Cambodia Day 4 (Phnom Penh) : Killing field (Choeung Ek) + Sunset tour on ATV

5D4N Cambodia Feb 2014 : Phnom Penh

continue from Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)

Booked a tour for Killing Field + sunset on ATV and the free pick up from our hotel at 4pm.

Killing Fields of Cheung Ek is situated 15 kilometers south-west of Phnom Penh. Although it was only around 20-40 minutes drive depending on the traffic, we did not expect to journey was this unbearable. Not only it was very dusty due to many construction along the roadside, the road was extremely bumpy. All of us brought a mask from Singapore but we did not bring it out that evening.....we dipped tissue with water to cover our noses and double protected our faces with our tee shirts.

Ok lah.. I should thank god that it was not a wet weather..

Finally we reached Killing Field of Choeung Ek. We bought the entrance tickets + audio sets (US$5 each). Please buy audio set. You can listen as you walk around the area. 

A commemorative stupa filled with more than 5,000 skulls of the victims at the Killing Field of Choeung Ek.

This tree is weird...

There are audio numbers where you could fast forward or repeat the audio while you walk.

 In order to save ammunition, the executions were often carried out using poison, spades or sharpened leaves blades like this.

Before 1975, this was a Chinese cemetery until the head of this Khmer Rouge regime - Pol Pot who described as the "Hilter of Cambodia" took over for the wrong purpose.

There are many holes on the ground. These are graves. Mass graves where the victims were buried in dead or alive. They were transported from S-21 prison.

The bones and teeth fragment that were exhumed can still be seen on the ground after the flood and raining.

Some of the cambodian kids. They asked me to take photo of them.

The ribbon bands are the blessings of the people.

Children and infants of adult victims were killed by having their heads bashed against the trunks of Chankiri trees (as above). This was to stop them growing up and taking revenge for their parents' deaths.

This place is less overwhelming than in Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) perhaps due to more sunlight. Underneath this peaceful place, it actually masked the horrors that unfolded here less than three decades ago.

We then proceeded to our last activity in Cambodia.

A before shot with cleaner shoes and sunglasses.

Then we embarked on a bumpy ride again and I was the last in the line again. Why I always the last one? Frankly speaking, I did not really enjoy the whole ride as I was looking out for people crossing the road and holes on the road instead of enjoying the view of the country roads, passing paddies, bridges and pagodas. I guess this is more stressful than horse riding.

 ...and I dropped my lens cover while riding.. =(

but this sunset made it up~

This finally concluded our stay in Cambodia. I would say this trip made me realise how fortunate we are now. My friend read from somewhere that if this killing spree did not happen, Cambodia might be more advanced than Singapore. 

Killing field and sunset tour on ATV

Web: http://nature-cambodia.com/?page_id=22 

Price: US$30 (inclusive of the Killing Field entrance fee + audio set)

Cambodia Day 4 (Phnom Penh) : Toto Ice Cream and Dessert Cafe

5D4N Cambodia Feb 2014 : Phnom Penh

Needed a break from the cruel but saddening atmosphere at Toul Sleng Genocide Museum. We headed straight to this cutie cafe which is just one street away from Royal Palace. #mustcafehopeveninoversea #actuallytheweatherwastohottobear #justwanttoenjoyaircon

Just a street away from Royal Palace~

Incorporated with Valentine day, the cafe was filled with many loves~ and two scary persons in the window..

Toto ice cream, which is modeled after Italian gelato, is said to be homemade and 95 per cent fat free!

so resort-feel~

I could laze here for the whole day~

Let's start ordering now!!

Too many choices of ice cream to choose from~

Toto Monster - U$8.80

Flavours as below: 

Raspberry yogurt

Longan, Cookie and cream

Mint chocolate, Pandan, Hazelnut

French vanilla, Strawberry Sorbet

Blue Sky

My favourite is the strawberry sorbet! I did not expect it to be so good as I do not really fancy strawberry~ Definitely is the flavour to order in a scorching day!

Six Senses Mini Cone U$2.20

So #InstagramWorthyLah!

Mango Crepe - U$4.70

Strawberry Lover Crepe - U$4.70

Age Defense Smoothies - U$3.00

This is the second item that I love so much! It was so kiwi-ish that as if you were eating fresh chill kiwi from its skin! 

Banana Waffles - U$4.50

6 items for around U$30! 

When the waiter returned with the bill in this ice cream cone, I let out a very loud "WOAH SO CUTE!" and immediately felt very bimbotic after that ~.~" #gooverseaalsothrowface

This was in fact our "lunch" for the day. Please please please visit this cafe if you are in the proximity! 

Toto Ice Cream and Dessert Cafe

Address: 75 Norodom Blvd., Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Phone: 023 668 999

Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm

Cambodia Day 4 (Phnom Penh) : Royal Palace + Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)

5D4N Cambodia Feb 2014 : Phnom Penh

I realised Cambodia focus greatly on their services line which boosts their tourism sector. Tourists can plan their itinerary and book tuktuk services online before the trip. Convenient! Fast! Good attitude! Helpful! Comes with reasonable prices! *thumbs up* #neighbourcountrypleaselearnok

We booked our driver for around 6 hours today for 3 places: Royal Palace, Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) and Russian Market including our dessert break at Toto cafe. He quoted us U$15.

