GOYET, BELGIUM: Deep in the caves of Goyet in Belgium researchers have found the grisly evidence that the Neanderthals did not just feast on horses or reindeer, but also on each other.

Human bones from a newborn, a child and four adults or teenagers who lived around 40,000 years ago show clear signs of cutting and of fractures to extract the marrow within, they say.

“It is irrefutable, cannibalism was practised here,” says Belgian archaeologist Christian Casseyas as he looks inside a cave halfway up a valley in this site in the Ardennes forest.

The bones in Goyet date from when Neanderthals were nearing the end of their time on earth before being replaced by Homo sapiens, with whom they also interbred.

Once regarded as primitive cavemen driven to extinction by smarter modern humans, studies have found that Neanderthals were actually sophisticated beings who took care of the bodies of the deceased and held burial rituals.

But there is a growing body of proof that they also ate their dead.

Neanderthal bone fragments

Cases of Neanderthal cannibalism have been found until now only in Neanderthal populations in southern Europe in Spain, at El Sidron and Zafarraya, and in France, at Moula-Guercy and Les Pradelles.

The caves at Goyet have been occupied since the Paleolithic era. The 250-metre- (820-feet-) long galleries were dug into the limestone by the Samson, a small stream that still flows a few metres below.

They began to reveal their secrets in the middle of the 19th century thanks to one of the fathers of palaeontology, Edouard Dupont (1841-1911).

A geologist and director of the Royal Museum of Natural History of Belgium, he searched several caves, including that of Goyet in 1867, and collected an enormous quantity of bones and tools.

Just a few years after Charles Darwin first expounded his theory of evolution, Dupont published the results of his own research in his book “Man During the Stone Age”.

But his discoveries remained in the archives of the museum (now called the Brussels Institute of Natural Sciences) for more than a century.

That was until 2004, when the institute’s head of anthropology Patrick Semal discovered, hidden in amongst the drawers of what Dupont thought were human bones, a jaw tip that clearly belonged to a Neanderthal.

Scientists have since been painstakingly sorting through fragments that Dupont thought were animal bones to see if there are other traces of ancient man.

‘Extract the marrow’

Now an international team led by Helene Rougier, an anthropologist at California State University Northridge in the United States, has proved from the bones found at Goyet that the Neanderthals there were cannibals.

The bones show traces of cutting, “to disarticulate and remove the flesh,” said Christian Casseyas, who also leads tours for the public at the caves.

The Neanderthals “broke these bones in the same way that they broke those of the reindeer and horses found at the entrance of the cave, certainly to extract the marrow”, he adds.

Rougier, whose work on the Belgian cave was published last July by Scientific Reports, a journal of the Nature group, told AFP that “indeed, we can conclude that some Neanderthals died and were eaten here”, which is a first in Northern Europe.

“Some of these bones have also been used to make tools to touch up the edges of flints to re-sharpen them,” says Rougier.

But the reasons for the cannibalism remain a mystery, as to the extent to which the Neanderthals ate their dead.

“Was it systematic? Was it only at certain particular moments?” she asks. “I don’t know how to interpret the reason behind this cannibalism. It can be purely food, but it can also be symbolic … The reason remains open,” she says.

Salads for lunch can be a beautiful thing, but they do need a little forethought in order to avoid soggy lettuce or uninspired toppings. Here are our top 10 tips for packing a tasty, inspired, mishap-free lunch salad.

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KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian woman faces life in jail after being charged Friday with the attempted murder of her Indonesian maid who was gruesomely beaten, according to court documents.

There has been a string of maid abuse incidents including the deaths of domestic workers in Malaysia in recent years.

In the latest case, 19-year-old Suyanti Sutrinso was attacked with a kitchen knife and hit with a metal mop and an umbrella last Wednesday by 43-year-old Rozita Mohamad Ali, the chargesheet said.

Suyanti sustained injuries to her eyes, head and right lung.

Other injuries included blood clots on her brain and a broken cheekbone.

“… the injuries could result in the death or severe trauma and with that you (Rozita) have committed an offence under Section 307 of the Penal Code,” the chargesheet said.

If found guilty, Rozita could either face life imprisonment or a 20-year-jail term.

Rozita, who was freed on bail, pleaded not guilty to the charge, her lawyer Rosal Azimin told AFP. He said his client, who was unwell, sought a “speedy trial”.

The court has set February 7 to fix the trial date.

One of Asia’s largest importers of labour, Malaysia depends heavily on domestic workers, mainly from Indonesia, but has been criticised for its lack of action to protect their rights and regulate their working conditions.

Indonesian maids typically work seven days a week for as little as 600 ringgit (134 dollars) a month.

If you go by the multitude of books, websites, programs, celebrity endorsements, prepackaged foods, and varying rules about what’s “in” and what’s “out,” starting on a low-carb diet may seem like an impossibly complicated task. By sticking to some basic principles, planning out your menu, and drinking lots of water (yes, really), you too may discover that low-carb dieting can be simple, easy, enjoyable, effective, and delicious.

