Phnom Penh

So we really enjoyed our slow boat experience into Cambodia.  The first 3 hours we headed to the border through small canals and homes that were either right beside the river or floating on top of it.  The people were extremely friendly and always waving to us and smiling as we passed by.  We arrived at the floating border control and it took about 30 minutes for us to get stamped out of Vietnam and we had the chance to get some lunch in the meantime...we weren't sure if it actually took that long or if it was an excuse to sell us some lunch, but we were happy for the food regardless.  Then we hopped into another boat and went to the Cambodian border where we pretty painlessly got our VISAs (much cheaper than Vietnam or Laos).  We spent another hour or so on the boat up the Mekong then hopped on a bus for the remainder of the trip to Phnom Penh.  The boat dropped us off somewhere in the country and the first part of the bus journey was really pleasant, driving through the countryside and seeing the wooden homes on stilts...much more like the ones in Laos than what we got used to seeing in Vietnam.

The sights in Phnom Penh are a mix of amazing architecture and history of the Angkorian period, and the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime.  We decided not to see everything to do with the Khmer Rouge on the same day because we thought it would be too emotionally taxing.  And we were right.  The first day we went to the Tuol Sleng Museum, which was once a primary and high school, but was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and the classrooms were turned into torture chambers.  It is too difficult and I think not right for me to describe it here, and may be better reserved to be discussed in person when we get back.  It is definitely one of the most horrible places I have ever visited in my life, and it's almost impossible to understand how something like this could happen.  Some of the photographs you can't even look at.  But I still think it is an important visit for anyone who goes Cambodia, because it is necessary to understand what the people here have endured.  The afternoon was much lighter, since we explored the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda.  We are in the transition month into the rainy season and it has started to lightly rain every afternoon here, but what is really amazing is the skies.  The dark clouds descend like a blanket over the city and you can see blue sky on the horizon and these menacing clouds over top..it is really quite beautiful.

This morning we went to Choeung Ek, otherwise known as the Killing Fields, where most of the prisoners from the S-21 prison (now the Tuol Sleng Museum) were executed.  Again, too much to put into words.  All I can say is that I pray that the souls of all those people are at peace, and that my heart goes out to the people of Cambodia, because nobody should have to go through that.

We found a great spot to get a coffee at lunch time overlooking the street and with free internet!  After lunch we headed off to one of the city's temples, Wat Phnom.  The temple is actually on a hill and has a park all around it, and is home to some mischevious monkeys!  We realized why they hang out there, since this local lady came by giving them all sorts of amazing fruit!  We were smart not to get too close though, because we actually witnessed this local boy get bitten!  I don't think it broke the skin, but still...RABIES!(Not to mention hepatitis...ect ect....)  Major human health risk!  Eek!  We planned to walk around the central market, but by the time we got there we realized we only had an hour until the museum closed so we hopped in a tuk-tuk and headed off.  The museum was actually very beautiful.  The building itself is lovely since it is built in the style of the temples and there is a courtyard in the middle with Angkor-era sculptures around it and ponds with lotus flowers.  We actually just sat for some time enjoying the surroundings.  I guess we were missing Vietnamese food because we were pretty happy about finding a spot to get Pho for dinner :>)  They even had a veggie option so I got some tofu rather than just noodles and leaves!  We found this great place to get ice cream after dinner over-looking the river, except that Daniel ordered durian flavoured ice cream and slipped some into my bowl when I wasn't looking!

Tomorrow we will take a bus to Kampot, reputed to grow the best pepper in the world!

Bye for now!

Hanna and Dan xoxo

Homes build on the river in Vietnam

 One of our first views of the Cambodian countryside.  There were huge piles of corn in front of many of the homes.

 Independance monument in Phnom Penh

 Royal Palace

 No more need be said about this one :>)

 Monks riding on motorcycle taxis...one of my favorite images.

 Mango lips!  Monkey feasting at Wat Phnom.

 Memorial stupa at the Killing Fields for the victims of the Khmer Rouge.