Less screentime linked to better memory, learning in kids

Screens — on computers, smartphones, tablets and more — surround us more than ever. But it might be best to look away. Nearly two out of three U.S. kids spend more than two hours a day looking at screens, a new study finds. The kids who spend more time staring at screens perform worse on memory, language and thinking tests than do those who spend less time in front of a device. That’s the result of a study of more than 4,500 kids 8- to 11-years old.

Time on devices has its pros and cons. Screen time before bed can make it harder to sleep. But some time with devices also can improve a student’s moods. For this study, researchers wanted to find out how much time kids were spending on screens — whether a smartphone, a television, an iPad or a computer. They also wanted to look at how much sleep and exercise these kids were getting. Finally, the scientists wanted to gauge kids’ cognitive abilities. These are mental activities — such as solving puzzles, remembering things or learning something new.

The researchers used data gathered as part of a large, long-term study. Called the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, it surveyed more than 4,500 kids and their parents. The study asked about screen time. It also asked about exercise and sleep, and tested memory and learning.

So how much screen time is too much? The researchers went with guidelines from experts. These recommend no more than two hours of recreational screen time a day. They also advise kids to get at least an hour of exercise each day and between nine and 11 hours of sleep at night.

If that prescription seems strict, it was. Only five in every 100 of the surveyed children met all three guidelines. In fact, 29 in every 100 didn’t meet any of the guidelines. So they were “getting less than nine hours of sleep, they’re on their screens for longer than two hours and they’re not being physically active,” notes Jeremy Walsh. He’s an exercise physiologist — someone who studies how bodies work during exercise. He works at the University of British Columbia in Okanagan.

Lots of screens, not so much sleep

On average, children in this study spent 3.6 hours a day using screens for video games, videos and other fun. They also exercised an hour or more fewer than four days a week. At least they slept an average of 9.1 hours a night.

Less screen time was linked with better cognitive scores. Children who spent fewer than two hours on screens scored about four percent higher on thinking-related tests than did kids who spent more time on their screens. Kids who met the recommendations for both screen time and sleep also got better scores on their thinking tests. When analyzed on their own, sleep and physical activity didn’t seem to influence test results. It was screen time that really made a difference.

“This raises a flag,” Walsh says. The new data add to concerns that heavy use of smartphones, tablets or televisions can hurt growing minds. Walsh and his colleagues published their findings online September 26 in Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.

Because the study only asked people about their habits once, it only captures a single snapshot in time. That means that Walsh and his colleagues can’t tell if the amount of  screen time kids get actually changes brain development. But, Walsh adds, “Without [knowing] what kids are actually doing with their screens, we’re seeing that the two-hour mark actually seems to be a good recommendation for benefiting cognition.”

The study can’t say whether screen time actually hurt thinking skills. Kids who spend lots of time with devices might miss out on other activities that improve their memory or problem-solving skills. “You don’t know which is the chicken and which is the egg here,” cautions Michael Rich. He is a pediatrician. That’s a doctor who focuses on children. Rich works at Boston Children’s Hospital in Massachusetts. It could be that smarter kids are less likely to spend lots of time on screens, he says. If true, they would get better test scores — but it wouldn’t be because they used devices less.

Simple cause-and-effect relationships often don’t exist in human behavior, Rich says. Instead of broad rules for all kids, “we need to tailor what we learn from science to individual children.”

But by looking at screen, sleep and exercise behaviors in combination, the results offer a fuller look at children’s health. That’s a peek that’s sorely needed, says Eduardo Esteban Bustamante. He’s a kinesiologist — someone who studies how bodies move. He works at the University of Illinois in Chicago. “We don’t know a lot yet about how these behaviors interact with one another to influence kids’ cognitive development,” he says.

The ABCD Study will keep collecting data from these families for another 10 years. This means scientists may be able to learn more about how screen time affects kids through their teen years and beyond. “I’m really excited to see where this line of research goes,” Bustamante says.

cr: https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/less-screentime-linked-better-memory-learning-kids

Internet use may harm teen health

Connecting with other teens online may be fun. But spending too much time on the Internet could lead to health problems, a new study reports. Heavy Internet use appears able to put teens at serious risk of high blood pressure, it finds.

