Siem Reap is arguably Southeast Asia's historical epicenter.

Nowhere else in the region are so many ancient wonders seen in one place, some dating as far back as 802 A.D. Travelers make tough calls everyday on where to go and what to see among all the tempting sights and sweaty tourists in Siem Reap—as we did!

Temple tours are usually divided into four routes: the small circuit featuring all-stars Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm (best for those with only a day to spare); the big circuit; the Roluos group; and others closeby, including the Banteay Srei that I found unimpressive. We saw these in half-day intervals.

See the back of the Angkor Wat and dodge the crowds

Here are ten of my favorite temples and sights in Siem Reap:

1. PREAH KHAN

What it is: A 12th-century temple once home to King Jayavarman VII and 1,000 Buddhist monks.
Why I love it: Gorgeous marshland setting, ruins are overgrown with trees, a less-crowded version of Ta Prohm

Best time of the day to go: Anytime

Location: Big circuit

2. BAPHUON

What it is: A newly-restored state temple built by Udayadityavarman II in the 11th century to honor the Hindu god Shiva.

Why I love it: Stunning architecture, historical significance

Best time to go: Early morning, late afternoon

Note: Must cover legs and arms before entry

Location: Small circuit

3. BAYON

What it is: The 12th-century state temple of the illustrious King Jayavarman VII. Some sections are being restored as of Sept. 2013.

Why I love it: Striking exteriors, mysterious giant heads, unlike any other temple

Best time to go: Early morning, late afternoon

Location: Small circuit

4. ANGKOR WAT

What it is: The Siem Reap's crown jewel and the biggest religious monument in the world. It's both a 12th-century temple and mausoleum of King Suryavarman II.

Why I love it: Impressive size

Best time to go: Between 7-8 a.m. and 3-5 p.m.

Note: Must cover legs before entering the inner temple

Location: Small circuit

Tip: The best views are at the back where tourists don't usually go. I enjoyed watching the sunrise more than the sunset over Angkor Wat. Also, stay away from the "helpful" people inside the temple, who may just oblige you to donate $5 each.

5. NEAK PEAN

What it is: A 12th-century Buddhist temple built on an artificial island by the awesome King Jayavarman VII (I seriously love this man!). The waters around it are believed to have healing powers.

Why I love it: Charming scenery, wooden bridge, unique setting

Best time to go: Anytime

Location: Big circuit

6. TA PROHM

What it is: The Tomb Raider temple where Angelina Jolie did her acrobatics. This tourist darling was a Buddhist monastery and a university back in the 12th century.

Why I love it: Ruins overgrown with trees, not heavily restored, breathtaking when without crowds

Best time to go: After 4 p.m.

Location: Small circuit

7. BAKONG

What it is: Siem Reap's first temple-pyramid constructed in the 9th century.

Why I love it: Rarely visited by tourists, one of Siem Reap's oldest temples

Best time to go: Anytime

Location: Roluos group

8. TA KEO

What it is: A Buddhist temple that began construction in 975 A.D. and passed through the hands of three Khmer kings.

Why I love it: Exciting (i.e. deadly) climb to the top

Best time to go: Anytime

Location: Small circuit

Note: Not for the faint-hearted or the arthritic!

9. TERRACE OF THE LEPER KING

What it is: A mystery. Was there even been a leper king? No one knows for sure.

Why I love it: Intricate carvings on the walls

Best time to go: Early morning, late afternoon

Location: Small circuit

10. BANTEAY SAMRE

What it is: A Hindu temple from the early 12th century.

Why I love it: Quiet and peaceful, a smaller version of the Angkor Wat

Best time to go: Anytime

Location: Near big/small circuit

What's not to love?

A floating village, cottages on stilts, our very own plunge pool, and some peace and quiet in busy Siem Reap. For the price paid—$150 for two nights in a deluxe pool suite—I was happy overall with the accommodations, service, food and location of the Best Western Suites and Sweet Angkor.

Pros:
* Personal plunge pool
* Decor and surroundings with a local twist
* Spacious room and bath (all 68 sqm of it!)
* Free airport pick-up or drop-off
* Free tuktuk rides from the hotel to central Siem Reap from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
* Delicious free breakfast
* Unlimited bottled water

Cons:
* Location is about 20 minutes from central Siem Reap (a map will come in handy when guiding clueless tuktuk drivers)
* No other food options except those offered in the hotel
* Costlier than other lodging options in Siem Reap
* Nothing to do there at night
* Wi-Fi connection is hit-and-miss in some sections of the room

Tip:
* Check for deals on Agoda.com before booking. We got ours 50% off the published rate, including free one-hour massages for two, daily breakfast and airport drop-off.