EditSteps

EditKeeping It Simple

1. Simplify your definition of low-carb dieting. Start with the basics. When present in the body, carbohydrates, converted into simple sugars (known as glucose in your bloodstream), are your main fuel source. Low-carb dieting is based on the premise that, without sufficient carbs available as fuel, your body will burn its fat stores to keep you moving.^[1]
   
   • There’s no official definition for a low-carb diet, but the range limit is usually somewhere between 50-100g of carbs per day. This range will vary with each person's body weight. Anything below 50g per day would typically cause the individual to go into ketosis. In comparison, typical American dietary guidelines recommend between 225-325 grams of carbs (900-1300 calories) daily.^[2]
   • Medical opinions vary on the efficacy of low-carb diets as well. They do seem to offer weight-loss benefits, at least in the short term, and may have benefits for diabetics by decreasing blood glucose levels.^[3][4] Long-term health impacts are less clear. Consult your physician before beginning a low-carb diet.
2. Learn to identify carb amounts in foods. Once on a low-carb diet, you'll likely be able to spot carb-heavy foods with ease before too long. It may be helpful, however, to keep a guide handy, at least early on, that identifies carb amounts in various foods.
   
   • Such a guide can be especially useful when eating out.
   • See, for example, this exhaustive chart for carb counts on a wide range of foods. As a point of comparison, each of the following has approximately 15 grams of carbs:
   • 1 slice bread; ½ bagel
   • 1 banana, orange, or apple; ¾ c. blueberries; 1 ¼ c. strawberries
   • ½ c. apple or orange juice
   • 1 c. milk (skim, full fat, or in between)
   • ½ c. cooked beans, lentils, corn, or peas
   • 1 small baked potato
   • ½ packet of instant oatmeal
   • 15 chips or pretzels; 1 cookie; ½ donut
   • ⅓ c. mac & cheese; ½ breaded chicken sandwich
   • ½ c. ice cream
   • 1 ½ c. cooked or 3 c. raw of most non-starchy vegetables
   • meats, fish, eggs, and many flavorings, dressings, and toppings have fewer than 5 carbs per serving
3. Simplify what’s “in” and what’s “out.” This is where it can start to get confusing. Different low-carb diet plans will tell you different things about what you should and should not eat.
   
   • Some plans tell you to eat high-fat proteins (like meats and dairy) and skip almost all grains (especially containing gluten), while others emphasize low-fat proteins and a more moderate amount of whole grains.^[5][6]
   • Vegetables are a staple of low-carb dieting. All vegetables contain carbohydrates but some contain even more. The ones to focus on consuming are 'non-starchy' vegetables. In addition, some low-carb dieters do not count green non-starchy vegetables into their overall carbohydrate count. This is due to the high fiber count in these vegetables and many believe that this fiber content 'counteracts' any carbohydrates within these vegetables.
   • To make your low-carb diet simple, make your criteria simple: more protein and vegetables, less refined starches and sugars, and much less processed food.
   • One simple suggestion would be do eat lots of lean proteins and vegetables, prepared simply; add in supplementary helpings of whole grains, legumes, lowfat dairy, and fruits, and skip processed foods.^[7]
4. Don’t buy what you don’t need. If guidebooks or diet plans will help your stick to your low-carb diet, then it may be a worthwhile expenditure for you. However, you can begin and sustain a low-carb diet without buying any of those things. Just repeat to yourself, “more protein, more vegetables, less starches and sugars.”
   
   • Don’t bother with prepackaged low-carb foods if possible. Eating fresh, minimally-processed foods is always preferable.
5. Realize that you won’t be hungry all the time. This might be your first worry when you think about giving up bread, pasta, potatoes, and other foods you think of as filling (and tasty). Your body can and will adjust and can be just as easily satisfied by a low-carb diet.
   
   • For a low-carb diet, you don’t eat less, just differently. Stick to eating 3-4 meals per day with small, healthy snacks as needed.^[8] You also experience less hunger due to your blood sugar being better regulated. With less carbohydrates, fewer blood sugar spikes (and falls) occur. This keeps you from getting too hungry or experiencing cravings.
6. Make water your friend. You may not believe it at first, but water can be filling and can help make your low-carb transition easier.
   
   • You want to drink at least 8 (8 oz) glasses of water per day, but even more will help.^[9]
   • Carry a water bottle with you all day. Take regular drinks, before you’re thirsty. When you feel a craving coming on (especially for a cookie, donut, etc.), drink water first and see if that calms it.
   • Slice fresh lemons and add them to your water pitcher if you need some flavor.
7. Stock your pantry right. If you live in a household of carb-eaters, you won’t be able to pitch the potatoes and bread, but you can make sure you are well-stocked with staples of low-carb cooking.
   
