Celebrity Travel: Go Away With Ransom Riggs
A. Manila seems so much like Los Angeles in so many little ways -- the crowds, the glittering shopping districts, its young people and their bursting love of American pop culture. But then you peek around a corner and suddenly realize you're on the other side of the world.
Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A. Madagascar, Borneo, Vietnam, Easter Island, Saint Petersburg ... the list goes on!
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. Nothing out of the ordinary. I think most people who answer this question talk about their iPad and while I bring mine I also always bring at least one physical novel to read, because I love falling asleep with a book in my hand. A book made of paper.
Q. What would be your dream/fantasy trip?
A. One in which I could forget about all my deadlines and everything I should be doing.
Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?
A. Fast food. The crappier the better. Like a big fried fish sandwich dripping in mystery sauce and a large order of fries and a Coke and a milkshake. So delicious and so, so gross.
Q. What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?
A. I used to do lots. Lonely Planet, Bradt Guides, language guides, study the country on Google Earth. The more I travel and the busier I get, though, the less preparation I do. I can wing it practically anywhere now, though I do feel guilty about not even attempting to speak French in France anymore.
Q. What is your best vacation memory?
A. The Philippines last year near the resort island of Miniloc. My now-wife and I had just spent the day snorkeling and scuba diving, and then we were whisked away on a boat to a floating platform offshore where we had an amazing dinner on the water. Just six months later, though, Typhoon Haiyan blew through the area, causing great devastation. The resort islands were mainly spared, but mainland Palawan was hit hard. Since then my wife and I have been great champions of a charity called ShelterBox, which after a major disaster provides all the basics from food and cooking supplies to shelter -- and they did amazing work after Haiyan.
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Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and travel writer. You can respond to this column by visiting her website at www.jaehakim.com. You may also follow "Go Away With..." on Twitter at @GoAwayWithJae where Jae-Ha Kim welcomes your questions and comments.
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