Cambodia

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We travelled to Cambodia via a rather bumpy 9 hour bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City. The bus dropped us off in the capital city Phnom Penh. We stayed in a guesthouse over looking the lake, surrounded by other similar places with many travellers and backpackers. There was a very friendly chilled out vibe around the place and best of all the sun was shinning. We spent one of the days exploring all around the city. We ignored all of the many many offers for "tuk tuk" or "moto" and decided to navigate our own way around using our legs! First we went to the Royal Palace, this was a stunning building set in beautiful gardens. We then wondered along the river watching the locals go about their business before visiting Toul Sleng or S-21 prison. This was a secondary school that was taken over as a prison by the Khmer Rouge. During the Khmer Rouge reign from 1975-1979, this was used as a place of torture and extermination of the estimated 20,000 prisoners only 12 people survived. We wondered around the school and saw how classrooms had been converted into prison cells and torture chambers. It was a strange and eerie place that on one hand still resembled a school and you could imagine a time when it was filled with young people learning and having fun and then the horrific contrast of what it then became. Everything has been left as it was even the blood stains on the floor. It was shocking to see all the photos of those who died especially the young children and babies. We were able to read first hand accounts from those few who lived through this time and witnessed these horrific events.

In the few years that Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge ruled an estimated one third of the population died. We both felt so sad as we walked around this museum that we decided not to go to the "Killing Fields." These are the fields where most of the mass genocide took place and fellow travellers reported walking over on the fields and actually stepping on the bones of those who died there before seeing a shocking mountain of skulls piled high.

The next part of our trip took us further north to Siam Reap and Angkor Wat. This was a chance to wonder in awe at an amazing array of ruined temples from the ancient Khmers. They are set in a national park and reflect an ancient lost empire. Through out the day I felt as though I was walking thought the set of an Indiana Jones movie! However none of the statues actually moved and I didn't have to run away from a rolling rock and make a frantic last minute grab for my hat!

Cambodia is an interesting place to visit the people have suffered years and years of troubles and this is reflected in the number of people begging on the streets. Many of these people have amputated limbs and severe burns from the land mines that are still buried throughout the country. However despite all that has happened to them each person we met was extremely friendly and welcoming and looking forward to a better future.

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Photos

Cambodia
Sunset from our balcony

Cambodia
The Royal Palace

Cambodia
The Royal Palace

Cambodia
S-21 prison

Cambodia
Angkor Wat

Cambodia
Angkor Wat

Cambodia
Angkor Wat

Cambodia
Angkor Wat