As sure as spring starts, you'll see an assortment of fruit trees beginning to sport tiny white and pink flowers, commonly known as blossom. Cherry is the firm favourite in the blossom stakes, with the small blooms symbolising the   transience of life to the Japanese (or female sexuality if you're Chinese). In New Zealand, thousands of boy and girl racers descend on the town of Alexandra every year for their blossom festival ... and just what souped-up vehicles and excessive alcohol consumption have to do with those particular little flowers is of course a complete mystery. DP

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