The Extended-Play Part I

Some of us extended our stay in Cambodia to tour the country. I extended my stay by 7 days. Of the 7 days, I spent the first 2 in Phomn Penh and the rest in Siem Reap.

This picture of a back alley is taken from the window of the hotel we were staying. Phomn Penh is just like any typical Southeast Asian city; bustling, messy and dusty. We were often warned to stay indoors after dark, especially after midnight, and there are good reasons for that. There was one night we stayed out particularly late at a bubble tea place. And when on our way back to the hotel, I saw many street urchins by the road, looking dazed and sporting blood-shot eyes. They were sniffing glue openly. Who knows if they might hurt us for money or what. Somemore we had female company with us, we could not take flight as fast as we would have wanted should anything happen. Although it is likely that I would be the slowest runner anyway.

One of the 'attractions' in Phomn Penh is the Tuol Sleng Musuem, where the infamous tortures by the Khmer Rouge took place. All those piles of skulls you see in news are found here. This used to be a school compound, when the Khmer Rouge took over Phomn Penh, they used this place as a interrogating centre. Nobody sent here was known to leave that place alive. The evidences of atrocities was only discovered when government troops took over Phomn Penh again and stormed the complex. The Khmer Rouge had no time to end this poor guy's pain when the troops stormed in. The victim was chained to the bed and tortured with electric shocks, and found bloodied and badly burnt, and barely alive. The barb wires fencing up the corridors are there to prevent the prisoners from commiting suicide by jumping. There's a undescribeable, uncomfortable atmosphere when we were touring the 'facilities'. The torture 'tools' were left intact, the little 'chambers' where suspected 'traitors' are holed up in are presented as is, and all the carefully documented of the records of the victims by the Khmer Rouge are on display. All of the victims had there photographs taken while seated on a chair specially designed for that purpose; it had a stick on the backrest that will prop and position your head upright. This place, in short, is the closest replica of hell on earth. It's a horrible time recalling what I saw in that compound. It's heart wrenching to see mankind inflicting unneccessary pain on another man, citing the excuse of protecting ideals.

We also visited the Central Market and the Russian Market. This is the famous clock tower inside the Central Market. You can get anything here, anything. Hailiang bought his maglite here, I bought my Cambodian Phrase Book here. The Central Market is a legacy of the French influence in the region.
The architectural style of this building is very unique to the region. But most of our shopping exploits are done in Russian Market instead. I bought all my fake LP there, my North Face waterbag, 2 multitool knives and all the souvenirs for family.

Phomn Penh is a pretty happening place. Lotsa things to eat, try and enjoy. The riverside is full of dining places, and the city is dotted with internet cafes. In part II, we bus up to Siem Reap.