   • A sampling from one lengthy list of low-carb pantry staples includes:
   • canned tuna / salmon / sardines
   • canned vegetables / fruit (in light syrup)
   • chicken / beef stock
   • canned tomatoes / tomato paste
   • low-sugar peanut butter
   • jarred roasted peppers
   • olives, pickles, and capers
   • whole grain pasta, rice, and flour
   • oatmeal and high-fiber, no-sugar cereal
   • sugar substitute
   • olive oil
   • As you develop your personalized low-carb menu, stock your pantry to suit.

EditPlanning Your Meals

1. Pack your breakfast with protein. If a good old-fashioned bacon and eggs breakfast sounds good to you (minus any toast, home fries, or pancakes), you’re in luck.
   
   • A poached or fried egg, with bacon or sausage on the side if desired, can become your standard daily breakfast.
   • For more variety, make omelets with a variety of vegetables (spinach, bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, zucchini, etc.), meats, and a little cheese.^[10]
   • You can even try your hand at low-carb blueberry or zucchini muffins.^[11]
   • Drink water, plus some coffee or tea (minus sugar, plus sugar substitute if necessary) if you need a caffeine boost.
2. Switch out your sandwich for lunch. Take the good stuff sandwiched inside a sandwich, skip the bread, and you’re on your way to a low-carb lunch.
   
   • Roll some deli meat up in a lettuce leaf. Add mustard, a bit of cheese, a pickle spear, or other flavor additions. Pair with fresh veggies -- carrots, celery, pepper slices, etc.
   • Mix up some chicken or shrimp salad and skip putting it in bread. Just use your fork and add some veggies on the side.^[12]
   • Low-carb pizza could be dinner one night and lunch the next day.^[13]
   • Drink -- you guessed it -- water. Will an occasional iced tea or diet soda ruin your diet? No. But get used to making water your standard mealtime (and other times) beverage.
3. Have meat-and-no-potatoes dinners. Steak, meatballs, pork chops, grilled chicken or fish (no frying, no breading) -- these will likely become dinnertime staples. Roasted or grilled vegetables and a side salad can become a standard accompaniment.^[14]
   
   • Rely on spices and other seasonings -- capers or olives, for instance -- to change the flavor profile of your meals.
   • A roasted pork tenderloin,^[15] perhaps with roasted asparagus and a salad, will make even a family of carb-lovers happy at dinnertime.
   • Let’s all say it together -- Drink water!
4. Slip in low-carb snacks. Starving yourself between meals will only make it easier for you to “cheat” on high-carb guilty pleasures, so prepare yourself by pre-packaging your own low-carb snacks to see you through the end of the workday (or any other time you need it).
   
   • Something as simple as a handful of almonds or blueberries (both of which are generally seen as all right in moderation in low-carb diets) can provide a quick boost.
   • Standard options include cut veggies with low-carb dressing; mozzarella cheese strings; or unsweetened yogurt, to name a few. Fruit intake will need to be a bit more limited, but having an apple, orange, raisins or grapes, dried apricots, or an unsweetened applesauce / peach / mixed fruit cup is far better than a bag of chips or a snack cake.^[16]
   • Have we mentioned drinking water?

EditKnowing Risks and Rewards

1. Look for benefits beyond just weight loss. There is some debate whether it is the "low-carb" or "diet" portion that deserves more credit, but evidence exists that people on low-carb diets may prevent or improve health problems like metabolic syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.^[17]
   
   • Low-carb diets do seem to have an advantage in comparison to moderate-carb diets in regards to reducing HDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
2. Know the risks of insufficient carb intake. Our body needs carbohydrates to produce the energy it needs to operate. Properly-followed low-carb diets should not cause major medical issues, but severely restricting carbohydrate intake does carry risks.^[18]
   
   • If you go to the extreme and consume less than 50 grams of carbs a day, you risk developing ketosis. This occurs when ketones build up in your body as a result of excessive break-down of stored fat for energy, and can cause nausea, fatigue, headaches, and bad breath.
   • During the first week or two of a low-carb diet, you may experience symptoms akin to ketosis -- nausea, headache, bad breath, etc. -- as your body adjusts to the significant reduction in carbs. This should pass, however, and you should move on to feeling perhaps better than ever.
   • Some medical professionals believe low-carb diets may increase long-term risks of cardiovascular disease and cancers because of the significant amounts of animal fats and proteins consumed, but the long-term risks of low-carb dieting, like the rewards, are more speculative than definitive.
3. Don't miss out on nutrients. Especially if you are on a low-carb diet for an extended period of time, there is a risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can cause a host of problems including bone loss, gastrointestinal disorders, and increased risk for various chronic conditions^[19]
   
   • Fruits may be full of sugars, but they are also full of vitamins and minerals. Don't completely exclude them from your low-carb diet. Make them a supporting player, not the star of the show that is your daily menu.
   • You may want to consider taking a multivitamin, or other supplements, but it is best to discuss this with a medical professional first.
4. Involve a medical professional. Talk to your doctor or other healthcare professional about your desire to begin a low-carb diet. Discuss your medical history and relative risks and benefits of the diet for you.
   
