After the relaxed atmosphere in Hoi An we were a little worried that Saigon (Ho Chi Minh city) would be as busy and overwhelming as Hanoi. A full time job of dodging scooters is only so enjoyable. Luckily Saigon, although busy, had a completely unique feel. We spent our few days there strolling around the markets trying on knock off North Face gear and getting our last fill of Vietnamese food. On our last afternoon we were sitting in a park when a large group of locals approached us and started asking questions. It turns out they were university students doing a tourism study for class and working on their English. After a good 2 hours of chatting I can saw we all learned a little something each others respective countries.
A nice and early 6 am bus was our transport across the Vietnam/Cambodia border. Although the border guards weren't concerned with the details of our visas, one Jenjamin Crook-Hanna made it through without incident. A few more hours on the bus and we arrived in Phnom Penh.
On of the first things we noticed about the city was how much more green space was incorporated into city layout than others in recent memory. Although a picturesque place, it is filled with a dark past. I won't go into great detail but basically between 1975 and 1979 the Khmer Rouge ruling party of Cambodia of the time performed radical ideological changes on it's citizens and killed anyone that opposed (suspected of opposing) the party.
We visited the infamous S-21 prison which housed/tortured many prisoners during it's 4 years of use. This museum was deeply affecting as the khmer rouge kept detailed records on all the prisoners that went through S-21. And a portrait of every prisoner who passed through these walls was on display in room after room. It was a heavy place and seeing the fear, contempt, and suffering in the eyes of those photos is something that will stay with me for a long time. Of the thousands of prisoner housed here none escaped, only one managed to commit suicide, and only 7 survived (who do you think took thousands of pictures).
We also visited the killing fields of cheug ek. It is located 15 km outside of town and is where the prisoners were taking from S-21 to be killed. The mass graves had been exhumed during the early nineties and on display along with information about the atrocities committed was a monument filled with all the skulls of the victims. It hit home especially hard to know that these belonged to victims in the photos at S-21. A sad reminder of what we as a species are truly capable of.
After moving about so much over the last week we headed south and have parked ourselves at the beaches around an area of Cambodia called Sihanoukville. It's crazy hot, with the warmest water yet. Most jelly fish I have ever seen though, and swims, more like quick dips, are rationed until we’re melting with sweat. It's nice to be living that beach life again before we head home. Our time is winding down fast.
Ps - I don't like to preach but with the election fast approaching please take the time to vote! If your not sure who to vote for this link may help.
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