Asia covers not only a vast area and a large number of countries but also a great variety of cultures and hence cuisines. However they do share a number of common ingredients the most oommon being rice. Basmati rice is popular in the subcontinent, Jasmine rice often in the southeast, long grain is popular in China and short grain popular in Japan and Korea.
Curry is common in southern and southeastern Asia but not as common in East Asia and curry with a yoghurt base have origins in India and other South Asian countries and Southeastern and Eastern curries have a general base of coconut milk.
One of the areas with particular cuisine features are the cuisines of South East Asia which include a strong emphasis on lightly prepared dished with a strong aromatic component with favours such as citrus and herbs including mint, coriander and basil.
Cuisines include Bruneian, Burmese, Cambodian, Hong Kong, Indonesian, Laotian, Macanese, Malay, Phillippine, Singaporean, Thai and Vietnamese.
This article focuses on the diverse cuisines of Indonesia. Indonesia is composed of approximately 6,000 populated islands with a range of regional cuisines based on cultural and foreign influences. Sumatra cuisine has Middle Eastern and Indian influences and Javanese and Sudanese cuisines are more indigenous.
A selection of traditional dishes found in Indonesian cuisine include Nasi Goreng, which is considered by some to be the national dish of Indonesia. It’s staple ingredient is rice mixed with a range of spices.
Satay is another delicacy central to the Indonesian culinary culture. Often sold from the warung food stands often you will see the vendor blowing meat smoke with a hand held fan.
Gado-Gado is a widely variegated dish and can be a main or side dish. Basically gado-gado is a vegetable salad covered with a peanut sauce with a range of regional variations.
Babur Ayam is Indonesia’s ultimate breakfast consisting of rice porridge with shredded chicken, cakwe, crispy fried shallots and chopped scallion.
Soto is an Indonesian traditional soup served in a savory chicken broth seasoned with turmeric. Shredded chicken, eggs, vermicelli and fried shallots are then added. There are however a number of variants of soto depending on the region.
Ketroprak comprises ketupat which is a compressed rice cake, vermicelli, bean sprouts, tahu and mixed with a peanut sauce
Kerupuk are deep fried crackers which are a popular snack across Indonesia.
Indonesian cuisine also has it’s own flavours and dishes reflecting the regions which include -
Balinese Cuisine – Reflect the culinary traditions of the Balinese people from the volcanic island of Bali. it is one of the most complex cuisines in the world using an incredible variety of spices blended with fresh vegetables, meat and fish. Night markets, warungs (food stands), and fruit vendors sell local delicacies.
Batak Cuisine – Reflect the traditions of Batak ethnic groups found mostly in North Sumatra region.
Indonesian Chinese Cuisine – The Chinese cuisine legacy is introduced into the local Indonesian mix in these dishes
Javanese Cuisine – Javanese cuisine refers to the cuisine of the whole people of Java Island which also includes Sudanese cuisine in West Java, Betawi in Jakarta and Madurese on Madura Island which is off East Java. In Sudanese cuisine it is common to eat with one’s hands and meals are served with kobokan which is a bowl of tap water with a slice of lime for handwashing.
Padang food – which is also known as Minangkabau cuisine comes from the peoples of West Sumatra.
It would take a lifetime to experience all the flavours and variants within Asian cuisine so find what you like and explore each culinary delight at your leisure.
Dan Brown is a renowned author of numerous #1 bestselling novels, most notably The Da Vinci Code, which has become one of the best-selling books of all time and sparked widespread debate among readers and scholars alike. His books have been translated into 54 languages and have sold over 200 million copies worldwide.
In 2005, TIME Magazine named Brown one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. The magazine credited him with revitalizing the publishing industry, renewing interest in Leonardo da Vinci and early Christian history, boosting tourism to Paris and Rome, and inspiring a surge of secret society memberships. His work has also attracted both admiration and controversy from religious figures and scholars, and it has spawned numerous guides, documentaries, and a major film franchise.