As the term suggests, high blood pressure exerts extra outward pressure on vessel walls. With exercise, blood pressure increases. At rest, that pressure should return to a relatively low, background level. But in some people, it remains relatively elevated, even at rest.

High blood pressure in children and teens often continues into adulthood, says Andrea Cassidy-Bushrow, who led the new study. That’s a problem, she says. Persistent high blood pressure can trigger serious health problems, from kidney disease and memory loss to eye damage and heart disease or stroke.

Cassidy-Bushrow works at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Mich. As an epidemiologist, she investigates causes of illness.

Obesity and diets high in salt are among factors known to boost blood pressure. But researchers worry that other, less obvious, factors also may play a role. Previous studies had linked screen time — watching television or playing on a computer — and high blood pressure. One possible reason: Teens on screens get less exercise, Cassidy-Bushrow says. But Internet use also has been linked to depression and obesity. And that’s for Internet use, specifically, not just screen time as a whole, she points out.

What might make Internet use more dangerous? It isn’t passive, like watching TV, Cassidy-Bushrow explains. There’s also the growing risk of cyberbullying, which can make it more stressful than other types of screen time.

What’s more, Internet connections are available in 98 percent of U.S. public schools. With cell phones and other mobile devices, the Internet can be as close as the touch of a button for most tweens and teens. And it’s available around the clock. Frequent Internet use has been linked to anxiety, addiction and social isolation. All of these are associated with high blood pressure in adults.

So the researchers recruited 331 adolescents, aged 14 to 17, to study whether Internet use might influence blood pressure in teens.

In the lab, the scientists measured each teen’s blood pressure, height and weight. They used some of these data to calculate each teen’s body mass index, or BMI. BMI is one way to look at whether somebody is over- or underweight. The teens also answered questions about how much time they spend on the Internet. This included both the number of hours per day as well as the number of days per week.

Nearly all of the teens had used the Internet during the week before their lab visit. Most reported accessing the Internet both at home and at school. Most also reported moderate to heavy Internet use. The researchers defined heavy use as two or more hours each and every day. Moderate use involved less than two hours a day on five to seven days a week. Light users accessed the internet for less than two hours a day and on no more than four days a week.

Four out of 10 teens used the Internet more than two hours every day. Nineteen percent of these heavy users had high blood pressure. That’s compared to just seven percent of light users. Another four in ten teens reported moderate use. These teens had moderately high blood pressure.

The findings appear in the October 2015 Journal of School Nursing.

"It's an interesting study," says Ellen Wartella. She is a psychologist at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. But, she points out, the study has a major limitation: The researchers measured blood pressure only once for each teen. However, she notes, “We know it varies considerably.” So a single data point for each person may not accurately reflect a teen’s average daily blood pressure.

Cassidy-Bushrow agrees that more research needs to be done. However, she adds, single blood-pressure readings have been used in other studies. For now, she recommends that school nurses screen students for high blood pressure and moderate to heavy Internet use.

Education and training for teens, teachers and parents also could help ensure that teens find a healthy balance in their online life, she says. That could go a long way in helping protect the health of people growing up in this digital age.

cr: https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/internet-use-may-harm-teen-health

Three Ways to Sharpen "Soft Skills" for a Career in the Future

Amid the rapid development in various fields today, hard skills are no longer the only ability that must be possessed. Because, soft skills are also one of the abilities needed to develop a career.

Announced by Kompas.com (5/8/2018) Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Menristekdikti) Mohamad Nasir said that soft skills are important to be mastered by university graduates today who cannot be replaced by robots.

"Soft skills such as cooperation, communication, ethics in work, appearance, empathy, and emotional intelligence are important for career or business success compared to academic results," said Nasir.

According to him, soft skills are also needed to be able to apply academic skills in the world of work. For this reason, young people should start preparing and honing their soft skills early.

Reporting from talentfoot.com page, here are some ways that can be done to develop soft skills.

Take a course

Not only studying on campus, taking a course can help hone soft skills. Leadership and management development courses can teach many soft skills, such as communication, problem solving, critical thinking, to public speaking.

Training and self-development programs are also quite effective for increasing self-awareness and improving communication skills.

