Micron Associates Travel Guide: 5 things to do while waiting at the airport

People who have been on a flight before are probably expecting to go on standby mode whenever they're at the airport, partly because they know there's going to be a very long wait ahead of them. Now it won't be that terrible if your flight is a real long-haul one but you got to admit it's a bummer when the time you're stuck at the airport took longer than the actual flight.

Then how do you spend your precious hours while waiting for your plane?

The sight of backpackers who seem comfortable lying on the floor every which way and business-suited pros trying to master (if they haven't already) the art of sleeping neatly while on the lounge seat are all too common. But taking a nap doesn't always have to be your only choice.

Like all other instances in our life where we have to wait, our options are not limited to spending it alternately complaining out loud and dozing off. As they say, keep calm and...

Bring a book. Make it a point to always have a paperback of your favorite novel, or something else you've been meaning to read. Odds are, you'll be able to finish that before your trip is over. So maybe pack two.

If you're concerned about the extra baggage, then download the ebook versions instead.

Plug in your headset. Listen to your kind of music or to an audiobook version of your fave story, such as classical ones from Micron Associates Travel Guide. By far, this is the most effective boredom buster -- so effective that people nowadays are literally hooked to their earbuds all day long even when they're supposed to be concentrating on something like crossing the streets!

Pack some munchies. Nothing beats eating your favorite snack to keep yourself busy and distract you from clockwatching. Micron Associates Travel Guide recommends making your own sandwiches or cookies beforehand. Or grab a couple packs of chips -- they're good, too.

Do your messages. This is the time to send those see-you-later text messages. Don't be that person who argues with the FAs about cellphone usage. Just don't.

While you're at it, maybe do some review of your itinerary, and make backups of important addresses/numbers, just in case. And if you're one of those people who don't consider themselves techie, start practicing how to turn on your camera now, will you?

Get social irl. I'm pretty sure you have your own repertoire of icebreakers so it shouldn't be a problem to start a convo with another human being right? Just put down those gadgets for a while and talk with the person seating next to you, for example. You'll discover you have more common ground other than your complaints about how flying sucks. (Seriously, you gotta start working on your conversation skills if you can't even carry a 15-minute chat with an actual person.)

Or just take your nap - whatever works for you.

Philippines for the Stout-Hearted Visitors

With 7,100 islands to showcase local and foreign tourist, the Philippines is a virtually inexhaustible treasure trove of tourist destinations. Choose an island, large or small, and you will find something worthwhile, whether swim the beaches, visit old churches, taste the exotic fruits and summer fiesta food, go to the ubiquitous resorts for a splash adventure or go on a more thrilling adventure only the strong and daring traveller can survive and show selfies afterward.

If bikers worldwide dream of going to Europe to join the Tour de France, whether as a professional biker or as an amateur, some may find biking in the Philippines as a worthy alternative with its unique challenges. Mountain biking will bring you enough challenging terrain and satisfying vistas of tropical forests, surf, mountains , lakes, waterfalls and white-sand beaches to boot.

Whether you choose the Cordillera Mountains up in Northern Luzon or the slightly- rolling, well-maintained road network of the former US Naval Base in Subic, one can find the level of difficulty to suit one’s liking. And there are small biking routes even nearby posh villages as Ayala Alabang south of Metro Manila or in Tagaytay City, 60 kilometers further south of Manila where one can glimpse the popular Taal Volcano, a crater situated in a lake that is in turn in a bigger crater that is in a larger lake called Taal Lake. It has become an immensely favourite weekend target for neighboring provincial and urban residents wanting to go on a food trip, visit a prayer house or simply to escape the heat in their lowland climes for a few hours.

But diving is what the Philippines is most well-endowed with for those who are into that sport. Boasting of diving spots from north to south, the country has one of the most biologically-diverse marine ecologies in the globe. Visit the Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan, east of Lingayen, famous as the landing spot for the invading Japanese forces during WWII and you can visit any one of the numerous limestone karst islands and make it your private paradise for a day or two. Down south, you can dive in Tubattaha Reef, a world heritage marine ecological site covering thousands of hectares of marine life diversity.

