Phnom Penh (7/09-7/10)

After a quick thirty minute flight south from Siem Reap, we arrived in Phnom Penh for a quick stay. Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, is a growing metropolis that sits along the Mekong River.

Read below for our adventures, and view our photos by clicking here.

Daniel

After years of unrest and civil war, most of the artifacts contained within the temples outside of Siem Reap were looted or stolen. Some of them have been recovered and reside at the National Museum in Phnom Penh. This was our first stop. The museum had a large collection of fine stone and wood carvings that would have decorated the massive temples we explored earlier.

Next we ventured to the Tuol Sleng Museum that describes the darker side of human nature. Also known as S-21, it was the staging area where Pol Pot committed his worst atrocities during his short reign. In 1975 the four buildings at Tuol Svay Prey high school were converted into a prison where some 17,000 inmates were tortured and murdered by the Khmer Rouge until 1979. It was a disturbing and shocking display of the brutality that Cambodians suffered. Photographs of all the inmates are displayed within the buildings, both their entrance photos and those taken after several days or months of torture. Also one building displays the detention cells in the state they were found when Vietnamese troops finally liberated Phnom Penh in 1979. Only 7 prisoners survived the ordeal.

To recover from this heavy experience we finished the day at the Russian Market or Psar Tuol Tom Pong. The never-ending string of stalls sells everything including silk crafts, produce, hardware, clothing, dvds, and “off the truck” goods from all your favorite clothing retailers. We are continuing to hone our bargaining skills and have managed to get a few good deals.

We also made a quick visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Contained within was a collection of rare and valuable statues including an emerald Buddha and a number of diamond adorned statues of various Hindu gods. The Silver Pagoda floor was covered in solid silver tiles weighing 1kg each.

Finally, we spent an evening enjoying the riverfront culture at Phnom Penh. Around 5pm the streets and riverfront parks were packed with locals enjoying their Sunday afternoon.