Today was simply eye-opening!!!
An eight o'clock start saw us on the bus and on our way to the killing fields. I guess we never really quite understood how carefree our lives were until we plugged ourselves into the audio guides and took a look at what was around us at the fields. The stories we heard were astonishing and will never be forgotten. Our understanding of the history of this country and the struggles that people faced not so long ago became even more complete when we arrived at our second destination for the day, S21. S21 is now a genocide museum. Previously it was the Khmer Rouge prison, Tuol Sleng where many innocent Cambodians were brutally tortured before they were taken to the Killing Fields to die. While S21 was quite emotionally exhausting, it was yet another amazing experience. I think it's safe to speak on everyone's behalf in saying that, to even imagine what it was like to live in such a disastrous time in history has really taught us a lot!
The next step in today's travels brought us to a beautiful waterfront restaurant, where we ate lunch and relaxed after long morning. Not only was it great food with a wonderful view, IT WAS SO CHEAP! :)
With full tummies and bit more energy, we headed for the palace. As we peered through the bus windows, gold and other cool and shiny statues made themselves apparent. The palace was simply breathtaking and a great way to finish the day!