   • If you have a heart condition, reduced kidney function, or diabetes, among other conditions, it is especially important that you talk to your physician. You may well still be advised to begin the low-carb diet and it may benefit you greatly, but your doctor may also have specific advice and guidelines for you.^[20]

EditVideo

EditTips

• Cheese is okay too, in moderation. It adds wonderful flavor.
• Remember: fast food fries are loaded with trans fats as well as carbs, and thus definitely something to avoid.
• Become a salad lover. Steak and salad is an excellent low-carb meal. Buy pre-chopped salad fixings to save time as an occasional time-saver.
• Nuts and beans are borderline. They are around 60% starch. Sesame seeds are nice on salads. For snacks, first drink water and see if the urge goes away. If not, take only about 10-15 nuts at a time, don't carry the whole can or bag off with you.
• Fast food joints are a reality of our zip-go lives. Just order the standard burger, not the monster burger combo meal. The standard hamburgers can easily be eaten low-carb if you just munch the meat in the middle. Use the bun as a 'holder' and wedge the meat part into your mouth. Then rotate and do it from the other side, and so on until the meat is eaten, leaving the empty bun. With a little practice this can be done in a dignified way so even your mother wouldn't notice (though your 5-year old probably will).
• Fruits contain sugars too, though small berry-type fruits are the lowest in carb and are okay every now and then, e.g. to flavor yogurt. Strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries are okay, while cherries have higher sugar content. You can buy frozen any time of year. The occasional apple or orange is okay as well.

EditWarnings

• Get as many temptations out of your house as you can. If you're living with carb eaters, this may not be possible so keep that water pitcher nearby. It can keep a lot of demons at bay.
• Know that there are risks for a low carbohydrate diet. Remember, consult your medical professional first.
• If you have doubts about your health, see your doctor and get testing done before and a few months after. Many doctors are supportive of low carb dieting now and realize that, when followed correctly, it is a healthy way to eat. Gauge how you are feeling. Generally you will go through an adjustment period in the first week, but it does pass.

EditThings You'll Need

• Water pitcher
• A good leak-proof sports water bottle you can carry with you everywhere
• A determined attitude

EditRelated wikiHows

• Compare Body for Life to the Atkins Diet
• Create an Atkins Diet Menu Plan
• Work out Points Allowance on Weight Watchers
• Maintain a Diet Journal for Life
• Choose a Diet That Suits You
• Establish a Diet Plan
• Create a Weight Loss Plan That Works for You

EditSources and Citations

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Naan is an Indian yeast-leavened bread, traditionally baked in a clay oven called a tandoori. You've probably eaten it alongside curry at your favorite restaurant, grabbed it from the bakery, or maybe you've already made it at home. While we often associate naan with Indian food, it can be a staple of the everyday dinner routine, as this is one of the fastest, most versatile breads you can make at home.

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The cool thing about eyebrows is they come in all different shapes and you can hone that shape by plucking or filling them in. A simple tool can help with this and you probably have it lying around the house: a spoon.

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You can read something and hope that it’ll all be beamed into your brain for future application. Or you can read it and write down what you just learned, as if you were teaching someone else, and actually retain it. This is called the Feynman Technique.

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JAKARTA: Indonesian militants supporting Islamic State planned to attack a police post on New Year’s eve with machetes and knives, a police spokesman said on Monday.

The plot was broken up after police arrested two of the would-be attackers who led them to their hideout, where police shot dead their two co-conspirators on Sunday after police said they tried to attack officers with machetes.

“The four of them were planning to attack a police post in Purwakarta. They planned to attack on New Year’s Eve,” Rikwanto, a national police spokesman, told reporters, referring to a district about 100 km (60 miles) east of the capital, Jakarta.

Sunday’s raid was the latest in a series over recent weeks that police say have disrupted attacks, raising concern that homegrown militants in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation are getting bolder.

Police said last week that at least 14 people were being interrogated over suicide bomb plots targeting the presidential palace in Jakarta and an another undisclosed location.

Both involved female suicide bombers – a new tactic for Indonesian militants.

Police were still investigating whether the militants involved in the plot disrupted on Sunday had been trying to make bombs.

The suspects were members of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), a militant group supporting Islamic State, but it was not yet clear whether they been in direct communication with Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian militant who fled to Syria about two years ago, the spokesman said.

Police say many of the recent plots uncovered have been inspired, if not directed, by Naim.

Police have arrested dozens of suspected militants in recent months, including a group on an island near Singapore who police say were planning to attack the city-state with a rocket.

