Three months ago, on the slopes of Mount Ararat in Turkey, I bumped into an old friend who offered me an apartment in Batumi, Georgia. 48 hours later, I happened across a band of Georgian teachers, dancing and drinking in the Kaçkar Mountains, who invited me to come to Batumi to teach English. It was easy to say "yes" to this opportunity − even easier when I learned that I could walk from the apartment to the school. So, I bought a one-way ticket to Batumi and arrived in this marvelous place 3 days ago.

For comparison, The Republic of Georgia is half the size and half the population of the US state of the same name. Georgia (the country) has only been independent from Russia since 1991, but its history goes back thousands of years.

Batumi is a good base for exploring the other regions south of the Caucasus Mountains.

Mostly, I'm just enjoying walking around in the sunshine smelling the sea breezes. The trees are still green here. Autumn hasn't come to Batumi yet.

The Black Sea is 100 meters to the left of this photo.

Tornike sells his ceramics and oil paintings at cafés and exhibitions. He has traveled to Russia and Turkey a few times. He hopes to leave Georgia some day and to move to western Europe. He believes that his art will be more appreciated and find a better market there than in Batumi.

The fresh squeezed lemon juice still had the seeds and pulp in it.

If I need something I don't have, I buy it. Shopping in foreign countries is a great way to experience the local culture and to see how business is done. It rains hard in Georgia, but did I pack an umbrella? No. Today, I paid $8 for a 16-spine, black and plaid umbrella with a wooden handle. I like supporting the local economy. When I walk down the street with my new Georgian umbrella, I look less like a tourist and more like someone who lives here. When I leave Georgia, I'll donate my umbrella to someone who doesn't have one.

Before my arrival, there were no native English speakers at School #9. So, one of my jobs here is to help the students − and the teachers − with pronunciation. The other way that I'll make myself useful is to share teaching techniques and methods with the Georgian teachers.

These are my 4th grade students. They are a delightfully happy and enthusiastic bunch. If there were any doubt in my mind about what a Caucasian person looks like, now I know.

During my first week of classes, I've been observing and co-teaching with Magda. Next week, I'll start working with the other English teachers.

I took this photo Thursday morning on my walk to school. From the streets of Batumi, one can look north and east to the Caucasus Mountains and see that the mountains are full of snow. It's remarkable to see these threatening, jagged, white peaks towering above the palm trees. Warm as it is, winter can't be far away.

Living in Batumi is a pleasant challenge. I'm enjoying a modest teaching schedule with about 20 classes per week. My school needs repairs and resources are limited. But the staff is dedicated and the children are enthusiastic and quite bright, too.

The usual veggies, like tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce, are available, of course. Persimmons, squash, pumpkins, apples and tangerines are in season now.

Georgian children don't know about Halloween. In conservative Orthodox Georgia, Halloween is not celebrated because it's thought to involve Satanism.

Yesterday, I told my students about Halloween in America. I showed photos of homes decorated with pumpkins and ghosts, and children in costumes going trick-or-treating. The students were astonished by this bizarre American custom. It was the first time that they'd ever seen a real jack o'lantern. They all wanted to touch it and have their photos taken with it.

I'm also learning to speak Georgian. I figure that if I'm going to ask my 1st graders to learn to count from 1 to 10 in English, then I'd better learn to count in Georgian. The sound of this language takes some getting used to. There aren't very many vowels. For example, the word for the number 9 is TSKHRA. That's the sort of word I'd like to be able to use when playing Scrabble.

The dumplings shown here are called KHINKALI. The spicy beef and pork filling is uncooked when the khinkali is assembled. So when cooked, the juices of the meat are trapped inside the dumpling. Khinkali is eaten by hand. On the first bite, one must suck out the juices in order to prevent the dumpling from bursting.

The rolled bread at the top contains kabob, which gets lathered in a sauce made from tomatoes and peppers. Hidden beneath the onion rings are spicy pork ribs.

There are two types of persimmons shown here. The yellow one is crisp like an apple. The red one is so soft that it can be eaten with a spoon. At the farmer's market, persimmons cost about 15 cents each. I'll be having one for breakfast every day.

• Achieve financial security. This doesn't mean being a millionaire. It simply means earning more than you spend. Nothing more.
• Buy experiences instead of things. Owning lots of pretty things might allow you to keep up with the Joneses, but maintaining those material possessions will consume your time − which is more valuable than money.
• Do things for others. Use your time and money to benefit others instead of yourself. Walking out of a store with a new pair of shoes won't make you smile as much as giving a pair of shoes to a child who has never worn shoes before.

My travel budget is $100/day, and that includes everything, such as visas, health insurance, airplane tickets and my storage locker in San Francisco. Naturally, some countries − like Sweden − are more expensive than others − like Cuba. But my long-term average is about $100/day. If you do the math, that works out to be only $36k/year − which is less than the average US net income.

To travel forever, all I have to do is find a way to make about $36k per year. I can do this thanks to a few clients in California and a long-term contract with the Navy. Thus, I have all the time in the world, no possessions to burden me, and cash leftover to give to those in need.

It's not about money. It's what you do with your money − and your time.

Georgia is a very traditional, family-oriented, Orthodox Christian culture. Young women live with their families until they're married, at which time they usually move into their husband's home. Everyone has children. Divorce is rare. So, learning the English words for their family members was natural for these children.

Guguli wears black because she's a widow. She has one unmarried son who lives with her. She has no grandchildren. She treats her students like her grandchildren, and they absolutely love her. Guguli is revered by all the other teachers.

In the Georgian elementary school system, teachers keep the same students for four consecutive years from 1st through 4th grade. Then, the teachers start over with a new group of students. I like this teaching system because it gives the students and the teachers four years to get to know each other. The students who have Guguli consider themselves very lucky.

Although Guguli speaks no English, she knows exactly what I'm saying.

A lot of Batumi consists of old Russian-built apartments in need of new roofs and fresh paint. I'm told that life in these apartments is comfortable and social. Neighbors drop in on each other for coffee without invitation. You can buy a 3-room apartment in Batumi for about $50,000.

