Lego Land!

My time in Phnom Penh was full of craziness, education, sunset activities, and Animal Planet (subscribe now).

Craziness - visiting Psar O Russei. Take any China Town and times it by infinite. Like any market jam packed with textiles, fruits, veggies, meats and seafood (how fresh is it really? I can see the flies, oh and it's a hundred degrees out) nuts, legumes (still not sure what that is...Mr. peanut? The guy with the monicle?) you name it. You can even get your hair did! However, they act like they've never seen a white person before, very uncomfortable...que Eminem. So I make silly decision like going to buy several dollars worth of what I think are peanuts, and while she's not looking, pop one in my mouth...not a peanut. So I got all awkward and ran away. I did hit the jackpot in the fresh fruit isle though, yum!

Education - taking in as much if the history and culture as you can is so important. Cooking classes are offered everywhere, although I think I'll wait until Vietnam, but there is a very unfair and unfortunate history in Cambodia that still lingers in the air above the giant smile and hello's of the wonderful Khmer people who inhabit this glorious country. 

In 1975 the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot with radical Marxist ideas, implemented one of the most radical and brutal restructuring of a society ever at attempted. This "leader" is right up there with Hitler. It's goal was to transform Cambodia - renamed Democratic Kampuchea - into a giant peasant-dominated agrarian cooperative. Within days the sick, elderly, weak, etc were imprisoned and forced to slave the countryside 12 to 15 hours a day, death was inevitable. Intellectuals were systematically wiped out (having glasses or speaking a foreign language was reason enough to be killed). The advent of Khmer Rouge was proclaimed year Zero. In just shy of four years, before the Khmer Ruge was brought to an end by the Vietnamese, over 1.7 million people have been estimated to have perished at the hands of Pol Pot and his followers. 

Tuol Sleng Museum - a high school taken over and transformed classrooms into torture chambers, renamed S-21. At the height of activity over 100 prisoners were killed a day. Kept chained to beds, submerged in water,hung upside down until unconscious, beaten in every way imaginable. In 1979 only 7 prisoners survived when the Vietnamese army liberated Phnom Penh. The only way to survive was to have a skill of painting or photography as the leaders were meticulous in keeping records for each prisoner who passed through (photos, statements, etc.) 

Killing Fields of Choeung Ek - the majority of the 17,000 prisoners of S-21 were executed just 14 km Southwest of the capital (as well as all over the country). It's hard to imagine such a beautiful orchard surrounded by rice paddy's and flowered waters turned into a massive burial ground. An audio tour is available and as you go site to site shivers run through your body as you hear the events that took place while stepping on fragments on bone and teeth to this day. Much of the land was dug out and people would stand before the gaping holes, before being bludgeoned to death and left and piles. Music played loudly over the speakers to drown out the sounds of the tortured and there was a grave for everyone, including the children, which we can now leave an offering at to rest their souls. In final there is a memorial stupa, containing over 8000 skulls of victims to being a little peace to the unrest.

I hope that didn't bring you down too much, I left out a lot of what I was informed but had to give you some education as well. It was a bit of a traumatic day, merely decades ago when my parents were tripping on hallucinogens and putting flowers in their hair is was taking place. But I have so much appreciation for even being able to visit and share the smiles of the people.

Sunset activities - Now to end the day what could be better then a riverfront walk? OH I know! A drop in aerobics class, these people have absolutely no timing or coordination (mom, I think you could teach Zumba out here) but everyone just jumps on in! Either prepared in little track outfits or creeping up in Jean shorts and platform sandals. I watched the display for at least an hour before getting a happy pizza, playing rock paper scissors with children for bracelets (cheaters!) and finding a 40 ounce of Jameson for $13.00. Happy happy joy joy.

Fun Fact: not really, but... The UN allowed the Khmer Rouge to occupy the Cambodian seat at the UN general Assembly until 1991. The murderers represent there victims for 12 years.