- Laos . Laos has Luang Prabang with its famous Wats (Temples), night market and Pak Ou Caves. The Plain of Jars in Phonsovan/Xing Khouang, day walking/trekking around Luang Namtha's mountainous region, the mighty Mekong River, and Vientiane. More wonderful food (think french baquettes), and cheapy, cheapy, cheapy massages for $3.00. Hate to admit, but I like Laos just a tad better than Cambodia only because of its diversity.

- Thailand. Easy to visit, no language barrier and you can reserve almost anything to see or do once there. Vibrant Bangkok should be your first stop with over 400 Buddhist temples, the Chao Phraya River, Grand Palace, and definitely walk through Pat Pong's safe, infamous sex district. Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai on the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge, before heading south to one of Thailand's many beach resorts and islands. Thailand is always good fun.

- Myanmar/Burma. Four sight-packed visits and we're considering another return. Your visit can make a difference in the people's lives. The gracious and sweet Burmese...View image... are thrilled to welcome us to their country and intereact. Check out Yangon's (formerly Rangoon) famous Shwedagon Pagoda, ...the road to Mandalay, Inle Lake with unusual "leg rowers" and 5-Day rotating markets. The Hilltribe area around Kengtung. You may be surprised to learn that Myanmar has wonderful food, and again, this small country has a lot to see.

- Indonesia. Sulawesi is just one example of one island (out of the over 15,000 in Indonesia) with extreme diversity. From the little Tarsier with it's big eyes...View image...to effigies of the dead in cliffs... to Torajan funeral animal sacrifice. The wonderful Orangutans of Kalimantan (Indonesia Borneo), Java, Bali - with over 15,000 islands to visit, we've barely touched the surface!

- India. It would take thousands of pages to cover both India and China in depth and we have seven visits under our belts with uncountable places left to see but, since I don't want this to be a Lonely Planet Book... Rajasthan has Maharajah Palace Hotels and desert forts. There are tiger reserves scattered throughout India. Head north to dry, arid and high-altitude Ladakh...view image... with Buddhist monasteries perched in unlikely locations. The bustling and busy cities of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. And, no...you are not stepping over people dying in the streets. (I always get asked that question.) Visit the Tribal minority regions like Chattisgarh, Orissa and take to the road. The most intriguing and unusual sights in India are always to be seen along the terrible roads of India. You never know what you'll see. It could be a farmer wearing a traditional hat...View image...a bullock cart lumbering along....View image, people riding on roofs of buses...View image, always unusual and interesting.

Bonda market in Orissa Ladakh, India

- China. If this is your first visit to China, definitely take the boiler-plate - Beijing/Hong Kong/Guilin/Shanghai and power shop. Then plunge into the vast depths of China, venturing off the beaten track to spend time with nomads, gawk at the adorable Pandas, Buddhist caves, attempt to breathe in high-altitude Tibet, travel in the footsteps of Marco Polo on the Silk Road. China has to be visited and revisited to see a fraction of its historic and unimaginable sights. For example, the Hanging Temple video below...

You can stay at the best hotels, have the best tour guides, and eat in the best restaurants. There will usually be "glitches" and/or hassles along with language barriers. You can stay in modest hotels, have good guides and eat in good or local restaurants. There will still be "glitches" and/or hassles long with language barriers. That's the nature of the beast in Asia. Expect this, go with the flow and don't be timid. Walk around, get off the beaten path occasionally and you will never tire of Asia. Jump in with both feet and experience how luxurious or cheap Asia can be.