China Williams grew up in South Carolina in a pretty little town surrounded by pine forests and cotton fields. Fed up with country clubs and frosted hair, China plotted her escape to a quirky liberal arts college in Annapolis, Maryland. After graduation, she packed up her book-learning and landed an editorial job in Washington, D.C., during that city?s crack-smoking mayor?s encore performance. Because of the name, bestowed by now-recovered hippie parents, China was destined to meet and adore Asia. The fated rendezvous occurred with a teaching position in the rural region of Thailand, where she developed a serious rice addiction and more freckles than skin. After her stateside return, she bored co-workers and friends with numerous ?in Thailand? stories. China now lives in San Francisco, the only city wacky enough to think that she is mainstream, with her husband, Matt. She has worked previously as an editor at Lonely Planet?s Oakland office and has written numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks to Thailand, Southeast Asia, San Francisco, and New York State. Her work has also appeared in regional magazines and newspapers as well as Chronicle Books forthcoming titles City Walks: Washington, D.C. and City Walks: Boston.Top Travel Tip: Remember to drink lots of water in hot climates, especially when your mood turns sour (a sign of approaching dehydration).