Mark Beales is an award-winning journalist and travel writer. After winning a scholarship to study journalism, Mark worked as a reporter and editor for 13 years in England. He then decided to give up reality TV, warm beer and lukewarm summers and head to Thailand. Mark continues to write for numerous publications. He is a co-author for Lonely Planet Thailand and has helped write various other guides for Lonely Planet. He has also written for Insight Guides, CNNGo, the Tourist Authority of Thailand, Bangkok Post, The Nation and many other magazines and newspapers. For his day job, Mark is Head of English at an international school in Rayong, Thailand. For more on Mark, check out www.markbeales.com.