• The three whitish squares on the left are Badrijani Nigvzit: Fried eggplant stuffed with spiced walnut paste.
• The larger patty on the right is Mtsvane Pkhali: Minced cabbage, eggplant, spinach, beans and beets, combined with ground walnuts, vinegar, onions, garlic, and herbs.

On the first floor of my building is a woman with a small store in which she has several large barrels of wine. I visit her every few days with an empty wine bottle, which she refills for about $4.

The snowy mountains high in the background are the Caucasus, about 200km north of Batumi. The 2014 Winter Olympics were held last February on the other side of these mountains in Sochi, Russia.

With the Ukraine-Russia conflict to the north and the terrible plight of the Kurdish refugees to the south, it's remarkable how happy and peaceful this little country is. I've decided to stay here for another month.

Yes, that's a railroad that runs along the shore. The tracks continue to the oil fields of Azerbaijan.

Later, when Batumi was the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire, Roman troops were stationed here. Having visited Roman ruins in Morocco in February, I can now say I've traveled from one end of the Roman Empire to the other in 2014.

Here's the car, decorated for the drive from the ceremony to the reception.

Going to a wedding is one of the best ways to experience a foreign culture. I'm told that this reception dinner was nothing out of the ordinary:

"Dis eez like all ov our veddings. Dey are alvays like dees. Have some more vine. Gaumarjos!!!"

Nancy was only 56 years old, but her chronic illnesses finally got the best of her − which underscores the point made at the top of this post: Health is everything!

• Mild climate
• Low cost of living
• Colorful traditions
• Delicious food and wine
• Easy living beside the Black Sea
• Generous, hospitable and warm-hearted people

Here's Batumi's Performing Arts Center − a handsome bit of architecture blending modern materials into a classical design with arches, pillars and frescoed ceilings.

I was here twice last week, once to hear Batumi's symphony orchestra play Beethoven and Mozart. My second visit was for a cultural variety show featuring local musicians, singers and dancers performing everything from opera to traditional Georgian folk dances and rock and roll.

The acting is first rate and the tickets average about $4 each for great seats. The performing arts must be heavily subsidized by the government.

I should mention that all of the performances are in Georgian. I don't speak much Georgian (yet!) and can't understand the dialogues word for word. So before each play, I read the plot summary on-line and, when possible, view a performance in English on youtube. Knowing Georgian isn't necessary to following the story because the acting at Batumi's theatre is so convincing.

The audience was parents and faculty, of course. They were amazed and delighted to see their children speaking and singing in English.

This was the first time that this school has done a play. They say it's going to become an annual tradition.

I was impressed by this group of 9-year-olds. After three weeks of chaotic rehearsals, their performance went off without a hitch. Amazing!

Working closely with these students for many afternoons was a unique opportunity to get to know what Georgian children are like. Like all kids of this age, they're full of energy. But unlike most kids of the same age, these Georgian children have humility and determination.

I introduced Public School #9 to another first last week: A Spelling Bee, for 6th, 7th and 8th graders. The final round was fierce competition in which the students battled it out with words like "chimney" and "neighbor". The conclusion was dramatic. Now that School #9 knows what a Spelling Bee is, this too may become an annual tradition.

This really has been a lovely place to live for the past two months. But if I stay any longer, I'll start putting down roots. So, it's time to move on. My next stop is Tel Aviv.

Israel has changed a lot in the past three decades. The biggest difference is the growing social and economic contrast between the Israelis and the Palestinians. In 1981, I rode rickety local buses between ethnic restaurants in the Gaza and my inexpensive back-packer hostel in Tel Aviv. Today, Tel Aviv is a 21st century city with gleaming hotels and hi-rise office buildings (shown below), while Gaza sits behind a concrete wall covered with graffiti.

Here's part of the interior of the Church of the Sepulcher in Jerusalem. This is one of the places where Jesus is thought to have been entombed for 3 days. This is a vast church, managed and maintained by six different Christian denominations. Visiting this church is like visiting six countries.

This wall looks exactly as it did in 1981. However, getting here today involves passing through a number of metal detectors and bag searches. Although heavily armed, the Israeli and Palestinian guards at the "border" are friendly and speak English. Still, there is a sense of tension and wariness between the opposing sides that I didn't see when I was here 33 years ago.

In the background of this photo is the Church of the Nativity, constructed on top of the site where Jesus is believed to have been born. Like the Church of the Sepulcher in Jerusalem, this church is multi-denominational.

Returning from Bethlehem to Jerusalem involves going through a checkpoint, and showing one's passport.

The second was a candlelight Episcopal mass at St George’s Cathedral Pilgrim Guesthouse where I was staying. The organ music and the carols were familiar and comforting.

Celebrating Christmas in The Holy Land was a powerful religious experience. But honestly, with all the political tensions and distractions, it was hard to feel a sense of brotherly love. My thoughts and prayers are for all the people who are trying to live together in this part of the world. May they find peace.

I started my two week tour in Amman, which is the biggest city in Jordan. The downtown area is bustling with activity and sprinkled with Roman ruins. Amman is also noisy and crowded. Traffic is often grid-locked. There's a bit of smog. That's why the photo to the left isn't Amman. This is nearby Madaba, which is more photogenic than Amman.

Strolling quietly down colonnaded streets with tracks worn by ancient wagon wheels, one can feel what life in a Roman outpost 2000 years ago might have been like. Jarash has markets where groceries and handicrafts were sold, stately mansions and public baths, a hippodrome for chariot races, and stunning temples to the gods. Sitting in the great theater, it seems as though the actors will come on stage any moment dressed in togas. (The theatre is actually in good enough condition to be used for music festivals in the summer.)

In the photo to the left, notice how each year's salt deposits are a little lower than the year before. Yes, sadly, the Dead Sea is shrinking as the streams that feed it are being diverted for agriculture and for the growing populations on both sides of this valley. If you want to see the Dead Sea, see it now before it shrinks any more. It may end up like the Aral Sea.

