From Dark to Light: Amazing Cambodia!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
EDIT: If you want to know a little more about Cambodia's history or are in need of a good book and/or film, We recommend the film "Killing Fields" and the book "First They Killed My Father" by Luong Ung. Both are really good!!!
Hello Everyone!
All is well here in Phnom Penh and we are waiting for 14:00 so we can take a tuk-tuk to the airport to catch our flight to Bangkok. It has been a truly great 3 weeks in Cambodia and it is quite safe to say that Cambodia has done quite a number on us. We thought it would be a difficult and trying part of the journey but instead Cambodia might just be our favorite country so far. Let me explain:
We arrived in Phnom Penh 6 days ago and found a bustling, noisy and dirty city but soon enough Phnom Penh turned into the icing on the cake. To understand Cambodia you have to understand it's history. In the last 40 years Cambodia has gone from a 
peaceful and prosperous nation to absolute collapse and is now slowly struggling back to something that resembles normality. From Civil War to Khmer Rouge rule, to guerrilla warfare that lasted into the 90's peace has been quite far away. When you read the books, visit the sights and see the documentaries you really see the darkest side of humanity, but then again when walking around in Cambodia and interacting with the locals you see the perseverance and an incredible will to live. You understand that every person over the age of 30 has seen 25% of the population die in the space of 4 years, not only this but almost everyone suffered immensely during the genocidal rule. Severe famines, families torn apart, brothers, sisters and parents turning on each other and still the trails to bring the guilty Khmer Rouge leaders to justice has only just begun. To add insult to injury some of the Khmer Rouge leaders still hold positions in the government, including the current prime minister! Yet the people are doing their best to move on. People smile, are open and always willing to help. Not only the children but also the adults stop and say hello, while waving frantically... it really is something special! A true testament to the human spirit!
So what have we done in Phnom Penh? We visited the Independence memorial, Wat Phnom (a temple on the only hill in Phnom Penh) and spent an afternoon by the lake enjoying the sunset. We also visited the "Killing Fields" where thousands of men, women and children where murdered by the ruthless Khmer Rouge and Tuol Sleng (also known as S-21) where over 20,000 adults (number of children unkown) where "interrogated" and tortured before being sent to the killing fields. Inside the school turned prison, there are photographs of all the victims as well as pictures from the tortures and of the dead bodies. I can safely say it was the most horrible place I have ever been to! We have also visited the Russian and the central market: A huge dome filled with vendors of all types. Hidden away behind the tragic history is a very fun and fast paced city.
As I already mentioned, today we leave for Bangkok where we will stay a couple of days. We have some shopping to do and then we are off to Ko Tao for some well deserved beach time!
See you soon
Robbe & Micki
Posted byRobbe at 07:33
Hej!
Kiva att ni skrev så informativt om landet och historian, det var intressant läsning! Hoppas allt är bra, här stressar Jocce med 100-års festen och Gabban sku kunna beställa en klänning från Bangkok ;)
puss&kram
Gabban&Jocce
hi bobby,
thank you for your perceptive insights. it was an excellent piece of writing. we look forward to the whole book on your return! xo Tom
ps scolari fired yesterday!
Hejsan! Phnom Penh delen av resan skulle jag ha kunnat lämna emellan, men jag förstår att den gjorde ett djupt intryck på er. HIFK vann just Kalpa i Niiralan monttu 1-3...:o). På torsdagen är det stor match HIFK-HPK ! Ha det så skönt i BK.
Kram! Pappa Jankka
Hej!
Ni verkar ha en helt fantastiks resa, jätte intressant att läsa och följa med!
Men... Snart får du nog släpa hem dej Robbe............ För här saknas du :)
//Din baby sister
Jepp, S-21 var ett kusligt ställe. En stark upplevelse som det är svårt att bestämma sig för om man hellre skulle ha ogjord eller inte, men absolut nödvändig för att ens lite kunna förstå Kambodja. Man borde ju inte fastna i det förflutna, men för mig kändes det så mörkt att se allt det där eländiga att det var svårt att se det glada och ljusa Kambodja efteråt.
Ta vara på solen och ha det så skönt!