Today we saw one of the most upsetting things... we went to the Genocide museum, and the killing fields! I had no idea of the extent of what these poor people of Cambodia have been through! The Genocide museum is the prison where thousands of people were tortured and killed. There were hundreds of pictures of the victims, pieces of their clothes, even their skulls. It was horrific. An elderly man was sat in one area outside, he was one of the 7 only survivors of the Khmer Rouge. He'd wrote an autobiography and I wanted to buy it, but I knew if I went over to him and spoke to him i'd start crying. I'd already had to walk out of one of the rooms after reading a survival story, of a man who was accused of things he hadn't done, was tortured to the point of unconciousness, and managed to escape after seeing his wife had been shot in front of him, and his child was left behind crying. I walked into the next room and there was a painting of how the babies had been killed, grabbed by the legs and had their heads smashed against a tree, while their mothers were made to watch before they were killed themselves. It was just too upseting. 20,000 people were killed. Horrendous.

We went to the killing fields after this, which was just as bad...the actual scene where they'd found mass graves, the tree where they killed the babies. Even officers of the Khmer Rouge still lay decapitated under the lake. It seems so peaceful now, with butterflies everywhere and trees. Its hard to imagine such a thing went on in this place. :-(

It's definitely been an eye-opener, and makes you realise how admirable it is that the Cambodian people are so lovely and friendly despite what they have been through.It should never have happened.

There was a guy outside the museum who'd had half his face burned off due to being tortured with hot substances poured into his one ear...he was begging for money, we gave him something. It was all a little too much to bear, I just wanted to cry and wish there was something I could do.

There's been more and more kids coming up to us trying to sell us things, or begging for food and money. Really upsetting. Phnom Penh certainly has seen a hell of a lot, and the poverty is stil a big thing here.

Tomorrow we go back to Bangkok, leaving here at 6am, for a ten hour journey. Then one more night in Bangkok and we're off to the Islands for xmas and new year. After being in such big cities it'll be strange being on a beach for the firt time since we've got here! Two weeks of nothing but beaches in our own bungalow on the beach... Maybe after everything we've seen today we're welcoming it. Although it doesn't take it away or mean its not going on, I think the more that people realise that the better. Theres absolutely no government help over here, or social care. Very unlike Britain where people don't really have to beg they get everything handed to them on a plate. Benefit claiming gits! >:-(

Anyway,going to get some sleep now as we gotta get up too early.
Mum & Dad i've heard your xmas tree looks fab ;-) Kirsty told me! Missing everyone and hope you're all ok! xxx