Indonesia’s elite police unit, Special Detachment 88, has foiled at least 15 attacks this year and made more than 150 arrests..

A gun and bomb assault in the heart of Jakarta in January 2016 killed four people and was the first attack in Southeast Asia claimed by Islamic State.

Before you toss out that empty cardboard box, think about giving it to your feline friend. They’ll love it.

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A fungal disease has put the banana as we know it in danger. Scientists may be able to avoid extinction, but fans of the fruit may need to get used to new varieties. Rome (dpa) – The world cannot get enough of bananas, the most exported fruit and one of the top five staple crops in…...

By YS Chan

The direct translation of “teh tarik” to English is “pulled tea”. The tea is made by first pouring hot water into a cloth strainer with tea dust in it and over a metal mug.

Sweetened condensed milk is then added and white refined sugar for extra sweet. While pouring into a glass, the mug is moved higher up to allow a longer time for the stream of tea to reach the glass.

For making larger quantities, two big mugs are used and it can be quite a spectacle when performed by those showing off their skills.

The motion of moving the mugs away from each other and pouring from a distance gives the impression that the tea was pulled to make it long, hence the name “pulled tea”.

As a result, the hot tea gets cooler but more importantly, the trapped air turned the tea frothy and delicious, similar to carbonated soda, which will be flat, without gas bubbles.

I enjoy all kinds of food and drinks but only if they are the best and would not touch those not up to my standard.

For teh tarik, I would not drink those readymade kept in a jug, just as I avoid precooked food, especially those prepared hours ago and abstain from food, fruits and drinks supplied by caterers.

My food must be clean, freshly cooked and served hot. As such, I would finish my meal before ordering a hot drink and restaurant workers would keep bothering me by asking about my drink.

If it were tea I fancied, I would order “teh-C tarik, kurang manis, panas panas”. “Teh-C” is the name used in Chinese coffee shops for tea with evaporated milk, which is without any sugar.

I enjoy a little sweetness and “kurang manis” means less sweet, but usually it was still too sweet, but not as bad as normal “teh tarik”, which is overly sweet and undrinkable.

“Panas” means hot and I repeat the word to emphasise it must be hot, using very hot water to make the tea. Many people mistakenly believe that pulled tea was just for cooling it down.

Ordering teh-C means that it has to be freshly made and the bonus comes when new tea dust is used, which gives a sharper taste. But many outlets use poor quality tea dust, which gives an unpleasant type of sour taste.

While many Malaysians drink teh tarik on a regular basis and take their own sweet time to finish a glass, I drink mine as hot as possible and finish it within a minute.

The best tea I had was shaken, not stirred, and James Bond would have agreed with me, because that’s how he liked his Martinis.

I discovered “shaken tea” at a stall inside the Integrated Commercial Complex at Pudu, where most of the tenants moved from the old wet market in Imbi to make way for the new Bandar Tun Razak.

Many visitors throng there to patronise the Ah Weng Koh Hainan tea but further in is King Swee Café stall, and one would be impressed with the teamaker preparing the hot drinks with zest.

My wife always ordered the teh-C kosong, meaning hot tea with evaporated milk, without sugar.

After boiling water is poured into a cloth strainer with quality tea dust, the contents are then poured into a small receptacle, which is then covered, shaken and poured into a thick porcelain cup commonly used in traditional Chinese coffee shops.

The result is a frothy tea that is still very hot, and delicious for those who knows how to savour good tea. My wife is now in Australia for a long holiday and this drink will be right on top of the things she misses away from home.

Teh goncang or shaken tea will only be more popular than teh tarik if more Malaysians care for good foods and drinks.

We are fond of claiming that our food is delicious without taking into account that nearly all are unhealthy, especially when extra doses of oil, salt, sugar, spice, monosodium glutamate, preservative, artificial colouring and flavours are added, not to mention meats and fish are left unrefrigerated and cut fruits, sliced chilies and chopped garlic left to oxidise.

Likewise, our teh tarik is actually no big deal but foreigners love our Malaysian coffee, both the traditional type and white coffee, and they cart home many.

Hong Kong people love their milk tea. Those who have tried our Hainan tea, which is a mixture of coffee, tea, cocoa, condensed and evaporated milk, give their thumbs up.

If teh goncang is introduced there, it would be embraced by the health-conscious. As such, I recommend this drink for all.

On the other hand, the worst tea is found in hotels, served at buffets. The tea is kept in a large container with tea bags in there for hours.

Only very hot water can extract the full flavour of the tea and if a tea bag is used, it should not steep in a cup for more than three minutes.

YS Chan is an FMT reader.

With a firm belief in freedom of expression and without prejudice, FMT tries its best to share reliable content from third parties. Such articles are strictly the writer’s personal opinion. FMT does not necessarily endorse the views or opinions given by any third party content provider.

