Andrew Forbes / Andrew D. W. Forbes graduated in Chinese Studies from the University of Leeds before completing an MA in Islamic Studies and a Ph.D. in Central Asian History. He lectured in East African History at the University of Khartoum (1977-78) and in Islamic Studies at the University of Aberdeen (1982-88). In 1983-4 he was Leverhulme Fellow at the British Institute in Southeast Asia, Thailand, and in 1988-89 he was a Senior Associate Member of St Antony's College, Oxford. He has traveled extensively in Asia and Africa, and is currently editor of Crescent Press Agency (www.cpamedia.com); Pictures From History, an online image library specialising in cultural and historical images of Asia (www.picturesfromhistory.com); and Cognoscenti Books, a publishing company specialising in eBooks on Asian Art, Culture, History & Travel (www.cognoscentibooks.com).

David Henley is a professional photographer and travel writer based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where he has lived with his wife and family for more than 20 years. He has been published by Insight Guides, Berlitz, Dorling Kindersley, National Geographic, Frommers, Thomas Cook, AA Publishing and a wide variety of other publishing houses and publications. He has traveled extensively in Asia, and is currently Managing Director of CPA Media Ltd (Crescent Press Agency, www.cpamedia.com); Pictures From History, an online image library specializing in historical images of Asia (www.picturesfromhistory.com); and Cognoscenti Books (www.cognoscentibooks.com).