Royal Palace

Preah Timeang Tevea Vinicchay : The Throne Hall

The Throne Hall was built in 1866 to serve as the residence for King of Cambodia and as a venue for diplomatic and other official meeting in the past. It was a symbol of the Kingdom. Today, it is served as a place for religious and royal ceremonies (such as royal weddings).

front view

Hor Samrith Phimean also know as the ‘Bronze Palace’

Preah Reach Damnak Chan - currently houses the administrative offices of the Royal Palace.

Silver Pagoda (Wat Preah Keo Morokat - The Temple of Emerald Buddha)

Within the same walled compound, Silver Pagoda sits next to the Royal Palace only separated by a walkway. The floor was laid with solid silver tiles and hence came the name. This is the place where the King and the monks gather for religious topics. Unlike other pagodas, there is no monks live at this pagoda.

Ramayana Frescoes

Silver Pagoda and Royal Palace are separated by this walls that is covered with stunning frescoes painting depicting Reamker stories but is fading away due to neglected care.

Stupa - hemispherical structure containing the ashes of HM King Suramarit and HM Queen Kossomak 

Statue of HM King Norodom Equestrian statue of the King Norodom.

Model of Angkor Wat

Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

Address: Samdech Sothearos Boulevard, 2 km from Wat Phnom

Admission Price: U$6.50/pax

 Opening hours: Daily 7:30am-11:00am / 2:00pm-5:00pm.

Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) 

Tuol Sleng (in Khmer) 

means 

"Hill of the Poisonous Trees"

We visited the place where it was known as one of the bloodiest genocide in history happened between 1975 to 1979.

Chronology of Cambodia

Khmer Rouge is the communist party of Kampuchea in Cambodia. After they have won Cambodia Civil War, they have turned Toul Sleng which previously was a high school into a detention/torture/interrogation facility. They have renamed to S-21 which stands for "Security Prison 21". The prisoners were those who against them during the war.

The classrooms were divided up into tiny cells to serve as prison or torture chambers.

The rooms were divided into small cell by brick walls or wooden separators. 

Above were the 10 strict regulation that the prisoners must follow.

Photographs of victims were killed by torture and execution. They even have the display of the instruments used during the interrogation.

Extensive records of stories or confession from victims themselves.

Building was also enclosed in a fishnet of electrified barbed wires to prevent escapes or committing suicide.

There was very minimal of sunlight in the rooms/tiny cells. Although there was no awkward smell, the overwhelming negativity magnetic field made us very difficult to breathe.

A rusting iron bedframe in one of the classrooms

This bigger room was used to detaining cadres who were accused of leading the uprising against Khmer Rouge. The windows were paneled with glass to minimize the screaming being heard outside of the facility in times of torture.

A picture on the wall illustrated a tortured victim on the bed with bloodstain on the ground.

Estimated around 17,000 people were imprisoned at Tuol Sleng where the prisoners were repeatedly tortured and coerced into naming family members and close associates who were against the Khmer Rouge. Any disobedient prisoners were suffered to physical torture, such as electric shocks and searing hot metal instruments and hanging, until they confess to the crime they did or did not do.

The illustrated picture shows how this torture tools was being used.

With these kind of inhuman torture, I guess anyone would rather to admit to any crime they did not do than repeatedly being tortured physically and mentally every single day. Even if they conceded, they were still killed after confession. 

Gallows

Before S-21, this wooden pole was used by students to conduct their exercise. The Khmer Rouge utilized this as one of the interrogation places. The prisoners were tied both hands behind their back using a rope and lift upside down. When they had lost consciousness, their heads were then dipped into the barrel of filthy water. This shocked the prisoners back into consciousness and the interrogators could continued their interrogation.

Unable to take the torture or the unhygienic living condition or being murdered, many had died and were buried within the same compound as the prison. However, soon they ran out of burial spaces, the prisoner and their family were taken to the Choeung Ek extermination centre (Killing Field), fifteen kilometers from Phnom Penh where we were going later in the day.

Heard from other tour guide, there were only twelve survivors out of 17,000 prisoners. These survivors were kept alive because they had skills that the Khmer Rouge deemed to be useful. As of 2011, only three are believe to be still alive. We saw one of the three at the museum promoting books who we did not buy the book. 

Compound is surrounded by rows of corrugated iron fence covered with dense barbed wire.

The former prison – once a school – is a chilling sight. Nobody thought a school would turn into a prison and  finally a graveyard. Today, it serves as a museum, a memorial and a testament to the inhuman act of the Khmer Rouge.

Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)

Admission: U$3/pax

Open everyday, including holidays 8:00am-5:00pm. 

Address: Corner of Street 113 and Street 350 4.3 km from Wat Phnom