Killing Fields - we should all remember how humans can cause such atrocities

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We went to S.21 which is the school where Pol Pot turned into a interrogation centre which was really spooky. It appears that they kept educated people in the prison and tortured people there and once they got a confession they then transported them to the Killing Field.

There were only 7 survivors and only 2 of these are still alive. One was signing and selling books at the front gate. It was quite eery and the guide kept on asking me if I would like to take pictures. I did not feel it was appropriate to do this.

We then went to the Killing Fields which was approximately 15kms away from S.21. Prior to it being the Killing Field it was an orchard.

Whilst there we saw the Stupa that they have built that now houses the skulls and bones of the victims that they have found whilst excavating 86 of the mass graves. There are many more graves that still need excavating. Whilst walking around you could see bones coming to the surface around the graves and it felt wrong that we were walking so near to the graves I am sure we were walking over bones.

We also saw the tree that they used to bash babies into and then they threw them in the air and caught them on their bayonets. This has not been the best of days as it brings home to you what us humans will do to each other and we should all remember this is happening right now in Syria and other parts of the world.

I decided that I would take a picture of the skulls in the Stupa from a distance as I felt that this needed to be in the blog.

To get a bit up beat we have been to a couple of markets - yes, Paula has been to markets. This is unusual as one thing I hate is shopping. If I cannot find what I want on my usual route ie through Printworks, into Selfridges, through M&S into St Annes Square and back then it does not get purchased!

We have booked, well rang up about doing a 1/2 day Cambodian cookery class tomorrow as I thought it would be different and would lighten the mood a bit. We are off by tut tut tomorrow so it should be fun haggling over the price as our hotel is a bit out of the centre and to be honest we are sitting ducks regarding the price - but PJ the haggler will have a real good go to ensure we are not totally ripped off. If you know me well, you will remember the story of when I was in Marrakech and will know that I will haggle for 1/2 hour over 5 pence - so let the games begin!

We went for a brilliant meal tonight and one of the dishes they brought out was clear chicken soup and gave us some chilli's in a little bowl, what did I do, put a few chilli's in the soup - all I can say is it blew the top of my head off and I could not taste anything for about an hour afterwards - I have to mention I did tell Mike to do the same and guess what it also blew his head off - Strange!

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