On Wednesday 29th April we left our hotel in the early hours of the afternoon and set off to Tuol Sleng Museum.
This incredible, yet heartbreaking place, was once originally a school, but under the Khmer Rouges reign, this once happy place was turned into a horrific prison. It was here they enslaved and tortured anyone who opposed Pol Pots 'perfect' government.
When you walk into this eerie place you can see, from the layout, how it used to be a school and the transitions they made to turn it into a terrifying place.
Around the prison site there are different levels and blocks.
In these areas there are various victims stories, background information, photos and torture items.
Walking around you experience so many mixed emotions learning the Cambodians past.
It's definitely a place to experience first hand, as we can't even begin to explain how many emotions hit you at once.
We have very few photos of our trip as there were many signs in and around every building specifically stating not to take photos inside the cells, so please respect this. Many people were however not treating this place with the respect it deserves.
One of the survivors was there selling his book which goes in to great detail of his experiences whilst in cell 22.
Just reading the blurb we were intrigued by his story and bought a copy. This lovely gentleman gave us the option to have a photo taken but as a sign of respect we refused politely as we don't see why this man who had been through such tragedy should be used as a tourist attraction.
After meeting this incredible man, Mr Chum Mey, and thanking him massively for his book we jumped back in our tuk tuk.
We then headed towards Choeung Ek which is the mass grave site better known as "The Killing Fields".
As you walk around the orchard in a systematic order you select the relevant audio numbers that you need.
The audio guide explained at each point what building was originally there and the terrifying tortures that's took place in this field.
The guide educates you on the Khmer Rouges outrageous plan to create the 'perfect' government and the extreme torturing ways they went about it.
We can honestly say we didn't know that much about the revolution when we arrived, however after visiting and reading for ourselves what went on, our eyes were well and truly opened.
The memorial is a beautiful building and the grounds have a sense of tranquillity and peace surrounding them.
The burial sites have been decorated with visitors bracelets, which have been left as a token of respect, this adds a new perspective to the site.
We are glad we went, not only so we could pay our respects but also to learn.
It honestly hit us a lot harder than we ever thought possible learning about Cambodias not so distant past.
Top Tips
▪️Cover up, no knees, no shoulder and girls no wraps or shalls.
▪️Entry Fees - $6pp for the Killing Fields/$3pp for the Museum
▪️Very Important! Please be Respectful! We can't stress this enough. If it says no photos, they mean no photos! Be quiet when it says to be. And as horrible as it may sound, please take care when walking around, especially at the killing fields. Bones and clothes of victims are still emerging to the surface due to weathering, but the staff there will collect and move them, you do not touch!
We realise this is quite a serious post for us, but we feel that this is something that is a huge part of Cambodias history and needs to be read about. Especially as the amount of lives that were lost in such a devastating and inhumane way from something that only ended in 1979.
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