Today was just a chilled out one, taking a bus back to Phnom Penh to catch the Khmer New Year, arriving in the evening and checking ourselves into a hotel next to the Mekong river, and having a couple of beers at the local bars, and treating ourselves to a proper dinner.
Later in the night, while we were still drinking our beers at the bar, we heard loud music happening next to the river, and being curious, we went and checked it out. It was this big group of local youngsters, having themselves a new year's eve party, blaring some cambodian pop music and dancing away. We decided to join in the fun and danced along, when some local girls pulled us into the crowd and tried to show me their local moves!! A little scary at first because you weren't sure what their intentions are (not being really able to understand each other, so broken english here and there accompanied with some sign language...), but ended up being Really fun. These people were not shy at all and were really friendly!! Totally enjoyed myself. There were also a few stalls there with carnival games like shooting darts and throwing balls into a basket, etc.
Day 11 ~ 15th April 2007
Choeung Ek Memorial - The Killing Fields
About 25mins by tuk tuk from Phnom Penh, this was a memorial built to commemorate the countless innocent Cambodian civilians mindlessly killed, just like the Hitler regime. Between 1m to 2.5m Cambodians (many more unaccounted for) perished in this genocidal exercise in many killing fields around the country, which served as ad hoc places of execution and burial grounds for dead bodies.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
Prior to 1975, Tuol Sleng was a high school, which was converted into an interrogation facility and prison by the Khmer Rouge. Inmates were tortured to extract 'confessions', and then brought to Choeung Ek for execution.
Mass chaining device
Hanging pole in the courtyard
Classroom corridors fenced to serve as a prison
After these depressing visits, we went to the National Museum since there was nothing much else to do - just more artefacts from temple ruins and some history lessons on Cambodia.
Guess what this is?? Mini Petrol pump!!Since it was our last night in Cambodia, we just strolled along the river after dinner and chilled out. I had actually brought with me some stationery - some coloured pencils, crayons, pencils notebooks and bags of lollies, thinking that I could give them away if I come across any beggar kids during my temple visits, but had however forgotten to bring them with me most of the time, so my mission tonight was to give it all away. Got ourselves a few beers, and sat down again in the grass area in front of the Royal Palace, this time waiting for any random kid to pass us by. First there was one, then he came back with a brother and sister. Then before you know it, they came back with all their friends in the area!!! All my goodies were snapped up, and you know, this was one of the nest highlights of this trip. Seeing the kids light up with their new pencils and notebooks, and their gratitude, was the most rewarding thing. It was totally humbling, and the best part was when we asked them for a photo, they all jumped on me without hesitation and posed for the camera.
The bestest ever holiday I have ever had!!! And will most definitely make another trip back in future...
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