A History Lesson
We have arrived in Phnom Penh, the steamy and cool capital of Cambodia loaded with beautiful buildings, tuk tuk drivers and cafes, bars, and restaurants. It is very international with every kind of restaurant, very good english everywhere, and the primary currency being USD. Dont get me wrong there are still many run down buildings, beggars, poor traffic, and very poor infrastructure. No where have I seen such a stark contrast between the rich and poor with lots of Mercedes and Lexus on every corner. But Cambodia has come a long way from their very dark past and it is a far cry from the stories I have heard. What lies beneath these people and this up and coming city is extraordinary.
Taking a tour of the city, you are immediately mesmerized by the spires on the skyline and exquisiteness of the Khmer style which is reflected in everything from architecture to fabrics and their caligraphy style writing. This is highlighted by numerous wats, the national museum of ancient treasures and the Royal Palace. I was in awe. And once you talk to them, you realise that they are just as beautiful of people on the inside as well. Really genuine and eager to make life better. It is easy to fall in love with them.
But then there is there most recent events in Cambodian history...The Khmer Rouge and the killing of nearly 3 million people in a country of only about 8 million or so. And these people included the most educated and cultured people all in an effort to destroy the Cambodian culture. Even schools were eliminated so that the kids could not learn. The country is still struggling today to find its lost arts and develop the skills they need to become a thriving country.
We had a guide for a day tour of the city who was 9-12 during the Khmer Rouge and told us tremendous stories of starvation and punishment that he saw first hand. The Khmer rouge lasted from 1975 - 1979 and thus it is still a country of survivors. We saw the Tuol Sleng museum, a former school turned prison, and the Killing Fields, which is just one of the many sites of mass killings but has now been set up as a memorial. Here we walked through mass grave sites, heard stories of terrible torture and viewed the skulls of nearly 9,000 people who died on this site. You cant help the dead silence and a wave of chills that wash over you.
Even more chilling is that some of the participants in the Khmer Rouge are now still in government making it harder to prosecute them. Five of the top leaders were indicted and finally one man was sentenced to 35 years just last year. And it doesnt help that the same government structure is in place with all power in the hands of one man. As our guide said ""its complicated".
No doubt there is still a lot of corruption and poverty coming out of a displaced population but the future has many bright possibilities.
Taking a tour of the city, you are immediately mesmerized by the spires on the skyline and exquisiteness of the Khmer style which is reflected in everything from architecture to fabrics and their caligraphy style writing. This is highlighted by numerous wats, the national museum of ancient treasures and the Royal Palace. I was in awe. And once you talk to them, you realise that they are just as beautiful of people on the inside as well. Really genuine and eager to make life better. It is easy to fall in love with them.
But then there is there most recent events in Cambodian history...The Khmer Rouge and the killing of nearly 3 million people in a country of only about 8 million or so. And these people included the most educated and cultured people all in an effort to destroy the Cambodian culture. Even schools were eliminated so that the kids could not learn. The country is still struggling today to find its lost arts and develop the skills they need to become a thriving country.
We had a guide for a day tour of the city who was 9-12 during the Khmer Rouge and told us tremendous stories of starvation and punishment that he saw first hand. The Khmer rouge lasted from 1975 - 1979 and thus it is still a country of survivors. We saw the Tuol Sleng museum, a former school turned prison, and the Killing Fields, which is just one of the many sites of mass killings but has now been set up as a memorial. Here we walked through mass grave sites, heard stories of terrible torture and viewed the skulls of nearly 9,000 people who died on this site. You cant help the dead silence and a wave of chills that wash over you.
Even more chilling is that some of the participants in the Khmer Rouge are now still in government making it harder to prosecute them. Five of the top leaders were indicted and finally one man was sentenced to 35 years just last year. And it doesnt help that the same government structure is in place with all power in the hands of one man. As our guide said ""its complicated".
No doubt there is still a lot of corruption and poverty coming out of a displaced population but the future has many bright possibilities.
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