Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Choeung Ek- The Killing Fields

Stupa that commorates the dead at Choeung Ek
It’s terrible to talk about something as gruesome and brutal as Choeung Ek as a “must do". But the experience of going to the Killing Fields is really incredible. You get a real feel of just how evil the Khmer Rouge regime was as you walk through the field and see remains everywhere. It’s important to watch your step carefully to make sure you’re not stepping on bones and clothing you can still see coming up through the soil.
  
The Killing Tree
We used the electronic audio version guide (included with your ticket) and the first person stories of how babies, women, soldiers and the educated were brutally tortured and killed is absolutely unbelievable. This site is a very important part of understanding what happened when Pol Pot & the Khmer Rouge brutalized Cambodia. 

These killing fields are an emotionally difficult place to visit but well worth it.The audio commentary made the visit very personal and we found the entire experience very touching. It is important for visitors to Cambodia to see Choeung Ek to understand how this recent history has shaped the country how.


Mass Graves
The displays are well thought out and have a large impact on visitors who are very quiet and respectful there. It is very touching. 

Remains of the murdered in the stupa
It’s hard to say this but Choeung Ek is highly recommended in honor of the people who were killed here and at other killing fields all over Cambodia.

Beautiful area where many are buried in mass graves
It’s also important to see the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The site is in a former high school. It was used as the notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21) by the Khmer Rouge regime from its rise to power in 1975 to its fall in 1979


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