ArcaMax

Nelufar Hedayat, 28, was just 6 years old when she and her family fled the Taliban and war-torn Afghanistan. Her experiences as a refugee and immigrant helped shape her desire to make a difference. While working for the BBC, she interviewed Malala Yousafzai for the TV documentary, "Shot for Going to School." Hedayat's current project is the Fusion docuseries "The Traffickers," where she delves into subjects such as the illegal selling of human organs and sex. Based out of London, Hedayat is active on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nelufar) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nelufar.h/).

Q. What has been the most notable place you have traveled to?

A. I was really keen to get to China and we managed to do so twice (for the series). I find the mammoth country an exceptionally interesting one. I have been bitten by the China bug and would love to explore it more extensively. I think what you're often hit with when visiting a new place is the sense of scale. A trip to New York, Mumbai or Guangzhou makes you feel like an ant in a metropolitan jungle and that is a heady combination. When on holiday, though, I always seem to be drawn to the small. I love island-hopping in Thailand. I adore the calm of Borneo and parts of Bali. It's this balance of the big and the small that really excites me about travel.

Q. Tell me a little about Borneo.

A. The animals that I saw there, pigmy elephants, Bonobo and orangutans, to name a few, re-balance my connection with the planet and make me feel human. With the island being so close to the equator, you see a version of the night sky that has a regal sparkle unchallenged in its beauty. I cannot be more helpful than to recommend that you bring insect bite cream. Also, adjust your expectations. I was born in and have always lived in mega cities and am used to the amenities and pace of it. But in (Malaysian) Borneo, I was forced to readjust my views of timing, comfort and I learned to be patient.

Q. How can travelers be mindful of the cultures they are visiting?

A. Google it. Seriously, it's not terribly hard and it's much better to be slightly over-prepared than under. I've been there and done it. Super-short shorts in the Buddhist temple, no headscarf at the Turkish mosque and way too tight a top for the Pakistani market. This problem obviously affects women disproportionately to men, but I've learned to quail the feminist fire-burning within me if only to really blend in and have a true experience of the culture and traditions of the place.

Q. What untapped destination should people know about?

A. Vietnam. It's a truly awesome place and I have to say, still on the cusp of being tourist-afied. You can still find pockets of it that have little to no tourist trail and the people are stoically polite and kind. It's a country in the grips of growing pains, supposedly communist, but with Ferraris, a Dior store and lots of designer, dog-friendly cafes.

Q. What are your five favorite cities?

A. This is hard, but I've whittled it down to: London, L.A., Kuala Lumpur, Lagos and Mecca. I love them all for very different reasons.

Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?

A. Antarctica, Papua and New Guinea, Madagascar, Russia, Kazakhstan, North Korea. The list goes on. The more I travel, the bigger the world seems to get. It's a wonder all unto itself.

Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?

A. I always try to save along the way, staying at very basic places so that the last three days are five-star. When my friend and I traveled around Thailand, in the beginning, we slummed it. Really, we did. But then, at the end of the trip, we were living in paradise on Phi Phi Islands with massages every day and a private balcony.

Q. What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?

A. If it's for work, then infinitely detailed stuff -- collecting maps, calling other journalists who have been there recently, getting embassy advice and much more. If it's personal, I literally show up and get a ride into town. I was in Sri Lanka for holiday earlier this year and that's exactly what I did, solo, and had the best time. I ended up down south and even got my diving license, which sets me up for the Philippines next time.

========

(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.)

(c) 2016 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.