May 15 (Phnom Penh, Cambodia)

May 15

We knew today was going to be a difficult day as we prepared ourselves to visit S-21 aka Tuol Sleng Genocide Musuem (the notorious security prison ran by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge in the 70’s) and the killing fields. As soon as you stepped foot in s-21, you could feel its eeriness. Aside from the obvious that it was a torture chamber for people of all ages, s-21 is pretty much in the city of Phnom Penh. Additionally, before it was a torture chamber it was a high school which in a nutshell represents what Pol Pot was doing (exterminating any educated and/or high ranking officials). Additionally, this all happened only 30 years ago!!! From ’75-’79, about 17,000 people were imprisoned at s-21. It was tough to swallow everything during the tour, as we were able to walk through the cells of prisoners, view skulls of the people killed there (some you could even see bullet holes where they were shot in the head), and see some of the torture instruments used.

In the afternoon we took a ride out to the killing fields where countless people were murdered by the Khmer Rouge (estimates vary between 700,000 – 3.1 million people). Obviously this was a heavy site to handle. When you first enter the museum, there is a huge stupa filled with the skulls of the victims of the killing fields (in Buddhism, having this stupa is a way to show respect to the dead). After the stupa, you walk through the field where deep holes are easily visible (once graves of the dead), as well as massive burial sites of women and children where you could see bones, teeth and the victim's clothes in the ground. What certainly struck us was in the back corner of the field a bunch of kids were playing behind barbed wire. Apparently there is a school right next door to where this tragedy took place.

It’s quite devastating to see what the Khmer Rouge did in the 70’s. It’s also interesting to note that none of us were ever taught in detail what took place. Being able to see this firsthand was certainly an eye-opener and the fact that this happened in the 70’s is a shocker.

Inside s-21

Cells in s-21

10 rules all prisoners had to follow

14 graves of people found at s-21

s-21 was a converted high school

Stupa at the killing fields