MYITKYINA, MYANMAR - As the twin-engine turboprop bumps onto the narrow tarmac of the Myitkyina airport, I am acutely aware I have entrusted my safety to a man I hardly know. Acting on raw instinct, I have accepted an exclusive invitation to meet a rebel army in Myanmar’s far north.

HONG KONG - The large glass door guarding the entrance to the Mandarin Oriental’s posh Landmark Hong Kong Hotel swings open and out pops a man wearing an emoji happy face smile and holding a frosty bottle of water.

HONG KONG - By the time I reach the Star Ferry Terminal at Pier 7 where people hop on the iconic green boats and sail off to this city’s outer islands, the oppressive summer heat has taken its toll. Sweat drips off my body like rain and the hot, humid air has drained me of all my energy.

HUA HIN, THAILAND - They see me before I see them. The first one I notice, as I climb the scores of steep steps, is staring straight at me. Gradually, I become aware that I’m the target of many more eyes.

ONOMICHI, JAPAN - When you think of Japan you probably don’t think about cycling. But far from the busy streets of Tokyo is a small port town that is a haven for cyclists.

YANGSHUO, CHINA - My “Huckleberry Fung” adventure starts when I board a small bamboo raft on the banks of the Little Li River in this southeast China outpost. “Fung” is the tall slender man piloting the precarious-looking craft that’s tied together with simple bailing wire. But my Chinese Tom Sawyer assures me the raft is seaworthy before he pushes off from the muddy shore with the aid of a long bamboo pole.

BANGKOK - When I arrive in Asia, the contents of my luggage includes six pairs of high-heels, two kilograms of jewelry and hundreds of dollars in hair products.

Nikkō, JAPAN - About two hours north of Tokyo, nestled among the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, sits a wealth of Japanese culture. Nikkō, which means “sunlight,” is considered one of the most beautiful places in Japan.

YIBIN, CHINA - I find myself captivated by this city of 4.5 million people that’s nestled in the heart of southern Sichuan province. Yibin is the first city along the mighty Yangtze River at the confluence of the Min River, which adds its flow to the longest river in Asia.

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - We arrive at the boulevard running along the Mekong before the boats have begun racing. The streets have been decreed pedestrian only and are empty of their notoriously chaotic traffic. The city is quiet without its usual din of motorbikes, tuk tuks, cars and Hummers, and I can’t quite believe I don’t have to triple-check for SUVs before crossing the street.