Day 33: Killing Fields

This morning I went to s21 prison and Cheung Euk killing fields. This was one of many prisons and burial grounds where 2 million people were killed in the late 1970s by the Khmer Rouge regime. Mainly Cambodians who were educated and perceived as intelligent were murdered due to the threat they were deemed to pose to the regime. Crazy to think that 1/4 of the Cambodian population were imprisoned, tortured and killed during that time, by their own countrymen. It's like Nicola Sturgeon executing all those who voted No in the independence referendum because they don't believe with her ideologies. It's unthinkable, but shit like that actually happens!

In the prison you see the tiny cells and shackles in which prisoners were kept for periods of up to 2 months, while they were tortured in order to elicit bogus confessions of espionage. The killing fields encompasses a number of mass graves where prisoners were transferred and brutally murdered. Walking around the prison and the burial ground, although you're aware of what happened, you can't really imagine or believe it because it's so horrifying. It's only after visiting these places that you can appreciate this country and where it's currently at. You start to notice that the majority of people you see here are the younger generation. Only like 10% of the population is aged 55 and over due to the genocide. The people basically started from scratch when the Khmer Rouge were ousted, so it's a country that is literally 30 years behind most others in terms of development, through no fault of their own. And yet despite this poverty, everyone is so friendly and happy. 

In the afternoon I went to the Royal Palace. There's only so much of the palace you're actually allowed to see or enter, so I thought the $10 fee was a bit steep. Afterwards I went to FCC bar along the Mekong River for a cocktail. I chose one with chili infused vodka and it was the hottest thing I've had since I started my travels, and I had some pretty spicy stuff in Thailand! 

I was picked up at my hotel at 5pm to go on a food tour. There were around 8 of us on it, which started with a cocktail at Eclipse Sky Bar and some pretty awesome views. The girl running it was from Ireland but had lived here for 2 years as a teacher after 
she fell in love with the place. Next we went to a lock market where we had some amazing fruit (snake fruit is my new favourite) in addition to some pork scratching and the most amazing BBQ rib I've ever had in my life. Finally we ended at Restaurant 54 where we had a lovely selection of stir fried beef with ants, deep fried tarantula, beetles and frog. I have to say, the frog meat was delicious! Tasted just like chicken! I ate a tarantula leg and it didn't taste of very much. 

After the tour ended 4 of us, plus Shauna the guide, went to a bar for a couple of drinks. It's now 12am and I'm going to bed as I'm up at 630 for a bicycle tour 😒. 

Also just realised I'm half way through my trip. How did that happen??