This episode was directed by Andrew McCarthy, who starred with James Spader in the John Hughes film Pretty in Pink (1986) as well as Less Than Zero (1987) & Mannequin (1987)
The famous gizmo in the small box is nothing but the lens and actuator assembly from a CD/DVD player laser pickup. The thing alone, does nothing :)
The opening shot of Khumhara, Uzbekistan is actually showing the Lofotkatedralen in Norway.
Shaun Toub and Faran Tahir both appeared in Iron Man (2008), starring Robert Downey Jr.. Robert Downey Jr. also starred in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) which also starred James Spader.