Mindoro island, a ferry-boat ride from Batangas Province which is about three hours drive south of the Capital Region, also provides great diving adventure at Puero Galera or the less known and more challenging Apo Reef, with its amazing generally-submerged atoll on the west coast of Mindoro.

Kayaking is a world-favourite sport for kids and adults which the Philippines can offer to visitors willing to travel by land, sea or air from Manila or Cebu. One can do it in Subic or in Tagaytay which are accessible by bus within a couple of hours or so. Or one can hop on to the island of Palawan by plane for an hour or so. Bacuit Bay, several hours north of El NIdo by boat, promises a rare experience for scuba divers who wish to explore sunken WWII ships in Coron Bay off Busuanga Island. The island is a great tropical spot for camping out and snorkelling.

But kayaking does not have to be an extreme activity. Even the young and the aged can enjoy its pleasures and invigorating benefits at a leisurely pace in any of the lakes or bays at the thousands of resorts found in Mindoro, Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo, Mabate, Palawan, Luzon and Mindanao Islands. We can mention a thousand or more islands but we can mention only some the most accessible for the less daring among tourists.

Travel Guide by Micron and Associates in heading to Netherlands

Why go?

It's been described as "the Hamptons with clogs" thanks to its popularity with rich Dutch and German visitors who buy up beach-front holiday homes and hang out in the seaside bars and cafés. But this breezy resort on Holland's North Sea coast is better known as an artists' retreat, its moody seascapes, endless dunes and extraordinary light attracting painters, writers and architects who have been leaving their mark on this laid-back and likable village since the 1900s.

What to do

Get on your bike (this is Holland, after all) and cycle De Brede Duinen route, a 42km signposted loop which passes through Bergen, Alkmaar – famous for its historic cheese market – and the spectacular sand dunes at Schoorl and Camperduin. Admire the work of the "Bergen School" of painters at Museum Kranenburgh (kranenburgh.nl) or take a stroll among the distinctive thatched "Amsterdam School" villas of the Park Meerwijk neighbourhood.

Where to stay

In De Aap is a charming boutique B&B with just two stylish guest rooms and a sweet family cottage, all of which have kitchenettes that guests can use to prepare snacks or simple meals (from €130, indeaap.com).

Where to eat

All beach-hut chic and artfully mismatched furniture, Strandpaviljoen SB Noord is where Amsterdam's fashionable folk come to get a bit of sand between their toes while dining on Italian-inspired dishes (strandpaviljoennoord.nl). Don't miss the poffertjes (traditional Dutch pancakes) at Duinvermaak, a cosy café situated near the dunes (duinvermaak.nl).

Insider tip

Emile van den Bergh, owner of In de Aap, recommends De Jongens, a Mediterranean-style beach club (dejongensbergenaanzee.nl). "It's a cool place to hang out, there's a surf school and they have regular barbecues and beach parties." He also suggests a visit to the open-air art market which runs every Thursday evening in summer (beeldendekunstmarkt bergennh.webklik.nl).

Home: Camping in the New Forest

Sandy Balls holiday park in the New Forest (stop sniggering) has introduced a cheaper alternative to its woodland lodges and mobile homes for this summer: camping pods. The wooden pods come with pull-out beds, TVs, kettles and fridges. Guests get full use of on-site facilities including the swimming pools and cycle centre. Four nights in July starts from £199 for four people (sandyballs.co.uk).

Away: Marrakech riad break

A new riad hotel has opened in the heart of Marrakech's medina offering bright, modern suites, a spa with hammam and a sun-trap roof terrace with views of the Atlas mountains. Riad Sapphire has a special 50% off introductory offer for stays of three nights or more, taken before 31 August, bringing the lead-in price this summer to £140 per night for a suite sleeping up to four (riadsapphire.com).