Phnom Penh – First Impressions

 

The contrast with Singapore could not be greater.  From calm, clean and organised to chaos and, well lets say a little challenging in the cleanliness department.

Considering what the country has had to cope with in their recent history it is not surprising things are not quite Singapore slick.

 

So this is how you prepare for a day out in Phnom Penh

At least if you are going out in a tuktuk.  Glasses to protect your eyes and a mask to prevent inhalation of several kilos of grim, not to mention fumes from the maelstrom of motorbikes, tutktuks and SUV’s.   Vehicles maintain an amicable battle as they jostle for first place in the never ending line of traffic.  Occasionally they may be a surfaced road but more often the rough track plays a giant game of twister with potholes strategically place to provide the greatest disruption to flow.    SUVs may have the power, but the smaller your steed the faster you will arrive.  Come to a standstill and there is a mass exodus from the main stage as the stream follows any knowledgeable leader in a chase round the side streets, returning to the main drag some where after.

Tuktuk rides, as the MRT in Singapore,  linked together the inevitable tourist sites.  If you are old enough you may remember the film, The Killing Fields.  Cambodia is where it all happened and the evidence is scattered in mass graves across more than 200 sites over Cambodia.  Sites to remember the decimation of population by Pol Pot as he led the Khamer Rouge in the mass genocide of 25% of the population.

All that remains of the  graves are mere indentations in the ground.

But the monsoon still pulls the evidence of mans inhumanity to man from hidden depths

where each victim is logged and categorised lest we forgot.

as it is all too easy to do when your mind and eye drift over to the peace of the surrounding countryside.

A few sites survived the destruction and their beauty and reverence remain. Quiet, beautiful sanctuary amid the chaos of everyday living.  Though I was more than a little put out by the sight of hundreds of tiny caged birds.

Pay $1 to have one released to bring you good fortune.  $5 was a small price to pay to save at least 5 birds.  We will see about the good fortune.

Cambodia’s royal family live firmly behind the gates of their vast palace with it’s impressive stature and manicured lawns.

Though even they have their problems with the pigeons.

Ornate Khmer roofs set against the perfect blue sky,

and in the puddles of the monsoon.

A far cry from the killing fields

and the chaos of life outside.