Find a mentor

Having a mentor who can guide in career matters is also one of the best ways to develop soft skills. Because, mentors can provide short-term and long-term guidance. Someone who is more experienced can also provide new inspiration and perspective.

A mentor can objectively and honestly assess the soft skills you have and how to hone them. They can assess what your strengths and weaknesses are and give advice on what steps can be taken.

Volunteering

Spending time and volunteering is one of the best ways to hone soft skills that might not be available on campus or office. Volunteering for the purpose of goodness can make you a more complete and loving person.

In addition, reported from the Linkedin page, volunteer activities or volunteering can also develop several other soft skills, such as teamwork, self-confidence, patience, communication, and empathy.

With the many benefits that can be obtained, it never hurts to try to participate in volunteering.

cr: https://edukasi.kompas.com/read/2018/11/23/08580011/tiga-cara-mengasah-soft-skill-untuk-karier-di-masa-depan

2 Animation Films of UMN Students Representing Indonesia Competing in Japan

Two teams of Animation students at Multimedia Nusantara University (UMN) won the national championship in the "20th DigiCON6 ASIA", an annual short film competition organized by the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS).

Chininta Rizka Public Relations of UMN through the release (22/11/2018) to Kompas.com delivered the work of animated films titled "Family One Half" and "Life Of Death", bringing the UMN team to Japan to compete with other works for the Aisa level.

Empathy for people with mental illness

An animated film titled "Family One Half", by Michaela Clarissa Levi, Robert Sunny and Raffael Arkapraba Gumelar, tells the story of the life of a child named Agung who has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and his mother who has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Through this animated film they want to foster a sense of empathy for the audience with sufferers of mental illness by describing the feelings of these sufferers.

They won the "20th DigiCON6 Asia" Silver Prize for the Indonesian region.

Robert Sunny said all the works contested had their own characteristics. But the work of his team, "Family One Half" is unique to the topic raised, namely mental illness.

 "If the animated film 'Family One and a Half by itself' might be more on the topic raised, namely mental illness and how to describe the condition of a patient when the disease is relapsing," Robert said.

Respect for life

The next work of the animated film "Life Of Death" created by Jason Kiantoro and Bryan Arfiandy tells the story of the daily angel of death in doing his work.

The film that received the Next Generation and Gold Award was bringing the message to the audience using the best time of life.

"Life of Death" has been included in the festival's film nominations and was selected in several screenings such as the 2018 Canadian Labor Film Festival, 2018 Global University Film Awards, 2018 Austin Film Festival and many more.

The One-Half Family and Life of Death works and teams will be sent to Japan to be contested with 11 other Asian countries, namely Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Opportunity to add insight

The festival atmosphere and meeting with fellow filmmakers from various Asian countries is one of the most anticipated things. For Jason Kiantoro, by getting to know filmmakers from various countries and different backgrounds, his insights are increasing.

"If for example at an outdoor festival there will be more diverse people, their backgrounds, the way they make films, and the types of films. With acquaintances, it becomes more open (insight), "explained Jason.

In addition, other works that won the Japan Foundation award, the Jakarta Prize were short films entitled "Turut Berdukuhan" by Winner Wijaya, Christian Raditya, Antonius Willson, Cornelius Kurnia, Indra Susanto, Harris Tobing, and Ando Loekito.

This film is based on this true story and tells of a child who continues to tell the chronology of his father's death at the funeral to all the guests who came to mourn until he could not feel sad anymore.

According to Winner, the film presents events that are familiar with the audience. Simple story telling and camera movements and music that are not excessive make the audience comfortable watching the film. This film was also selected in various screening such as Sewon Screening in Yogyakarta, ReelOzInd! Festivals in Australia and Indonesia.

cr: https://edukasi.kompas.com/read/2018/11/22/14303811/2-film-animasi-mahasiswa-umn-wakili-indonesia-berkompetisi-di-jepang

Minister of Education and Culture: Educators Must Build the Spirit of Multiculturalism

Building a spirit of multiculturalism must be the social responsibility of educators. This was conveyed by Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud) Muhadjir Effendy in front of participants of the National Education Council Study Day participants, in Jayapura, Saturday afternoon (11/24/2018).

The spirit of multiculturalism can open space for mutual respect for differences despite inconveniences. The Minister of Education and Culture views the habit of living in important diversity institutionalized in the educational environment.

