Staz,

Please stick with it, man. I once met a guy on the forum and we went out a few times.  For the life of me, I could not get him to approach. I did everything humanly possible, but he just would not do it. He wanted to desperately, but just COULD NOT DO IT. I gave up on him after a while. He was a very nice guy, but I think he now dates a rather chunky girl he's not particularly attracted to, and has completely given up on the idea of being with beautiful women.

Over the past year, 9 out of 10 guys I've met through the forums quit at the first sign of adversity. The anxiety is too much for them or they have a couple of bad approaches and they give up just like that. They disappear forever and probably never do an approach for the rest of their lives. Then they end up settling for whatever they can get and live the rest of their lives in regret.

You sound like a guy who is determined to succeed, so do it. I hate when people tell me to "just do it," but that's really what you have to do. This is overkill, but I'm going to quote Rocky's coach from Rocky IV. "All your power, all your love, everything you got."  -- something like that. That's what it takes sometimes.

Use that even just to get your first approach done, because sometimes it does take a huge amount of will and courage to do it. After the first one, it will be a downhill journey.

Her - 'What, why are you shy?'

I would take that as a compliment.  It probably was, otherwise she wouldn't have asked twice.

It's only getting in the way of things but I'm letting it. So basically I'm taking her questions as a kick up the backside and gonna stop being shy and just switch my focus to being more confident.

You can't just "stop being shy" or "be more confident."  Being too confident around a girl you just approached is a little suspicious.  Being openly shy around her, on the other hand, is certainly expected -- and in a way -- a sign of true confidence.

You did something courageous by approaching her.  Most "confident" guys can't do that.  I think you should be proud of yourself.

I have a boyfriend.
-- I know.

Why would it be a bad thing?  It's not really even considered a fetish anymore.  White male/Asian female couples have completely ingrained themselves into society.  They're the only interracial couplings that don't incite any kind of reproach these days.  They've pretty much become mainstream and have been "accepted" by society far more than any other interracial pairing.  "Yellow fever" is a term more attached to white girls who are into Asian guys, not the other way around.

Don't worry, almost every white guy I know has a thing for Asian chicks and nearly every Asian guy I know has a thing for white chicks.  Don't ask me why.

I'm half white, half Asian, and I prefer Caucasian girls for some reason.  I RARELY see Asian girls whom I find attractive.  I have no idea why, nor do I really think about it.  You're attracted to who you're attracted to.  It's never a "bad" thing.

Yeah, asking for time/directions may be a good way to warm up.  If indirect is easier for you, but you prefer to go direct, let me suggest something that I think is a terrific way to do both.

Open with a random indirect question, but make sure it requires a decent answer and not just a quick "answer and go."  Then just admit to the real reason you approached her.

For example, you could ask for directions, then mid-way through her answer, tell her that you didn't actually need directions and that it was just an excuse to meet her because you found her cute or attractive or whatever.

Just a suggestion.

Don't use the word "Oriental" to describe Asian people.  It's an offensive and antiquated term.  Not all Asian people think so, but I believe a vast majority do.  Call them Asian.