I can't stand many Asian desserts. Delicacies, like the fish lip soup I wrote about recently, were hard to swallow. Still, I did try new things, like native fruits and vegetables and juices, as well chicken cooked in a zillion different ways. Of course, when in doubt, eat French fries, which many restaurants do very well. Oh, and street food is usually better tasting and a better bargain than what you get in the restaurant, except for maybe India, where it's just dangerous.
Most people are reasonably nice and welcoming to tourists, especially English-speaking ones.
The younger people often want to practice their English. All in all, my Asian experience has been fun and enlightening. I still feel more at home in parts of Africa, probably because I can see and interact with people who look like me. Exploring this region and its history really helps to put so much more of the world into perspective. And now, I can look forward to a few days of work and rest in L.A., where I'll be exploring gangs and their color-coded head wraps.