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Published: April 6th 2008
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Skulls
The are simply classified by age and sex, how de-humanising Phnom Penh, it is a progressive place today with a real need to move on from its past, you can see the wealth everywhere as the tourism industry really takes off and the western influences start to come in. However it for years it was home to one of the cruelest regimes, the Khmer Rouge, which is remembered mainly for the deaths of up to 3 million people under its rule, through execution, starvation and forced labor.
I went to the killing fields to go and see first hand some of the atrocities that were committed in this country. What I was faced with was a very dusty piece of land with signs all around it telling you what happened there. Some of it was hard to imagine as there was very little clue of what had gone on here except for a few clothes littered around the ground and giant holes where they had dug up the skeletons of the past. What was very omni potent and didn't take any imagination was the skulls piled high into a memorial building fore the dead. It was harrowing to see how they had just been classified as sex and age, no
Tower of Death
Skulls fill this imposing building. Hard to believe that, that many people died here. Really sobering. longer a name, no longer a person, sad how these people are de-humanised even after death. It is especially hard for the families that are left behind because in Cambodia the body has to have a proper burial for the soul to have a safe journey to the afterlife. For these families now they are tortured to this day about the fact that their loved ones are stuck in limbo somewhere.
We also went to the Shooting Range in Phnom Penh. It seemed in bad taste to go there, but you need something to lighten up your mood. Well this certainly did the trick. I didn't shoot any guns myself, I'm a bit of cheapskate, $25 on some bullets you are going to fire in 2 seconds seems like madness. I have to say it really looked like fun and by the end of it I think that the boys really felt that it was worth the expense for the thrill. I certainly had a laugh...you know boys and their toys...
Also went to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum it was a high school that was used as the infamous S-21 Security Prison. This is where people were
G.I. Emma
I think that a gun sort of suits me, perhaps this is a good look for me. Don't think it would go down too well at home. imprisoned, anyone with connections to the former government or with foreign governments, professionals, people from other countries, ethnic Vietnamese, ethnic Chinese, Cambodian Christians, Muslims, Buddhist monks and ridiculously enough people that wore glasses (apparently if you wore glasses it meant you could read). They had photographs of some of the people killed, they were people from all walks of life, all ages, with one thing in common, a fear of death in their eyes. You can see the despair captured in that moment in every photograph, it nearly brought me to tears. Was a very hard day faced with the genuine cruelty and depravity that we are capable of. What drives people to do this, when do you lose all sense of humanity. It makes you think.
On a positive note the people of Cambodia are really making inroads to a better, happier future, all around you can see progress in motion. The influx of tourists is bolstering the economy and you can see the burgeoning wealth all around you. The people of Cambodia are warm and friendly and love nothing better than to have a joke with you.
While here I decided to go and support a
Tuc Tuc & The Gang
This was our preferred method of transport in Phnom Penh local ngo and eat in the restaurant that they run. It is called Friends and is basically a safe haven for the street kids of Phnom Penh to go and stay out of trouble and learn new skills. The street kids in Cambodia are often left by the wayside and end up on drugs, in prostitution or child labour. Here they teach them various different trades: beauty, hairdressing, car mechanics, weaving & embroidery, waitering and cooking. I was so very lucky to arrive on a day when they had decided to open their gates to the public and let people see the type of work that they do. There was also a market with beauitiful things made to raise money for the organisation. The icing on the cake was that there was a two hour traditional dance and music performance by the children. I got to see the kids so happy singing and dancing there hearts out. It was so warming and I really felt honoured to be there. Unfortunately I did not have a camera to take any photographs but the moment is engrained in my mind forever. There have been so many times on this trip where I
Escape S21
The only photo that I could bring myself to take in this sad place. have had to pinch myself to make sure it is real, I am blessed to have these experiences that I will value for the rest of my life.
So far I love Cambodia, I am looking forward to going to Angkor Wat to see a history that the Cambodian people actually cherish.
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