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Published: August 20th 2008
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Hello again readers
Yet another country to add to the list, Plus we made it through our first land border crossing.!
Nic - We left Chau Doc in Vietnam via slow boat, up the mighty Mekong River (which originates in Tibet) past some lovely looking villages made up of a combination of floating houses and those built on stilts - we couldn't help wishing that these beautiful places had been a bit more accessible to us. Stopping half way at the border, we received our new visas and hopped onto our new boat - hmmmm, surely not meant for 15+ people and their luggage, and at times quite hair-raising as the motor struggled against the speedy and ever-so choppy water.....it's no wonder we made it to Phnom Penh 3hours late!
Dan - Personally I was a little nervous arriving in Phnom Penh so late as I have heard and been warned by other travelers for that matter that it's not the safest city in the world. Cambodia as a country is littered with guns and night time robberies & highjackings are not uncommon, So we are on our guard a bit and make sure we are aware of
our surroundings so please don't worry!!!.
Our first day here we spent at S21 - the School converted into a prison and torture house by the Khmer Rouge 1975-1979. Maybe if your old enough you may remember hearing about this regime and the horror they inflicted on their own people, I'll let Nic give you the history lesson. We ended the day with a mad rush to the Laos embassy (as Phnom Penh is the only place in Cambodia you can apply) to get our visa's for when we head there in a few weeks time. For those of you who are doing the same route the Visa now cost $40 not $30 as we were led to believe plus you need 3 not 2 photo's. Although a smile and a sorry let us get it with only 2 photo's.
Nic - S21 was originally built as a school and was taken over by the Khmer Rouge, when they came to power, as a "Security centre" - a place for "re-education". Initially only people in connection with the previous government and those who were classed as intelligent were captured and taken here...it then gained momentum and anyone with
any education, people who spoke other languages and even people who wore glasses were targeted.....and then their relations, children and so forth, until a whole genocide programme was underway to cleanse the country of all well to do people. They wanted the country to consist of 2 classes, the working class and peasants. Education, religion, family values, trust and even money was abolished. All this and only around 30 years ago.
The school consists of several blocks each of which was converted into different areas. Some of the floors were bricked up to create individual cells just big enough for 1 person, other rooms were left for mass prisoners, all joined together onto one iron bar, and some rooms were used for torture. All left in it's original state - a very sad and emotional place, but one you feel you must visit in order to learn about the sordid history of this country. There's so much more I could tell you about this regime but it would take far too much time and some of the details are so horrific it's not suitable for here.
Dan - Next day we visited the 'Killing Fields', the place where
the prisoners from S21 were brought and executed. It contains about 105 mass graves where thousands of people were killed, bone and clothes still litter the area, trees in which children were beaten against are signposted (very eery). Around half the graves have been excavated and the bones lay in a monument for all to see. It's one of those places where you need to crouch down by a grave and try to imagine how it was... hundreds of people lined up, hit over the head into the ditch then having their throats cut. Hearing the sounds of children playing in a school nearby makes it all the more chilling.
Nic - On exploring the city further we were amazed to come across the royal palace, which in comparison to the things we've detailed above is a complete world away.....magnificent and glitzy with typical ancient Khmer styling, huge and colourful, you wouldn't think that these things could all be found within such a small area - A true testament to a nation of strong and courageous people.
Off now to Kampot so more from there later........
Us
xxx
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Sarah
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Hiya
Hiya you two, just a quick message to let you know everyone is fine, Charlie is crawling and pulling himself up onto things- next time you see him he will be running around!! I showed Ella the picture titled 'early start' and said who is that, she didnt recognise you at first and when i said Uncle Dan - she said "mummy why is his hair so big" hahaha Anyway speak to you both soon Sarah xxx