After visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, you might want to head directly to the Choeung Ek Killing Field to get a feel of how the prisoners felt years ago.
I hired a tuk-tuk and the driver waited for me. Expect to spend almost 2 hours here. Longer if you want to listen to the full audio tour and reflect on the tragedy that happened.
Admission Fee : US$6 per adult (inclusive of audio tour device rental)
Operating Hours: 0800 - 1700
Wear comfortable footwear as you'll be walking a lot. Set the audio tour to your preferred language, consult the map in the leaflet given and start your tour!
There are plenty of benches and places you can sit at while listening to the audio tour.
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| See the number on board? Press the same number on the device. |
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| Former Chinese Ceremonial Gazebo |
Between 1975 to 1979, Cambodia lost about 21% of her people. The Khmer Rouge, headed by the infamous Pol Pot killed people for being educated, wearing spectacles, speaking a foreign language, and many other similarly silly reasons. I found it amusing that many of the people who committed atrocities on Pol Pot's name had never actually seen the guy. Can't help thinking that a lot of them probably took advantage of the situation and got rid of their personal enemies with false accusations.
The Khmer Rouge also murdered their own soldiers for whatever slightest suspicion they had on them. A mass grave with headless bodies wearing army uniform can be found in Choeung Ek. There were also 9 Europeans found in Choeung Ek. It sure sounds like the Khmer Rouge killed anyone they could.
Among their mottos are:
"Keeping you is no gain, losing you is no loss"
"Better to kill an innocent by mistake than to spare an enemy by mistake"
Totally not paranoid group of monsters. Not.
The 'field' was originally an old Chinese cemetery. You'll be able to see what's left of the tombstone; careful so you don't step on them (and the bones). Once, a loud speaker was hanged on one of the trees. It broadcasted traditional songs so the villagers around the complex couldn't hear the screams from the tortured and murdered victims.
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| Walk on the Path Lake: Music and Memories |
The above is a nice spot to listen to the survivor stories. Some local kids might ask for alms from outside of the fence.
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| The tree which babies were smashed against and just buried in a nearby grave. |
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| Spirit House |
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| Memorial Stupa |
Visitors can go into the memorial stupa and buy flowers/incense offering. Then, head to the museum to see some exhibitions and watch the video show.
Lastly, return the audio player to the staff near the entrance.
There are some eateries outside the complex. Not sure if there's any halal food though :)
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