TIRED of visiting the same places in Asia? Tired of the beach? We have lots of beaches in Davao. Tired of seeing buildings and going to malls? We have those in Davao. Want something different, something exotic? I recommend Siem Reap.

Where is Siem Reap? I've heard of the place before. I know it exists, but honestly, I did not really care much about where it was, until.... I heard that Tomb Raider was going to be filmed there. To those who are not familiar with Tomb Raider, it is a computer game that was made into a movie in 2002 starring Angelina Jolie.

Siem Reap, which means "Defeat of Siam (Thailand)," is in Cambodia. Cambodia's capital is Phnom Penh. Although Phnom Penh is the largest city in the country and has the biggest population, most of the tourists visit Siem Reap.

Places to visit. A must-see is Angkor Wat which means "City Temple". Angkor Wat is "one of the largest monuments to religion ever built," and is considered to be one of the wonders of the world. If you are daring and have good knees, climb up to the top of the temple. A friendly warning -- it is easier to climb, than to go back down. If you fall, you die. It is very steep. That is why there is a pole that you hold on to when you go down. Fear of heights? Do not climb!

Another place to visit is Angkor Thom. There, you will see The Bayon Temple, The Baphuon, and The Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of The Leper King.

Ta Prohm Temple. This temple was used to film Tomb Raider. Yep. Angelina Jolie spent time here climbing and jumping over ruins. The tour guide will even show you the exact place where they filmed it. It is a temple in the jungle and giant roots cover parts of the temple. Amazing!

Sunset at Bakheng Hill. One of the most beautiful sunsets you'll ever see is at Bakheng Hill. It is quite challenging to get there though. It is a hill, which means, you need to climb it. And then, more climbing to get to the top of the temple. And when you're at the top, it will be filled with tourists, so you have to find an empty spot to sit and wait for the sunset. What should you wear? Ummm... long gown and 4-inch heels. Bring a drink and a small towel.

There are other temples to visit in Siem Reap; however, after two or three full days of seeing temples, I am sure you will get tired of it. So what else is there to see?

The Floating Village. You get there by car, and then ride a boat through the narrow river. You will see houses on stilts, and you will even see a school on stilts. The river will end up in Tonle Sap Lake. You will see floating houses, markets, restaurants and a floating church.

Hotels. Depending on your budget, there are many hotels to choose from. If you want luxury, stay at Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor. Try their traditional high tea. But please, dress appropriately. Another very interesting hotel in Siem Reap is Amansara. Amansara is a sister hotel of Amanpulo. It is cheap. Only 900+ US dollars a night. OMG. One night in Amansara is almost equivalent to two promo tickets of Northwest Airlines to the US! FYI, Brad and Angelina stay there when they are in town. I was lucky enough to visit the place, and, as an added bonus, I was able to enter the room that they rented.

Night Life. Visit Pub Street. You will find lots of restaurants, cafes, and bars there. You will also find bookstores, massage parlors and souvenir shops. The famous bar, which I made sure I visit is The Red Piano. Why --because Angelina Jolie told me so. Ha! It was Angelina Jolie's hangout while filming her movie. Their most famous cocktail drink is the Tombraider Cocktail, made famous by... me. Hehe. Duh, Who else? It is a mixture of Cointreau, lime juice and tonic.

Shopping. Go to Phsar Chas, known as The Old Market. You can buy souvenirs and traditional items there. And, you can also find overruns of branded clothes at the market.

Will I go back to Siem Reap? Yes I will.