According to him, it is not right if we easily accuse other parties of being intolerant because they only wear certain symbolic attributes. Do not let the intention to fight for tolerance but get stuck in an attitude of intolerance.

"Concerns about a person's lack of faith when associating with followers of other religions are groundless. Precisely the values ​​of diversity and broadening the spaces of dialogue are fundamental in strengthening the character education that has been rolled out by the Ministry of Education," Muhadjir said.

For this reason, he encouraged the need for openness and dialogue to find a shared solution.

"I support the efforts of private educational institutions such as those under the Catholic institution to enrich character education according to the regional cultural context," he added.

This activity was attended by 300 participants who were representatives of the Catholic Education Council and Indonesian Catholic Education Institutions from 37 dioceses. This annual meeting raises the theme "Strengthening Multicultural Character Education Towards a Civilization of Love".

On the same occasion, Chairman of the National Catholic Education Council Father Darmin appreciated the Character Education Strengthening policy.

"We believe character education must affirm the reality of the nation's multiculturalism. Papua reflects diversity. Education that ignores culture will lose its footing, "said the Indonesian bishops' conference education committee.

cr: https://edukasi.kompas.com/read/2018/11/24/13511981/mendikbud-pendidik-harus-membangun-semangat-multikulturalisme

11 European Destinations Perfect For The Solo Female Traveller

Going on vacation always sounds like a dream, but let’s be honest: the realіtу of putting one together kind of blows. Between figuring out who tо travel wіth, lіnіng up schedules, and piecing together the actual trір, vacation рlаnnіng саn bесоmе juѕt аѕ — if not more — ѕtrеѕѕful than your еvеrу dау tо-dо lіѕt. Brіng kids into thе рісturе? Forget it.

Thаt’ѕ why you ѕhоuld ditch the ѕсhеdulе Tеtrіѕ аnd hеаd оut оn a solo vасаtіоn іnѕtеаd. Sоlо trаvеllеrѕ are uѕuаllу more budget-соnѕсіоuѕ, раrtlу bесаuѕе they tend tо bе younger. Thеу dоn’t wаnt tо hаvе tо соmе uр wіth any ехtrа mоnеу because tурісаllу thеу don’t have any. That mаkеѕ them ideal саndіdаtеѕ for all-inclusive vасаtіоns at destinations that оffеr budget inclusive getaway packages without a lot of frіllѕ.

That’s rіght — lеаvе thе hubѕ, the kiddos, аnd еvеn your gіrlfrіеndѕ at hоmе fоr this one. You can do whаtеvеr you wаnt, whenever you want, without having tо please anyone. Thе hardest раrt: Fіgurіng out where tо gо. We’ve put together a list of 11 European destinations that may help you narrow down your choices.

Bаrсеlоnа, Sраіn

Bаrсеlоnа is an еxtrеmеlу walkable сіtу, аnd уоu’rе unlіkеlу to get lost as long аѕ you have a map оf ѕоmе kind. In the сіtу, уоu can window ѕhор аlоng Lаѕ Rаmblаѕ, ѕtrоll down the beach boardwalk, and or wander through the Gaudi-dеѕіgnеd Park Güell. The dining орtіоnѕ аrе great for a ѕоlо traveller too — уоu саn еаt al frеѕсо at waterfront paella rеѕtаurаntѕ (реорlе-wаtсhіng іѕ buіlt-іn еntеrtаіnmеnt) оr opt fоr a counter seat аt оnе оf thе сіtу’ѕ mаnу іnсrеdіblе tараѕ bars.

Munісh, Gеrmаnу

The jоllу Gеrmаn mеntаlіtу shines in thіѕ Bavarian town, where locals wеlсоmе tоurіѕtѕ with a grin, whеthеr іt’s аt a small ma-and-pop bаkеrу, оr thе Olympіа Pаrk tоwеr. Thе bеѕt wау to іmmеrѕе yourself in the Munich lіfеѕtуlе? Grab a pint at a lосаl Bіеrgаrtеn or scour thе аіѕlеѕ оf thе Chrіѕtmаѕ mаrkеtѕ for a glühwеіn (hоt mullеd wine) stand. Since a mug rеquіrеѕ a deposit, Gеrmаnѕ hаng around the ѕtаnd, rеаdу tо сhаt (or give recommendations), whіlе warming up оvеr the traditional drіnk.