Born to a mathematics teacher and a church organist, Brown grew up on a prep school campus, where he developed a fascination with the paradoxical relationship between science and religion—an enduring theme in his novels. He is a graduate of Amherst College and Phillips Exeter Academy, where he later taught English before dedicating himself fully to writing.
Brown is the author of six novels, two of which have been adapted into movies. His most famous work, The Da Vinci Code, is part of a trilogy. The series begins with Angels & Demons, followed by The Da Vinci Code, and concludes with The Lost Symbol. His stories typically involve treasure hunts set within 24 hours, featuring cryptography, symbols, codes, and conspiracy theories that explore the mysteries surrounding historical and religious secrets.
While body types can help guide fashion choices, remember that every body is unique and beautiful. The ideal in Western culture is the hourglass—balanced bust and hips with a defined waist—but most women can enhance their natural shape with the right style and self-care.
Balanced bust and hips, defined waist.
Tip: Highlight your waist with belts or fitted clothing, and choose styles that flatter your curves. Avoid overly baggy clothes that hide your shape.
Larger hips than bust, less waist definition.
Tip: Wear lighter colors or patterns on top, darker on bottom. A-line skirts and fitted belted tops emphasize balance.
Similar to pear but with narrow shoulders.
Tip: Use shoulder padding or details to broaden shoulders, and focus on defining the waist.
Bust and hips are similar, little waist definition.
Tip: Create curves with fitted or tapered styles, belts at the waist, and flared or gathered skirts.
Rounder abdomen, less waist definition, possible wider hips or thighs.
Tip: Draw attention to your face or legs with accessories, and wear monochromatic outfits for a streamlined look. Supportive foundation garments help shape your silhouette.
Broader bust and shoulders, narrower hips.
Tip: Wear darker tops and lighter bottoms. Flared skirts and wide-leg pants can add volume to hips and balance your silhouette.
Exercise: Focus on strength training to tone your specific areas.
Posture: Good posture accentuates your natural curves.
Tailoring: Well-fitted clothes always flatter better than baggy or ill-fitting ones.
Confidence: No matter your body shape, confidence is your best accessory.
Remember, your body can change over time with diet and exercise. Embrace what you have and dress in ways that make you feel fabulous!
Coconut oil is often promoted as a miracle fat burner and weight-loss booster. But what does science really say? Let’s explore the facts and bust some common myths.
Myth 1: Adding Coconut Oil to Your Diet Will Make You Lose Weight
Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are absorbed and metabolized faster than long-chain fats. This can slightly boost your metabolism and reduce calorie intake if you replace other fats with coconut oil.
Reality: If you simply add coconut oil without changing your diet, you'll just increase your calorie intake, negating any fat-burning benefits. To see effects, swap it for other fats—not add it on top.
Myth 2: Coconut Oil Sparks Large Increases in Fat Burning
Studies show that eating MCTs from coconut oil burns about 40–114 extra calories per day. However, these effects are small, often fade after a few weeks, and require consuming large amounts—around 25–50 grams—to see minimal benefits.
Reality: The thermogenic effect is tiny and unlikely to lead to significant, sustained weight loss.
Myth 3: Coconut Oil Is Quickly Used for Energy and Not Stored as Fat
Because MCTs go directly to the liver for immediate energy, many assume coconut oil prevents fat gain.
Reality: While MCTs provide quick energy, consuming more calories overall still leads to fat storage. Coconut oil doesn’t magically stop weight gain—it depends on your total calorie balance.
Myth 4: Coconut Oil Suppresses Appetite and Aids Weight Loss
Some believe ketones from MCT breakdown curb hunger. But unless you’re on a very low-carb diet, ketone production—and thus appetite suppression—is minimal.
Reality: For most people eating moderate carbs, coconut oil’s appetite-suppressing effects are weak or nonexistent.
Is Coconut Oil a Scam?
Not entirely. Coconut oil has some practical benefits:
Bottom line: Use coconut oil mindfully as one element of a healthy diet. Don’t expect it to melt away fat on its own. Focus on overall nutrition, calorie intake, and exercise for real results.
