Writer Judith Fein prepared to face the celebratory rocketfire of the Beehive Rocket Festival, suited-up by the local fire department in motorcycle helmet with full face shield, breather mask, ear plugs, neck-protective wet towel, gloves and two layers of cotton pants which were all covered by a heavy regulation firefighters coat. Even with all this, accidents do happen.

A conservative estimate of 1.2 million bottle rockets were fired into the crowd of several thousand visitors (and at more than a few by-standers) during the Beehive Rocket Festival in Yan Shui, Taiwan as a literal warm-up for the following night when a mob of 20,000 would be confronted by five times the number of uncontrolled flaming projectiles.

Dim Sum (“touch the heart”) are primarily all manner of delicious Chinese dumplings --including a self-contained one containing meatball soup-- served from breakfast through afternoon tea time. These were a combination of shrimp, pork and vegetables, Din Tai Fung restaurant, Taiwan.

A group of co-workers turns a business dinner into a party at the Dun-Long Shop, a place favored by locals for its Tian-tan (slow-cooked in a ceramic Chinese over) style of cuisine.

Nestled inside the Chang Gung Memorial hospital, writer Judith Fein has her pulse taken and interpreted by a Dr. Jiun-Liang Ched, who is both a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a licensed western M.D.

Taiwan’s Taroko Gorge National Park is a natural wonder resembling classic Chinese artwork.

All it’s missing is a notice at the bottom saying “Have fun!”

This is not a Chinese brush-painting but a photograph of the forested marble and limestone mountains on the island of Taiwan.

The HK $40 million waterfront Avenue of the Stars honors 102 luminaries of the prodigious Hong Kong film industry from directors like John Woo to legendary producers such as Sir Run Run Shaw to what have become international favorites Jet Li, Jackie Chan and the iconic Bruce Lee.

One of the world’s largest free-standing statues of Buddha (110 feet) emerges from morning fog at the crest of Lantau Island near Hong Kong.
It is reached by riding one of the world’s longest aerial cable cars and threading your way through a Buddhist-themed culture and souvenir park that should be deemed “Enlightenment Land.”

With more than twice the number of high-rises found in New York City, Hong Kong is the definition of a modern cosmopolitan metropolis. And you’d better like to shop.

Learning new skills is part of the fun in the free "Dance Day" festivities which features performing companies specializing in everything from traditional ceremony to ballet, modern and even hip-hop. (It's everywhere.)

An elderly supplicant makes an incense offering at the temple of Kwam Yum, the Goddess of Mercy, in Macau.

Clean, fast, fresh and open until the wee hours of the morning, food stalls such as this are found throughout the major Chinese cities –especially near the various markets.

Walled villages used to be the norm but only a very few remain near Hong Kong and are tourist attractions, which prompts some elderly villagers to don traditional hats and pose for pictures ...in exchange for money.

Have silk shirts and nightshirts made to order at Sam's where the quality is good enough for the Clintons, Elton John and David Bowie.