I have been fortunate in my life to visit 16 different countries. A common question when people discover this is, which country is your favourite and why? The answer is Cambodia. Why is a bit more complicated. I have visited Cambodia 3 times now, but the first visit made the biggest impression. I had just experienced 8 months of fun and sun in Australia, 5 weeks of adventure in New Zealand and 30 days in Bali, but Cambodia was different to all these, it humbled me!
This is not a serious blog, but the history of Cambodia should be a lesson that is never repeated. If you are interested, documentaries or books by John Pilger on the subject are a good place to start. Also, The killing Fields (1984) movie is worth a watch. The changes I have seen in this country over 6 years is also frightening. Tourism is big business since Tomb Raider with five star hotels popping up all over the place, some even have helipads on the roof to cater for the likes of Mick Jagger when he wants to visit. I too like luxury and love the treat of a champagne breakfast or a hotel swimming pool, but it is important not to lose sight of the fact that children are waiting outside KFC for chicken bone scraps! Type into google images, Cambodia trash dump, for more perspective!!!
Like I said this is not a serious blog. Here are some photo's of the time Lauren and I visited Cambodia. The one place in the world I wanted to show her!
The killing fields
Skulls
Victims clothes
Sound thinking by the execusioners!
A different form of head hunting!
Be quiet please!
I am not against the regime but I don't think he was Polish!
There are a lot of weapons in Cambodia and mine, mine, mines!!
There's an elephant in the room!
Travelling like this with boxes, on your bike!
An elephant facing the other way!
A humble abode.
A small island
A faceless lion.
Another elephant in the distance facing the other way?
Man tug of war, but they are missing something!
The many faces of Bayon Temple
Angkor what?
Odd man out.
Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 prison)
Before being turned into a prison it was a High School
More than 17,000 people were held here before being taken to the killing fields.
Make-shift cells, where classrooms once were.
Going for a walk.
Play me another one.
Tear it down.
The guesthouse where we stayed.
