Thursday 10th September, 2026
The first stop today was at an ancient bridge built in the 12th century. It was impressive to see the mark of the water level at its peak height, some 12 metres above where it currently sat. Our guide said it usually reached this height in September - yikes - it has a way to go !
Next stop was Santuk Silk Farm where we got to see the silk production process from feeding the silk worms, harvesting the silk from the cocoons, to dying and weaving of the silk into finished scarves. The farm was set up to give local women a chance to learn skills and contribute to the family income. We had lunch here as well which was locally made with fresh products - yum.
Another long drive in the bus brought us to Skuon Market, where we experienced tarantulas, both live and deep fried up close. Yes we had a trantula crawl around on our arms and were able to taste deep fried tarantala - we had a leg each, but couldn't bring ourselves to devour the whole body ! Our guide and at least one other person with us did ! Also on offer here were crickets, silk worms, and grasshoppers ! You could buy a mixed bag of these snacks to take to the movies!
Back on the bus to complete the drive to Phnom Penh arriving at 16:00 to check into the hotel.
We then had an orientation tour with our guide, in 3 tuk tuks to visit the Central Market (Psar Khmer), Wat Phnom, Mekong Riverfront, Royal Palace and the Independence Monument. It was a nice evening even though there was light rain, ending with a group dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Back in our room by 21:00
Friday 11th September, 2026
Today is all about Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. First stop is S21 - the site was once a high school but was turned into a prison, interogation and torture camp during the Pol Pot regime of the late 1970's.
We had a local guide join us on the bus and he gave us a full history of the lead up to the genocide that occurred where over 3 million people lost their lives. For no reason, citizens were evicted from their homes in the city, moved to the country to work solely for the production of food to feed the population. Pol Pot was being supported by China and North Vietnam, and through fear and force elimiated the country's academic and business leaders. They randomly accused citizens of being enemies of Angkor (the Pol Pot regime) and tortured them into confessing that they were enemies, and would then execute them ! Great - and the leaders of the prison camps probably enjoyed doing it. - What a disaster and relatively recent in the country's history.
It was a somber visit and the prison, cell blocks and torture equipment remains as a museum to the events. Also present were two survivors there to tell their story through books.
Next we visited the Killing Fields, about 15 km outside of the city centre, this is the place where the prisoners were sent to be executed in the most horrific ways and thrown into multiple mass graves. Some of the bones and clothes have been exhumed and are currently displayed in a 17 level stupa on the grounds as a memorial to the dead.
Once again a very sombre visit reflecting on the terrible suffering that must have occurred here. As the tour was concluding and the rain was getting quite a bit heavier, we had lunch at a restaurant next to the Killing Fields where we ordered tossed vegetables with blue cauliflower, which turned out not to be blue but actually green broccoli as the photo indicated !
The afternoon was a free afternoon and we took the opportunity to re-visit the Central Market in Phnom Penh.
Words fail me – tarantulas, insect protein and Killing Fields. I am sure each will lend themselves to stories to be told once you are back home.