HALONG BAY, VIETNAM - Our journey to the land of the “stone dragons” began on a disappointing note one clear autumn morning.

TAMSUI, TAIWAN - The concierge at Taipei’s Sherwood Hotel questions my decision to make an early morning trek to this riverside town located at Taiwan’s northern tip.

CAI BE, VIETNAM - The crew of the Cai Be Princess welcomed us aboard their long flat boat with a warning: “mind your head.”

HANOI - It was just past 7 a.m. but already the streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter were clogged with thousands of noisy little motor scooters, the transportation of choice for the six million citizens of this lovely capital, also known as the City of Lakes. Every traffic light here looks like the starting line of a Grand Prix motorcycle race as scooter drivers line up across wide French-designed boulevards and rev their engines in anticipation of the next green light.

SOONCHON CITY, SOUTH KOREA - A gentle knock on a rice paper door signals it’s time for us to begin a journey 1,600 years back in time.

SEOUL - This has always been the Rodney Dangerfield of Asian cities - it never gets any respect. This industrial giant has always taken a back seat to Asia’s other major cities.

SEOUL - The children of South Korea are so well behaved, we tell our guide as we see young people bow to their elders, help old people across streets and open doors for their parents.

SEOGUIPO CITY, SOUTH KOREA - This is one resort town tourist find very bear-able. In fact, most people can barely contain their excitement for this Jeju Island retreat. And it’s all because of the bears that live here.

JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA - Why were outcasts and criminals always exiled to the most beautiful places on Earth back in ancient times?

JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA - We were travelling the beautiful coast road that wraps around this tourist island headed to the airport after a few days of R&R when someone in the car pointed at the rocky shoreline and asked “what’s that?”