The good

The resort is comfortable, elegant and clean. We had room 9A, and the room's 165-cm-deep plunge pool and cool interiors are a welcome break from the searing heat of the Cambodian sun.

We did not quite get the wonderful service that we got from the cheaper Reflections Art Boutique Hotel in downtown Siem Reap, but the service was prompt and hassle-free. The complimentary tuktuk ride brought us to any location we desired, and waited until we were ready to call it a night.

The resort is also surprisingly free of mosquitoes despite the swampy site.

The bad

Ants, ants everywhere!

Yes it's mosquito-free... but it's crawling with ants.

Other disappointments were the bad hotel massage and the under-cleaned plunge pool. The pool was only fresh on the first day and it got progressively filthier, until by the third day we had to compete against dead ants and decomposing leaves for swimming space.

The ugly

For two days, we used the hotel's tuktuk service to tour the temples for $20 a day—more expensive than the usual $12-$15. We were told, however, that we could use the tuktuk from morning until 10 p.m. and that we could go anywhere we chose.

That was not always the case.

The driver on the first day (name starts with an 's,' that's all I can remember!) was rude and unaccommodating. He attempted to dictate the tour itinerary and lunch venue. Unfortunately for him I had other, better ideas.

We had more luck on the second day with a new driver armed with a gentle smile and demeanor. Tip: The $20 fee is a only a bargain if you start with a sunrise tour of the Angkor Wat and end with a sweep of Pub Street  until 10 p.m.

4 OUT OF 5 STARS

All things considered, we had a great stay.

It's all about the jacuzzi. But the jacuzzi doesn't work—at least most of the time when it matters.

We booked a snazzy jacuzzi suite at the Reflections Art Boutique Hotel for two nights in September at a steal: $96. Cut-rate prices are, however, the norm in Cambodia and the thrifty traveller will find cheaper alternatives elsewhere in central Siem Reap (Map).

Pros:

* Soft, king-sized bed

* Impeccable service

* Unique decor

* Spacious room

* Free breakfast with lots of tasty options

* Free airport pick-up

Cons:

* Jacuzzi doesn't work after 8 p.m. or whenever it decides to annoy you

* Intermittent Wi-Fi connection

* No working phone in the room, so it's a walk to the reception everytime you need something

* Crumbling exterior needs a touch-up

* Far from the old market and the touristy area of Pub Street. We felt unsafe walking there at night.

* Surroundings can get noisy. We asked the staff to turn down the volume of the hotel's sound system and they kindly obliged.

Tips:

* Check for promo and early-bird rates on Agoda.com and Booking.com. We booked our room on Agoda for a fraction of the price published on the hotel website ($125).
* Try the delicious welcome drinks made of lime juice, tequila, grenadine, sugar and salt.

The good

You'd be hard-pressed to find rooms with more character and style than Reflection's. The funky little hotel's decor is kitschy, over-the-top, but earnest and entirely lovable.

Each room has a different theme. Ours was called Moody and it features graffiti on the walls and a small patio with a big jacuzzi that can fit up to eight people. We saw another room with an in-suite jacuzzi called My Secret Garden, which looked newer and more inviting.

The service was excellent and the bed comfortable. The staff always had smiles on their faces and went out of their way to make us feel welcome. Swan-shaped towels, flowers and a personal note greeted us upon arrival. Wonderful! They also lent us the hotel's brand-new bicycles for free, which we used to stroll around the temples.

The bad

The hotel is just begging for some polishing—a thorough one—which is a pity because the hotel holds so much promise. The furniture in the lobby, though cute, looks used up. In our room, the floor was filthy, the walls looked scratched and faded and so did the toilet. The bath is huge and includes a rain showerhead, but the clunky concrete floor floods after a few minutes in.

The phone doesn't work, nor does the MP3 player.

The ugly

Oh jacuzzi, how you tantalized and evaded me!

On our first night in Siem Reap, we arrived at the airport at 10 p.m., where the hotel's tuktuk driver picked us up, no problem, and delivered us at the hotel's doorstep within 30 minutes.

