Men stroll past roadside vendors as a painted truck makes its way through the busy street in Kabul, Afghanistan, November, 1961. (Photo by Henry S. Bradsher/AP Photo via The Atlantic)

Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. Its population was estimated to be around 6.5 million in 2012. A third (33%) of the country's population lives below the international poverty line which means living on less than U.S. $1.25 per day.

Russia's Maria Sharapova carries the torch during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, February 7, 2014. (Photo by Matt Dunham/Associated Press)

“John Constables's «The Hay Wein» meets «Bender» from «Futurama»”. (Photo and caption by Dave Pollot/Caters News)

Students of JSS Dutse Alhaji participate in a cultural dance performance during celebrations to commemorate Nigeria's 55th Independence Day in Abuja, Nigeria, October 1, 2015. (Photo by Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters)

Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd's personal mobility concept airbag car "Flesby" is displayed at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo, Japan, October 28, 2015. (Photo by Yuya Shino/Reuters)

A child dressed as a cat takes part in the Children's Halloween day parade at Washington Square Park in the Manhattan borough of New York October 31, 2015. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

A dog dressed in a costume takes part in the Pet's Halloween Day parade at El Olivar Park in San Isidro, Lima, October 31, 2015. (Photo by Mariana Bazo/Reuters)