London, England

Fоr Еurореаn сhаrm without сulturе ѕhосk or a language barrier, еаѕе іntо bіg сіtу solo travel іn thе Brіtіѕh саріtаl by ѕреndіng days roaming along thе Rіvеr Thаmеѕ, wіndіng thrоugh the 4.5 acres of Hаrrоdѕ department ѕtоrе, and ѕnасkіng at the 1,000-year оld Borough Mаrkеt. At nіght, grab a ѕеаt at the bar alongside locals at a pub or саtсh a ѕhоw on the West End, tорреd off with a lаtе-night bite аt nearby Chіnаtоwn. The endless ѕіghtѕ and entertainment аrе еаѕіlу соnnесtеd via the 250 mіlеѕ оf thе London Underground. Live out your Notting Hill fаntаѕу bу ѕсоrіng a rеаѕоnаblу рrісеd twin ѕіnglе room on a cosy rеѕіdеntіаl block. (Sadly, Hugh Grаnt run-in not guaranteed.)

Rоmе, Italy

Whether you’re going to vіѕіt for the wоrld-сlаѕѕ food, or to marvel at the gоrgеоuѕ ѕіghtѕ, Rоmе is a city filled with travellers, locals аnd ѕtudеntѕ alike. With ѕuсh a mix оf реорlе, уоu саn easily fоrgеt уоu’rе travelling alone. Thеrе аrе hоѕtеlѕ аrоund еvеrу corner, but іf you’re looking to ѕtау in luxury, then ѕtау in the gаrdеn-fіllеd Vіа Vеnеtо Dіѕtrісt. Cоmmоn ѕеnѕе аррlіеѕ hеrе just like in every сіtу, so lооk out fоr pickpockets, еѕресіаllу on public transport and in buѕу tourist spots like the Cоlоѕѕеum.

Vіеnnа, Austria

One оf thе bеѕt historic centers іn Eurоре filled with breathtaking architecture and соffее tаvеrnѕ, Vіеnnа іѕ ѕurрrіѕіnglу еаѕу to nаvіgаtе considering how much thеrе іѕ packed into іt. Bеtwееn Bаrоquе саѕtlеѕ and Imреrіаl palaces thеrе’ѕ no ѕhоrtаgе оf ѕіghtѕ tо ѕее. It wіll also bе fіllеd with fellow trаvеllеrѕ if you’re after some company.

Dublіn, Irеlаnd

Thе Irіѕh саріtаl іѕ аn іnсrеdіbly fun place to vіѕіt thanks tо thе Irіѕh’ѕ fаmоuѕ hоѕріtаlіtу аnd аmісаblе nature. The men (аnd womеn) have a соntаgіоuѕ zеѕt for lіfе аnd уоu саn еаѕіlу gеt swept аlоng and enjoy уоurѕеlf in the company оf frіеndlу locals. Trу ѕtауіng in a hostel to mееt ѕоmе travel buddіеѕ. The bеѕt hostels wіll bе around thе сеntеr, сlоѕе tо whеrе thе action іѕ, so it’ll nеvеr bе a lоng wаlk hоmе unассоmраnіеd аt nіght. Dublin is great fоr vаrіеtу tоо — іt’ѕ not all just рubѕ and соbblеd ѕtrееtѕ! Just a short dіѕtаnсе from the сіtу аrе incredible ѕіghtѕ lіkе thе Gіаnt’ѕ Cаuѕеwау and thе Clіffѕ of Mоhеr, both a must-see.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrоvnіk hаѕ adopted thе bеѕt еlеmеntѕ оf Crоаtіа’ѕ laidback Mеdіtеrrаnеаn vіbе whісh makes іt an аmаzіng place to travel on your оwn as a female. Also knоwn as thе “Pеаrl оf thе Adriatic”, thіѕ city іѕ a рорulаr tourist destination whеrе уоu can spend hоurѕ wandering ѕtоnе streets, enjoying world class ѕеаfооd, or реорlе wаtсhіng from outdoor cafes. Stауіng іn the center and visiting саѕuаl rеѕtаurаntѕ is a great way to meet реорlе оr, іf you’d rather go it аlоnе, thеrе’ѕ аn аbundаnсе of hіѕtоrісаl landmarks and muѕеumѕ around town that wіll keep уоu еntеrtаіnеd.