A visit to Jordan isn't complete without a seeing Petra. I could post lots of photos, but the professional ones are better. If Petra is on your bucket list, be sure to allow yourself at least two full days. It's a vast outdoor museum, with much more to see and explore than the famous Treasury shown to the right. January is a good time to visit Petra. I saw more camels than tourists.

In two weeks, I met a wide range of Jordanians and liked them all. They're relaxed, friendly, down-to-earth, and welcoming folks. Although Jordan's people are a mix of many different tribes and cultures, they all seem to get along with each other − unlike some of their neighbors.

• Mt.Nebo, from which Moses saw the Promised Land and then died.
• The cave where Lot lived after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
• Bethany, where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.
• Machaerus, where Salome danced for King Herod in exchange for John's head.

Here's the view from my 10th floor hotel room. Along the waterfront, there's a 10km walkway with shops and restaurants. At one end are skyscrapers. At the other end is an educational Science Center and aquarium.

48 hours was enough time in Kuwait.

In contrast to Kuwait, alcohol is available in Bahrain. This is significant to Saudi Arabia, which is only 26km away via the King Fahd Causeway. Saudis come to Bahrain to enjoy the bars and the budget hotels that offer the same services as those in Bangkok. I enjoyed having a Heineken with dinner.

Both Kuwait and Bahrain are pedestrian unfriendly places. 4-lane highways without crosswalks create pedestrian barriers within the city, and there's almost no public transit. In the heat of the summer, people don't go outdoors.

Shown to the left is our loquacious tour guide who provided a 1-hour explanation of Islam, answering all our difficult questions, and delivering a strongly-worded condemnation of the recent killings in Paris: The assassins were not Islamic.

This was my first extended conversation with a woman wearing a niqab over her face. She made a few humorous remarks, yet it was odd to be unable to see whether or not she was smiling.

Like Kuwait, Bahrain seemed comfortable, familiar and safe, but 48 hours was plenty of time to spend here.

My first encounter with an Omani police officer proved this to be so. Shown here is the Sultan's Palace. Next door is a high-security communications center and military base. I strolled up to the electric fence, noting the large sign warning that cameras and tourists were not permitted in the area. I said salaam alaikum (hello) to the guard, who responded by asking if I would like to join him in his kiosk for a cup of tea. I can feel secure in a country like this.

The seafood is wonderful. Many of the restaurant chefs come from nearby India. Fish masala is on many menus.

Oman is a good place to rent a car as there are few buses and no trains. But, the roads are in excellent condition, and gas costs about $1/gallon.

Most towns have traditional markets (souks), similar to the markets of Istanbul and Marrakesh. The souks are full of dates, pomegranates, oranges, tomatoes and cucumbers.

The most famous product that's unique to Oman (and Yemen) is frankincense. Most shops, hotels and homes have a bit of it burning in an incense burner all the time, which adds to the exotic smell of this country.

In the past, these precious oases were guarded by forts. Here's the massive 13th century fortress of Bahla. Climbing around on the walls felt like something from Beau Geste or the Foreign Legion.

January is a good time to visit Oman. The days are warm, and the nights are cool. In July, temperatures are in the low 50's C − which is 122° F and hotter!

Typical of this part of the world, there are many European adventurers here − but almost no Americans. It always surprises me how few Americans there are in wonderful places like Oman. Where is the American sense of adventure and exploration?

In the desert, there are Bedouin-styled camps where one can watch sunset from the tops of orange sand dunes, relax in carpeted tents filled with pillows, dine on lamb kabob and garlic hummus, and discuss the politics and philosophies of the Middle East with literate and well-travelled nomads. (English is widely spoken here.)

These places and people gave me a good idea of what real Arabia is like. I'm satisfied to have gotten to know one of the more peaceful and scenic countries of the Arab world.

It takes time and effort to research where to go and what to do, to learn enough of the local language to get by, to book transportation, to find accommodations, and then to adjust to the inevitable changes in plans. So, after two months of "working" my way through the Middle East, it was time for some R&R.

Thailand is a huge contrast to the Islamic countries. Whereas even snowmen are forbidden in Saudi Arabia, here in Thailand, there are golden gods to be prayed to.

Thailand also has cold beer, music and an open society − that's both playful and businesslike − where anything can be arranged any time.

Coming to Thailand meant a change of weather, culture, scenery and especially food. Thailand has some of the world's best street food. It's spicy, cheap and available everywhere 24/7. The motorcycles zip by as you chow down on unrecognizable delicacies.

These ladies introduced my taste buds to a stew made with ant eggs. Yes, I had to try eating ant eggs, which are sort of like couscous. Not bad, actually, especially when washed down with a cold Chang.

Did I mention that beer is cold and available everywhere?

The sun is bright here. I bought a new hat. The water is perfect for swimming. Before resuming the hard work of traveling, it was time for a vacation.

During the past two years, I've been micro-financing my host family's new crop. In 2014, they produced 500 kg of Nang Fa Phutan mushrooms, for a net profit of about $1000. I came here to see the results of my small investment and to discuss the next phase of this project.

Celebratory processions are common here. The photo above of the decorated pickup truck is a procession for a young man who has just turned 20 and has decided to become a monk.

Isan reminds me of southern China, with similar costumes, dances and musical instruments. In fact, the cultural roots of Isan are to the north, rather than to the rest of Thailand in the south.

The deeper into Isan I go, the more exotic the food becomes. To the right are cicada larvae, which are eaten chilled. To honor my hosts, I had to try one. It was cold and crunchy. I reached quickly for the beer.

Thanks to the generous support from a friend in Washington DC, Pear will start school in May, where she'll learn all the usual subjects and English. She already knows some English, such as "Thank you" and "Bye bye".

Thanks for reading my blog, and bye bye for now.

My first stop was Cambodia to see Angkor Wat. I'd actually been here for one day in 2012. But a day is not enough to see the world's largest religious monument. Why Angkor Wat isn't included in the seven wonders of the world is beyond me.

