Day 34- Killing Fields and Thai Boxing

This morning we went to visit the main market in Phnom Penh which is called Phsar Themi. The building was designed and built by the French and is in the shape of a cross. This is a massive market with loads of stalls selling everything from food, electronics, fabrics, household and beauty items. It was so crowded with every bit of space being used and even spilling out onto the streets. 

    

In the afternoon we took a trip to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum which is the S21 prison site. This prison used to be a school but  during the Khmer Rouge ruling it was turned into a prison. The Khmer Rouge movement was started by Pol Pot who was interested in the ideas of communism, the Khmer Rouge were in power between 1975-1979. When in power Cambodia was a communist party. The prison was used to house people who posed a threat to the Khmer Rouge, either as opposing political employees or those who were educated. In addition those who were foreign or spies for other agencies (CIA and KGB) Whilst the prison was in use it housed over 20000 people. There were at least 150 prisons like this over Cambodia. The school classrooms were converted into cells. People held in these prisons were repeatedly tortured. The rules were posted on a sign and it’s a struggle to believe how people must have had to live for months at a time. This was a really difficult place to visit. The information we were told and seeing the evidence left behind was truly heartbreaking and there wasn’t a dry eye to be seen. 

 The prison was discovered by Vietnamese soldiers on the 10th January 1979 just days after Cambodia’s liberation. When they entered the prison there were only 12 survivors. 7 of these were men and 5 were children. The children had hidden under a pile of clothes, the youngest being 4 months old who sadly died from exhaustion and starvation. Of the 7 survivors 2 are still alive, one being 88 and the other being 79. Their names are Chum Mey and Bou Meng. We had the honour of meeting these men who talked us through their experience. What struck me most is how they are so bravely telling their story. Actively asking us to take pictures with them and tell the world about their story to prevent it ever happening again. The fact that they could smile and talk with us after all they went through makes them some of the most inspirational people I have ever met. It was a truly sobering experience. 

After the museum we drove out of the city to see the killing fields. This again was a hard experience. This is one of 343 killing fields where people were killed with sharp and blunt impacts to the head. People were killed after leaving the prison. They were then buried in mass graves. The Killing field was found in 1980. There are 129 mass graves with approximately 20000 victims. Only found 9000 bodies were found as they have decided not to excavate every grave. Walking around you can still see bones sticking up from the ground where the rain has washed away the soil. The biggest mass grave held 450 bodies and was about 6m deep. In addition to this there was a dedicated grave for women and children. 

To be honest I have emitted some of the more gruesome details because right now it is just a little bit too fresh for me to discuss and also out of respect I don’t know yet whether this is the forum for that.  I also think that what I heard and saw today can only be truly portrayed and understood by being there.

After seeing this today for something a bit lighter we went to see a Thai boxing match. We had incredible seats and the atmosphere was absolutely electric.  

In all today has been a really mixed day with me not quite knowing how I feel. Hopefully a good nights sleep will help! 

Just some forewarning, tomorrow we are off to an island for some much needed beach time. I am not sure how good the WiFi will be (if there is any) however I will be sure to be writing my blogs and uploading maybe on Thursday when we will be in Vietnam!