atmosphere’s just nice. We’re a group

“And Malaysia is not a bad country in any way. I think I probably did myself a favour, regarding the language, and about things being easier here with authorities, plus the offer of the MM2H programme which I knew about.”

In November 2008 she arrived to Malaysia with her 4000 kg of belongs and has lived here since. Her first 18 months in Malaysia she spent adapting to and learning her new home country and city and getting to know people.

“I decided early to be more open in my new life; to find out if things may be more fun than I would have thought. And with that point of de-parture things are indeed much more fun! I have been a workaholic and I cannot blame anyone for having to retire. So I decided before that to accept it and do the best of it. And this was my way of doing it; moving quickly and not hanging on and moving forward!”

Her main interest is simply, after giving it a thought, to live a good life, in one way or the other.

“I’m interested in learning more about Malaysia, opening my eyes wide open. And to find out that one can learn so much more as a retired person, I had not expected!”


Moving to Asia as a couple, if you want your relationship to survive you have to adapt to the new realities around you and make sure that you are still aware of each others needs. It sounds pretty simple but it has been key to a Danish couple’s happy life in Laos.Life

upside downBy Morten Krogsholm


When you choose to pursue a career outside your home country, most people wonder what impact it will have on their relationship. Often it is

only one of the two in the couple who has a working assignment while the spouse must adjust to a new way of life. Danish couple Mads and Kristine Brinks knew that their relationship would be challenged by moving to Asia and the heavy changes that come with it, but felt up for the challenge.

A lot of newsIt is two different lives with completely different experiences and it is all about learning to accept but also recognizing the life of one’s partner and the discourse that him or her may have. Life in Southeast Asia is in every way very different from life in Scandinavia or most other countries in the world. For Mads and Kristine Brinks it was a chal-lenge they were excited to take on.

Mads Brinks was put in charge of Carlsberg’s partnership with the local brewery Beer Lao and he is one of the few foreigners in Laos who works in the commercial sector.

“At times it is as if my family and I get treated like royalty, which I am not always comfortable with because I am a very modest man. We have arrived at restaurants on numerous occasions, which were packed to the limit except for one table strangely enough being cleared for my family.”

Of course it was appreciated, Mads adds, but

her that it was unbelievable that she was married when her ironing was so terrible. Not a scenario I would like to repeat. This is why I always make it completely clear to all new employees that I am the only boss in the house,” Kristine said.

Initially she was unaware of the internal struggle with the employees as a result of the communica-tion barrier and was not aware of this before the maid had already quit.

Having help around the house is a first for Kristine. Though it is nice, it has also forced her to give up some of her privacy. Having already mentioned the curiosity that exists among the people of Laos when it comes to the location of her things, she is also quite aware that some staff will have read every piece of paper or mail in the house. However Kristine explains that, “this is just something you get used to. When you are living here, you need to accept it, because you cannot change it.”

For Mads Brinks, things he believes to be completely normal seem extremely foreign to the Laotians

“If I have made an agreement with Kristine to pick up the kids from school, then that is what I am going to do. This is a concept that my col-leagues don’t understand. Even when I’ve talked about being home for my kids’ or wife’s birthday, they have found it very peculiar. These seemingly normal and natural routines are not as important in the Laotians everyday life,” Mads said.

When ScandAsia interviewed Mads and Kristine

that it did not suit his personality. He knew that someone most likely had been kicked out of the restaurant to make room for him.

For Kristine Brinks it has also been a turnaround experience. Stepping back into a very traditional housewife role, she experienced the new culture in other ways than her husband. The Laotians focus on wealth, status and hierarchy in general is an ongoing theme in her life, too.

“They will want to know how much everything costs. My purse, my car, my shirt, you name it. If it is new, they will ask to the price, which can be a bit uncomfortable at times. They are also very curious people and if I have misplaced something, the community around the house will know where it is... and I mean, exactly where it is.”

Kristine said these were a few things she had to get used to upon arriving and settling in Laos.

Quick adaptationThe new culture, new circumstances and new scenarios require adaptation. Being adaptable and quickly knowing how to handle this transition is the key to Mads’ and Kristine’s happiness in their new life. At home Kristine emphasizes to the staff that she is the boss. In the process she witnesses her helpers trying to boss each other around.