I stopped in for an evening of spicy food and exotic Aspara dancing, as shown to the right.

Cambodia's fields and forests still contain millions of buried, unexploded ordinance. But medical care is being provided for the victims, and there's hope for the future.

The highlight of my visit to Saigon was the Củ Chi tunnels − a testament to Vietcong determination to do whatever it took to rid their country of foreign invaders.

I loved Hoi An for its ancient temples, the surf at China Beach, and the great seafood. If you're there on a full moon, enjoy the festival by the river.

Hoi An was wonderful and I hope to return there sometime. Here's a list of services and places that will make your visit there a delight:

• Mr Zdung's taxi service
• Ms Nhung's tailoring shop
• Mama Ly's seafood restaurant
• Hoi An free bike tour
• Ha An Hotel

Paradise Cave, discovered in 2005, is particularly beautiful. Not only is it huge, but the fact that it's only recently opened to tourism means that it hasn't met the fate of most tourist caves. It hasn't yet been blighted by algae and bacteria imported by tourists and kept alive by electric lights. Also, having been well-protected since its discovery, none of its formations have been vandalized. I've seen a lot of caves, and not just Mammoth Caves and Carlsbad Caverns. This cave is The Best Cave I've ever seen. The Nam Long Plus Hotel in Dong Hoi organizes day trips to Paradise and Phong Nha Caves.

There's also a contrast in lifestyle and culture between Hanoi and Saigon. Saigon, in the south, has a reputation for being relaxed and laid back, like Cambodia and Thailand. Hanoi, in the north, is known for being more aggressive and hard working, like its neighbor, China.

John McCain's flight suit is displayed in a glass case at the Hỏa Lò Prison, known affectionately by its inmates as the Hanoi Hilton. Nearby are photos of Mr. McCain smiling as he chats with his Vietnamese doctors. American POWs are shown playing baseball, decorating Christmas trees and living comfortable lives in prison. These photos are a sharp contrast to McCain's biography in which he describes the torture that he endured at the hands of his captors for five and a half years. One has to wonder whose story is true. Most likely the truth lies somewhere in between.

Ho Chi Minh is revered as the father of modern, independent, unified Vietnam. His body lies in state and is a pilgrimage destination for many Vietnamese, much as Mao Tse Tung is in Beijing. Ho's sandals are in a glass case in a nearby museum.

Hanoi is one of those places like Hiroshima that well-informed Americans are obligated to visit. Was this war worth fighting? Is any war worth fighting? Have we learned anything from these events? The stories told by the Vietnamese victims are similar to those told by the Kurds being attacked by ISIS in Syria today. The American use of Agent Orange is still causing birth defects in Vietnam. No matter where you stand on these issues, I think John McCain said it well:

Laos is still recovering from 1965-1973, when the US ran 580,000 bombing missions over Laos, dropping a ton of bombs for every Laotian man, woman, and child. Like Cambodia, Laos also has minefields waiting to be cleared.

Having seen enough amputees and war museums in Cambodia and Vietnam, I was content to visit gilded temples and sip cold beer in cafes beside the Mekong River and watch the locals ferry their supplies back and forth across the river.

There are many amazing things to see in Myanmar. But I came to Yangon for just one reason: To see the Shwedagon Pagoda, with its 27 metric tons of gold leaf, 1000s of diamonds and gems, and relics from four Buddhas. Why this 2600-year-old site wasn't included among the finalists of the New7Wonders competition is a mystery − or an indication of how little is known in the West about the wonders of Asia.

With an area almost equal to Louisiana, and a population more than half of the US, Bangladesh is the most densely populated large country in the world. To picture life here, imagine cramming half of America into the Mississippi Delta, and then throw in a high birth rate, low income (the average income is $3/day), and a massive typhoon every few years.

Oh yes, there's one other detail: This is an Islamic country, with mosques in every neighborhood and calls to prayer five times a day.

As with Hanoi, I spent my time in Dhaka revisiting history that I'd almost forgotten. 1971 witnessed the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan − and one of the cruelest genocides of the 20th century. I have to admit that when I was 18, all I cared about what who was playing in George Harrison and Ravi Shankar's Concert for Bangladesh.

To anyone under 30 who reads this blog, I'd like to say: PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY!

• All tours to Bhutan must be with a licensed Bhutanese tour operator.
• The minimum tour price is $250/day per person.

I'm used to traveling independently for about $100/day, so I was initially put off by these rules. Now that I've seen Bhutan, I'd say that the daily cost is good value, and that these rules are the best way to preserve an unspoiled culture.

Clearing customs was a breeze. My tour company had notified immigration when I'd be arriving. I was greeted at passport control with a smile and something that sounded like "Welcome, we've been expecting you." This was a first.

From there, I was whisked to downtown Paro for the start of my 12-day Bhutan adventure.

Through Sangay and Tshering, I learned about Bhutan, where cultural heritage, health, education, good governance, ecological diversity and individual well-being are more important than "growth economics". It's called Gross National Happiness.

For the next 12 days, we followed a detailed tour plan that I'd worked out in advance with Rainbow Tours. Yet we weren't tied to the plan at all. Depending on weather, road conditions, hunger or thirst, we deviated from the plan regularly. I liked having a personalized, flexible tour. The fact that my tour payment covered everything meant that there was never any negotiation about how much it would cost to do this instead of that. We just did whatever we wanted to do.

Here's the beautiful Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa where I spent four of my twelve nights in Bhutan. Note that this hotel is owned by Rainbow Tours & Treks. If you book your tour with Rainbow, you're likely to spend a few nights here. From my balcony, I could see Tiger's Nest. Gorgeous!

The Naksel is an illustration of how Bhutan seeks to encourage sustainable tourism. Instead of allowing hotels of varying quality to pop up all over the place to meet rising tourist demands, hotels in Bhutan must meet restrictions in terms of low-impact and high-quality.