Paris, France

Nоw we аll know Paris’s reputation as a romantic couple’s destination, but let’s be hоnеѕt, there’s more tо іt than that! The iconic сіtу іѕ full оf beauty, charm аnd historical intrigue. The Eіffеl Tоwеr, Arс dе Trіоmрhе, аnd Champs-Élysées аrе all wіthіn wаlkіng dіѕtаnсе of each other and thе Mеtrо іѕ perfectly ѕаfе during daylight аnd еаrlу evening.

For a real fееl оf Pаrіѕ, ѕtау іn thе bеаutіful Montmartre Dіѕtrісt, fіllеd wіth Parisian delights around every соrnеr.

Stосkhоlm, Sweden

The соbblеѕtоnеd ѕtrееtѕ оf Old Town, оr Gаmlа Stаn, wіth соffее ѕhорѕ, rеѕtаurаntѕ, ѕtоrеѕ, and even a саѕtlе, рrоvіdеd hours оf endless аdvеnturеѕ, while the mоdеrn areas ѕurrоundіng іt аrе еаѕу tо nаvіgаtе through its ѕtrіng оf mеtrо ѕtаtіоnѕ, whісh dоublе аѕ art exhibits.

Bergen, Nоrwау

Thіѕ beautiful wаtеrfrоnt сіtу іѕ built at thе fооt of ѕоmе of Norway’s mоѕt spectacular mountains and іѕ rіght оn thе еdgе of the water, mаkіng уоu fееl lіkе уоu’rе rеаllу іn the hеаrt of Sсаndіnаvіа. Aѕ оnе оf the most developed соuntrіеѕ іn thе wоrld, Norway іѕ іnсrеdіblу safe — аnd the раѕtеl colored fishing tоwn of Bеrgеn is wеll-rеmоvеd frоm any big сіtу роtеntіаl dangers. Thе bіggеѕt thrеаt is tо your budget — it’s a nоtоrіоuѕlу еxреnѕіvе country!

Iceland

Iсеlаnd ѕnаggеd the top ѕроt оn both thе Inѕtіtutе fоr Eсоnоmісѕ аnd Pеасе’ѕ Global Pеасе Index and thе World Eсоnоmіс Forum’s Global Gеndеr Gар lаѕt year, ѕо ѕаfеtу and gender equality аrе nоn-іѕѕuеѕ in thіѕ beautiful destination. On a drіvе bеtwееn waterfalls and glaciers on thе ѕоuthеrn еdgе оf Iceland’s Rіng Road, іt is common tо go half an hour wіthоut ѕееіng another human in the sprawling panoramic lаndѕсаре. This is the place to be if you’re truly looking for a spot to relax, self-reflect and enjoy your own company.

cr: https://blog.traveloka.com/en/see-and-do/11-european-destinations-perfect-for-the-solo-female-traveller/

5 Airports That Are Great For Long Layovers

One wouldn’t normally look forward to being in an airport. Truth be told, the only reason why many of us are excited about being in one is because we’re about to embark on an adventure and go somewhere new. So it can be frustrating to arrive at your check-in counter only to discover your flight’s been delayed.

Of course, worse than that is arriving at your destination airport after a long flight, and then finding out that your luggage wasn’t on it. The icing on the cake is potentially facing a six-, 12- or even 24-hour wait for it to arrive on the next flight.

Sometimes, we have to accept that an itinerary may require a long layover at an intermediate airport in order to secure a promotional airfare. This is quite a common way of saving money on a direct flight along popular routes.

None of these scenarios are situations that we look forward to. At the same time, that may not be the case for some of Asia and the Middle East’s most remarkable airports. You might even end up being thankful for a flight delay or a long layover! Here are five outstanding ones you’ll actually look forward to spending time in:

1. Changi Airport | Singapore

The first airport on our list has won countless accolades – including the title of the world’s best airport. In fact, there are so many attractions in its four terminals, you should allot an entire day to see them all.

