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Commissioning Editors Fiona Buchan, Joanna Potts, Sally Schafer

Coordinating Editor Gina Tsarouhas

Coordinating Cartographer Diana Duggan

Coordinating Layout Designer Wendy Wright

Managing Editor Annelies Mertens

Managing Cartographers Adrian Persoglia, Herman So

Managing Layout Designer Indra Kilfoyle

Assisting Editors Janice Bird, Monique Choy, Kate Evans, Paul Harding, Stephanie Pearson, Martine Power, Erin Richards, Fionn Twomey

Assisting Cartographers Anita Banh, Ildiko Bogdanovits, Dennis Capparelli, Birgit Jordan, Khanh Luu, Marc Milinkovic, Peter Shields

Assisting Layout Designers Carol Jackson, Cara Smith

Cover Image research provided by lonelyplanetimages.com

Project Manager Eoin Dunlevy

Language Content Laura Crawford

Thanks to Lucy Birchley, Chris Girdler, Mark Griffiths, Sally Darmody, Laura Jane, Rebecca Lalor, Trent Paton

* * *

THE LONELY PLANET STORY

Fresh from an epic journey across Europe, Asia and Australia in 1972, Tony and Maureen Wheeler sat at their kitchen table stapling together notes. The first Lonely Planet guidebook, Across Asia on the Cheap, was born.

Travellers snapped up the guides. Inspired by their success, the Wheelers began publishing books to Southeast Asia, India and beyond. Demand was prodigious, and the Wheelers expanded the business rapidly to keep up. Over the years, Lonely Planet extended its coverage to every country and into the virtual world via lonelyplanet.com and the Thorn Tree message board.

As Lonely Planet became a globally loved brand, Tony and Maureen received several offers for the company. But it wasn’t until 2007 that they found a partner whom they trusted to remain true to the company’s principles of travelling widely, treading lightly and giving sustainably. In October of that year, BBC Worldwide acquired a 75% share in the company, pledging to uphold Lonely Planet’s commitment to independent travel, trustworthy advice and editorial independence.

Today, Lonely Planet has offices in Melbourne, London and Oakland, with over 500 staff members and 300 authors. Tony and Maureen are still actively involved with Lonely Planet. They’re travelling more often than ever, and they’re devoting their spare time to charitable projects. And the company is still driven by the philosophy of Across Asia on the Cheap: ‘All you’ve got to do is decide to go and the hardest part is over. So go!’

* * *

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THANKS

KORINA MILLER

A huge thank you to the countless people we met on the road for answering my unending questions and making us – and particularly my daughter – feel so very welcome. Thank you to the following people for their generosity of time and knowledge: Anastasios Pissas at GNTO, London; Mary Thymianou at EOT, Rhodes; Adriana Miska in Rhodes Town; Kalliope Karayianni at Nisyros Town Hall; Fokas Michellis in Skala, Patmos; Stavros, his parents and grandmother in Mandraki, Nisyros; and Thanasis Argyroudis in Krithoni, Leros. At Lonely Planet, a big thanks to Jo Potts and Sally Schafer for their patience and assistance, to Fiona Buchan for giving me the opportunity, and to Michala Green for an insightful brief. Thank you also to Eoin Dunlevy and his production crew and to Herman So in cartography. A big cheer to my co-authors, particularly Victoria Kyriakopoulos and Des Hannigan for their wisdom and support. And finally, love and appreciation to my husband Paul and daughter Simone for keeping up with my schedule on the road and making it a fabulous adventure.

KATE ARMSTRONG

Ευχαριστώ πολ (thank you very much) to the enthusiastic patriotic Greeks who know when to share and share so much, and to fellow travellers for their insights of every kind. In Stemnitsa: Nena and Koula – thanks dear, generous friends; in Patra: Maria Dometiou and Andreas at the best tourist office in Greece; in Corinth: Elena in Hotel Ephira; in Gerolimenas: Alexandros Kyrimis; in Kalavryta: Marios at Helmos Hotel; in Monemvasia: Isabelle and Christos