Today we spent all day with Srey Mao and her cousin!
We went to Tuol Sleng first. Tuol Sleng was an school that was turned into a concentration camp/ torture center/ prison during the Khmer Rouge Regime. This was my second time going, but it’s not something that one can just get used to. We got to see the rooms the people were held in, the weapons they were tortured with, and the methods in which they died. We saw their clothes, their bones, and a picture of the face of each and every person killed in that camp. I cannot even believe that something like this happened such a short time ago. I don’t understand how humanity is capable of such an embarrassment.
There was a book in one of the rooms where people can write a response to what they had seen, and it was so awesome to see people unite so strongly against something. Within two pages I saw people from Germany, Ireland, Australia, Cambodia and many other countries who were moved enough to write. It was a really cool thing.
After that (although it’s hard to just so quickly move on), we all went to the Russian Market and got lots of cool things J
After a delicious late lunch of American style stir fry, Srey Mao and her cousin dropped us of at an internet café to figure out the details for our flight. When they came to pick us up, they had ditched the Asia’s Hope van and were both on motos.
Eric and I hopped on the back of the motos and Mao and her cousin took us to the “riverside.” In Cambodia, the “place to go” to hang out is usually at parks or central outside places. Many people gather to eat, play games, or just hang out. Another common thing in Cambodia, which I think is hilarious, is that in these outdoor gathering places, there are always big, professionally led and regular meeting, work out groups. People just do ridiculous dance/work outs in these big gathering places and it looks hilarious! So, Mao and her cousin took us to see “the riverside” and then just drove us around the city for a while. When you get into the heart of Phnom Penh, one could almost forget that you’re in a third world country (until you see the garbage everywhere or the wandering children or beggars). Some of the buildings are beautiful! We drove by the King’s Palace- which is awesome!
Finally, they took us to a huge stadium which was originally built for the Olympics I guess. Tons and tons of people were there playing every sport you can think of- volleyball, tennis.. and lots of soccer! It was really cool, and a lot of people our age were there just to hang out. Around the top of the stadium there were tons and tons of work-out groups. We sat and watched some of the people working out for a while, haha.
They took us back to the guesthouse after our tour of the city and we made some more grilled cheese. Mao’s cousin had never had it before, but I think she really liked it! Dairy is NOT a part of Cambodian’s diet and cheese is actually really expensive over there compared to other things. Milk is also a rarity, and they only have a kind that is cooked longer than ours, or something, and supposedly tastes really different. Dairy is definitely the biggest difference in our diets because it virtually is not a part of their diet at all. Our grilled cheese is probably what has upset our stomachs the most so far, haha, imagine that!
It’s sad to have to say goodbye to new friends already… again! We stayed up and played cards for a while and watched some TV.
But before we knew it it was off to bed and on to Thailand…
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