Cambodia Pt.1: A land of poverty, sad history, but extremely friendly people.

 

Welcome to Cambodia. A land of extreme poverty, a very sad history, and some of the nicest people you will meet. Cambodia was quite a shock to us. We have seen poverty in several countries but this was very under developed. The city of Phnom Penh was a bit more developed and had businesses and malls. The city also had a very nice promenade area for walking next to the river with many shops and restaurants that catered to tourists. However the people there were very poor and there were many beggars along the main road, primarily children. It was tough to take it all in, but at the same time the people were so happy and very eager to work. We were in the city during their slow season so many vendors and tuk tuk drivers were trying hard for our business. We visited some historic landmarks including the killing fields of Choeung Ek and the Tuol Sieng Genocide Museum. After Phnom Penh we made our way north to the stunning temples of Siem Reap.

A busy street in Phnom Penh

Three on a motorbike? Off to work.

Everyone was paired up.

Delivery man on motorbike.

Motorbike school bus!

Motorbike Monks!

This memorial was at the entrance of one of the killing fields just outside of Phnom Penh. The killing fields are fields where over a million Cambodians were killed during the late 1970s. A mass genocide took place wiping out a fourth of the Cambodian population. The Khmer Rouge killed thousands at this particular field. Now it is a memorial to those who have died throughout Cambodia during this tragic chapter in their history. The Khmer Rouge targeted anyone who was educated, had soft skin, or wore glasses. Today their population is very uneducated because of the wipeout of many scholars and educators in the late 70s.

An area were prisoners were brought in.

A mass grave where 450 victims were found in the early 1980s. 

Many bones, teeth, and even clothing surface to this day due to weather erosion of the land. Many grave sites have been left untouched to let the victims rest in peace.

Clothing of the victims at the fields.

Clothing surfacing from the ground we walked on.

Many bones found at the site.

Mass grave sites at the fields.

Inside the memorial in the beginning of the site we notice the skulls of the victims. Over 8000 victims remains are located here.

A typical room at the Genocide Museum. This place was used to torture and kill many Cambodians during the Khmer Rouge regime. 

Brick cells were prisoners were kept hostage by the regime.

A brick cell.

View from inside one of the cells.

They placed barbed wire on the window opening to prevent prisoners from jumping to their death three and four floors up.

Two Cambodians playing chess on the street.

The National Museum

The promenade along the river. 

Our view from the tuk tuk! 

 

Lok Lak with chicken. A delicious typical dish in Cambodia served with many vegetables and a side of rice. This one was served with a black pepper sauce as well.