This was a rather luxurious trek. My pack was carried by a mule. My lunches were served on picnic blankets at scenic rest stops. My tent was pitched for me, with a foam mattress, warm sleeping bag, multiple pillows and a hot water bottle at night. I ate dinner and breakfast in a tent on a folding table. The evening bonfire was prepared and lit for me. I did nothing but take photos, ask questions about the flora and fauna, and get a good night's sleep. For $250/day, this is what one might expect.

Naturally, I learned and used as much Bhutanese as I could:

No English was spoken here, so Sangay and Tshering served as my interpreters. This is the sort of experience that helps promote understanding, appreciation and respect for peoples of different cultures and lifestyles.

The next day, I visited my hosts' grandchildren at school where I learned that all instruction (except Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan) is taught in English. No wonder my young guides spoke such good English.

• Traditional bamboo bows and arrows
• Modern carbon-fiber bows with metal arrows

According to legend, the Bhutanese, wanting to test the magic powers of a Tibetan saint named Drukpa Kunley (aka “The Divine Madman"), brought him various animal parts to see if he could assemble them into a living creature. When the great master accomplished this feat, he instructed the animal to run free in the high mountain pastures and never to become a beast of burden.

This is how Bhutan got its national animal. This story, like many others which explain unusual mountain phenomena, is typical of the traditions, mysteries and folklore of Bhutan.

Click here for Bhutan's festival schedule for 2016.

In Bhutan, everyone must attend a Tshechu and witness the mask dances at least once in order to receive blessings and wash away their sins. Mask dances performed during a Tshechu have special meanings or tell stories based on incidents from as long ago as the 8th century, during the life of Guru Padmasambhava. In monasteries the mask dances are performed by monks and in remote villages they are performed jointly by monks and village men.

I've been to festivals all over the world. In many countries, traditional festivals are put on for the sake of the tourists, and are therefore packed with tourists. Not so with Bhutan's Tshechus − an illustration of Bhutan culture being sustained through low-impact, low-volume tourism.

Perched high up on a mountain face, the caves within this monastery have been meditation retreats for Buddhist monks for centuries. To get here, it's a 2-hour walk from the valley up a narrow flight of stairs, but well worth it for the temples and the vistas. Most folks go in the morning. If you go in the afternoon as I did, you may find that you'll have only the monks and birds for company.

I took this hike on my last day in Bhutan, capping off a fascinating visit to truly happy country.

Thanks to Bhutan's oversupply of hydroelectric power and a healthy tourist industry, there is economic growth. But economic growth is not seen as an end but rather as a means of achieving more important ends. This is how Bhutan achieves Gross National Happiness.

P.S. Here are three things that Bhutan doesn't have that make this country different from other places: No plastic bags, no traffic lights, and no tobacco.

In Okinawa, I met the Shisa, the traditional half-dog/half-lion symbol of the Ryukyu Islands, and learned about these beautiful islands, which are hospitable, historic and not entirely Japanese.

All this changed in the 19th and 20th centuries when Okinawa's strategic location earned it the label of Keystone of the Pacific. These islands were first conquered, annexed and subjugated by Japan. Then in 1945, Okinawa was obliterated during the final months of World War II. Today, reconstructed castles, gardens, and a few archaeological sites are all that remain of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Of course, the seafood is excellent. (I'd forgotten how much I love sashimi.) Okinawan food is different from Japanese food. There's a Chinese influence in the noodle dishes, plus occasional Korean spices.

Okinawa's war museums tell the gruesome story from the Okinawan point of view. I was struck by the willingness of the Japanese soldiers and citizens to die for Japan and for their Emperor. I now appreciate Truman's decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was to prevent another Battle of Okinawa.

This photo shows a few of the 12,000 Americans who died here, including one possible Fairman relative.

Although my Japanese is far from fluent, it's nice to be in a place where I can speak the language. It almost feels like home. When you travel all year long, it feels good to come "home" from time to time.

My main reasons for coming to Okinawa were to see the ocean, to walk barefoot on the beach, and to go swimming. I found all this in the Kerama Islands, just 25 km west of Naha. I settled on tiny Aka-Jima, an island 2km in diameter with a population of about 300. High season isn't until summer so I had the beaches to myself. Except for a tsunami warning, it was just the peace and quiet that I'd been looking for. I sat on the beach and thought about the places that I've been and the places that I still want to go − as well as the people I miss, and the people I look forward to seeing again.

May all your days have sunshine. I send you my very best.

On arrival, my bag was thoroughly searched and x-rayed. The security officer checked the photos on my camera's memory card. There were none since I'd purposely bought a new SD card for this trip. (I left my laptop, GPS and iPhone with friends in Seoul.)

The first thing one sees in Pyongyang is its iconic 105-story Ryugyong Hotel. Construction started in 1987, but was halted when funding ran out in 1992 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The building is still unfinished.

My group had two English-speaking KITC guides (and an unknown number of other handlers) who watched all our moves. We were not allowed to go outside alone. We were instructed when and where we could take photos. We were forbidden from entering most shops and stores. We were introduced to various people, but were gently guided away from contact with "local" folks.

Kim Il-Sung is often accompanied by his son Kim Jong-Il (1941-2011) in these statues and pictures. DPRK's current leader, Kim Jong-Un, is on the front page of every newspaper. When it's not showing DPRK-produced movies, the state-controlled TV channel shows continuous loops of 32-year-old Kim Jong-Un as a benevolent and wise leader.

