We arrive very early in Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city of Cambodia. The day starts with the very sad and emotional visit to recall the dark days of the Pol Pot Regime, we visit "The Killing Fields" Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the “Toul Slang “S21” Detention Centre.

The Killing Fields were a number of sites in Cambodia where large numbers of people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge regime, during its rule from 1975 to 1979, they arrested and eventually executed almost everyone suspected of connections with the former government or with foreign governments, as well as professionals and intellectuals. It was one of the worse human tragedies in history.

The detection centre was originally a former high school only a kilometre or so from the city centre, it was used as the notorious security prison, an estimated 17,000 people were imprisoned during the regime. The day in the prison began at 4.30am when prisoners were ordered to strip for inspection, they were tortured into naming family members and close associates, who were in turn arrested, tortured and killed. Two men and two children survived the centre to tell their stories, both men were at the centre to meet, listen to their stories. One child now works at the centre and the other nobody knows where he went to.

Much silence and sadness came over the group, as we listened to our guide tell us his story of his family and how some died and others lived including himself through this very hard time.

We were glad to return to the ship, what we saw was enough to understand what had happened.   Cambodia has returned to something approaching normality, private property was re-introduced, the practice of Buddhism permitted and the art of traditional dance revived, school re-opened and the cities re-populated. Cambodia now has a rediscovered pride in its cultural heritage and optimism about the future, we meet very forgiving people.

After lunch we visit the Royal Palace which was built in 1866, it's the home of the Cambodian King, most parts of the Royal Palace, except the Kings Building is open to the public.   The Palace is so grand and gold (see photos), the gardens surrounding make it a peaceful place to visit.   We notice a monkey watching down on us during the tour and we are told about the housing for the elephants that the King no longer has.

In the same complex we visit the Prasat Prak – Silver Temple, it was named this because of over 5000 pieces of its floor tiles are made from pure silver. Inside the building, you will discover a masterpiece of a Buddha statue along with hundreds of antique gifts, works of art and sculptures. The Buddha is made from pure gold, has 2086 diamonds attached to it and weighs over 90 kilograms. Almost as heavy as some of us or heavier Dad says, ha ha !!

We return for a special traditional Cambodian Dance performed by the dainty and all smiles Khmer children.