China

The Countdown to the 2008 Olympics clock at Tiananmen Square during my 2005 trip to China

Line to enter the Forbidden City

The Hall of Supreme Harmony located in the heart of the Forbidden City

The Gate of Divine Prowess at the north entrance of the Forbidden City

The Summer Palace at Kunming Lake in Beijing

Boats on Kunming Lake at the Summer Palace

Dragon boat on Kunming Lake at the Summer Palace

The Great Wall of China

The Circular Mound Altar at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing

The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an

Built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Xi'an City Wall is one of the oldest, largest and best preserved city walls in China

The Terracotta Army located outside of Xi'an

The Terracotta Army stands guard over the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China

Shanghai's modern skyline at Pudong in 2005

A lotus pool at the Humble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous gardens in China

A boatman maintaining the lotus plants at the Humble Administrator's Garden

A boat at West Lake in Hangzhou

Tea fields in Longjing Village outside of Hangzhou

Hand roasting Longjing tea leaves

A tea plantation in Longjing Village

Lingyin Temple outside of Hangzhou, one of the largest Buddhist temples in China

The monks leaving their robes out to air dry at Lingyin Temple

Taking the ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island during my 2007 trip to Hong Kong

Hong Kong's skyline in 2007

Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong, a Taoist temple famed for the many prayers answered

Night view of Hong Kong's skyline in 2007

Malaysia

The Petronas Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world

The Petronas Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world

The Petronas Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world

The Petronas Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world

Fish ball noodle soup from the food court at the Suria KLCC mall at the foot of Petronas Towers

Visiting the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, the largest covered bird park in the world

Parrots and macaws at the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park

Cattle egret in the trees at the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park

Yellow-billed stork on the prowl at the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park

Pied imperial pigeons, a Western & Victorian Crowned-pigeon, and an Indian Blue peafowl enjoying lunch at Kuala Lumpur Bird Park

Yellow-billed stork guarding the path at the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park

Waterfall at Kuala Lumpur Bird Park

The Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur

Thean Hou Temple

Altar dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu at Thean Hou Temple

Thean Hou Temple

Char kway teow, one of Malaysia's signature dishes

Batu Caves outside of Kuala Lumpur, one of most popular Hindu shrines outside India

Climbing the 272 steps at Batu Caves

One of the temples inside Batu Caves

Artwork inside Batu Caves

The view down the steps at Batu Caves

At the base of Batu Caves

The Lord Murugan Statue standing outside of Batu Caves is 140 tall and the third tallest statue of a Hindu deity in the world

The National Mosque of Malaysia

The National Mosque of Malaysia can hold 15,000 people

Gardens surrounding the National Mosque of Malaysia

Qatar

Early morning view of Doha's West Bay skyline from my hotel

Shrimp Khathra at SMAT, one of Doha's most well-known Qatari restaurants

Mahalla Shakhateel at SMAT, one of Doha's most well-known Qatari restaurants

View of the Persian Gulf from my table at SMAT

The National Museum of Qatar

Video wall inside the National Museum of Qatar show scenes from traditional Qatari life

Video wall inside the National Museum of Qatar show scenes from traditional Qatari life

Flag pole at the National Museum of Qatar

The Old Amiri Palace, home of the Emir of Qatar in the early 20th century, is located next to the National Museum of Qatar

Doha's Museum of Islamic Art, designed by architect I. M. Pei

Museum of Islamic Art and Doha Bay at twilight

The skyline of Doha's West Bay lit up at night

Dhows moving through the water in Doha Bay

Souq Waqif, the traditional marketplace in Doha

Souq Waqif, the traditional marketplace in Doha

The gorgeous entryway into the Persian restaurant Parisa Souq Waqif

Bell Pepper Dolma at Parisa Souq Waqif

Kabab Shishlik at Parisa Souq Waqif

Singapore

Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

Maxwell Food Centre, one of Singapore's famous hawker centres (outdoor food courts)

Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre

Prawn and pork dumplings over noodles at Maxwell Food Centre

Raffles Hotel in Singapore, where the Singapore Sling cocktail was invented in the early 1900s

The Long Bar at Raffles Hotel

Singapore sling at Raffles Hotel

Hawker Chan, home of the cheapest Michelin star meal

Michelin star winning soy sauce chicken and rice at Hawker Chan

Chinatown, Singapore

Chinatown, Singapore

Chinatown, Singapore

Chinatown, Singapore

Chinatown, Singapore

View of the Marina Bay Sands from Merlion Park

Singapore's Merlion statue facing the Marina Bay Sands

The merlion is Singapore's national symbol

Old and new architecture along the Singapore River

View of Singapore's skyline from the SkyPark observation deck on top of the Marina Bay Sands

Standing on the SkyPark observation deck at the Marina Bay Sands

Traditional Singapore breakfast of kaya toast, a soft boiled egg, and sweetened coffee

The Rain Vortex, the world's largest indoor waterfall, inside Singapore's Jewel Changi Airport

United Arab Emirates

Morning walk around Dubai Marina

Riding a jet boat in the Persian Gulf to see the Burj Al Arab, one of the tallest hotels in the world

Returning by jet boat from the Persian Gulf to Dubai Marina

Dune bashing in the Arabian Desert

Driving to our desert oasis

Desert sunset

Desert sunset

Camels enjoying their break

Setting up for dinner at our desert oasis

Arabic tea and dates

Belly dance performance at dinner

Balancing a sword while belly dancing

The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world

Visiting the Jumeirah Mosque as part of the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding's 'Open Doors. Open Minds.' program

Inside the Jumeirah Mosque

Wearing a traditional thawb inside Jumeirah Mosque

The flag of the United Arab Emirates inside the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

A traditional Dhow sailing ship outside the Dubai Museum

The Dubai Museum is housed inside Al Fahidi Fort, the oldest building in Dubai

The Dubai Fountain water show outside the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa at night