Explore The World

We only spent a couple of weeks in Cambodia. We will definitely go back. We loved the small taste of this wonderful country.

Map of places we visited in Cambodia

The food and of course beer is fantastic.

We arrived by boat from Vietnam up the Mekong River and into Phnom Penh. We highly recommend it as its a great way to just observe life along the Mekong.

A pool was always a must with our accommodation as the weather was hot and sticky. Accommodation was always superb and affordable.

Cambodia has a very dark history in the late 70s ruled by Pol Pot.

Anybody who was educated was taken to different locations, interrogated and tortured.

Below is a school that was turned into such a place – S11

Take a tour and witness the torture equipment, the classrooms where prisoners were chained to the floor and photos of all the innocent people who were taken and ultimately killed. Their only crime was being educated or owing a business.

You can see the atrocities first hand – its very sobering.

Once interrogated and tortured many of the prisoners were then taken out of Phnom Penh to what has become known as the “killing fields“

Prisoners were bludgeoned to death and buried in these fields

They have a glass memorial of all the victims skulls

What makes it all the more chilling is that if I had been born in Cambodia I would have ended up being a victim and a skull.

The genocide started in 1975 and ended in 1979. One third of the population were murdered by the Khmer Rouge regime. In 1975 I was 16 so would have been a victim.

Memorial to the victims

Today thankfully it is a different place today.

Small business and markets are thriving

Full to the brim

Wander the streets – we love observing other cultures

We then flew to Siem Reap which is just a short flight North.

Pub Street in Siem Reap – iconic. Cheap grub and beer for $1.00!

Angkor Wat – the main area is crazy busy

The tourists love it!

We hired a Tuk Tuk driver for 3 days and went exploring – cost US$70 for 3 days!!

The Angkor Wat area is huge, stretching some 400km2 – get off the main tourist bus route and it is almost deserted.

This is where Tomb Raider was filmed

3 days really gives you time to explore and get away from the crowds and see ruins galore

A very empty spot

I cannot say enough about amazing Angkor Wat – it will blow your mind! Go visit one of the most incredible archaeological sites in the world.

We also took a boat into one of the lakes where people actually live on the lake

Life on the water – it was fascinating just seeing how they live

Life is slow and always time for a nap

It was just fascinating – temple on the water as well.

Back to Siem Reap through the country – drying rice on the road

Our Tuktuk driver/tourist guide after 3 fabulous days

What more can I say about our brief stay in Cambodia. We only got a small taste of the country and what we saw we loved! The dark history, the people, the food, the awe inspiring sites of Angkor Wat, the countryside, Phnom Penh, seeing a village on the lake, cruising the mighty Mekong and much more.

We will definitely go back in retirement!