Before we left Phnom Penh, Tim introduced us to Dylan's boss, Monique Angier, who had come from HCMC to Phnom Penh on business. We had morning coffee with her at her hotel before she attended some meetings. A very nice lady.
The hardest part of yesterday was our visit to the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, commonly known as the Killing Fields, about 15 km southeast of Phnom Penh. This was just one of many mass grave sites found throughout Cambodia. The victims of the torture prison were executed here. The stupa, or shrine, in the picture is basically a huge glass case with glass shelves holding thousands of skulls.
Once again, we couldn't take more pictures out of respect for the dead. Everyone here is very quiet and respectful. Many people are sobbing at some point. The Khmer Rouge chose this as a place of execution because it was somewhat isolated. They hung loudspeakers from the trees and played revolutionary music at high volume to mask the screams of the victims. To save ammunition, the victims were bludgeoned to death and thrown into pits and buried. In 1980, after Vietnam liberated Cambodia, someone found some evidence on the surface of the ground and digging began, eventually finding thousands of corpses. The cruelty that occurred here is unimaginable.
A typical road hazard in the countryside on the way to the south coast at Kep.
A rural gas station, where we stopped to use the toilet. Actually quite clean.
Our guides at the caves we explored near Kep. There is no organized tour guide system here. The two young men speak quite good English and explained everything well. The younger kids gave us flashlights and mimicked everything the older ones said.
We each gave our little guides some money for their help. There was no pressure and no fixed price. It was very refreshing to spend an hour with such nice little kids after our morning at the Killing Fields.
Another typical road hazard here.
The crab statue at Kep. The Kep and Kampot area is famous for crab and peppers.
Our room in the new Diamond Hotel in Kampot. The price is $20 per night, not including breakfast. Beautiful hotel.
Leaving dinner from a riverside restaurant in Kampot. We went all out and spent just under $50 for 6 of us for a feast of crab, squid and shrimp (with beer, of course). Great dining spot.
Kampot at dawn from the balcony of our room. Today, off to Sihanoukville.
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