As a flight attendant, I’ve spent tons of time in airports all over the world. Now, just in time for all that last-minute holiday shopping, here’s a guide to my favorite duty-free shops so you can pick up some presents for your friends and family back home.

1. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)

AMS is an absolute gem when it comes to shopping, and very much a cabin crew favorite. The one-terminal design means you’ll have access to every shop without having to switch terminals — you also won’t be restricted by which concourse or terminal your flight’s leaving from. The airport is simply divided between EU and non-EU departures, with the same shops offered on either side.

Shopping at AMS is great for a few reasons. First of all, you can browse through its special offers catalogue ahead of time online and decide what you want before you even get there, which is super handy if you have a quick connection and not a lot of time to shop. Then, as you stroll through the concourse, all the shops are clearly marked according to what’s being sold — so you’ll see signs like “Liquor/Tobacco,” “Fragrances” and “Watches and Jewelry,” among other things — making navigating the shops easier and saving you time as you try to squeeze it all in before a flight. Lastly, AMS has a few shops that sell very unique Dutch gifts if you’re looking for something on the cultural side — everything from a whole wheel of Gouda to tulip bulbs and Delft Blue China can be bought at Schiphol.

Favorite find: Without a doubt, the Gouda’s Gilde stroopwaffels from the delicatessen or Gifts from Holland shop. These caramel-filled waffley pieces of goodness make great stocking stuffers, but be sure to save a box or two for yourself as well.

2. Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)

Asia’s number one airport is also high on everyone’s list, cabin crew and passengers alike, when it comes to duty-free shopping. The airport has three terminals, but like Schiphol, they’re all technically under one roof so you have access to the whole airport once you’ve cleared immigration.

Designer brands and bargain prices? Changi’s got it. From fantastic Asian designers like Shanghai Tang to international brands such as Burberry and Lacoste, you’ll find it here. Better yet, enroll in the Changi Rewards program and get up to 3% back on all your purchases, plus access to exclusive offers. (We like exclusive, don’t we?) And the best part about Changi? Its iShopChangi program, which lets you place an order for everything before you even get to the airport — all you have to do is pick up your purchases when you arrive. Sounds like shopping heaven to me! (I use the iShopChangi service every time I swing through Singapore and it’s a dream come true!)

Favorite find: Pretty much everything from Shanghai Tang. I love how the products mix modern style with Asian design.

3. Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST)

Despite its distinctly overcrowded feel, I love shopping at Atatürk Airport in Istanbul. Turkish Airlines’ hub has a host of shopping opportunities for travelers and they’re mostly crammed into the main departures concourse area, making it easy to survey all of your shopping options before you buy. You’ll find everything from delicious Turkish delight candies to carpets and designer brands at IST — and the prices are very reasonable.

Carrie’s Favorite Find: Turkish delight, of course! It comes in a myriad of flavors and sizes, making it the perfect in-flight snack while you’re sipping Champagne and catching up on the latest movies.

4. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)

Like Changi, you can find anything from local designers such as Jim Thompson to international luxury brands like Bulgari and Dior — or naughties at Victoria’s Secret! — all for the same bargain prices that you’d expect to find in Thailand.

What I really like about BKK is that in addition to all of the usual shops selling the usual things, there are so many unique Thai gifts that you won’t be able to find anywhere else in the world. Not only that, fantastic food options in the terminal mean you can fuel up on Pad Thai and load up on goodies to take home with you. For a real treat, head to the in-airport spa for a post-shopping-spree massage.

Carrie’s Favorite Find: I absolutely love the silks at Jim Thompson! Bonus tip: if you have a long enough layover and are able to pop into downtown Bangkok, the Jim Thompson House is well worth a visit — and you can see how silks are made.

5. Copenhagen Airport (CPH)

Definitely the dark horse in this race, but also one that shouldn’t be overlooked, Copenhagen Airport has a distinctly Nordic feel with sleek wooden surfaces, a modern design and relatively noise-free atmosphere since no boarding announcements are made at CPH. Its relatively small size, unique design and quiet atmosphere make it one of my favorite airports to fly in and out of — and of course, to shop in.

Like the others on this list, there are no separate terminals so you have access to all the shopping there is to be had. Yes, prices may be a little higher than you’d pay elsewhere in Europe, but as with everywhere else in Denmark, the quality is second to none. What I really love is that you can find products by so many great, local Scandinavian designers here, whether they’re internationally recognized names like Björn Borg, Marimekko and Georg Jensen, or lesser-known designers like Ole Lyngaard and Tiger. And yes, there’s even a Lego store here, so you can stock up on goodies for the kids as well.

Carrie’s Favorite Find: Anton Berg chocolates, and anything from Danish design superpower Illums Bolighus.

What are some of your favorite shops in airports around the world? Tell us about them below.

Featured image courtesy of Caiaimage/Agnieszka Olek via Getty Images.

