Phnom Penh - the capital of Cambodia

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Yesterday we travelled over 300km by road from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. We left at about 9.30am and arrived in the capital at about 3.30 after one enforced stop as our car broke down (which had to be replaced) and a couple of rest stops along the way. The countryside along the way was very flat and fertile with many paddy fields abutting the highway. The road was busy with a mixture of mopeds, cycles, cars trucks and coaches and the horn is a vital part of the motorist equipment being used by our driver every 2 to 3 minutes.

Today has ben a day out in Phnom Penh exploring the city and with it has come mixed emotions. The morning started with us admiring the splendour of the Royal Palace and the adjoining temple with its lavish floor of silver floor tiles and emerald Buddha.This was followed by an hour browsing the National Museum. That was all very jolly but was followed by the grim reality of the dreadful deeds inflicted on the citizens of this country by the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime between 1975 and 1979. We visited the sombre Tuol Sleng museum which was a school turned into a torture centre and prison. After the prisoners had completed their torture then were then transported 15km outside of the city to the Killing Fields where they were clubbed to death and buried in mass graves.

At the Killing Fields they have erected a large memorial building which not only acts as a reminder of the suffering of many but also contains the skulls of thousands of victims. It is estimated that over 3 million were killed by the Khmer Rouge regime before it was deposed in 1979.

A sobering experience.

Tomorrow we travel down the Mekong River by boat and cross the border into Vietnam.

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Photos

National Museum
Full of artefacts from the Angkor period

The Royal Palace
The Royal Palace home to the King but partially open to the public

Temple of the Emerald Buddha
Built whilst the country was under French occupation

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
One of the prison blocks where the prisoners were tortured

The Killing Fields
Remains of mass burial site

An sobering reminder
The Memorial erected in memory of the horrific times contains the skulls of thousands of victims

Deep fried crickets for sale
A suggested snack for lunch on our journey to the capital

Comments

[Jayne Adams]

Both interesting and horrible this part of your sightseeing trip. The chicken doesn't look very nice to say the least! Did you try it?!! Lots of love Jayne xxxxx

[margaret]

I found the experience of the high school and the killing fields one which never leaves you.. man's in -humanity to man ever , completely incomprehensibel. its a strong trip this one you are doing.... alot of thought provoking stuff.!!