Our full-day tour of Phnom Penh. Started off by going to the killing fields 15 km out. About 2 million people were killed by Pol Pot, and this was the largest known grave site. Saw the pits and monument, and was given a tour. Drove back to town to S 21, which was the detention and torture facility that sent people to the killing fields. It used to be our guide's high school. Most of the group watched the video but the room was too stifling for me so I walked around. Was given a guided tour of the cells. Went to lunch at a nice restaurant. The meals are expensive -- all of them were three dollars! After lunch we went shopping at the Russian market -- a true market where you can buy food, clothing, motorcycle parts, and most everything else. Bought some DVDs for two dollars.
Last stop for the tour was the royal palace we had to pay to use your camera. Lovely buildings and gardens including the throne room and pagoda. The King was in China, and I was very put out. A photo stop at the Independence Monument on the way home. I really enjoyed Phnom Penh. It's a bit behind now, but will be a modern city shortly, and the people are charming. A supper of coffee at the hotel restaurant, and was joined by our guide who gave us in our long history lesson about Cambodia. Really interesting to hear the other perspective of Vietnamese history, especially the relationship between Cambodia and Vietnam, and how that influenced the Vietnam/American War.
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