Probably the best thing we saw in Phnom Penh was gymnastics at the Olympic Stadium, yes thats right, they held the Olympics here in the 60's. Every sunset thousands of people gather here and dance to distorting bass lines all in the name of fitness. Megan and I joined in for fun, and we got a mixed response...
Fuck, I just wrote this heavy post then the dodgy network here lost it all. Ok Phnom Penh (PP). Arrived by bus. City. Big. Gritty. Dirty. Unfriendly. Fast. Annoying.
Found refuge in a sweet guest house.
Did the Khymer Rouge thing. Disturbing. Above, very normal looking ex highschool used as Killing and torture prison between 1975 and 1979.
Khymer Rouge entered PP as victors against the countryside bombing US backed govt, but 3 hrs later began implementing year zero, aiming to establish a communist country as quickly and ruthlessly as possible. Result - 2million dead, 1/4 of the population in mass graves in 4 years. Its disturbing to see, does not enhance the feeling at PP. And the feeling of being marketed such a terrible history as a tourist doesnt help.
Below - Killing fields, where most were killed. The details are not up for discussion on this blog. But to understand the Cambodian Psyche, just a bit, you need to see these places.
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