Update 12/22/16: Based on the experience of travel expert and friend of the site Cynthia Drescher (below), this deal might be a bit too good to be true.

@ZachHonig this had me scrambling, but SUCH a headache. More trouble than worth. Even registering for their FF program isnt working properly

— Cynthia Drescher (@JetSetCD) December 22, 2016

Wow! Garuda International is currently running an unbelievable promotion: 90% off award tickets! Garuda Indonesia is calling this the “Best Deal of the Year,” but that actually might be understating it.

As we needed to use Google Translate to read this promotion page, we suspected that something had been lost in translation and the deal was only 10% off the award flights — rather than 90% off. So, we called up the airline. Unfortunately, its call center is overwhelmed with calls and you’ll be disconnected if an agent doesn’t pick up in just two minutes. However, on the ninth call, we were connected to an agent who was able to price out multiple itineraries, confirming that the deal is indeed 90% off.

If you’re unfamiliar with Garuda Indonesia, TPG’s Zach Honig reviewed the airline’s business-class product from Bali to Tokyo.

Here’s how the promotion works: Book award flights between December 22 and 31 for travel between February 1 and May 31, 2017.

A few tips to help you book this incredible promotion:

• The US call center is unable to book this deal. You’re going to have to call +62 21 2351 9999 and choose the English prompts to get an agent with access to this promotion.
• Note that the call center will automatically disconnect you after about two minutes if you aren’t connected with an agent. So, prepare to call back multiple times.
• It’s best if you sign up for a Garuda Miles account online before calling — although I was able to do so quickly while speaking with the agent.
• Award tickets can’t be placed on hold, so you should wait until you have miles in your account before calling.
• Use ExpertFlyer to find award availability before calling. Although unfortunately ExpertFlyer doesn’t show first class award availability.

Here are just some of the incredible redemptions that you can get. All prices are after the 90% discount:

Between	And	Economy	Business	First
London	Jakarta	5,000	9,000	19,000
Amsterdam	Jakarta	5,000	9,000	19,000
Tokyo (NRT)	Denpasar	3,500	6,300	9,000
Tokyo (NRT)	Jakarta	3,500	6,300	9,000
Amsterdam	Abu Dhabi	3,500	6,300	9,000

The full list of award redemption values can be found here (caution: PDF link)

Need miles? You can transfer ThankYou points to Garuda Indonesia. However, note that the transfer process takes about two days. So, you might want to get the transfer started right away if you plan on taking advantage of this deal.

Bottom Line

While Garuda Indonesia doesn’t fly to or from the US, if you’re able to take advantage of this deal while traveling outside the country, it’s quite reasonably the best deal of the year.

H/T: One Mile At A Time

Featured image courtesy of Garuda Indonesia.

Taking care of yourself isn’t just a reward, it’s part of the process. Breaks help you regain focus and come back to work with a fresh perspective, which is why doing nothing is sometimes the most productive thing you can do. Force yourself to recharge by scheduling a “Do Nothing Day.”

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Want to see your pictures on our site? Our Flickr pool is the place where Consumerist readers upload photos for possible use in future Consumerist posts. Just be a registered Flickr user, go here, and click “Join Group?” up on the top right. Choose your best photos, then click “send to group” on the individual images you want to add to the pool.

If, like me, you’re an ardent fan of raw cookie dough, you were probably super bummed to hear of this year’s tragic flour recall. (Thanks, 2016.) Luckily, the geniuses at delish have come up with a raw cookie dough recipe that’s made with graham crackers instead of flour, and it is delicious.

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Iranian reportedly murders family of girl who spurned him | 22 Dec 2016 | A young Iranian man murdered 10 members of a family with an assault rifle after his proposal of marriage to a daughter was rejected, the Mehr news agency reported Thursday. He had asked for her hand in the village of Jahan Abad in Kerman province in the southeast. When she shunned him, he left, returned with a Kalashnikov rifle and opened fire.

This week the Whine Wednesdays touches a thorny subject of airplane feet etiquette. Taking your shoes off, socks off or having your legs up on the bulkhead. What is right and what is wrong? What is your opinion?

It is the holiday season and business people are gone from the planes replaced by holiday makers with families going for well deserved vacations.

Well. I guess that we can all agree that people should at least enter the airplane with shoes and socks on? No sandals, please.

Shoes off? Well. I tend to take my dress shoes or boots off during longer flights but most definite keep my socks on.

Legs up on the bulkhead? This is probably the most usual “passenger shaming” that I have seen on my Facebook feed over the years. I try to stretch my legs on longer flights by walking around the airplane and quietly chatting with some crew members in the galley in the quieter times service wise.

Conclusion

The photo above is from a Malaysia Airlines flight earlier this week from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur. It is a holiday destination for many and most dress lighter than usually. Cannot understand how some can wear shoes (not sandals) without socks?

