Sakura or Cherry Blossom? What is your favorite sound to call this beautiful flower? Actually, cherry blossom, also known as Japanese cherry or Sakura, is a flower of many trees of genus Prunus or Prunus subg. Cerasus. They are common species in East Asia, including China, Korea and especially in Japan. It is considered the national flower of Japan. From late March to early April, If you visit Japan, you will be surprised by the beauty of cherry blossom shining in front of your eyes. The question is “Am I living in paradise?” or “This is called the feeling of falling in love?” because you are falling in love with the pink and light pink aura everywhere you go, especially in Tokyo. The most important thing is the weather will start to change like season from Winter to Spring and from cold to warmer. You can say that Spring is the very comfortable season. Although there might be some strong winds, it is the best time for traveling. Images captured by: Image by tawatchai07 on Freepik">Image by tawatchai07 on Freepik  

Travel Lushes often gets tagged on Instagram in photos taken at the stunning lavender fields of Provence. My sister even once told me it was her dream to visit France, simply to experience the beauty of these fragrant blooms. As a new mom, her dream has been put on pause to focus her attention on caring for her toddler and infant. The good news for my big sis though, is that Provence isn’t the only region in the world boasting meadows filled with these gorgeous violet-colored plants. Here is a list of places all around the world, spanning each continent (excluding Antarctica), to experience the magic of lavender fields–some of which might be a little closer to home. 1. Mt. Shasta Lavender Farms: Montague, California Open seasonally by appointment. Map and directions here. Photo by @rowdykittens  2. Farm Tomita: Hokkaido, Japan Don’t leave Farm Tomita’s Traditional Lavender Garden without trying their signature lavender soft-serve ice cream (other flavors include Hokkaido vanilla, Hokkaido cantaloupe, and lavender white chocolate). Blooming season is from late June to early August. Click here for map and directions. Photo by @lizzygelderland 3. Hitchin Lavender Farm: Hertfordshire, UK Flowering season is from mid June until the end of August. Click here for opening times, price information, and directions. Photo by @cherylnicolesoh 4. Bridestowe Lavender Estate: Tasmania, Australia Flowering seasons begins in December. Click here for map and directions and here for opening times and pricing info. Photo by @ben_coope 5. Lavender Farm Guest House: Franschhoek, South Africa Click here for accommodation rates. Caption 6. Bleu Lavande: Quebec, Canada Bleu Lavande is the largest lavender farm in Canada and the second largest in North America. They host a number of activities including guided tours, massotherapy, yoga retreats, picnics, family weekends, and jazz and classical performances. Click here for map and contact info and here for opening times and pricing info. Photo by @gutoveneno 7. Lavandario Field: Cunha, São Paulo, Brazil For more information, click here. Photo by @matheoshenrique 8. Organic lavender farm is less than 15 miles from Central London The best time to take photos is from early July to the end of August. Click here for map and directions. Photo by @liolaliola 9. Lavender by the Bay: New York Lavender By the Bay is New York’s premier lavender farm and one of the largest in the USA. The first English bloom takes place during mid to late June and the French bloom begins in early July and only lasts for about two weeks. Click here for map and directions. Photo by @piekaren 10. Valensole Plateau: Provence, France A list of lavender meadows wouldn’t be complete without including the famous fields of Valensole in Provence. The best time to visit this French plateau is in July when the lavender flowers are in full bloom. Click here for more information. Photo by @hande.cilek

CHERRY BLOSSOMS DECORATE THE WALKWAYS OF BUSAN CITY IN SOUTH KOREA Seasons and Weather South Korea’s climate is typically temperate with four distinct seasons. There is never a bad time to visit South Korea but travellers should time their visit according to what they want to see and do during their trip. The seasons in South Korea are divided into spring, summer, autumn and winter, each bringing with it its own benefits and challenges.   Spring During the spring, which falls between April and June, the country is painted pink by the abundant cherry blossoms that decorate South Korea’s green spaces. The weather during this season is the least likely to be inclement, making it one of the more popular, albeit crowded, times of the year to visit South Korea - expect mostly sunny days. Summer Summers in South Korea are generally warm but often see monsoon rains from July to August, making the whole country almost intolerably muggy. If you don’t want to find yourself perpetually damp then this time of the year is best avoided. By June the average temperature is 22°C with July and August experiencing the highest rainfall of the year. Autumn Once the rains have passed, however, the country is bathed in the most stunning shades of orange and red as the autumn leaves start to bloom. With mild temperatures, low rainfall and a wealth of unadulterated natural beauty, autumn (September to November) is a close rival to spring with regards to being the best period to visit South Korea. Winter Finally, we come to the cold but curiously delightful season that is winter, falling between December and March. While being cold is never the best thing in the world, there is a certain charm about wrapping up warm and walking through crisp, white snow. Transport still runs like clockwork in South Korea and many points of interest are likely to be far less congested than usual so if you want to avoid the crowds, winter isn’t such a bad time to visit. This is also the perfect time to go to South Korea if skiing, snowboarding or any other snow-related activity is on the agenda. Credit by: onthegotours