What aspects of US life are not available in India? Thailand? The other countries?

This varies from country to country and also between the cities and the countryside. In Vietnam there is no McDonald's or Pizza Hut anywhere. Most cities where I have traveled do not have highly developed subway systems. In Vietnam, which is a communist country, the news is controlled by the government, meaning national newspapers must adhere to strict guidelines regarding what they can publish. Much international news is censored.
Other than the Super Bowl, it is difficult to find American sports on television.

But because of technology and globalization, there are more aspects of American life than you might expect are available in Asia.

Do men and women have equal rights in each of the countries you are visiting?

Officially, men and women have equal rights. Culturally, women are expected to stick to the role of tending to the home and family. This is particularly daunting in poor or rural places where the women are expected to tend to the home and also work in the fields.

What are some of the religious ceremonial features -including clothing?

In India, many stores and restaurants have little diarama-sized temples where people can pray to Hindu gods. In Hindu temples, people are required to take off their shoes before entering.
In Thailand and Vietnam, which are predominantly Buddhist countries, monks where orange or saffron robes, sandals, and shave their heads. It is part of their religion to dress as simply as possible. Church ceremonies are have a similar format to the United States, but the language is different.

Which country is most similar to America in regards to landscape, customs, architecture?

The place that has been most similar to America so far was Bangkok, Thailand. There are many foreigners there and many services to cater to them. Bangkok is highly modern, with large, luxury shopping malls, movie theaters with stadium seating, many American fast food chains, a developed subway system and even a skytrain.

Is there any notable tension among the citizens in India regarding nuclear war with Pakistan?

Most Indians who you ask will tell you that they don't like Pakistan and feel very threatened by them. The Pakistan issue is the largest political question facing India and much of the country's foreign policy is seen through the lens of the conflict over the state of Kashmir - which both countries claim to possess. Indian news publications pay a lot of attention to the Pakistan situation and Indians tend to play tug-of-war over which country has a stronger alliance with the United States.

In Thailand, how were you affected after visiting the ruins from the tsunami? What questions would you ask a tsunami survivor?

Covering the tsunami was very stressful. It was difficult to try to understand everything that I was seeing and also do my job as a journalist. I never saw a dead person before covering the tsunami, but now I have seen thousands. Many relief workers at the ruins complained of not being able to sleep because of what they had seen. Fortunately, I was up all night writing stories and didn't have time to try to sleep. Interviewing tsunami survivors who spoke English was pretty easy because they all had such incredible stories to tell. Interviewing people who lost loved-ones was much more sensitive, emotional and challenging.

Does each culture have certain unique table manners?

In India, most people wash their hands before and after the meal. They almost always eat with their hands - scooping up a curry in a large piece of bread, or naan. It can get a little messy. In Thailand and Vietnam - where noodles are central to most meals - people usually eat with chopsticks. Western-style utensils are almost always available.

What technologies are available to regular citizens? (Computers, phones, radios, etc.)

In cities, internet cafes are everywhere. So are cell phone shops and digital photography kiosks where people can print photos from digital cameras. Many places have wireless internet, where you can get online with a laptop. Some villages in the countryside are beginning to have wireless internet hot spots too, but this is in the experimental stage.

What is the most outstanding architecture in each of the places you have visited?

The temples are the most memorable. The Bahai temple in Delhi, the Taj Mahal in Agra, and Wat Po Buddhist temple in Bangkok. Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum in Hanoi was also impressive.

Is soccer the major sport for each of these countries?

Soccer is very popular everywhere. Many of the games are televised and people often gather at bars to watch games on satellite television. None of the teams here fare very well against European competition.