The propaganda gets laid on pretty thick. Here are some of the statements that I heard or read:

• Korea is the Land of the Morning Calm because it’s the first country in Asia to see the sun every morning. (Don't tell this to Japan.)
• Kim Il-Sung liberated Korea from half a century of occupation by the Japanese when he single-handedly forced Japan to surrender on August 15, 1945.
• The US started the Korean War by its unprovoked attack against North Korea on June 25, 1950.
• During the Korean War, Kim Il-Sung visited a typhoid ward and cured all the dying soldiers simply by shaking each man’s hand.
• July 27 is celebrated as Victory Day in the DPRK because it’s the anniversary of Kim Il-Sung's winning the Korean War. Russia and China had very little to do with North Korea’s victory over America.
• Kim Il-Sung developed the ideology of Juche (self-reliance) which has enabled the DPRK to become one of the world's most economically successful countries.
• Kim Il-Sung authored approximately 10,800 reports, books, treatises and screen plays which fill 100 volumes in the Workers' Party of Korea Publishing House.
• The North Korean constitution declares Kim Il-Sung the country's "Eternal President". Thus, even though he is dead, he remains the country's president, general-secretary of its ruling communist Worker's Party of Korea, and chairman of the Party's Central Military Commission.
• There are more than 500 statues of Kim Il-Sung in North Korea.
• A temple guide told me "Our monks have more respect and give more honor to our leaders than to Buddha."
• People aren’t censored. "We just don’t allow outside music or fashions to influence us. There’s no need for censorship when there’s nothing to criticize in our country."
• The DPRK uses a calendar which starts with Kim Il-Sung's birth in 1912. Thus, the year 2015 is their year 104.
• His birthday, April 15, is a public holiday called "Day of the Sun".
• Kim Il-Sung is the greatest man who ever lived.

The cadets shown to the left are practicing for an upcoming military parade. Click here to see a video of one of these impressive events.

Here're some facts from a different source: According to Transparency International, North Korea is tied with Somalia as the world's most corrupt country. About half of DPRK's wealth is controlled by a secret department known as Room 39. The Kim dynasty has been using this slush fund since the 70's to enable a policy of "gift politics" and to fund their nuclear weapons program.

Senior Lieutenant Hwang Myong Jin (shown here) took us around. I gave him a pack of Camels and he opened up by asking how it felt to be called “Imperialist”. I replied by conceding that my government has imperialist tendencies. We chatted one-on-one for about 5 minutes. This was one of the most candid and genuine conversation that I had with anyone during my visit to the DPRK. Sr. Lt. Hwang concluded with a comment that I've heard frequently on both sides of this contested border: "We must find a way to unite Korea."

Can Korea ever be one country? Only if the personality cult of the Kim dynasty ends AND if China and the US allow unification to happen.

I was also treated to a made-in-DPKR movie about socialism, athletic sports and family values. One of the primary messages to the audience was "Socialism makes the best athletes."

Pyongyang Metro is one of the deepest metros in the world, with the track approximately 100 meters below ground. At this depth, it doubles as a bomb shelter.

I was anxious during my visit here. On arrival, the KITC collected everyone's passport, promising to return them when it was time to leave. To ensure that I'd get my passport back, I played the part of the respectful tourist. I didn't relax until my plane returned to Beijing.

The total cost of my 8 days and 7 nights in the DPRK was about $250/day, including airfare, visa, tips and my single-occupancy supplement. (Airfare was about 1/3 of the total cost.) For an all-inclusive tour, this is good value.

The best part of the trip were the other folks in my tour. The sorts of people who choose to go to North Korea aren't your usual tourists. My travel companions were worldly − some better-traveled than I.

DPRK is the most unknown country in the world. After 8 days, an impermeable barrier still separates me from the people and blurs whatever I try to learn about this place. There is, in the end, a sense of incompleteness. It was an educational and worthwhile experience, but not one that I'll repeat.

Seoul is especially beautiful in the springtime. When I arrived here, the cherry trees along the river were in full bloom, signaling the end of winter. I've now been here long enough to see spring turn into summer. If there weren't so many other places on my "bucket list", I could live here.

The main reason that I came to Seoul was to meet my daughter and her boyfriend who flew here from San Francisco. My son and daughter have an open invitation to join me wherever I travel. If I'm going to a country that they want to visit, all they have to do is to send me an email, and I'll send them money for the airfare, and cover their expenses while we travel together. What better way to spend time with one's adult kids?

The last time I was in Seoul was in 1982. This city has changed a lot since then. So have I.

Excuse me for ranting, but America is falling behind the rest of the world when it comes to public transit. We've neglected to invest in alternatives to the automobile. It’s hard to overstate how important this is. Bad transit doesn’t just upset people, or encourage them to drive. It saps a city’s economic vitality. It extends distances, pushing people away from their jobs, their friends and their families. The recent news of the Philadelphia train derailment is a symptom of a public transit system that's unreliable and getting worse. Wake up America.

In addition to spotless subways, great food, stunning architecture, upscale malls, traditional markets, and friendly people, Seoul has plenty of tourist attractions: Museums, palaces, gardens, etc.

With my daughter's guidance, I discovered a facet of this city that goes unnoticed by most foreign tourists. Seoul is the capital of the video gaming industry − also known as eSports.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, don't feel bad. You're simply out of touch with a phenomenon that's so new that most people haven't heard of it yet. But it's coming.

eSports is only about five years old. The number of viewers and players doubles every 12 months. Last year's League of Legends World finals had twice as many viewers as baseball's World Series. This is why Amazon.com paid a billion dollars for Twitch.com to broadcast these matches on-line.

eSports is very big business in Korea, Taiwan and China, but it's catching on all over the world. American colleges are starting to offer eSports scholarships. Will eSports someday replace traditional sports?

So, my goal is to return to the Black Sea without taking an airplane. My journey began with a train across Korea to the Eastern Sea. With typical Korean efficiency, the train delivered me to the dock at Donghae, where I stepped onto the Eastern Dream. 24 hours later, I stepped off in Vladivostok, the eastern terminus of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

А Б В Г Д Е Ж З И Й К Л М Н О П Р С Т У Ф Х Ц Ч Ш Щ Ъ Ы Ь Э Ю Я

... and memorized a few handy phrases, including the most important one of all:

Every car has two providnistas who work in shifts managing the 36 passengers in her car. They check your tickets, provide sheets and towels, sell snacks, and wake you up when it's time to get off the train.