Ski fields are found in both the North and South Islands, with more variety in the South Island. Here's an overview of key ski areas:
North Island
South Island
Major ski areas are scattered across the island, many offering world-class terrain:
Specialist Backcountry Skiing:
Enjoy your skiing adventure in New Zealand - where spectacular scenery and diverse terrain await!
And whilst there may not be any outdoor slopes near the Hibiscus Coast region we are of course lucky enough to have the next best things with Snowplanet right on our doorstep! Skiing, snowboarding, toboganning, lessons, school holiday programs, family fun in their Winter Wonderland and of course delicious food in their Alpine 7 Summits Restaurant.
Golf is a fun way to stay active, enjoy nature, and boost your health. Playing outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air offers numerous benefits for your mind and body.
Enjoy healthy, happy golfing!
With our Feature theme being "Time Out" everyone has a different idea of their own time out space. For some it may be spending time with friends and family, for others it could be heading to the gym or a yoga class, others it's getting out into nature, tending the garden, reading a book, knitting or it could be something as simple as having a long, soothing bath.
Whatever your way is of having time out there are lots of local options you can find to indulge. Just a few locals to keep in mind include gym, swim or excersie time out could be spent at Stanmore Bay Pool and Leisure Centre or Northern Arena. Take yourself to the gym then enjoy a lovely beach walk or head to the golf course. You may of course love fishing at the weekend with the kids!
If you would like to spend time as a family a great way to have time out is to head along to Snowplanet. Book a ski or snowboard session, spend time with the younger ones in Winter Wonderland then indulge yourselves with good food, and perhaps a delicious fondue at their alpine 7 Summits Restaurant.
in a relaxing facial or look good with treatments such as brows, lashes or other beauty treatments check out Queens Beauty in Stanmore Bay. Or if you'd rather just head out for a coffee, drink with friends or dinner out with the family head to Destination Orewa where you'll find so many great cafes, restaurants, bars and of course our magnificent Orewa Beach!
If you are looking in general for time out activities you may find yourself a new hobby from all the clubs and groups we have here on the Coast, you can find a good list of all cafes, restaurants, bars, takeaways, bakeries and more in our Dining Section, you can find beauty, hairdressers, massage, exercise options and more in our Health, Beauty, Medical and Wellness Section. If it's a bit of retail therapy you're after you'll find all local options in our Shopping/ Retail Section. If you are looking for great activities you can find links for fishing, golf, cycling, water sports and more in our Sport & Recreation Section or if you want to find Things to Do, walks, cycleways, beaches, playgrounds and more you'll find these in our Travel, Tourism and Local Activities Section.
It's important for everyone to take "Time Out" and even if it's just reading fun facts or getting ideas why not check out the articles we have brought to you in our very own "Time Out" Feature.
With some products it simply doesn’t make sense to buy new at full price when invariably you can find the same quality buying second hand. By doing so you can often see your savings quickly multiply. Here are examples of some of the best items to consider buying second hand.
Car - Probably the first thing that springs to mind would be a car. Did you know if you buy a new car it depreciates by up to 20% as soon as you drive out of the car yard! Even just going for last year’s model can be a huge saving. Once a car is over five years old you can expect to get only a third of the original price.
Books - Both text books and reading books. Nowadays you can of course buy online making huge savings. However for those who enjoy the feeling of holding a book there is an abundance of second hand book stores and book fairs. Another option is to ask your friends or on facebook, invariably someone will have finished the book you are after and happy to pass on or sell at a very good price. For text books often your college or learning facility will have a library or rental department you can use if it is not a book you will need on-going.
Children’s Clothing - Often you can find some wonderful items through friends and family, websites for swapping or buying/selling second hand clothes and of course shops such as your local Hospice or Salvation Army store always have some great bargains. In fact, while you are at it there are often great bargains for adults as well as a book section too!
Pets - It almost seems a sin to pay the hundreds of dollars you can do for pets in a store when there is such an abundance of abandoned and yet loving, beautiful pets at the SPCA and other shelters. If you are considering getting a pet make sure you check these out first - you may be there last hope for a good home!
