In this first-ever edition of Jetsetting Journals, aspiring explorer Asyraf Naqiuddin explores a harvest festival in a place you’d least expected.You might have heard of the Gawai festival in Sarawak with ngajat and tuak, or Kaamatan in Sabah synonymous with Unduk Ngadau and butod (sago grub).

Featured image: 123RFReady for deployment to the world’s largest water fight? Let’s swing into action in Thailand!One of the most iconic attractions from the ‘Land of Smiles’, Songkran is an important event in the Thai calendar, marking the New Year and fresh beginnings. It is easy to look at it as water war on steroids, but the festivities actually have a lot of cultural symbolisms.

Beautiful sunshine with a dash of rainbow – can be said about both Malaysian celebrity Hannah Tan and Hawaii, America’s island of dreams.It makes perfect sense that Hannah’s chosen holiday destination is the hot and sexy Honolulu.

 Did you know how many New Year celebrations we have in Southeast Asia? Not one, not two, but at least three! That means you get three chances of pursuing your New Year resolutions before failing at them. Again!Yes, we’re talking about Songkran! This holiday is mainly associated with Thailand, but similar festivities can also be found in other Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.Songkran is just right around the corner.

G’day!Australia, also known as the Land Down Under, is so massive that a flight from one end to another can take over five hours! Amid the massive scale, the country is blessed with jaw-dropping nature and wildlife anywhere you go – kangaroos skipping at car parks, dolphins swimming near jetties and the occasional giant spiders in your room.Wild dolphins are virtually everywhere in Perth.

What does ‘coming of age’ mean to you? For many communities across the world, it’s not as drab as throwing a birthday party or getting a driver’s license. Some young men and women have to go through extreme hardships to be deemed worthy of adulthood. As if going through puberty is not enough hassle!1.

Excited at the prospect of celebrating spring in South Korea, I flew to Busan with much hope of finding the perfect cherry blossom tree to photograph.Pink, delicate, and with a hint of magic that seem to escape the ordinary eyes. The sight of cherry blossoms would not disappoint even the grumpiest of people.

You know that one seemingly perfect friend who looks as if he/she is on a perpetual Instagram filter, even when he/she is doing the most boring thing like buying groceries or stirring a cup of tea? If countries were people, Japan would be him/her.For most people, the word ‘manhole’ conjures up an unpleasant image (or for certain individuals like our immature editor, something to giggle about).  But in Japan, manhole covers are fun, colourful and artistic.

If you’re Malaysian, you’re probably giggling at the mention of the word ‘Jinjiang’ because of our ‘Jinjang Joe’ references. For the uninitiated, guys who try too hard to be fashionable but end up as fashion misfits are often referred to as ‘Jinjang Joes’. But no, this is not the Jinjang near Kepong. This place is J-I-N-J-I-A-N-G. And it’s in China. China has so much to offer.

Relish the taste of spring with these delicious flower treats!Sakura may not be exclusively attached to Japan – the pretty pink trees also grow in South Korea and China, yet it is so iconic to the Land of the Rising Sun that spring has become a highly anticipated season, drawing millions of visitors to the country each year.Here are some delectable Japanese treats available during cherry blossom season:SAKURAMOCHIThe sticky rice cake known as mochi is one of Japan’s most beloved and varied tr