Phnom Penh

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27th - 30th April

We travelled to Phnom Penh (for the 2nd time) and stayed in OKAY guest house, it was OK. Phnom Penh is quite a cool city, there's lots of poverty and dirt around but the atmosphere is pretty cool and the people are really friendly and welcoming.
This time we stayed Riverside, which is a bit more happening, we ended up spending the first evening drinking in an Irish bar chating to some Essex bloke.

The next day we visited Toul Sleng museum of Genocide, in the years of the Khmer Rouge this innocent school became known as S21 prison and was one on the main sites were prisoners were detained and tortured, for example anyone that was deemed a member of the ex-government or a traitor to the regime. Each prisoner was photographed and evidence of tragedies were on display, including instruments of torture, stories of individuals and wall after wall of disturbing portraits of victims, including women and children, who were all later taking to the Killing fields of Cheung Ek for execution. Although the experience was very depressing I think it's important to understand the tragic history of the country, witnessing the darker side of humanity at it's worst and why such crimes should never be repeated.

The next day (29th) we visited the Killing Fields of Cheung Ek, over 9000 people were taken here from S21 for execution, many who were clubbed to death to save on precious bullets. Today it is a peaceful place where the skulls of the dead are placed in a glass memorial tomb and a ceremony is held here every year on liberation day to remember the victims.

On a happier note later that day we celebrated Greg's birthday at the Elephant bar in Raffles Hotel Le Royal, this famous hotel is featured in the film the Killing Field, in the past this was a glamest bar in town where journalists hung out drinking. I'd still agree that this is the fanciest bar in the city, afterwards we went for Pepper Crab and many beers in "Huxley's - Brave New World" a pub owned by the Grandson of the guy who wrote the book with the same title.

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Comments

[JOHN EDWARDS]

PHNOM PENH
VERY MOVING COMMENTS ABOUT THAT TERRIBLE TIME IN CAMBODIA - IT SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE THAT HUMAN BEINGS CAN BE SO DREADFUL TO EACH OTHER. GLAD GREG HAD A GOOD BIRTHDAY - KEEP THE WRITING COMING - PICTURES ARE GREAT - TAKE CARE......MUM N DAD