The scenery has been somewhat monotonous: Hours and hours of tundra, stunted trees, ice-cold lakes, meandering rivers, wetlands, farming communities, and an occasional modern city.

Meanwhile, it's been a very relaxing ride. The train is a great place to get some reading done, to watch a few movies on my laptop, and to practice my Russian.

The cold beer to compliment this meal is available in the restaurant car, which is where I spend a lot of time.

This was a typical welcoming experience − quite a contrast to arriving at an airport full of security police and then having to organize a taxi 40km into town. How civilized to alight from a train and to be exactly where you want to be!

Siberian cities look very different from anyplace I've seen in the past few months. Every city has historic neighborhoods of wooden houses with gingerbread trim, plus two or three stunning orthodox cathedrals. (In 1997, the Orthodox Church was legally recognized as Russia's primary religion and has resumed the role it had in tsarist days.) I spent 2-3 days in each major train stop gawking at unusual architecture, especially at the gorgeous, newly-restored churches.

All the Russians I've met are open, friendly, fun, and eager to practice their English − or at least use sign language to communicate with a foreigner. The most common topics are Putin, Obama and food.

I wish I spoke more Russian. There's not much English spoken in Siberia. Someday, I'll return to Russia to visit Moscow and the western half of this country. But before I do, I'll take a beginning course in Russian.

From Novosibirsk, I'm heading south. I've just crossed over into Kazakhstan, which reminds me of another wonderful thing about train travel: When crossing an international border by train, instead of standing in long lines at customs and immigration windows, you get to relax in your cabin − sleeping, reading, eating and talking with friends − until the customs officials come to you to stamp your passport.

I'm still on the train as I finish this chapter of my blog. Soon, I'll be having lunch in Almaty, southern Kazakhstan. From my window, I can see the snowcapped Zailiysky mountains on the horizon. Stay tuned for further adventures.

For three weeks, I followed the Silk Road for about 1000 km which, although only a fraction of its entire length, was enough to get a feel for what early explorers must've seen and felt when they traveled this route. Like Marco Polo, I feel as though I've discovered an important part of our world that I didn't know existed.

Silk Road Crossings

Thanks to abundant oil reserves, Kazakhstan is the most economically advanced of the "stans". With this prosperity, Almaty is a city of leafy avenues, well-maintained city parks, chic cafes, glossy shopping centers, and a first-class ski resort in its backyard. Located between a vast, dry plain and a steep mountain range, Almaty reminded me a little bit of Denver.

Although the "stans" are mostly Islamic, Kazakhstan is about 25% Russian Orthodox. Colorful Zenkov Cathedral is built entirely of wood (including the nails). Built in 1904, it's one of Almaty’s few surviving tsarist-era buildings.

After a month in flat Siberia, I was pleased to see some real mountains. A 20-minute bus ride took me from downtown to the ski lifts, which lifted me to almost 3400 meters.

If Almaty is in your travel plans, here's an excellent AirBnB apartment in the center of town.

For centuries, Kyrgyzstan has been a land of semi-nomadic, yurt-dwelling shepherds. Today, Kyrgyzstan continues to welcome nomads like me with its visa-free travel for all tourists.

After a swim in the crystal blue water, you can enjoy a cup of tea at one of the yurts where the locals live during the summer months. The locals also serve a traditional drink called kymys, made from fermented horse milk. I tried it. The tea was better.

I liked this charming all wood cathedral. In a country that's mostly wilderness, this was a small sign of civilization.

Inevitably, on my first day, I was caught in a speed trap doing 90 in a 60 kph zone. I pulled over and queued up with the other drivers making payments to the officers. Expecting the worst, I had various denominations of US currency tucked in my shirt pocket. When it was my turn to be cited, I presented my passport, title, insurance and license, smiled and said "Hello."

The three cops studied my Michigan driver's license carefully. One pointed to the big blue letters at the top and read phonetically "Mich-e-lin". The other two nodded and repeated "Michelin ... Michelin ...!". There was some discussion in Kyrgyz. The three looked me over. Then, one of them asked "You Kyrgyzstan like okay?" I responded "Yes, da!" and gave a thumbs up. The police nodded to each other, smiled, returned my documentation, shook my hand warmly, and wished me a good day. I guess the cops here aren't as corrupt and troublesome as I'd been told. Perhaps it helps to be from Michelin.

My other lucky break was having a flat tire ... right in front of the only tire repair shop in the region. The mechanics had the tire off, patched, and back on the rim − in 30 minutes for $2, including a tip which was received with big smiles.

Before coming here, I had few expectations about this country. Like most of you reading this blog, I had to look at a map to figure out where Uzbekistan is. I've been thoroughly surprised and delighted by what I've found here, and will probably return.

Traditional costumes are worn not for the sake of the tourists, but because that's how the people still live here.

Uzbeks observe "Islam lite." The minarets did not call me to prayers at dawn. Ramadan is observed optionally, and usually for a few days at a time.

I saw few tourists in Uzbekistan − perhaps because most of them have the good sense not to visit Uzbekistan in the heat of the summer. Afternoons were in the 40s (over 100⁰F).

On my first day in Tashkent, I changed $100 US into som and received four and a half bundles of money wrapped in rubber bands. It was way too much paper to put into my wallet. So, I stuffed one wad into each of the pockets of my REI cargo pants. (I was glad I had lots of pockets.)

The good news is that nothing costs very much here. A beer is less than a dollar. The overnight train from Bukhara to Tashkent, costs about $15.

As I mentioned above, I didn't know what to expect from Uzbekistan. I was impressed!

The warren of markets, arcades and bazaars shown here have multi-domed roofs designed to draw in cool air.

One of the things that impressed me about Uzbekistan is the quality of their handicrafts. To the right is a photo of something that I bought in Bukhara. It's 100% silk and hand-made − the typicial embroidery from this region known as suzani. Hey, I'm on the Silk Road, so I should buy some silk, right?

Of course, I have no place to put this thing, but it was too lovely to pass up. Maybe someday I'll hang it in my tent somewhere.

