Reader of the Month: Ginger Rose Clark, Fashion Writer and Editor

Name: ​

Ginger Rose Clark

Hometown: ​

Until very recently, London.
Currently a small village in Normandy.

Occupation:

Fashion and lifestyle writer/ editor

What type of traveller are you, in three words?

Inquisitive, always hungry.

Tell us about your favourite trip.

I absolutely love going to Vietnam.
My boyfriend has family there, which makes the experience all the
more special – there’s nothing better than exploring a place under
the wing of a local. His family takes us to amazing places when we
visit. They’ll show us all the best sights in the area, tell us
where to get the best coffee or take us to raft restaurants which
serve incredible seafood.

Any travel disasters?

One of the first times I travelled alone, I missed my flight
because I’d misread the time on my ticket. In retrospect it doesn’t
seem like that big of a disaster but I was 16 or 17 and my friend’s
parents had to pay for a new ticket and drive me all the way back
to the airport again the next day. I was absolutely mortified. It
certainly taught me a lesson though: always double-check the date
and time.

Where’s next on your travel list?

The south of France. I grew up in the north-west of France, but
never spent much time in the south, so I’m looking forward to soon
being based in Menton for a month or two, and being able to explore
the area thoroughly.

Do you have a favourite SUITCASE issue?

I particularly enjoyed Vol. 28
Cities. I have always loved exploring new towns and cities –
each one has such a distinct identity.

Is there a particular SUITCASE story that’s stuck with
you?

I travelled to Mexico shortly before the pandemic hit fully.
While I was planning the trip,
Joe Howard’s photo journal of Holbox really caught my eye. It
was nice to be able to go back to those images during lockdown; the
colours are incredible and his photos really capture the essence of
Holbox.

Where would you like to see us cover next?

Good question! I’m actually looking forward to reading the
latest edition, Vol. 32
Homegrown, to learn about places on my doorstep.

Let us in on your top travel tip…

When talking about travelling, my grandmother used to say that
as long as you’ve got your ticket, passport and some money, the
rest doesn’t matter. I’ve always found that quite a reassuring tip;
it makes me less nervous about things going wrong.

Which podcasts are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been listening to On China’s New Silk Road, which includes a
fascinating overview of China’s Belt and Road initiative and how it
might change the world. I also regularly listen to a lot of
podcasts in French, most of which are on food and wine (such as
Bouffons and On Va Déguster).

Favourite Instagram account?

I love the account of my friend Mónica R. Goya, a photographer and journalist. She
takes the most wonderful pictures and recently wrote a beautiful
piece on Lanzarote’s vineyards for New York Times Travel.

What are you reading?

I have just finished Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine
Thien and, recently, I have also been reading a lot of newsletters,
including that of food writer Alicia Kennedy.

And finally, what’s in your SUITCASE?

My camera (a very basic point-and-shoot), an excessive amount of
SPF 50 (I’m as pale as it gets) and my Birkenstocks. All quite
practical things.