Phnom Penh

We had a somber morning devoted to the Khmer Rouge genocide of 1975 - 1978, when 2 million Cambodians were murdered or starved to death by the Pol Pot regime. We visited the Choeung Ek killing fields where numerous mass graves were discovered. Afterwards we visited S-21, the infamous detention and interrogation center where Cambodians were forced to confess to crimes that they did not commit. It brought back memories of visiting some of the Nazi concentration camps. Only 7 people survived S-21, and one of the 2 living survivors was there, bearing witness to the atrocities that had taken place.
Cambodia had a population of 4 million prior to 1975, and only 2 million afterwards. Today the population has grown to 16 million, and everywhere you look there is new construction and signs of economic development.
We had lunch at a lovely restaurant on the riverfront, followed by a very interesting lecture and a visit to the National Museum.Read more