“Our former nanny basically harassed the maid until she quit. There is also a completely other toler-ance for what is acceptable to say to one another, than what we are used to. Our former nanny would ask our maid how she had gotten so fat and tell


an airplane had just crashed with many high-ranking Laos officials on board a few days before. Mads had attended the funeral of these officials, not because he knew them, but because it was expected of him.

“My position requires me to attend nearly every event. Of course I show up and pay respect, but it is also surreal being there. Not knowing the deceased or being unable to understand the ceremony was quite the experience. However, it is part of the job and my life here. I have learned to accept it,” Mads said.

New social realityMads and Kristine Brinks were both on the same page when it came to moving away from Denmark and Mads taking the job in Laos. Although they were mentally prepared it didn’t change the fact that Mads wife, Kristine, was giving up the normal working and social life she had in Denmark.

“In the beginning I spent my day at home waiting for Mads to return. And when he did I expected him to give me his full attention,” Kristine said.

This was not always the case. As she was adapting to her new reality, so was her husband. Both having to take in a lot of new impressions every day and getting comfortable in their new life was demanding for both. When looking back on the beginning, Mads can certainly relate to what Kristine said.

“I knew that she expected me to be there 100 percent when I got home. She was in need of a social life and someone to talk to. I wanted to give her what she needed, but I had my social needs met at work from my colleagues. However, the interaction with my colleagues was vastly different from an office in Denmark. Nevertheless, I had a social life. It required a lot of effort from Kristine and myself to work on that. I was tired when I got home from work, but at the same time I wanted to be there for my children and fulfill Kristine’s needs for my presence as well,” Mads explained.

Being honest with each other and communi-

Mads Brinks acknowledges that his wife is in charge of the social aspects of their lives, but that he has tried to be as involved as possible. It is just a result of the life that they are now living, but they are both satisfied with the arrangement.

It might sound simple and easy, but both Mads and Kristine Brinks emphasizes that getting used to the new lifestyle while still remaining a couple has its challenges. When a couple is used the typical trades of the Western world, this is not an easy task. With an intense paradigm shift, everyday reality shocks and foreign surroundings life is an adventure for the Brinks.

Finding common groundsSince the beginning of their expat life, the couple has stayed on the same page through the years that have passed. Kristine recently furthered her education by obtaining a business administration degree. This was not a topic for discussion between the two before she enrolled.

“Having three kids at a demanding age, I doubted whether or not it was the best idea for Kristine to start on a new education. They both knew it would require a lot of her attention and time. Regardless, she gave up a lot to be there and I could understand her needs to do something rewarding with her life besides being a loving mother and wife,” he said.

They are also in agreement that the future may bring new adventures in other countries.

“We have not decided on what is next. The only thing we completely agree is that we are going back to Denmark at one point. We will not become full-time expats,” Kristine said.

Both have impressive resumes. Mads is working for a major organization like Carlsberg and Kristine has enhanced her education and is continuing to grow intellectually. This couple’s future opportunities seem to be endless, but for now there are staying put in Vientiane, Laos.

In the beginning I spent my day at home waiting for Mads to return. And when he did I expected him to give me his full attention

It is two different lives with completely different experiences and it is all about learning to accept but also recognizing the life of one’s partner and the discourse that him or her may have. Life in Southeast Asia is in every way very different from life in Scandinavia or most other countries in the world

cating openly has led the couple to find happiness and peace in their new roles. They have grown to totally accept their individual responsibilities and have learned to understand each others desires and/or needs. One of Kristine’s new responsibili-ties consists of being in complete control of the couple’s social agenda.

Kristine explains that, “when it comes to din-ners, playdates for the kids or other events in our spare time it is up to me to make it happen. I plan out everything and Mads is completely oblivious to our social life.”




Half-Norwegian, half-American and homeless in a strange land. Out of options and kept in a downwards spiral. Meet Christian Jones. A high-profile

Caucasian beggar in Vientiane, Laos. Living from day to day on small handouts from Western travellers. Christian has been trapped in

destitution and poverty from which there seems to be no easy way out.