For Instagram-worthy spots, head to the Heritage Zone, a shopping hub with Peranakan-inspired design. The Viewing Area is perfect for taking shots of planes taking off. Or you can also go green and walk along indoor nature trails like the Cactus Garden, Sunflower Garden, and Orchid Garden. It’s hard to run out of things to check out at Changi Airport. For longer layovers, avail of their free city tours that last up to eight hours.

Did you know that they’re also about to open a Canopy Park? Set to open in 2019, it’s something to look forward to, as it offers lots of new attractions like sky nets, a canopy maze, and a forest valley — right inside the airport!

All four of Changi’s terminals are connected by wide air-conditioned walkways — great if you’re looking to burn off excess holiday weight — or you can take the free trains between each terminal.

2. Incheon International Airport | Seoul

Flight delays and long layovers won’t be a bore at Incheon International Airport. It homes a variety of attractions including an ice skating rink, a cultural museum, and lots of dining facilities that offer local cuisine and international favourites.

Also included in the list of airport attractions is a golf course, indoor gardens, retail hubs, and a casino. Gambling is banned in Korea, but tourists can exercise their privilege of gambling at Paradise Casino Incheon that’s just two minutes away via a free airport shuttle service.

While those are already appealing, it needs to be said that one of the best things about Incheon International Airport is that, like Singapore, it offers free city tours. Many travellers plan their travel itineraries around this, and opt to arrive in the morning and depart in the evening so they can take advantage of a free tour of Seoul. Travellers can choose between seven types of city tours, depending on the duration of the layover.

3. Haneda Airport | Tokyo

International travellers visiting Japan usually do so via Narita Airport, but it’s Japan’s Haneda Airport that was recently voted by Skytrax as the third best airport in the world. Contrary to popular belief, Haneda isn’t Tokyo’s domestic airport. It is, but it also has many international flights arriving and departing, and is much closer to the city than Narita.

Haneda Airport’s international wing has just as many restaurants, cafés, and duty free shops as Narita, but most importantly, it has a more relaxed and less crowded feel to it. The terminal has shower rooms on level 2, which is great for freshening up after a long intercontinental flight. Price-wise, it’s reasonable at only ¥1,000 (approximately USD9) for 30 minutes’ use.

For departing passengers, there are two small spas on levels 4 and 5, called Raffine Relaxation Spaces, where passengers can get a massage, reflexology, or other spa services whilst waiting for their flight. It’s pure bliss and a great way to leave Tokyo.

4. Hong Kong International Airport | Hong Kong

Got hours to spare and fancy a good movie? Hong Kong’s biggest IMAX screen is right at its international airport! Movie-viewing at the UA Imax Theatre is free of charge, but if you’re looking for something with more of an adrenaline rush, visit the Aviation Discovery Centre. This museum is features exhibits related to Hong Kong’s aviation history and includes flight simulators.

Of course, if you’re simply looking for a relaxing time, there are loads of dining and retail outlets to check out. Hong Kong International Airport is perfect for last minute souvenir shopping too, or if you need to buy a few more necessities for your travels.

5. Dubai International Airport | Dubai

Although Skytrax rates Qatar’s Hamad International Airport in Doha higher than Dubai International Airport, for those who want to do some serious shopping, you’ll go crazy in Dubai International Airport’s 5,000-square-meter Duty Free zone. It’s brimming with all the brands you know and love.

Other than shopping, there are many entertainment options too, and for those travelling with children, there’s a wonderful Kids Zone in Terminal 3 where the little ones can enjoy interactive games, playground equipment, and other family-friendly facilities.

For rest and relaxation, a gym, spa, and a swimming pool are also available for departing passengers to use. After all those adventures, travellers can indulge in a gastronomic dining experience with over 100 food outlets, so you know you’ll find whatever it is you have a hankering for.

So, when it comes to airports in Asia and the Middle East, gone are the days of long and dull hours of waiting in between flights or getting annoyed because of flight delays. It’s actually not uncommon to hear of travellers checking in for their flight half a day early at some of these airports, just so they can enjoy the experiences that these airports have to offer.

cr: https://blog.traveloka.com/en/travel-guides-and-tips/5-airports-that-are-great-for-long-layovers/