We got the ferry from Phu Quoc to Ha Tien which is the boarder town to Cambodia then got a minibus to the boarder which they overloaded with three extra people. After an hour an a half of trying to get our visa's we eventually got through the boarder. We were under the impression that we were getting a big bus from the boarder to Phnom Penh but we went all the way in the overloaded minibus. Mel had a Vietnamese man who kept falling asleep on her shoulder and was getting rather irate with him but luckily it was only for 4hrs and kept me rather amused. On the way we passed a people carrier crammed with people then a load more on the roof!
So it could have been worse. We were staying at The Mad Monkey hostel which was ran by three English lads not much older than me and was a great place to stay, the food was awesome even though we did cheat and have a Burrito!
The next day we grabbed a Tuk Tuk and went to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. It was quite a distressing day this is the place where the Khmer Rouge under the leadership of Pol Pot brought all the 'threats' to the pure race to be killed. The 'threats' being anyone who was educated such as teachers, layers or anyone with a high profession. It wasn't just them he killed it was their whole family as well, they would be arrested and tortured then taken to Choeung Ek to be bludgeoned to death as bullets were to expensive to waste. Between 1975 and 1978 around 17,000 men, women, children and infants were murdered. As you walk round the site you can see bits of bones, teeth and rags of clothes strewn across the grass,
there is a Memorial Stupa which houses over 8000 skulls
arranged by sex and age which have been exhumed from some of the mass graves.
The worst part is the 'Killing Tree' this is where the executioners would kill babies in front of their mothers by picking them up by their feet and smashing their head against the tree! Before throwing them in a pit, then they would rape and beat the mothers to death.....
They have made the fields into a very peaceful place now and there are hundreds of dragonflies flying around, its as if they are the reincarnation of all the people that died there.
On the way back to the hotel we were offered to go to a shooting range where we could shoot machine guns and stuff again only this time we could pay to shoot a chicken or even a grenade launcher at a cow! We didn't go though as they wanted $40 for 30 bullets. We have since found out that if your willing to pay enough you can even shoot a person!
That night we went out for some real Cambodia food up by the river and sore a mass outdoor exercise dance routine performed by loads of Cambodians. While having dinner there were loads of young children running round, some as young as three trying to sell us books and bracelets. We only offered them food though as all the money they get goes straight to the gangs that make them go out and work the streets. The next port of call is Siem Reap which I'm sure will involve another crazy bus journey.
An eye opener
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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