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So we arrive in Cambodia via the Koh Krong border in southern Cambodia, after deciding to do it ourselves and therefore avoided overpaying atleast 10 quid each by taking a organised journey from Koh Chang. We ended up staying at the border town of Koh Krong for one night, as when we arrived at the town, the last bus had already left for Phom Penh. This was much needed after the expected hell on earth that was the Cambodian border crossing. Corrupt border officals overcharging you, hordes of touts all out to rip you off as much as possible. Then the mistake of asking one of these people to take us to the border town, over priced, not where we wanted to go, and in the end only got to rufely where we wanted by having to be rude to them (dropping us off at a guesthouse of there choice of course, but not before ignoring our request and taking us to a taxi rank). But in the end we found a room for 2 for 5$ a night! scamming b*****s wanted $120 US dollar for private taxi to Phom Pehn and tried to insult our intelligence by telling us there was no border town or any buses and that the private taxi was the only way. I later learn a private taxi should cost between $40 to $60 us dollar for the 4 hour journey. Oh and the town that was not there, we drove around the outskirts of it, and then they ask me where the town is if i think there is a town there. w***ers! right behind you!
So anyway, the next day we get a bus from Koh Kong to Phomn Pehn and arrive early in the afternoon. We stayed at a pretty nice place, where we had air con, tv, and hot shower for 3 people for $12 a night, fantastic. Although we ended up moving the next day in order to stay somewhere a bit closer to the main pub area in Phomn Pehn, this place was called Okay Guesthouse, which was more than just OK, it was fantastic! seriously, visit. Its great value and had the best rooms i have ever stayed in. Even my G.L.A.M.O.R.O.U.S friend Kelley was ok with it, now thats something! :p $12 again but with a much bigger room for 2 and a hot shower that did not spit water in every other direction more than down!
-Depressing part, skip if you don't want to depress!
One of the first things we did in Phomn Pehn was to visit the Royal Palace, and also to check out the town and see whats happening by the river. The following day we visited the S21 prision that was not too far from where we stayed. A completely depressing hell hole to say the least. People of all ages were held here without trial, tortured, and then either executed there in the playground (this place use to be a school) or sent off to the killing field. Instant execution was normally performed for people who spoke of love or love songs, or anyone who persistantly tried to talk to the other inmates. Walking around all the old cells, untouched since the late 70s, walking in peoples cells, seeing dry blood on the wall, and seeing where the shackles were placed in each classroom to lock people together on the crowd in one of the many classrooms. Needless to say, after this place I was ready to go home and just chill out. However, we had our tuk tuk booked already and we (before booking tuk tuk) felt like we should learn about what happened at the really heavy place that was the killing fields, located about 16km from Phomn Pehn. So reluctantly I end up going on.
The Killing Fields has to be by far the sickest place i have ever been to in my life, and never want to go anywhere near it again or recommend anyone to it, to anyone who wants to go, seriously just read about it or watch a documentery, theres nothing that f***s your day up more than going there. About a half hour journey by tuk tuk from the S21 prison, arrives us to a rather sad a gloomy entrance, in the shadow of a massive monument. We pay our $2 ticket entrance fee (of some of the proceeds goes to the families and the neighbouring school) and proceed to the monument.
Inside this tower, there is from bottom to top, a glass casing containing thousands of human skulls and other body parts, that were collected from the nearby mass graves when they were discovered in the early 80s. It also contained the victims clothes that were uncovered from the graves, some still with blood on.
This wasnt the heaviest part, for me it was walking right past all the pits where the people were made to kneel by, then wacked over the back of the neck before having the throats cut and then thrown into the pit. We then walked past the tree that was used by the Khmer Rouge to throw the babies against, and several more unearthed mass graves.
Bizarely, such a sick and horrible place is located right next to a local school, where you can here the sound of children playing while looking at and reading about the tree they hung a big speaker on to drown out the crying of the people being executed. f***ed up or what.
End of depressing part
So anyway, after we return, we have a few beers at bar next to our guest house, and go for a night out for some drink. A pretty fun place to have some drinks, and ended up talking to some tuk tuk drivers and then having a go with driving there tuk tuk with them in the back :p lol, tuk tuk? where you go mr tuk tuk driver? where you go? royal palace? $2 ? :p
From here we prepare for leaving the next day to Siem Riep, where we plan on visiting the Angkor Watt!
So anyway, to sum up Phomn Penh, its there for the museme, royal palace, s21 and killing field. They all seem to be the main reason people end up there.
Keep reading for more up to date blogs. Gonna start getting into the habbit of writing atleast every few days!
Chow for now!
Gary.
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