Starchild: Why are Malaysian kids fascinated by travelling around the world?

Ariel Li Xin Xue, 10

If you have the chance to visit another country, where would you go? Would it be Japan, China or South Korea? How about European countries like Italy, Switzerland or Spain?

Tan Yu Xing, 10

There are around 195 countries in the world, and each has its own unique attractions, culture and food. Dubai, for example, is famous for the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world.

Paris, on the other hand, is well known for the famous Eiffel Tower, one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. London also has many interesting attractions, including the famed Tower Bridge.

Meanwhile, Egypt is famous for its ancient pyramids and rich history. Did you know that Egypt is also home to the Nile River, the longest river in the world?Travelling allows us to discover new places, learn about different cultures, and create unforgettable memories. Every country has something special waiting to be explored.

Here is the second batch of letters from Starchild readers on the topic, My favourite destination.

"I would like to go to Jakarta. I will bring my family along on this trip. In Jakarta, I can go shopping in many malls and go cafe-hopping and enjoy many desserts. I will definitely visit this place again because it is wonderful and fun," says Ayra Nur Diandra, 11.

"I would like to visit Shanghai, China with my friends. I will visit famous places such as the Shanghai Tower and the Sihang Warehouse Memorial.

Ayra Nur Diandra, 11

I will also plan my trip so that I can attend a cosplay event at the Shanghai Anime Convention. It would be exciting to see people dressed in colourful and creative costumes," says Liang Fu, 11.

Liang Fu, 11

Tan Yu Xing, 10, dreams of visiting Shanghai too. "I want to bring my parents, older sister and my pets, Dodo, Mimi and Lala along. I would like to visit Shanghai Disneyland and explore one of its main attractions, Zootopia, which is based on the animated movie. I'd love to take lots of pictures, try out the rides and buy toys too. I would definitely visit again because it looks like so much fun."

Harveer Kaur, 11, says her favourite destination is Brisbane, Australia. "I would love to travel there with my mother, grandparents, sisters and maybe even more family members. During winter, I can enjoy fun activities like building snowmen and having snowball fights. I will also look out for kangaroos and koalas, which are some of Australia’s most famous animals.

Harveer Kaur, 11

"Besides that, I would love to visit shopping malls and spend time with my uncle and cousins who live there. Another activity I would really enjoy is ice-skating, as it sounds exciting and fun. I would love to visit Australia again because I want to experience all these enjoyable activities once more and explore even more new places."

Kelly Ho Kah Yan, 12, wants to visit Moon Island, a crescent-shaped island in the Arabian Gulf about 70km off the coast of Dubai. "My brothers and I can swim in the sea and build sandcastles on the beach. My parents can capture memories using their phone cameras. Lastly, I will bring them to the Museum of the Moon, an art installation featuring a giant 3D model of the Moon."

Yap Kai Loon, 12, wants to visit Clark Planetarium, a public science and space museum in Salt Lake City, Utah, the United States.

Yap Kai Loon, 12

"I have never been there before because the US is very far away. At the planetarium, I would like to visit the Stellar Playground, which is an interactive space-themed exhibit where visitors can create and simulate their own solar systems."

Ariel Li Xin Xue, 10, wants to visit the US too. "There are four seasons - spring, summer, autumn and winter - in the US. I can enjoy my favourite fast food there. I also hope to visit Roblox Corporation, a gaming company based in San Mateo, California."

Find the hidden words!

ITEM: Have you ever tasted a food that looked strange or smelled funny? Write about the weirdest food you've ever tried. Was it spicy, slimy, crunchy or super sour? Where did you eat it and who was with you? Most importantly, did you love it or hate it? Describe your experience and explain whether you would try it again!

Email your contributions to [e-mail] by June 12. Please put "STARCHILD: Weird food" in the subject line of your email.

Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.