Excited to try the jacuzzi, we jumped in immediately, but it didn't work even after an hour's prodding by the staff. We were then moved to the My Secret Garden room but the jacuzzi in there wasn't working either. So the Moody room found us sleeping dejectedly that night.

The culprit: water problem in the neighborhood. It's not clear if this is permanent.

The next day, we left early for the temples but happily went home around 6 p.m. to a working jacuzzi. We were able to use it for about an hour and a half, after which we grabbed some eats outside the hotel. When we got back at around 9 p.m., the jacuzzi was dead again until we checked out early the next day.

3 OUT OF 5 STARS

We picked this hotel because of the in-suite jacuzzi, so imagine our disappointment when it didn't work most of the time. Still, I was impressed by the staff's attentiveness so I gave this hotel a 3. Without them, I'd give it a 2.

WG Ysabs's upcoming trip to Bangkok has finally moved me to put pen to paper, or at least put fingertip to keyboard, after months of silence in which I vowed to write a killer blog entry once every two weeks (as convenient excuses go, I've been busy!).

Bangkok has many attractions, least of all the astonishing mix of ethnicities you'll find there. It doesn't lack in age-old temples, new clubs, scrumptious street food and bargains.

Pick up a city map and don't be afraid to do some exploring on your own. I rode trains, ferries, cabs and tuk-tuks, those illustrious three-wheeled rickshaws, by myself without any trouble. I discourage getting a tour guide for touring Bangkok; maps and trains are still the cheapest way to get around.

Here are my favorite destinations in and near Bangkok:

1. Ayutthaya

Just a few hours outside of Bangkok, it's a must-see for ancient history buffs like me. Here you will find ruins of the trading kingdom of Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the morbid staple of travel magazines -- a detached head of a stone Buddha. Best stops are Wat Mahathat and Wat Yai Chaimongkol (a giant reclining Buddha set in stone).

Wat Mahathat

 

Monk ambush, Wat Arun

2. Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn

My favorite stop within the city limits. This temple will beguile you with walls of gold luster and semiprecious gems, of antique porcelain etched with every paisley and floral print imaginable. I enjoyed scaling the steep stairs to the temple's peak and writing on the prayer wall, while exchanging pleasantries with a monk who very kindly offered to pose in a photo with me (whee!). The temple complex offers endless opportunities for viewing Buddhist art. Mandatory attire: Covered legs. Entrance fee: THB50.

3. That Massage Place on Soi Kasemsan 2

On my way back from Jim Thompson's house, I passed by this massage place on Soi Kasemsan 2. Immediately, my eyes darted to the blackboard in front advertising two-hour massages for THB400 (or somewhere near that price) and I went in. After two hours of equal parts painful and delicious ministerings from the masseuse who put us both in awkward positions no two women had business being in, I was in heaven and I floated back to the hotel on a cloud.

4. The grounds of Wat Pho, Temple of the Reclining Golden Buddha

While the massive golden Buddha is itself a draw, the temple complex is a revelation. The complex is surprisingly wide with a smattering of temples, hallways, statues and turrets of tinted porcelain. If you're lucky like me, you might even catch some quiet time in a secluded spot. Entrance fee: THB100.

5. The evening stalls on Rajdamri Road

Everyday at 5pm I hung out on the porch of our hotel on Rajdamri Road, and waited for the storekeepers to appear like clockwork and start setting up their stalls and peddling their wares. I bought my undeniably red, heart-shaped rug here. An open letter to the noodle vendors on Rajdamari: When we say 'a bit spicy,' we don't mean 'let loose an arsonist inside our mouths.'

6. Damnoensaduak Floating Market, Ratchaburi

How can I avoid talking about this tourist trap. I can't. I imagined this to be an authentic piece of Thai culture, but reality came crashing down with masses of foreigners on canoes and OTT prices. If there is a floating market somewhere where locals actually come to buy -- I want to see it! A tip: don't make purchases while on a canoe because your driver gets a cut from the profit; you can always walk around later.

7. Marble Temple

A thing of beauty.

8. The Long Table

 

For nights when you want to just kick back and relax (or as we say it in Manila, chillax), the Long Table is a good option. The more laidback cousin of Vertigo & Moon Bar and Lebua Sky Bar, the Long Table offers stunning views of Bangkok with the added distinction of having the longest table in Bangkok at 25 meters long. Yup, like you'd want to hang out somewhere because they have the longest table.

