Last Days in Phnom Penh

Day 5 started when I got told by the tour guide that I needed to wear long pants that covered my knees to get to our first destination - The Royal Palace. AND no sleeveless tops allowed! I was devastated as I didn't bring anything else with me besides shorts. I ended up having to wear my sister's pants (on top of my shorts) for an hour and a half while we were touring the palace. 

*sweat sweat sweat*

The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh - overlooking the Mekong River. 

One with Dad, Funny and Mom. Sorry, no pics of me. I was realllllyyy bothered by the heat and having to dress up like a dumpling. Wasn't really in the mood for photos! I was plastered to the fans around, clinging on to my dear life, constantly hoping that I won't get a heat stroke! 

Then we proceeded to visit another icon in Phnom Penh, called Wat Phnom "temple on the hill". It's a temple built on a man-made hill, by a lady called Penh, and this is how Phnom Penh got its name. 

Mei, with little kids at the bottom of Wat Phnom. 

The family, in front of the entrance to Wat Phnom, the house of many Buddha statues. 

After lunch, we proceeded to the infamous Genocide Museum and Killing Fields. My sister warned me beforehand, that the trip wasn't just all fun and games. I knew we were gonna visit the genocide museum, but....

It didn't really hit me, until we got inside. I can assure you, that I didn't walk out of the place with all smiles. 

First up was S21- Security Prison 21, aka Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. It was formerly a high school that was converted into a torture and interrogation centre around 1975, when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia and ruled for the next 4 years or so. 

This was a dark time in Cambodian history, as it killed about 1/3 of the Cambodian population, mostly educated and influencial people... leaving mostly unskilled women and children in the country today, most of them, separated from their families when they were young. 

Many Cambodians, including our tour guide, do not know who their family members are, or whether they're still alive. He was separated from his family when he was still a little kid, and told us stories of his life, which wrenched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. He just managed to escape death, but till today, he lives alone... not knowing where his family members are, how they look like now, or whether they're still alive, and if not, how they died... 

Till today, he lives.... alone. 

The last he heard, his mom died of malaria, and his dad... noone has seen him. He thinks his younger sister is still alive, but has no idea what she looks like now. And she would have been too young to have any recollections of her family... How sad indeed. 

The former Tuol Svay Prey High School. The buildings then converted into s21, enclosed in electrified barbed wire to prevent escapes. The classrooms converted into little tiny prison cells where they interrogated and tortured the inmates... left with no proper sanitation or food. The cells were so small, you barely have space to lie down. Even if you were able to do so on the cold, hard concrete floor, you couldn't turn around or move... cause if you did without letting the guards know, you'd be bashed real bad... or even worse, executed. 

And I'm glad it did... 

But Cambodia's still very wounded from it all. A sad nation, much unskilled, that will take generations to heal... and we're starting to see the beginning of the healing process. Opening the country to tourism is generating revenue and work opportunities. 

Ok, enough of sad stories. 

Another thing that you should do when you're in Cambodia is to get a massage :D 

This huge massage parlour, only charges USD8 an hour for a full body massage. AND it's a clean place too, no "hanky panky" if you know what I mean. 

Nice comfy sofa's and a tele for everyone! :) with a complementary drink as well.... Isn't that good value for money?? Ahhh... if only massages were that cheap over here, I'd be going everyday!! 

Our last day was mainly spent shopping for souvenirs. We went to the Central Market by tuk tuk, which cost us USD3 from the city centre. 

Mei in Central Market. 

The roof was higher, and it wasn't as stuffy and congested as the market in Siem Reap. But mostly, selling the same kinda stuff. I bought a pair of silk, stuffed elephant soft toys, while sis bought a pair of cotton pyjamas. Mom and dad also landed themselves with some handicraft stuff.

Our friendly tuk-tuk driver, who took us from our hotel to the market, and then to another shopping centre **which really, wasn't very impressive. Didn't manage to buy anything there** and then back to our hotel :D He also proceeded to ask if we wanted to get anywhere else in the arvo, but we told him nah... as we were heading home that afternoon. 

After grabbing some lunch around town that afternoon, we waited in the hotel lobby for our airport transfer... back to Kuala Lumpur. 

To sum it up, I'd say... Cambodia is a culture rich in culture, and history. Filled with many historical icons to visit, but the weather was definitely too hot for my liking... especially when I went from winter in Melbourne, to hot summer days in Cambodia... and then to freezing cold winter in New Zealand! I'm just glad I didn't fall sick! 

And to my family, I miss you guys heaps!! Looking forward to seeing you guys again... *muah muah muah*