Bees, Chocolate and the Joy of Curiosity – Napier
Our next stop on my trip to New Zealand was Napier, known as the Art Deco Capital of New Zealand. With only a few hours available we dashed through the beautiful countryside before stopping at Arataki Honey to learn about bees and sample delicious local honey.
New Zealand’s Manuka Honey has wonderful therapeutic properties and is rich in methylglyoxal, bioflavonoids and phenolic compounds. This gives potent restorative properties that enhance and support the body’s own defences and immune health. Great for wound healing, as a digestive aid, and for helping to relieve coughs and sore throats amongst other things.
Then it was off to the Silky Oak Chocolate Factory and Museum. High-quality dark chocolate and raw cacao offer therapeutic benefits due to high polyphenol, antioxidant and flavonoid content. It may improve cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure, protecting brain function, improving mood and reducing anxiety. There are claims that it can also aid in muscle recovery. Good to know that indulging in some high quality dark chocolate and cacao can support a healthy lifestyle!
On our way back to the ship, we toured streets filled with beautiful Art Deco buildings. Then at the dock and getting ready to re-board, we were greeted by dulcet tones of the Art Deco Jazz Band, The Twin City Stompers. Serenaded by “Georgia” it was a great way to end our visit to Napier.
Travel days like this are full of movement, curiosity and sensory experiences. And that’s actually very good for the brain.
Learning something new, whether it’s about bees, chocolate, local history or architecture, stimulates the brain in ways that support mental health and wellbeing.
Curiosity activates areas of the brain associated with motivation, learning and positive emotional states. In many ways, curiosity can be a powerful antidote to stress.
It shifts the mind from worry mode to discovery mode.
An easy way to reduce stress and reset can be simply getting outside. Explore something new and stay curious about the world.