Two German tour guides let us in on the back story behind Berlin's most memorable monuments to their country's turbulent history. Then two Turks tuck into a discussion of the traditional Turkish street eats, comfort foods, and desserts they recommend for a tasty visit to Istanbul. And an American who met — then married — a local artist in Bhutan shares tips for surmounting the logistical hurdles of visiting this remote Himalayan kingdom.

• Germany tour guides Holger Zimmer and Fabian Rueger
• Turkey tour guides Lale Surmen Aranand Yaren Türkoğlu
• Linda Leaming, author of "Married to Bhutan" and "A Field Guide to Happiness" (Hay House)

• Holger Zimmer offers custom tour guiding in Berlin, where he also contributes arts and culture features for RBB kulturradio. Holger can be e-mailed at [email protected].
• Fabian Rueger can be contacted on LinkedIn.
• Turkish tour guides Lale Surmen Aran and Yaren Turkoglu are based at SRM Travel in Istanbul. Lale is also co-author of the Rick Steves Istanbul guidebook.
• Linda Leaming has been living in Bhutan for more than two decades. She is married to Bhutanese thanka painter Phurba Namgay and is the author of "Married to Bhutan: How One Woman Got Lost, Said I Do, and Found Bliss," and "A Field Guide to Happiness."

Pgm #602 Asia Haiku

staring at the sign
wishing I could read kanji
cherry blossoms fall
— Cam M. Sato, Williston, Vermont

Board the shaky train
the next adventure awaits
right out the window
— Meredith Anderson, Seattle

Carrying bags up
a mountainside for trekkers
later, burn my poop.
— Jan Pylar, Eugene, Oregon

Great Wall of China
Serpentine in its splendor
A business trip, eh?
— Padma Lakshman, Woodinville, Washington