Journey with Christina

Most people we met traveling did not like Phnom Penh. Taking that into consideration as well as the fact that it was going to be our most difficult sightseeing we decided to set ourselves up with a nice place to stay. The abundance of gorgeous cheap hotels was surprising.

We had two main reasons for our visit. The first was to get our Vietnam Visas and the second was to learn more about the Khmer Rouge and their reign over Cambodia between 1975 – 1978. The party, under its leader Pol Pot had a deranged idea of creating a utopia of farmers. The entire population was forcibly moved to the countryside to begin a new life as peasants, working the land. Pol Pot, who was an educated man, order the mass genocide of intellectuals (which could be someone who had the misfortune of wearing glasses), teachers, writers, educated people and their families.

Those that were lucky enough to survive the genocide began dying from overwork, malnutrition and disease, living on a diet of one tin of rice per person every two days. In 4 short years one third of the population had perished in the genocide. Even after the Vietnamese liberated Cambodia, Pol Pot and his regime terrorized the country until 1998 when he died. It is a clear indicator of the destruction that one small-minded man living in fear can cause.

Our day started with a visit to Choeung Ek, better known as the Killing Fields. The bodies of some 9,000 people were discovered here in 86 mass graves. An additional 43 graves have not been touched. Most suffered greatly, including women and children, before their deaths being beaten by everyday objects in order to save bullets. Although this is the most famous of the killing fields, it is only one of the many that can be found all over Cambodia.

Disturbing images of the Killing Fields.

Our next stop was the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) where the Khmer Rouge imprisoned and tortured thousands of victims. Its particularly disturbing walking around the prison knowing that at one point this was a happy place as an elementary school and innocent items such as a swing set were used to torture victims.

The elementary school used as a prison.

My verdict on Phnom Penh? Where others may see a chaotic, grimy city, I see a city filled with hope and warm-friendly people with a joy for life.

Where we stayed, House Boutique Eco Hotel, we had large, beautiful, room with air con and a bathroom for about $30 a night including breakfast. The property had a restaurant that served delicious food surrounding a tropical little pool.

Me relaxing at the hotel pool.