I usually wear what I could call business casual during flights. I have dark jeans, dress shirt and dress shoes/small boots. Then I am not usually over or under dressed for most occasions.

KUALA LUMPUR: Students who have failed to get into the government-run MyMaster and MyPhD study schemes are crying foul.

They are asking the higher education ministry to give reasons for rejecting their applications and for taking a long time to shortlist the candidates.

Many have also alleged that the ministry had acted arbitrarily in raising the minimum qualification. Only those with at least 3.75 CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) are now eligible for the schemes.

The students have been venting their frustrations through a closed Facebook group called MyBrain15.

Higher Education Minister Idris Jusoh announced earlier this year that 15,000 scholarships were expected to be offered under the MyMaster programme and 5,000 under the MyPhD programme.

One of the students, Aisha Tajudin, told FMT the announced minimum requirement was a CGPA of 3.0 and aid was offered for any course listed under the MyMaster programme.

Aisha applied to study for a Master’s in Mass Communication.

She said she had to wait seven months to get a reply. Last month, she received a letter stating her application had been rejected. No reasons were given, she added.

Aisha telephoned the ministry, only to be told that the scheme was open only to those wanting to further their studies in Mathematics and Science.

“They also said the CGPA requirement had been upgraded to 3.75. Why didn’t they tell me earlier, before I applied?”

She said she had phoned the ministry in April when she sent in her application and the person she spoke to did not inform her of any changes.

“I asked if my application was complete. They told me everything was okay.”

Every time she rang up, she was told to wait for a reply in a month, she alleged.

“In previous years, there was no problem. Students received their replies in two weeks.”

Another student, who identified herself as Fatimah T and who applied for the MyPhd scheme, said a lot of students were infuriated over the late reply.

“A lot of applications for the science stream were also rejected,” she said. “Some students had resigned from their jobs to focus on the MyPhD programme.

“In previous years, there was no issue. Students were accepted as long as they had a CGPA of 3.0. Why did they change the CGPA requirement suddenly after seven months?”

Fatimah scored a CGPA of 3.66 for her Master’s in Communications degree.

Many of the complaints on the Facebook page are from students reeling in shock for being rejected despite scoring a CGPA of 3.75 and being below the maximum age of 35.

They are asking the ministry to come clean on why their applications were rejected.

FMT is awaiting a response from the ministry.

Firebrand CNN political commentator Angela Rye was subjected to a humiliating body search while trying to board a plane to New York City on Wednesday night. She posted the video to Twitter and alleged that the TSA employee who searched her twice touched her inappropriately. Rye said she was singled...

When your kid asks for a pet, your natural reaction might be to get them a dog or cat, but that may not be the best pet for their age group. Luckily, the folks at Petfinder have a list of great pets for every age, based on their lifespan and attention requirements.

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Here are five of the best photos that readers added to the Consumerist Flickr Pool in the last week, picked for usability in a Consumerist post or for just plain neatness.

Want to see your pictures on our site? Our Flickr pool is the place where Consumerist readers upload photos for possible use in future Consumerist posts. Just be a registered Flickr user, go here, and click “Join Group?” up on the top right. Choose your best photos, then click “send to group” on the individual images you want to add to the pool.

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If you’ve come home after work to one too many destroyed pillows or overturned trashcans, this ingenious little gadget can help you keep an eye on your pets from anywhere.

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Our very own Maxwell Ryan worked with Mrs. Meyers to show off one of the most organized pantries out there. Whether you have an entire pantry or just a kitchen cabinet, these photos highlight three secret weapons that are a total must when it comes to keeping your ingredients — and other stuff — organized.

Here's some food (storage) for thought.

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It may sound like a pretty simple question, but there’s more to the decision we’re willing to bet. You may have a habit in place, like you shower in the morning to get pumped and energized for the day, or you shower at the end to wash off the stress and dirt of a long day. Which is it for you?

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Christmas trees in the kitchen or dining room don't usually make the most sense. However, we'll make an exception for these fun look-alike treats. Because presentation is key this time of year.

Whether you want to get creative with a cheese platter or make DIY sweets, these are some of our favorite edible Christmas trees.

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PETALING JAYA: A motorist in Penang attempted to stopping his car from being towed away by the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) by lying under it, Sin Chew Daily reported today.

In the incident yesterday, MPSP enforcement officers decided to tow the car after the unidentified owner refused to pay the RM50 compound to unclamp his car tyres.

According to a local trader the Chinese daily interviewed, MPSP enforcement officers clamped the man’s car tyres after the latter refused to re-park his vehicle. He had initially parked his car in a bay reserved for motorcycles.

When the man refused to fork out money for the fine, the enforcement officers called in a tow truck to remove the car. It was then that the man decided to lie under his car.

This led to the enforcement officers calling the police, who subsequently arrested the man. Seberang Perai councillor Tan Cheong Heng confirmed the incident.