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.

Samarkand, the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Central Asia, is known as the "blue city" due to its many beautiful blue buildings. Positioned at a center point of the Silk Road, the oasis city of Samarkand prospered as a crossroads for Eastern and Western cultures. In 1220 Genghis Khan and his armies conquered the area, killing three-fourths of the city's residents and reducing much of its historic architecture to ruins. In the 14th century, Amir Timur established the Timurid Empire. He designated the city as the empire's capital, populating it with great craftsmen and artists to rebuild the city.