Formal clothing - Whether a wedding gown, ball gown or dinner jacket there are so many people that head out and spend the earth to wear something just once! You can make some wonderful savings. Also designer stores can sometimes have seconds on sale at significant savings often with flaws barely noticeable!
Video games and DVDs - Once someone has completed the game or seen the movie more than 4-5 times it is time to move on and you can take advantage and get some great bargains.
Home Gym Equipment - Yes, the fad comes, the fad goes and so often equipment merely sits in someone’s garage or spare room collecting dust. Do check on the condition but generally so many people lose interest before the equipment has barely been used!
Hand Tools - Simple tools with few moving parts, hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc can last for decades if well made and maintained and often easy to find in garage sales or online.
Musical Instruments - Particularly when your child is starting out buying new is not wise. Either second hand or perhaps rental can give you an idea of how long their interest will last. If the interest continues and the ability is good you can change your stance later.
Bicycles - Like cars new season bikes come out all the time. Do check the condition of the bike and also ensure it isn’t stolen! Also if you can wait until the cooler months you can often get better bargains on bikes from those who no longer want to brave the elements!
So much of what we buy devalues as soon as we open the box or walk out the store so save yourself some dollars and use it for something else you enjoy!
We have hunted out our five favourite dive sites in New Zealand. New Zealand reportedly has more scuba divers per capita than any other country in the world. Whether it's cruising around reefs in subtropical Northland water, or exploring a subterranean fresh-water cave system, Kiwis are at home under the water.
If you're looking for superb diving opportunities in New Zealand, you cannot go past the Poor Knights Islands, off the coast of Tutukaka, near Whangarei. Jacques Cousteau named it as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world and more recently Diver magazine called it the world's best subtropical dive.
Warm currents swept in from tropical waters further north support 125 different species of fish, as well as corals, sponges, kelp forests and stingrays. This is the place to go for stunning displays of underwater colour: Reef fish mingle with sponges, anemones and vibrant seaweeds.
The islands are the remains of a group of 11-million-year-old volcanoes and underwater cliffs drop to 100m below sea level in places. Caves and archways shelter species that usually would be found much deeper than they are here - in the Rikoriko Cave, 10m below the surface, is a sponge usually found 200m down.
The Poor Knights include the world's largest sea cave - so big that it's reputed to have hidden a Japanese submarine during World War II.
Visibility is best in winter, when divers can see up to 30m. But as the water warms up, plankton moves in and decreases visibility, although it boosts fish life. Watch out for passing humpbacks and turtles.
Still in the north, Greenpeace's flagship boat was sunk at the Cavalli Islands in 1987, two years after its infamous bombing in the Auckland harbour. It is now an artificial reef teeming with marine life and a very popular dive site. But reports from divers say that the wreck appears to be disintegrating at an increasing rate, so this is one to visit sooner rather than later. The wreck is 27m below the surface, and about 40m in length.
It is covered with gorgeous jewel anemones - but some experts say it takes a night dive to see them at their very best. On a normal day you could expect to come face-to-face with golden snapper, kingfish, john dory, mackerel, scorpion fish, moray eels and crayfish.
There are usually mild currents and visibility is good from February until the end of June.
A unique opportunity for divers of any skill level, the Riwaka Caverns near Nelson are a massive underground network of caves and tunnels, filled with fresh water. A bush walk leads you to the start of the dive, where you slip underwater and swim through a series of enormous caverns.
It's cold and very dark at the beginning but once you surface inside, you can take your scuba equipment off and marvel at the stalactite and stalagmite formations as well as a waterfall of pink limestone inside the cave at the end of the second sump.
Divers comment on the unexpected size of everything to do with this dive - from the boulders they clamber over to the caves themselves. Explorers have so far ventured about 800 metres into the network, called the Riwaka Resurgence.
There are not many places in the world where you can dive around a live volcano but New Zealand is one of them.
White Island, about 50km off the coast of Whakatane, is a 200,000-year-old volcano surrounded by water that is full of marine life, including kingfish, stingrays, moray eels and blue maomao.
