I arrived in Phnom Penh Saturday night via plane from Saigon. I only gave myself one full day (Sunday) in Phnom Penh which is all you really need. My first stop of the day was the Killing Fields. It is about 12km out of town and an eventful tuk tuk ride. This is obviously a really sad place. The killing fields were used by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime to terrorize the Cambodian people from 1975-1978. Approximately 17,000 Cambodians were killed here and buried in over 129 mass graves. My next stop was the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or better known as S-21. A former school, this facility was used for the systematic torture and interrogation of the Cambodians before they were sent to the killing fields. During 1977, S-21 claimed a terrifying 100 victims per day. The buildings are full of cells and torture instruments and pictures of the various residents - men, women and very young children. Very similar feel to concentration camps. After a rather morbid morning, I visited the Russian Market and then off to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. 
1 comment:
Your photos are fabulous. But the best is your commentary. As Americans we are all woefully ignorant of Asian history, and you are educating us as well as yourself. Thanks for blogging your trip. I've learned much. Kisses and hugs to you when you have the mud washed off.
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