By Morten Krogsholm

Despair, frustration, sickness, insom nia followed a stream of bad luck that caught up with Christian Jones - both in in Oslo, in Bangkok and now for the past few years in

Laos. Yet, Christian Jones appears to be remark-ably positive for a man leading such a precarious existence.

An unbroken string of bad luckChristian Jones was born in 1976 in Bergen, Nor-way. Before the age of one, his family relocated to his father’s home country, United States. Christian grew up in America and stayed there until 1994, when he returned to Norway.

For nearly a decade Christian worked as a chef at Oslo’s airport until 2005, when he and his then-wife decided to move to Thailand in search of new opportunities.

But their plan to build a better future quickly unraveled when Christian’s mother-in-law in 2007 became ill and the couple was forced to return to attend to her back in Norway.

In 2009 Christian Jones suggested that his wife and his mother-in-law should move back to their abandoned home in Thailand, while he stayed put in Oslo and worked hard to support them finan-cially. Christian took every job he could get and worked over 60 hours a week to keep the whole family together.

“One of my jobs was fixing up apartments. The physical stress on my body from this kind of work destroyed my back and left me permanently disabled,” Christian said.

As Christian’s body deteriorated, so did his marriage and in 2011 Christian and his wife got divorced. Christian thought the marriage had ended on good terms and was shocked, when he found out that his former wife had sold their property in Thailand and kept all the money to herself.

“I was not exactly happy with the situation, but it did not bankrupt me. Fortunately I had some savings on the side, so I just decided on a fresh start in a new place,” he said.

Hope for a new life shatteredVientiane was the place Christian chose for his new life. After the divorce came through, he moved to Vientiane, got himself an apartment, found himself a new girlfriend and applied for work visa. Everything was going according to plan until one fateful day when Christian’s back began acting up and soon he found himself incapable of moving and from then on everything went downhill. Christian’s life was adrift and he soon became an outlaw for overstaying visa in Laos. The landlady he rented his apartment from got wind of this and decided to use his vulnerability to her advantages.

“I did not know that she is married to a police officer and has good connections with the police. She blackmailed me into signing a document that says I owe her 16 million KIP and then she took my passport as security,” Christian said.

Being an illegal immigrant in Laos and not hav-ing a work visa there was no way for Christian to earn any money and as soon as the money he had saved up ran out, the landlady kicked him out in the gutter. For months Christian and his girlfriend lived in a tent on a deserted field, exposed to the elements. Obviously this was not the ideal living conditions for a person suffering from severe back pain and Christian’s condition got even worse as the days went by. He had to swallow his pride and become a beggar.

“I would never have imagined myself doing this, but what else was there for me to do. I need food and shelter and so does my girlfriend, who relies on me,” Christian said.

Every day and night he walks the streets of Vientiane begging for money from fellow Westerners. But it is not an easy task. Christian does not look like the average beggar in Asia due to his very Scandi-navian look and him being fairly well-groomed for a homeless person. He is not sure if this works to his advantage or otherwise.

“I have never done this and I have not had any guidance in ‘The Perfect Way to Beg’, so I have started from scratch and try every day to improve my begging techniques,” Christian said and explained

Down and outin Vientiane

how he has tried to provide services to people in hope of getting some cash handouts in return. He speaks perfect English and he knows a lot of both Thais and Laotians, who help him in his new found role as an improvised tour guide.

“Because of my situation I move around a lot and have stayed in many places, whenever I am able to afford a room for the night. So I offer to help people around town with their chores and get something in return. I do not ask for anything, but of course I have high hopes that they might want to share some of their spare cash with me afterwards,” Christian said and told me of one time when he helped a big group of tourists but in return he got lectured by those ungrateful travel-lers who told him that he should not behave like a disgusting sleazebag.

“I was shocked. I had not asked for anything, I had only offered my help which they accepted and this was what I got. It is fine if people do not want to help me out financially, but there is no point in walking all over a man, who is already flat out on the ground. But that’s life, man,” Christian said.


situation. His girlfriend, Aun, said the situation actually has negative impact on Christian’s moods.

