On August 2, 1964, an attack on Navy destroyer USS Maddox started the Vietnam War. It dragged on for more than a decade, and resulted in the loss of more than 50,000 American lives. Are 50 years long enough for those who served there to forgive, forget and return?

Of course, many even older senior travelers, vets of WWII and Korean War, often return to former enemy nations Germany, Italy, China and Japan. At this anniversary year of the Vietnam War, maybe the old slogan applies to aging ex-GI wanderers: Time heals all wounds.

Recent medical studies (as if you don’t already know) report that inactivity adds to the physical problems of aging. Nicknamed the sitting disease, today’s seniors bring it on by spending too much unhealthy time on the couch.

According to the research, American elders, especially retirees, sprawl more than three hours daily in front of the TV. We’re advised to get up and actively exercise for at least ten continuous minutes during each of those wasted hours. We’re sure the Kardashians and Honey Booboo won’t know when we miss their commercials.

Whether traveling in Hong Kong, Hanoi, Helena, Honolulu or Hamburg, we often opt for Asian food. In busy air  terminals, many Chinese restaurants are geared to serving fast food. However, that doesn’t mean the fare can’t be fresh and delicious. Here are some airport examples:

Manchu Wok, Dallas-Fort Worth: In the food court of Terminal C, this Asian fast-food café offers steamtable and custom-made dishes. The price for a two-item platter is from about $7. Ingredients are fresh and include orange chicken BBQ pork and other items. Each meal topped off with a free fortune cookie. www.manchuwok.com

Fung Lum Express, San Francisco: Also in a food court, it’s at Terminal 3, and offers the usual Chinese dishes, plus varieties of dim sum, chive dumplings and banana shrimp rolls. Prices are from about $7, and open from 7:30 am to midnight, making it convenient for tired and hungry travelers. www.sfoconnect.com/...sfo/fung-lum-sfo

We were in the delightful Italian city of Venice a year or so ago, and enjoyed all the tourist sights. At noon on one of our wandering days, we needed a bathroom. We then saw the familiar McDonalds sign near San Marco Square and entered.

Feeling a bit guilty to just dash in and out, we decided to eat there. We had the usual Big Mac, fries and Coke for about $6. However, to eat native we later bought some genuine Italian gelato (sherbet) and pizzelles (cookies) from street stalls near the Grand Canal. For info about McDonalds in Venice, go to www.mcdonalds.it