We had offered a lift to Florentine, who is a friend of Niall and Billy. A 73 year old American living in Phnom Penh. Fluent in French and earned a living translating and teaching languages. Has had a colourful life so far and once dated the Irish poet Seamus Heany. She has been thinking of moving to Kampot and with the recent addition of a German run hospital it is a possibility. I can see the appeal. With a nice breeze and expat community it is my favourite place in Cambodia so far. A very spiritual place that may not survive the looming crowds that will come. Taxi we hired only takes 2.5 hours. I am glad there were no spaces on the bus! Dropped off back at the Eighty8 , Florentine drives off into the distance. Dumping our bags we head out to see the sites. First stop is the National Museum. A number of artifacts from Angkor and Siem Reap are based here. Impressive statues, jewellery, weapons and religious artifact's. Next stop is the Grand Palace. We decide to get a guide which turns out to be well worth it. He explains about the different buildings from the Kings meeting hall, dance hall, to the main palace itself(off limits). The silver pagoda is joined on and has lots of Stupa where previous Kings and family are buried. The central Pagoda is incredible. The floor is made from solid silver, each slab a kilo. Lots of offerings from people shaped in gold silver and pottery created over the years are on display. The central prayer statue is fascinating with a 2 foot jade Buddha surrounded by gold.
We head to Tuol Sleng (S-21) where people were tortured and killed by the Khmer Rouge during their 4 year oppression. As you walk round the old school, it is a sombre experience. On one side you see the beds where the officials were kept, chained to their beds. Moving round you see the individual tiny cells and read the horrific stories of what was done here. Families were taken, babies to adults who were brutally tortured and killed. Anyone who screamed out would be electrocuted and tortured more. Coming to the end section you see a cabinet full of the victims clothes with photos of all of them. A room with skulls finishes off the tour. Incredible this happened within my lifetime. I could write alot more about this place but its etched into my brain now and no need to document the evil that occurred here. There is google for that.
Grab a light bite with Craig (spring rolls and pakora). Both of us are dehydrated and stop to rest here for awhile. Craig had been told about free meditation at a local wat nearby. I leave him to his own voyage and get a tuk tuk back to the hostel.
I meet our roomies in the dorm. A nice Caribbean couple. An Italian couple and a posh English couple who's idea of travelling is seeing the inside of a well stocked hostel.
We go to the Korean restaurant Billy had mentioned, but have just missed the live show. The waitress doesn't understand why we get up and leave, but I'm looking for the full North Korean package. We get our tuk tuk back which happens to be made from an old bathtub. We stop down by the river for some Kymer Curry. Not the meal I had anticipated but we will be back in time for the Korean entertainment tomorrow.