Newsweek Select, March 2007
These little translations are fun to do. The process with them is that I find the writer, we choose the city, I work with the writer on the copy and edit the Chinese for ideas and structure and then I translate the piece into English.

4 Hours In

西双版纳地处彩云之南,它就连名字都充满少数民族的神秘色彩。
Situated in the southern region of colorful clouds, even Xishuangbanna’s name conjures up a mystical ethnic feel.

VISIT
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The plants at the Tropical Botanical Garden are the stuff of storybook legend. Try seating your child upon a giant lotus flower.

EAT
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In Dai minority villages, country folk receive guests in their bamboo homes with hot and sour dishes complemented by ice-cold beer that cools you to the quick.

PLAY
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No matter what the season, you can always experience the joy of the traditional water festival at the Olive Dam Dai minority village. Don’t forget to bring your water gun.

WATCH
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Climb an ancient tree in wild elephant valley for a peaceful view. If you’re lucky, you can catch a glimpse of an elephant herd at the spring-fed waterhole.

—相德宝
–Xiang De Bao