9. Sukhumvit Soi 38 Food Stalls

This guy makes the best pad thai in the city

First off, Bangkok has the best streetfood in the world (or what I've seen of it so far). Come to think of it, their street food is better than their restaurant food. In Soi 38, you'll find the best passion fruit shakes and pad thai in the city.

10. Chao Phraya River Cruise

Get a glimpse of rural Thailand. The buffet lunch/dinner's not bad either. It's best do this on the way back from Ayutthaya. Go up on the deck and enjoy the view! Best done in the evening.

Runners-Up

Maeklong Train Market (missed this one, oh the horror!)

Wat Intharawihan

Mom and I at Wat Intharawihan

This temple features a standing golden Buddha, the tallest in Bangkok at 32 meters high.

Bargain hunting at Chatuchak (weekends only) and Pratunam Markets

Not a fan! There's nothing like my native Manila when it comes to shopping deals.

Lebua at State Tower Hotel 

For that Hangover 2 experience. =P

Elephant Village, Ayutthaya

Please don't support animal cruelty.

Jim Thompson's House & Museum

A.k.a. how my future house will look like. Their website: www.jimthompsonhouse.com

Bang Pa-In Palace

The King's summer palace that the King never spends his summers in, or so the tour guide says. Enjoy the scenery and the animal-shaped hedges. Mandatory attire: Covered arms and legs.

 Khao San Road

Missed seeing this! My Thai friends were leery about taking me there. I heard it's a backpacker's paradise with cheap accommodations, bars and some disreputable sections.

 And last but not the least, No-prescription Pharmacies

Buy every restricted drug without a prescription to your heart's desire!

Have other recommendations? Feel free to leave a comment.

THUNDERBIRD RESORT: LUXURY IN LA UNION

BY: Ysabs Villaflor

If you want a quick getaway to just relax and eat good food, Thunderbird Resort may just be your salvo.

LOCATION: Pora Point, La Union, Philippines

FEEL: Mediterranean/Greek-inspired, Modern.

PERSONAL: Tagged along with my folks who were there for a wedding.

RECEPTION: Spacious, airy and welcoming. First thing that greets you is the blue-painted dome and a staff that offers you a welcome drink and cold mini-towels to wipe off the heat of the sun.  It was a nice first impression.

THE ROOMS:  Junior Suite Beach View - The rooms are spacious and good for 4 people. The beds are so comfortable that it would tempt you to stay in than to stay out.  There is a kitchenette with microwave, a mini-bar, and the fastest wi-fi service imaginable.  Yes, it is tempting just to stay in and turn on the 42 inch LED and just doze off.  It is luxurious, spacious and the welcome chocolates surely made for a lasting impression.  There is a dining area out in the balcony over-looking the sea with nice woven seats for nice meals and leisurely reading.

 

   

 

THE BATHROOM:  The bathroom had a tub and separate shower area. The shower area has see-through glass doors with wooden floors and stones. Very modern. The tub however, is a Jacuzzi with turbo jets for a nice massage (and a nice playtime for the kids). It doesn’t feel cramped even when there are 5 people using the bathroom.

The toiletries available are from VMV – a hypo-allergenic brand with a loofah and scrub.

THE COST:  Is a bit pricey but is worth every penny.  A Junior Suite Beach View room  can ring up P8,000+ (US $188+) and the Master Suites can fetch up to Php 17,000+ (US$ 400+). Tip: book for a week day and get a discount of less than Php2,000 on the published rate and sometime, you might even get an upgrade! J

THE FOOD:   The buffet at breakfast is delicious with a variety of continental fare. What is remarkable though- is their Lemongrass Iced Tea, which is brewed fresh daily and the beautiful view overlooking the sea and the pool while digging in your breakfast.

One of the things that one must try is their pizzas and Greek dishes.  The pizzas are thin-crust and homemade.  Something to try while lounging in the pool or reading a book on the balcony.

  

THE SERVICE:   The service is personal and friendly. The staff is extra helpful when we had a problem with the toilet. A quick call and someone was already at the door ready to assess the problem and ask for the maintenance to fix it.

OTHER AMENITIES:   The resort has its own gold course, a casino and pool and beach area. 

this welcomes you before you take a dip in the pool

going down to the pool

this device shows you all the activities and promos Thunderbird has in store for its guests.

MY RATING: 4/5 stars :) A return trip is not far.

For more information:  http://www.thunderbirdresortsporopoint.com/ppc/index.php