During the 16th century the small fishing village of Macao developed into a trading hub under the governance of the Portuguese. Goods flowed between Europe, China, and Japan making it into an enormously wealthy city. Traces of that era are still found all over the city. In 1999, after being governed by the Portuguese for over 400 years, Macao became Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. China chose to focus on developing casino gaming/tourist trade, which proved to be quite lucrative. Macao surpassed Las Vegas and is now the largest gambling center in the world.

At the base of Tian Shan Mountains, in the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan, is the city of Almaty. Originally, Almaty was a small village on the edge of a broad plain. The people living here were Kazakhs. The Kazakhs kept sheep and camels, and led a nomadic life. Major changes came in the mid-19th century. The Russian Empire claimed this as its territory, and many Russian settlers came. They laid out streets in a grid, and built a modern city. Almaty is known for its rich greenery. It's also called a "garden city."

The city we visit this time, Johor Bahru in Malaysia is a major economic center. Situated along the Johor Straits, just across from Singapore, the city is located at the southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic nation with a population consisting of Malays, Chinese, and Indians. It is a harmonious society with each group retaining their distinct language, religion, and culture.