The Caucasus is home to 50 ethnic groups, each with its own customs, foods, clothing, art, and architecture. Medieval scholars believed that these are the peoples who were scattered when God wrecked the Tower of Babel. At least 37 indigenous languages are spoken here. Ossetians speak a language related to Farsi. Georgians speak a language whose closest relative is Basque. I've been looking forward to spending more time here.

Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan − Mountains of languages

I had no idea what to expect of Azerbaijan, except that this is an oil-rich country. Oil wells have been operating in Baku since the 1840s. The Nobels and the Rothschilds made their fortunes here. In 1900, Azerbaijan accounted for half of the world’s oil production. What I found here is a modern nation built on top of ancient empires, well-funded by gasnoil.

In ancient times, natural gas leaked from the ground near Baku. These gas vents often burned spontaneously giving rise to the area being called Atashgah, which is Persian for "home of fire". Temples at this site may have been the first Zoroastrian shrines. From the word Atashgah, this country became known as Azerbaijan.

The photo to the right is an example of Shabaka. These stained-glass windows are a traditional Azeri art form made without glue or nails. Shabaka fill walls and window openings of halls and rooms in palaces and hotels, harmonizing with the composition of the building’s façade.

I'd read that the town of Şәki (Sheki) "snoozes amid green pillows of beautifully forested mountains". The clerk at my hotel in Baku told me that Şәki is Azerbaijan’s loveliest town. This is how I ended up spending two days at the beautiful, old (and inexpensive) Karavansarai Hotel. This was my base for exploring a more rustic part of Azerbaijan. Truly, one of the best things about traveling is discovering quite, unspoiled corners of our planet.

When I was in central Asia, I didn't post any photos of food because ... well ... a kabob is a kabob, and beer is beer. However, with my first meal in the Caucasus, I knew I was once again in a land of fine food. This was also the first time in months that I enjoyed a really good local wine.

Again, I didn't know what to expect about this small landlocked country. I found a proud and handsome people, working hard and committed to recovering from the atrocities inflicted against them during the 20th century. The cost of living is modest. Transportation is still a bit primitive. The food is great. The people are warm and welcoming.

Rural Armenia is as rustic as it gets. Some villages look as though they haven't changed in centuries. During the Soviet era, factories, mines and railroads were built to make use of local labor and to extract Armenia's limited natural resources. But since 1991, Armenia has returned to its traditional ways of farming and herding.

What surprised me in Armenia was to find the Temple of Garni, probably built 1st century AD. It was constructed to honor the sun god Mihr. It's the only Greco-Roman colonnaded building in Armenia and the entire former Soviet Union. As you can see by all the tourists in this photo, this is not an unknown site, but remarkable just the same.

As the story goes, when God was handing out countries to all the peoples of the Earth, the Armenians were late and arrived after all the good lands had been distributed. God said "I'm sorry but all that I have left are some rocky hills where only thorns and wild grasses grow. At least, there are lakes and rivers, so you'll have water." So, the Armenians made the best of what they were given, and learned to grow wheat and bake bread.

Today, agriculture and herding are their main industries. 25% of their income comes from Armenians living overseas. Of the 8 million Armenians alive today, 5 million live outside of Armenia.

Someday, when I have a house (ha!), I'll come back here to buy my carpets.

A performance at the Yerevan Opera House

Something that I appreciate about socialist countries is the way that the government subsidizes the arts. For about $2, I had a balcony box seat to a memorable evening of national dances and songs at the Yerevan Opera House.

A century ago, the Ottoman Turks carried out a systematic policy of ethnic cleansing through which 1.5 million Armenians were killed. The shocking brutality of this extermination may have provided a rational for the Holocaust. As Hitler wrote in 1939 "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

It's because of this genocide that there is a diaspora of 5 million Armenians living outside of Armenia. Travel can be an eye-opening experience.

Georgia is one of my favorite places in the world. It's a beautiful place. The food and wine are superb. This is a country of very big-hearted people ... and also very big people. The men all have pot bellies. Georgian women say that a man without a belly is like a house without a balcony. Okay, so pass the khinkali, pour some more Saperavi, and let's tell jokes about God and Armenians.

One day, two men arrived at the Pearly Gates. One was an Armenian priest. The other a Georgian taxi driver. St.Peter explained that Heaven was crowded and that he only had room for one of them. He thought for a moment, and decided to admit the taxi driver. The priest asked "Why him and not me?" St.Peter explained "Everyone slept through your services, but everyone prayed while he was driving."

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the casual outdoor cafes and the great food. Here's an excellent AirBnB apartment in the middle of the Old Town with a rooftop terrace.

Although Georgia has some modern buildings, the architects and city planners don't try to compete with the skyscrapers of Baku or the broad boulevards of Yerevan. Georgians seem to like to keep their old relics around. They add charm to the place.

In the first century AD, a Georgian brought Jesus’ robe back to Georgia. Returning home, he was met by his sister who upon touching the robe died immediately from the power of this sacred object. The robe could not be removed from her grasp, so she was buried with it.

Georgia's first church was built above her grave in the 4th century. The current Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is the model for all other churches in Georgia.

Mt.Kazbek (5047m), Tsminda Sameba Church in foreground

According to legend, Prometheus was chained on this mountain in punishment for having stolen fire from the gods and having given it to mortals.

In 1988, the Soviets built a cable-car lift from the town to the church. The people of Kazbegi felt it defiled their sacred place and destroyed it. Today, the walk from town to church is a rigorous one hour hike ... or a 30-minute ride in a 4x4.

This church and the mountains around it are the most photographed site in Georgia.

When I taught English last fall, Batumi was a relatively quiet town. Now that it's summer, the parks and beaches are alive and active until after midnight. One tradition that I especially enjoy is that pianos are placed throughout the park to encourage people to gather, play and sing together. What fun!

Most folks think of vacation as the time to go traveling. When I take vacation, I go home. I'm looking forward to going home to a cottage in Michigan, to sit, to read ... and to plan my next journey.