“He almost never sleeps and when he does it is only for a very short while,” she said and Christian explained how he normally only sleeps around two hours a day.

“Yes, you can call it insomnia. But it is very difficult to catch some shuteye, when it feels like your mind could explode at any time. I have heavy thoughts running through my mind all the time and I think about what is next all night until dawn and it’s time to go out on the streets and try to make a living for the three of us,” Christian explains

Escape planWhat sort of future lies ahead for a man who is trapped as an illegal immigrant without a passport or any sort of regular reliable income? A plan to escape keeps popping up in his head.

Fully aware that his current situation is not leading anywhere he now finds himself increasingly thinking about running away from it all. And for him there is only one way to escape. Looking over the Mekong River to Thailand he said:

“I look over the river every day thinking of how I would cross it and when is the best time to do it. But I have not worked up the courage yet to do it and I do not know if I ever will,” he said before going into detail about how the current would affect him if he tried to swim across to Thailand. Being of both Norwegian and American origins Christian Jones also has dual citizenships, though he has never invoked his Norwegian citizenship.

“I have also thought of trying to get a Norwegian passport, but I do not know if it is possible or where to get it. And on top of that my greatest fear is actually to be deported,” he said.

It is for certain that at some point his massive debt to his former landlady, his illegal residency in Laos will catch up with Christian and force him into doing something. Christian still holds on to what little hope he has that some really good advice and a helping hand might be just enough to lift him up from his misery.

Up the stairs to the fifth floor and Christian knocked on the door. The door was opened and we were greeted by woman who looked worn out in every aspect. The room smelled of cat and not to my surprise a cat crawled out from underneath the bed.

Christian immediately lifted the cat from the floor and his entire face lit up. For a good couple of minutes phrases in English, Norwegian, Thai and Laotian flew out of Christian’s mouth in praise of the cat, he then looked at me and told me how he had rescued the cat as a kitten, when it was living on the streets.

“I am a big animal lover and even though it is financially draining for a person like me to keep a pet, when you barely can afford food and shelter for yourself, but I love Tulloo and I will not let him go. And of course there are times when he has to go the veterinarian too and that costs money as well,” Christian said while pointing out that fortunately in Laos veterinary fees are much cheaper than in other countries.

So I discovered a bit of the secret behind his cheerfulness - a cat. But I still did not buy completely into the idea that Christian is okay with his dire

Precarious existenceVirtually every event in Christian Jones’ life in the past several years seemed to have been stacked against him, but his face is almost always covered in a smile.

“I have lived in Norway and I have lived in America, but nothing really compares with living here. The climate and the people here, well most of them at least, just suit me and though my life is not at its peak right now, I am happy most of the time,” Christian said.

Reminiscing on the cold weather and dark days in Norway depresses Christian and he stressed that he does not want to leave this part of Asia.

“How lucky are we to be able to walk around in shorts and t-shir ts in the evening without shivering?” he asked.

Christian then showed me where he planned to spend the night. A long walk ended at a guest-house on the fringe of the city. As we arrived the owner was quick to ask him for the day’s rent. Christian pulled out what he had, which was not enough, some words were exchange in Laotian, and fortunately the owner was kind enough to let Christian spend another night.

I did not know that she is married to a police officer and has good connections with the police. She blackmailed me into signing a document that

says I owe her 16 million KIP and then she took my passport as security


When summer changes into autumn and evenings are growing darker, yet you can still feel the warm breath of summer in the air, it is time to arrange the traditional crayfish party. At a crayfish party, short crayfish songs are followed

by snaps and small speeches to praise the magnificent crayfish. Crayfish should be enjoyed slowly, and as a result crayfish parties can last until the early hours. If you serve crayfish as a main course, make sure that there are at least 12 crayfish per person and plenty of freshly toasted white bread. Usually a light soup or salad is served as a starter, and a fruit pie, ice-cream or parfait for the dessert. The drinks served are ice-cold snaps and beer or white wine for those who find snaps too strong. A jug of water or mineral water should also be included on the table.

Crayfish Party Time

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Bangkok, Thailand

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ScandAsia South East Asia - August 2014