Celebrity Travel: Go Away With Karen Fukuhara
Best known for playing Katana in "Suicide Squad," Karen Fukuhara will next be seen in the Amazon series, "The Boys" (premiering on July 26). Her resume also includes the feature film "Stray" and Netflix's "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power." An avid traveler, the actress says she'd like to explore Southeast Asia next. Her plans? She'd like to enjoy "scuba diving in the Philippines, massages and food in Thailand and end the trip at the Cloud Forest in Singapore." Born and raised in Los Angeles, Fukuhara stays in touch with fans on Twitter (https://twitter.com/KarenFukuhara), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/KarenFukuharaOfficial/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/karenfukuhara/).
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. Putaruru in northern New Zealand. It's a natural spring known for its clear blue water. I've never seen anything like it. The water is crystal clear and bright blue. It's surrounded by exotic trees and it almost feels as if you've slipped into a pristine other world.
Q. What untapped destination should people know about?
A. My favorite thus far would be Honomanu Falls, a waterfall surrounded by Maui canyon lands. It definitely was one of my most challenging hiking experiences. When we went, we only saw one other hiker with his dog. It truly felt as if we were discovering somewhere remote and untapped. We were shocked to find out later that it was such a short distance: only two miles, but it still took us six hours total! Trudging through a stream on slippery rocks made it especially difficult, but I think that's why it still remains my favorite. It felt like we earned the view. Once we got to the end, there were no words to describe how it felt to stand in front of this waterfall and hear the deafening thunder of water crashing down. Honomanu Falls can be dangerous if it's during flood season, so do plenty of research before you head in.
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. Japan to visit my relatives. Since then, I've gone almost every year and it's become my second home. I adore Japan for the unmatched quality in food, nature, culture, hospitality, cleanliness, kick-ass train system and spirituality. I've gone to many places within Japan, but there's always more to explore. Last year, I went to Kinosaki, an onsen (hot springs) town. Visitors are allowed to hop from one onsen to another wearing traditional yukata. You feel as though you've slipped into a different era.
Q. What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?
A. Making an Excel sheet of daily activities. This sounds super nerdy, but most times we only have a few days to explore a city. Planning out different locations for each day ahead of time allows us to experience as much as we can with the amount of time we're given. My travel partner and I are on the same wavelength about letting go of some of the things on the list, which makes traveling easy. Flexibility and a good attitude allow us to be open to new experiences. We just use Excel as a guideline, so we always have a cool spot to hit in case we have extra time.
Q. If you could only pick one place to eat, would you choose a street cart or a nice restaurant?
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