Magical Bali a mix of nature and art
Born and raised in Chicago, Suzy Nakamura credits her career at The Second City for honing her comedic chops.
Nakamura’s prolific film and television work includes “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Veep” and “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.” Nakamura, who stars opposite Ken Jeong in the ABC comedy series “Dr. Ken,” will appear alongside Brooke Shields in the upcoming indie film “Daisy Winters.” She lives in West Hollywood, Calif. An edited version of our conversation follows.
A: I really love Bali, Indonesia. I’ve been twice, and it’s one of those magical places that you never forget. You are surrounded by art and nature everywhere you go. I stayed on the southwest side in Canggu, and it was pretty easy to hop over to Ubud or a beach in Kuta or shopping in Seminyak or dinner in Denpasar. I was in awe of the rice paddy fields. Who knew you could be moved by agriculture?
A: Learn some greetings in Balinese (such as)
(thank you). Visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud and the stunning temple Pura Tanah Lot in Bali. Take a walking tour of some rice paddies. If you can, plan a layover in Singapore and visit their Night Safari. It has all nocturnal animals! A: Years ago, a family friend was getting married in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. When I asked where it was, my brother answered, “It’s the place Red meets Andy at the end of “The Shawshank Redemption,” and that was good enough for me. He then suggested that we go a week early, make a vacation out of it and end it with the wedding. This is a great idea for any destination wedding. I did it when someone got married in Goa, India. I stayed after the wedding and bopped around Mumbai. Zihuatanejo is one of those small fishing villages turned beach towns, but without being flashy and resorty like Acapulco or Ixtapa.
A: Here in Southern California, you can’t beat Palm Springs or Santa Barbara. I’ve always wanted to visit the old missions that line the coast, especially San Juan Capistrano.
A: Japan! Can you believe I’ve never been to Japan? I guess I assumed, with my face, I would just automatically go at some point, but I guess I have to go buy a ticket like everyone else. My dad went once as a Fulbright Scholar, and my mom went once on a vacation with her sister, but I’ve never gone.
A: I cannot say no to a chicken-fried steak. I used to tour all over the U.S. with The Second City, and our options were always diners, truck stops or a Denny’s. I’ve never had a bad chickenfried steak.