The Sultan and the Mermaid Queen is a collection of essays and articles that describe rarely written about Asian people, places and events; most have appeared in the International Herald Tribune, Wall Street Journal and other leading publications.

Speak with the Sultan of Yogyakarta and learn about his love affair with the Mermaid Queen. Meet the homeless man in Hawaii who has the resume to prove he's the real last emperor of China. Learn why isolated Indian villagers are angry at the monkey god, Hanuman, for not returning their sacred mountain. Meet the last elephantt hunter of Vietnam, who has reached Michael Jordam-like status through a very Asian-accented product endorsement. Play golf on the world's highest course. Bargain for good luck on the Philippines 'Amulet Island'. Learn why the white elephant is being used by Burma's generals to try to justify their hold on power. Ponder the disappearance of Bruno Manser, a Swiss Robin Hood, who vanished in a Borneo jungle while trying to help the downtrodden Penan tribesman stand up for their rights.