Cambodia's heartwarming capital: Pnom Penh

After enjoying wonderful Siem Reap,  we decided to travel to Cambodia's capital and that is Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh is a laid back city which is somehow similar to Siem Reap but with an urban touch. 

Toul Sleng Genocide Museum

Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, was once known as the Pearl of Asia before the country spun into turmoil with the mass killings by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. Over the last few decades, Phnom Penh has grown into an economic center, sprawled with high rises, hotels, historical architecture, modern malls, and an incredible food culture.

From Siem Reap, you can travel through bus or van. Several ticketing office are available in the area in Siem Reap or you may try to book online at a fee for your convenience.  We opted to travel by Van and it will take you 7 hours travel time to reach the capital.

The next morning, we rented a tuk-tuk for $20 to take us to the interesting tour offered here which will give you insights of the trouble past that plague this country and one of the worlds worst nightmares in the recent memory -  "The Toul Sleng Genocide Museum" and "The Killing Fields".

Early morning, we went to the museum first since its near around the center. This visit goes hand in hand with the Choeung Ek genocidal center outside of town. Visit this prison first and continue on to Cheoung Ek. This way you can follow the path of many innocent Cambodians - first they were thrown into jail and accused of being spies. They were tortured until they confessed and then they were shipped off to be murdered for their confessions.

Looking at these photos makes you wonder what have they to deserve cruelty.

I have never felt quite so moved. When you enter the grounds of this place you become aware that there are no birds singing. It has a feel of a very unpleasant almost evil place. All inmates were photographed and you can see the fear on their faces. It may just be the one place in the world that you cannot forget.

Galleries of prisoners  

After an hour, we moved to Choeung Ek Genocidal Center or better known as Killing Fields. By the name itself, it will give you an idea how dark and brutal the time had been to Cambodia many years ago. But don’t expect to see graphic imageries here, it is just a plain field. What makes the place so special is that they provide an audio tour and it was very informative and moving at the same time.

Even innocent childrem did not escape the executions.

A sad post of how mankind treated its own.

 A heart-wrenching experience that will stay with you. No one tells you about the plight of people under Khmer Rouge lying there undisturbed, with missing limbs, heads, forming mass graves till the audio tells you to look around, beneath you, and you feel the shock! The audio tour is so well done and gives you tonnes of goosebumps moments. A MUST DO though it is harrowing and will leave you speechless, and disturbed, really worth the visit despite that is about 20 km from city center.

To know more about the history of S-21 prison (Toul Sleng Genocide Museum), click here.

A striking reminder of the darkest time in Cambodia.