Capitol of Cambodia

Oh just a day in the life. I'm sure he's thinking "Don't mind me and the ox!"
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I've heard horror stories about crossing the border from Vietnam to Cambodia. But it must be said...it was a cinch! Our ticket for the 7 hour bus ride was only $10. It was nice to take a day bus for a change. I love to be able to drive through the countryside observing the locals below. But with that there is a downside. There were moments when I just felt sad. I'd see little kids barefoot or naked walking along the dusty road. Some of them working. Men and women out in the fields. All in the blazing sun no less. I mean these people are the true image of the working family. Effort and responsibility from eachother to support the family unit. Here i am on an airconditioned bus just peering out, while they toil away. It seems so wrong.

A country home.
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Well, my mood didn't change much because we spent quite a bit of time educating ourselves about the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge Regime from 1975-1978. Our first visit was the S-21 prison, once a secondary school. It was here that people were tortured and imprisoned for being against the ''Angker." Most of the victims were educated people from the city and those who supported the previous regime. Thus doctors, students, teachers, anybody who spoke foreign languages, and even those who wore glasses were killed. These people were a threat. Only uneducated peasant farmers were considered 'untainted' from the Western world and were therefore saved. We just walked from cell to cell. There were also photographs of the men, women, and children who once suffered within the hellish confines. Afterwards we went to the killing fields. This was about 14 km from town. It was here that prisoners were taken from S-21 to be executed. 20,000 were buried here in mass graves! There was still scrap clothing mixed in the dirt. 11,000 bodies are still unearthed in the lake. When the water gets low during the dry season is when they dig!

Almost one quarter of the population killed in 3 years!

Karaoke booth!! Oh come on..you know thats awesome!
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Pol Pot (leader) and his regime were responsible for the deaths of millions. Almost one quarter of the population killed in 3 years!!! Rach and I both read, "First they killed my father: a daughter of cambodia remembers." Its an unbelievable story of struggle, heartache, and the spirit to carry on. People were rarely shot because that was wasting ammunition. Without going into detail, lets just say they sufferred horribly. Many buried alive or fed to crocodiles. Disease and starvation were huge killers. Just imagine, everyone in this country over the age of 29 lived through the terrible time. Kids forced to join armies and even kill their own families!! Its almost incomprehensible.

View from our balcony.
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I must admit that i wanted to go to the shooting range to shoot an AK 47 and what not before arriving to Cambodia, but after this...my mind was changed. I didn't even want to look at the weapons left over from the war let alone touch them. The most remarkable part of it all is that many did and still do see America as this land of dreams. In the books we've read, these people who suffer talk about going to America. It makes me think about the rampant rage against immigration in our country. They'd rather work long days seven days a week in our country and survive then to do the same in their own and barely get by. Can you blame them?

The rush of the city.
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On a brighter note, the city is actually lovely. Granted its roads are underdeveloped, but its liveliness is inspiring. There are three huge markets that are worthy of perusal. Rach and I found a karaoke booth that only played Cambodian songs, but we were intrigued anyways.  You can visit the Royal Palace and the national museum (full of ancient art and what not). But, it is rumored that the city is dangerous after dark. Some have claimed to have been robbed at gunpoint. Just to be safe, Rach and I made sure to be back in our room by sunset. In the event that we were out, we were usually within close proximity of our guesthouse in well lit areas. (Don't worry ma!).