Cambodia – January 12th, 2016
Phnom Phen, it’s hard to believe that this city and country were destroyed by the Khmer Rouge regime and now it’s a bustling modern metropolis, building cranes can be seen everywhere.
This country has a very dark history during the Pot Pol regime, 1 out of 3 Cambodians were killed in the war, or executed for treason( their definition any doctors, teachers, business owners, intellectuals, students, or just the fact that you wore glasses) or starved to death.
Today visits started at the Killing Fields a farming area just 17 kilometers from the capital, where thousands of Cambodians were barbaric executed and their bodies dumped in mass graves – a monument has been erected which displays the remains found. I was very affected by this place, I just sat by the entrance and waited for David.
Next stop SP-21 a school turned into a detention hall, where prisoners were tortured and interrogated. I stayed on the bus, David toured the facility, upon his return he summarized his visit and I made the right decision.
Lunch at a local restaurant by an Asian master chef, excellent food although with heat, the humidity and a splitting headache not much of an appetite.
The afternoon schedule was more upbeat, a visit to the Royal Palace in which the king stills lives although a monarchy, the power lies with the prime minister – we visited the coronation room and the silver pagoda, whose floor is totally silver-plated architecturally the palace is very Siamese.
Cambodians woman’s for formal occasions, wears a special outfit and color depending the day of the week it falls on Sunday is always red.
The heat and humidity made walking around the palace grounds an unbearable task – our guide gave our group the option of visiting the National Museum or returning to the ship – only 4 people decided to stay behind including the two fo us.
The museum was abandoned during the Khmer Rouge and most artifacts stolen or destroyed – it reopened about 10 years ago, now it boasts a fairly good exhibit, including some items on loan from the Norton Simon – there was a bronze reclining torso of Vishnu that it’s beauty drew you across the room, definitely worth the visit.
We rode back to the ship on cyclo another form of pedal power, we are so getting used to them that it’s now almost second nature – when asked how was the museum I told our fellow travelers that the had missed the most incredulous Picasso exhibit.
Tonight we were treated to a Aspera dance performance and a barbecue on the top deck at least there is a nice breeze.
