I arrive in Phnom Penh this morning bright and early after my flight from Bangkok. I picked up my visa and my baggage and was through customs in a flash where Someone from my organization awaited my arrival just outside the airport doors. A short tuk tuk ride later and I was at the volunteer house. It's a simple little place with a tiny kitchen, a few floors with rooms for us volunteers, the bustle of construction outside my window and the sounds of the neighbour kids laughing. This is more what I had imagined for my Asia travels.
Phnom Penh is far from a glamorous city- at least what I have seen of it. We aren't located in the tourist district at all but tend to get starred at by the local people. This I have confirmed by two volunteers in the house who have been here for 2 weeks time. I was lucky enough that they had planned to go to the Killing Fields this morning- a must see memorial of the Khmer Rouge genocide. My placement is going to be in Siem Reap so after my orientation tomorrow I will be leaving the capital and heading up North to the more touristy city of Siem Reap- the home of the Angkor Temples!!
First I must tell you about the Killing fields. Not a glamorous site to visit but a must see for the city of Phnom Penh. We haggled our tuk tuk ride there and paid our 5 dollar admission for a headset audio tour. I thought the audio tour was fantastic and very easy to follow as it instructed you to different locations and explained the history and events that happened there.
For those of you who don't know much about the Khmer Rouge I will explain a little here. In 1975 Pol Pot took the city of Phnom Penh (forgive me I am not a historian at all and am going from memory of what I had learned this morning so if some details are off I apologize). Ultimately Pol Pot's goal was to create a land of complete equality. He began this process by shuttling people from the cities and into the rural countryside where they were sent to work on collective farms. The goal was to triple rice production- an unattainable goal by any standards. Many people from the cities lacked the knowledge or skill to work in the agricultural fields and many died of starvation and exhaustion.
The killing fields and the Tomgle Sap s21 prison were where other major atrocities took place where the elimination of intellectuals, politicians, teachers, religious figures and even people with "soft hands" took place. Anyone considered in a position to counter Pol Pot's regime were sentenced to death. Many were first taken to the prison where they were tortured to give confessions of their plans to thwart the regime. Throughout Cambodia there were over 300 killing fields, the one in Phnom Penh is just one site. Over 3 million Cambodians were killed during the murderous reign of the Khmer Rouge. At the killing fields we saw mass graves, truck stops where the people were shuttled in, clothing and a large stupa in the centre which was built to house and display over 9000 skulls of the victims who were recovered.
The site which took over me and all my senses was the Killing Tree. This was located near a mass grave. When the site was first found the tree was covered in blood and held fragments of bone and brain and it was uncertain as to why. When the grave was uncovered 166 women and children were found. Babies and children were thrown against The Killing Tree where their skulls were bashed in, their bodies then thrown in the adjacent grave site. I can't even imagine this is my mind without wanting to throw up, I couldn't hold back tears. Around each grave site people have left bracelets in memory of the victims- this is where I chose to leave my Livestrong bracelet, a bracelet I have worn since high school. I felt it was a good fit to put a positive thought into a negative location to represent strength and hope.
Over-all I am so glad that I went and visited this site despite the brutality of it all. This was a reality for the people of Cambodia and is something I must understand in order to build relationships with people during my time here. We are so fortunate in Canada- us white European descendants anyway- to never have to live, see, or even speak of atrocities such as these towards one another. I am forever grateful for the amazing country I live in and the safe haven it provides for me.
HELLO CAMBODIA- TUGGIN AT THE HEART STRINGS ALREADY-On Day 1
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