Day 7 & 8- Capital of Cambodia - Phnom Penh

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We were on the bus at 7am to take us to the bus terminal where the bus went to Phnom Penh at 7:45am. It was scheduled to be a 4 hour bus ride so Pete went to the corner market to get some coffee and breakfast, he came back with coffee, oj and 2 bags of M&Ms. In Cambodia they don't have muffins like they do in China so we ate M&Ms for breakfast-NOT GOOD.

Actually we have been eating not so healthy since we have been in China and surprised my clothes still fit but they do. Little exercise due to heat, McDonald's and KFC for comfort food don't equal a healthy lifestyle, but now the weather is cool so hopefully I can start to walk or jog for some exercise. Back to our vacation...

The bus left on time and we arrived in Phnom Penh at noon. We got to see the country side on this trip since we slept on the way there on the overnight bus and it was dark. Lots of trash and gas is sold along the side of the road in Pepsi bottles-STRANGE. They also have gas stations but just in case you run out you can get a quick fill up. LOTS of motorcycles in Cambodia as Phnom Penh had the CRAZIEST traffic I have EVER seen in my life with all the motorcycles.

We were swarmed again by tuk tuk drivers when we got off the bus in Phnom Penh but our hostel was sending a tuk tuk driver to pick us up so no need for one this time. We waited in the bus terminal office until the hostel arrived 15 minutes later since the tuk tuk drivers were so ruthless.

We stayed at Me Mates Place for $20/night, which was modern and had an ACTUAL shower enclosure. Very exciting since most places in Asia just have the shower in the bathroom with a drain no enclosure. The food was great also at Me Mates Place.

We were not impressed with Phnom Penh and wanted to leave shortly after we arrived and were grateful that we took the 2 nights on the beach and 1 night in Phnom Penh instead of 3 nights in Phnom Penh. I seriously don't know what we would have done for that long in Phnom Penh.

We ate some lunch and paid the tuk tuk driver $10 to take us to S-21 the Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields for the day these were are only Must Do' in the city. It was 1pm by the time we left the hostel and were told we needed half a day to do both of these attractions.

This was the most moving thing in an emotional way of an event that I had never even heard about until researching Cambodia. For those of you who are unaware Cambodia had a genocide in 1975-1979 where 1/4 of the population, estimated 2 million people died by killings, starvation or disease. Google Pol Pot Khmer Rouge and I am sure you can learn more.

Tuol Sleng aka S21 was a high school that was turned into a prison/torture chamber by the regime and the Killing Fields are all over Cambodia, 380+ of them. We visited one 13km south of Phnom Penh where the victims were taken after S21 to be killed. We had a guide at the killing fields that told us so much information. Please see the pictures in this blog for more on these. It was MOVING.

After returning to the hostel we took showers, the temperature was 36 degrees celsius=about 98 degrees Farenheit in Phnom Penh. We knew it was hot and I was sweating a lot and that explained it all once we found out the temperature for the day. We walked around the hotel area to find some dinner but didn't find anything that we didn't think we would get sick from so we ate at the hostel, read our books and went to bed early. The TV had LOTS of English channel such as CNBC, CNN, BBC etc so we were excited about that. The simple things you all take for granted in the USA, English TV.

It was our last day and our flight left Phnom Penh at 3:40 to Bangkok then we had another flight to Shenzhen at 6:40 from Bangkok.

We decided to go to the Russian Market to check it out since we had all morning to kill. We negotiated with the tuk tuk driver to take us there for $2. Pete has been wanting a big rack pack since we have arrived in China since suitcases don't roll easily in Asia (too many bumpy or non paved roads). Cambodia makes LOTS of clothing and backpacks. Check your clothes to see what is made in Cambodia and you will be suprised. Pete bought fake Columbia, Burberry, La Coste clothes and a Deuter(European backpack)$21 . There was plenty of Old Navy, H&M, Abercrombie and North Face available also but I didn't feel like inspecting everything since it was fake, stolen from the factory or the size of Asian women small.

Quick Fact-The market was featured on Amazing Race this season when they had to find a person in a stall with a matching scarf.

On our way back to the hostel we didn't feel like touring the Royal Palace or Silver Pagoda but we had our tuk tuk driver drive past so we could say we saw it. We rested and ate lunch at the hostel before leaving for the airport around 1pm.

Our trip to Cambodia was great but don't waste much time in Phnom Penh if you ever want to visit.

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Photos

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum-S21
bodies of 14 victims-13 men and 1 woman were discovered on Jan 7, 1979 when the regime was over

S21
one of 4 buildings at the school

barbed wire on building
so the prisoners couldn't jump to commit suicide, barbed wire kept them from escaping

brick cells
some large classrooms were turned into very small cells

faces of the victims
each person was documented once they entered S21 imprisonment lasted 2-4 months and for political members is was 6-7 months of torture and interrogation

Choeung Ek Genocidal Center-Killing Fields
entrance to killing fields

discovered over 9000 skulls
when the mass graves were excavated

tree that children were beaten to death
skulls smashed against the tree

Gasoline along the road for sale
in Pepsi glass bottles

Comments

[paulette]

Killing Fields
When you can rent a movie - rent "The Killing Fields" - very powerful.

[clare]

Fascinating!
This was amazing and so much information---love the pictures-as you wrote in your blog they are very emotionally charged. I do remember all this as I lived thru these times. Seeing where this all took place is sobbering. I am enjoying your blog very much and love the videos too. You are both having quite the adventure this year! Take care, Clare (mom of Martin who teaches in your program)