Phnomn Penn

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Wed 7th March
Well, to be honest we didn't really do a lot today. We walked around a bit, changed some money, saw central/new market, went to the British Embassy to sort out Leanne's lost phone (they wouldn't let us in!) and that was about it. Oh, we did watch V for Vendetta at the hotel on DVD. It was a bit weird, not really having seen TV for 2 months now.


Thu 8th March
Today we hired a Moto each - This is meant going on the back of a motorbike at stupid speeds, going the wrong way down one-way streets, up pavements and all without a helmut -Oh, and Leanne's driver was about 14. They drivers took us to see Choeng Ek and Toel Slong.

Choeng Ek is known as the killing fields, it has a stupawith 30 levels of human bones found and excavated there. There are mass graves, and information signs, quite a harrowing place. Lots ofkids hang around the compound fences begging for things like candy and pens so they can go to school. It was quite sad.
Toel Slong is the notorious S-21 prison (once a school), that houses the museum for most of the horrers of Pol Pot's regime. The cells still have all the original torture devices in them, there are photographs of all the victims before entering and of the dead. The torture cells still have the original blood stains on the floor, on the walls, it was quite horrific.
Later we drank a bit, Smirnoff is about 3 quid for a 75cl bottle here, bargain. Unfortunatly the lack of food, and lack of alcohol recently got the better of Leanne and she spent most the night with her head in a bucket.


Fri 9th March
Late start, went to the Police station to try and get this Crime refernce number for Leanne's phone, so that the insurance can do their bit. The police wanted $20, so we said "No." and walked away. Then we went to the market and did some retail therapy. Leanne bought a bag, which will hopefully last longer than one day (Note - Matt has a carrier Bag from Hong Kong that still works fine) and 2 Vests, Matt bought 2 T-shirts, A vest and a present for his Mum's birthday.

Later we went to Wat Phnomm, another temple. The park surrounding it has monkeys running around wild and visitors feed them.


Sat 10th March
Today we booked our bus ticket fro tommorow morning - which will get us to Sihanoukville, which has beaches. After that changed some more money, which is getting a bit silly really. We have Thai Baht which we change into US dollars. The official currency is Cambodian Riel, but shops us a mixture of Dollar and Riel so you have to pay in a mixture and get change in a mixture. There are about 4000 Riel to the Dollar, and 35 to the Baht.
After that we sent postcards and went walkabout. On our travels we saw the monument, the royal palace and silver pagoda, and the riverfront.

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Photos

Leanne see's dead people.
The Stupa at Choeng Ek with 30 levels of human bones.

Kids begging.
Luckily the electric fence kept them from attacking us. If it was in Laos we would have been eaten alive.

Monkey at Wat Phnomn
This ones a baby.

Wat Phnomn
Quite impressive as far as Wat's go.

Comments

[mum]

out of the woods
you seem to have recovered from the mishaps of your last stop. good. ankhor wat must be fascinating - at least it is to me never having visited. a good relax would be good for you about now.