Fissures in the rocks create a ''spa-pool'' effect of bubbles in places. The water temperature hovers about 18 degrees but can get to 22 degrees in summer and divers report up to 50m visibility, with reefs, pinnacles, drop-offs, boulders, archways and plateaus to explore. Stop for lunch or to snorkel at Champagne Bay, which gets its name from the thermal activity in the water. Rare diadema urchins have made their home at White Island - check them out at Diadema Rock.
After 18 years in the New Zealand navy, the Wellington is now the most accessible dive wreck on the planet, just off the coast of Wellington, about 10 minutes from the airport. Scuttled in 2005, the wreck has been broken up into three sections by currents and is a living reef, home to many different species of fish.
The wreck is roughly 24m down, with visibility of about eight metres. Being Wellington, divers are warned to watch for currents. Dive around the gun turret or take in the exterior of the ship - diving in the midship and stern sections is not advised. This is as safe as it gets for wreck diving, though, you will not even need a torch.
Travel - Prehistoric Dordogne
The Dordogne region in central France is famous not only for its beautiful scenery and river but also for it’s prehistory.
Les Ezyies
Les Ezyies and the Verzere Valley are a UNESCO World Heritage site (designated in 1979) for the prehistoric caves. Font de Gaume is famous as it is one of the few caves left where you can see the original prehistoric polychrome paintings. The caves include some of the most significant archaeological finds of the Upper Paleolithic (from about 40,000 to10,000 years ago) and Middle Paleolithic (200,000 to 40,000 years ago) periods, they are especially noted for their extensive wall drawings. Discovered in 1901, more than 200 images have been identified in Font-de-Gaume.
The Grotte du Grand Roc
As well as the pre-historic caves the dordogne has a large number of beautiful natural caves and the Grotte du Grand Roc is one of the best of these. This is a natural cave containing an incredible display of stalactites and stalagmites as well as rare 'exentriques' which are tiny stalactites that grow in all directions.
Another very unusal formation are the triangles. These are on the floor which and form an area covered in perfectly formed triangles.
Evening visits to sights in the Dordogne are becoming ever more popular and the Grotte de Grand Roc is now open for a night time visit on Monday evenings. On these visits the caves are explored by torchlight in the way they would originally been discovered by Jean Maury in 1924. At the end of the visit the caves are illuminated so that you can see them in all their glory.
La Roque Saint-Christophe
Nearby is La Roque-Saint-Christophe, an incredible troglodyte village which shows evidence of use as a shelter for Neanderthal man (50000 BC), Cro-Magnon man (25000 BC) and since then up until the Renaissance in 1588 when the trogolodyte town and fortress that had grown up was destroyed in the Wars of Religion.
The town occupied 5 terraces in the cliff face using naturally hollowed out caves in the limestone cliff. Three hundred feet above the ground and more than half a mile long the Roque Saint Christophe really is a remarkable troglodyte development.
This cave 'village' half way up a cliff has a church, a cow-shed and lots more. There are also some reconstructions of large-scale machines of construction used in medieval times.
Saint-Leon-Sur_Vezere
Now head on to Saint Leon sur Vezere which is yet another of France's "most beautiful villages", set in a curve in the Vézere River. It is a small village, of houses in the attractive local stone joined by narrow meandering pathways and alleys. Remarkably for a village of this kind in this location, St Leon sue Vezere has not been overly renovated - rather 'sympathetically restored'.
Many of the houses still have parts of their roofs made of stone which was the traditional roofing at one time. The church in the village is small but perfectly formed and is on the pilgrim route that led from the Abbey of Vezelay in Burgundy and on towards the abbeys at Cadouin and Saint Avit Senieur.
The chateau de Clerans has a beautiful slate roof with spires and ornamental stone work. It is private but very attractive and can be seen from various points around the village as well as from the riverside path.
There is an interesting legend in the village that a servant who shot an arrow at the cross fell down dead with his head turned the wrong way round. His grave was opened in 1890 by members of the Archealogical society and indeed there was a body with a head which was back to front.