After being quickly herded to a small moto-pulled cart called a tuk-tuk, we set off into the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. During rush hour, with countless motorcycles, bikes, tuk-tuks, and cars going every which way (a meticulous science, a feat of magic to navigate), it is hard to believe this city was largely uninhabited during the reign of the Khmer Rouge (1975-1979). The Khmer Rouge was only officially in power for just under four years, yet during this time nearly a quarter of the population was killed. We learned about the genocide when we visited Tuol Sleng, the former Khmer Rouge prison that now serves as a museum to the genocide, and the killing fields, which is a site of mass graves a little outside the city. Below is a photo from Tuol Sleng, of the individual cells built to contain prisoners who would later be interrogated, tortured, and/or killed.
This is one of many many stark portraits of Cambodians murdered during this time.
The Killing Fields was a heavy place; it holds a very tragic history. Many Cambodians were murdered in this field, around 30 years ago, but now it seems disconcertingly calm and quiet. These skulls, behind this glass, are part of a monument to honor the many lost in the genocide.
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