Phnom Penh- Part II Cambodia

Our next stop was Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city in Cambodia. It was quite the journey on the public bus getting from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. Our wonderful G Adventures tour leader, Kinal, had told us on day one that we must learn to go with the flow while traveling in Asia and this was one of those days. About an hour into the 7 hour journey, the air conditioning had shut down on the bus. We had two options, wait on the side of the road in 100 degrees for two hours for a new bus, or keep on going and roll down the windows. We kept on going across the country over bumpy dirt roads known as "free massage roads." I stuck my head out the window to feel the breeze against my face, when I leaned back in, my face was completely covered in mud. It was unbearably hot, mud and rain were spraying in the windows, but we were going with the flow- that is what travel is all about. We finally arrived in Phnom Penh around 8pm, exhausted and hungry. We decided to have a mellow night and dine on the rooftop of our hotel. We sat staring out at the spectacular skyline of Phnom Penh, enjoyed our dinner and a late night swim in the rooftop pool, then called it a night.

Taking photos of the countryside out the window

We stopped for a snack....yes those are bugs.

Muddy roads of Cambodia

The following day was filled with emotions of sorrow as we visited Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the site of the S-21 prison, and the Killing Fields  where thousands of innocent people were tortured and killed during the Khmer Regime. Before coming to Cambodia I had never heard about the devastating genocide that occurred there only 30 years ago. I stood there face to face with two of the survivors and could not help but cry. I cried because it is hard not to when you can still see the blood stains in the torture chambers. But I also cried because of how little I knew about this genocide. We are taught about the Holocaust and Darfur, but never has the Khmer Regime and Pol Pot ever been mentioned in a history class. I just wanted to know more, how did this happen? Why did Pol Pot target the educated? And how did the rest of the world not stop him?  I consider myself an educated, worldly person yet I stood there feeling so incredibly naive to the world. What else is going on in the world that I am unaware of?

Annabel and I with one of the survivors, Chum Mey

*It didn't feel right taking too many pictures at these sights 

After a day of sadness we all needed a drink. Kinal took us to a restaurant called Friends. The restaurant is not only well known in Cambodia, but famous around the world as an NGO working with young adults to train them for a better future. Let me just tell you....the food was amazing!!! I had been living off plain noodles and steamed veggies since we left The Banyan Tree in Bangkok, so to enjoy more modern food was unbelievable. We all indulged in dishes like steak quesadillas, sweet potato fries and pesto pasta. To top off the experience, a few of us finally tried the Cambodian delicacy- FRIED TARANTULA!!! Yes, I did it...I ate tarantula! I would include the videos but there is far too much profanity, lets just say trying tarantula was an experience, not necessarily one I would recommend.

Fried tarantula

Refreshing drinks with Josh and Shaun

Yummy!

Post tarantula lunch, a few of us decided to skip the nap and head to the Russian markets. What a chaotic scene! Stall after stall selling everything from t-shirts to cats to raw fish. I thought the San Lorenzo market in Florence was a bit much, but this was pure insanity. We all bargained for a few souvenirs and then hopped on a Tuk Tuk back to the city center where we met the rest of the group for our Cyclo tour!

Sabrina and I during our crazy Tuk Tuk ride

Fish stand at the Russian market

Meat stand at the Russian market

Before modern technology and motorized Tuk Tuk's, Cyclos were the primary method of transport in Phnom Penh. However, the Cyclo profession has now died out leaving the drivers with little to nothing- some of the poorest people in the country. The Cambodian tourism board began an NGO called the Cyclo Center which provides Cyclo drivers with the opportunity to earn money by taking tourists on Cyclo tours around the city. It was by far the best way I have ever gone about touring a city. Forget walking tours or bus tours....take a Cyclo tour and not only will you have the very best views of the city sites, but you will also be giving back to the community of Cyclo drivers, creating a better life them. 

First stop on the Cyclo tour- Wat Phnom

Infront of the Independence monument

Cyclo-ing around the city

The whole crew in front of the Royal Palace

Our Cyclo tour dropped us off in the central square of the city where locals gather for activities. We decided to join in the Zumba group. That evening was one of my favorite nights of the trip. We had dinner on a terrace overlooking the water, and spent the night laughing, singing and dancing as we hopped around to the local hangouts meeting fellow travelers from all over the world.

View from the dinner table

Casual Zumba with the locals

Cambodian bars love to give everyone their own pitcher haha!

It was the perfect end to our time in Phnom Penh. The next morning was a very rough 6am wakeup call, we were off to the beaches of Cambodia in Sianhoukville.