Phnom Pehn

8.12.2004

Phnom Pehn

Cambodia's capital has a abundace of shocking history I was unaware of until my arrival here. The bus took 4 hours from Sihanoukville. We jumped on the Sunday Guest House minibus on our arrival into the city, avoiding mass-heckling. Thankfully Alison had already pre-booked our stay at the Sunday G.H.

Phnom Pehn had a strange feel about it. I was expecting Bangkok-style madness, I was greeted with only moderate mayhem. We had a reconnaissance walk around town grabbing a 'Lucky Burger' from a mall which was in the process of being demolished!

Our first cultural visit was Wat Phnom. A huge Khmer temple (Wat) in the centre of Phnom Pehn. Outside around the edge monkeys walked the land and gladly accepted nut offerings from us humble humans!

The Grand Palace

Getting to the Grand Palace without being run-over was somewhat of a miracle! The roads were nuts! Anything goes. The Grand Palace was breathtaking. A large collection of Ornate and pristine buildings; Throne Hall, Dance Pavillion and a building that Napoleon used in the French occupation years. The picture shown here is the Dance Pavillion.

The Killing Fields

This was an emotional day for all three of us. The Killing Fields are a collection of mass graves resulting from the Khmer Rouge uprising in the 70's. The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, were a brutal force who decided they wanted to control Cambodia. The site had a sullen feel about it. As we walked through the plot we passed grave after grave all signposted with the amount said to be buried here. As many as 8000 in one pit. In the centre a memorial building stood high. This buiding housed all the skulls of those who lost their lives. This building stood very tall indeed. This picture shows the skulls arranged en mass on glass shelves within the memorial.

S-21 Toul Sleng

Toul Sleng translates as "A place on a mound to keep those who bear or supply guilt". It is a school taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used for detainment and torture of all those who opposed the Knhmer Rouge Regime. It was a chilling real-life insight into a recent war. It served as a stark reminder of how sick war can be and the huan race when it choses to oppose humanity.

A Cyclo Driver

Cyclos would cruise the cty streets day and night looking to transport poeple, but anything would suffice as a customer just like this driver with his load of things.



A Monument in the centre of Phnom Pehn.