Who knew you could get Pop Tarts in Cambodia?!?!
Trip Start
Nov 01, 2007
1
26
81
Trip End
Jun 28, 2008
Phnom Penh,
Cambodia
Sunday, January 6, 2008
We have been to Wat Phnom (on the only hill in the city), the National Museum, the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, and the Tuol Sleng Museum.
Its hard in my mind to compare the beauty and splendor of the Royal Palace with the attrocities of the Tuol Sleng Museum though. This morning we went to the museum, and to be honest it left me pretty rattled. While we were there, a film crew was shooting a documentary of some sort, and a Cambodian man was walking them around discussing what S-21 was like. Although only a small portion of what he was saying was being translated into English at the time, what we were able to understand was heartbreaking. At one point he stopped at a picture of a person who had been beaten in the face to the point that there was honestly nothing left of their face, and simply said to the cameraman "that is how my wife died". It was overwhelming to me, and pretty horrific to suddenly relate all the attrocities we were reading about and seeing pictures of to this humble kind looking man standing across the room from us. It was pretty hard to not leave S21 heartsick at what humans have the capability of doing.
On a slightly happier note though - we are hopping on a bus tomorrow morning and heading up to Siem Reap. YAHOO - I'm going to Angkor Wat!! (And yes mum, we'll watch out for snakes)
All our love,
K & M
Comments
Are you ready Cambodia?
We are glad to hear from you again. PEI had four snow storms during the Christmas season and your travels are keeping us warm. Entries 22 & 23 in this blog aren't working for me but the rest are. Did Malx get his taste of bat? History is not always pretty and we are lucky to live where we do even if it means shovelling a lot of snow!
Love , Momma & John
Cambodia
Just read a brief history of this area. Makes me humble at how much longer this part of the world was occupied, civilised, culuted and had art and education when people in western countries were still living in caves. Their history however is so checkered with warfare and violence, power grabbing and destruction. Invasion by outsiders is nothing new. I haven't stopped marvelling at how things have changed and peace has come and tourists are welcomed. Long may it last. Mean while I can only read your comments and admire your photos and be so in awe of your wonderful experiences! Thank you for sharing them with us. Will there be tourists again in Iraq one day?
Love and miss you both. Mum xxx
Cambodia
You are sure taking in all kinds of culture in the places that you are visiting. Sure hope you are keeping a diary of all the things you are doing and hearing although, I suppose your entries in the travel blog will serve the same purpose. Maybe after you are finished your trip, you could write a book. All we seem to do is shovel snow around here. Love Dad and Connie