Friday in Phnom Penh - Thomas & Wiley

Hello from Phnom Penh - Wiley and Thomas here. Today started with a disappointing 6:30 am optional visit to a nearby market. After all but two of us, enticed by the prospect of near free designer brands, dragged ourselves out of bed at the early hour of 6, we arrived at the market only to be met with closed doors and dingy halls. Following our visit to the market, we returned to the hotel for a brief breakfast before venturing out for the day. The first activity of the morning was a visit to the S21 (Security Center 21) torture camp. While there, we each individually listened to the story of how the once high school was transformed into a torture and prison camp of the Khmer Rouge government. The exhibits were striking, leaving us feeling shocked, numb, and raw. For us, the museum was an unforgettable experience that opened our eyes to the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge. Following S21, we went to a small cafe close by for a light lunch. From there, we returned to the hotel for some downtime, however, after some convincing, we, along with Dr. Nguyen, returned to the market, this time met with fake-goods galore. From there, we enjoyed an hour of group bonding activities and a discussion about our experiences at S21. To end the day, we visited the Cambodian National Stadium, where we took photos and participated in a dance mob, and then had dinner at a Vietnamese-Cambodian fusion restaurant. While the day was heavy at times, we appreciate the opportunity to continue to learn about Cambodian history and experience a new culture.