Phnom Penh Day 2: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 Prison) And Choeung Ek Killing Field

Previously:
Phnom Penh Day 1: Mekong Express Limousine Bus And Angkor International Hotel

We grab one of Tuk Tuk parking in front of our hotel.  With $20 for a half day trip to Toul Sleng, Choeung Ek and Central Market, it was totally alright with us.  And luckily, we got a great guy as well.

So many dust in Cambodia, we well prepared

OK, roughly a brief story about why do we need to visit this Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or more known as S21 prison?  Not so long ago, around 1978, there is this cruel guy called Pol Pot.  He established a group called Khmer Rouge, which then he used to accomplish his dream and goal, to conquer this country.  He killed (I mean he leads his organisation to kill) more than 2 millions people in Cambodia.  All doctors, professors, and all those innocent people as long as you look smart, wear glasses, or be able to speak two languages are in their list.  Not only that, their whole family including newborn babies and women in their family root are also been captured.  Because Pol Pot has a motto (as I heard from the audio guide while I was in Choeung Ek),  " It is better to kill innocent people as a mistake rather than keeping an enemy as a mistake."  This sentence is still lingering in my mind.  How could a person be so cruel and heartless.

This place is originally a normal school.  On the day they raid the country, this Khmer Rouge took over this place and used it as a prison.  Once they captured those innocent people, they forcefully interrogated then sent them to the next place, which was Choeung Ek or Killing Field.  The people had been blindfold transported to Killing Field area by the truck.  The worst part was they thought they were going to be released.  As the area was too dark and they turned on a loud happy music to made them confused.  It was actually become their last place to be alive.  The purpose of turning on those loud happy music, is because they don't want to hear and let the neighbors hear those screaming or crying sounds.  What an evil things!

I do not want to spoil much of the story.  It is a really good experience, if you guys could actually see it by your own eyes.  By the way, to get the whole story about this history, you need to visit S21 Prison first, then followed by Choeung Ek or Killing Field.  I kinda understand like 90% of the story but once we watched the Killing Field movie in the hotel after we got back from this tour, we were fully understood everything.

Previously, it was a normal school

Torturing room

Choeung Ek or Killing Field

Here is The Killing Field, where it brought the tears in my eyes.  Most of everyone use the audio guide on their ears and slowly moving from one spot to another.  Very Quite and gloomy, no one smiling, some even crying.  There is also sign saying that we need to be careful when walking on the ground as some human bones are still scattered there, as it was too much and they still has not finished collecting them all.

This hole is used to pile up the body (died and half alive) of thousand of women and kids

This huge tree, in here where I couldn't stand my tears.  They used to smash the kids (below 3 years old) by the tree and throw them away.  Most of the killing are done by using any equipment beside guns.  You could see from the head fractured and for the babies and kids, they are pretty tiny and light so they just grabbed them by the leg and bang them with this spiky big tree for an easy killing.  Gun is so expensive therefore they use whatever tools in there, as so much people they need to kill.

After visiting those sorrowful places, that I have learned so much after today.  The tuk tuk driver took us to one of the restaurant, called tuk Tuk Cafe to have our lunch there.  Another great yummy Cambodian meal we had.  This time we had been recommended to try this local soup dish, Khmer Samlor Machu Krueng.  It is a savoury sour soup with slightly spicy.  You could choose fish or beef to be served with kangkung (morning glory).  Very refreshing, we could smell a strong turmeric spice in the soup and a thick texture from coconut milk.  It is another menu to be added on my favorite food lists.

Grilled Pork Rib with steamed rice $3.75

Grilled Pork with steamed rice $3.75

Khmer Samlor Machu Krueng Soup $6

Central Market

Tuk Tuk Café
38A Street 350, Phnom Penh
Tel: 012687285


Stay tuned for the next blog in Siem Reap:
Siem Reap Day 1: Golden Butterfly Villa, Siem Reap

Phnom Penh Day 1: Mekong Express Limousine Bus and Angkor International Hotel, Phnom Penh

Previously:
Vietnam Day 6 (Part 2): White Rose Restaurant, Hoi An

In the early morning, we left Hoi An.  From our hotel, we booked a private transfer to Danang Airport.  It took us about 40 minutes drive then we flown back to Ho Chi Minh.  Then back to our old hotel, Bich Duyen, where we were waiting for our bus to pick us up going to Phnom Penh.  With Mekong Express Bus that we purchased in advance from our hotel receptionist for 17 USD.  The bus left at 1pm and arrived at Phnom Penh at around 7pm. 

Air conditioning bus with complimentary snack

Tuk tuk took us to our hotel for 4USD (about 15 minutes)

Caramelized pork

At first, we totally had no idea about what Cambodian food is!  We had tried all South East Asian food in Australia but Cambodian food, like genuine Cambodian delicacies, we had never seen one in there.  We were completely clueless entering to one of the local restaurant at that night.  We ordered something common in the beginning, which were caramelized pork and sundried beef served with rice.  We were absolutely blown off.  It was surprisingly delicious.  Especially that dips, the salt pepper lime dip was great compliment to this beef dish.  We were looking forward to more meals in Cambodia.  So stay tuned and Octie Appetie...



Sundried beef

Angkor International Hotel

148, 14206, 50 Street 02A, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Tel: +855 23 217 609

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Phnom Penh:
Phnom Penh Day 2: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 Prison) And Choeung Ek Killing Field

Vietnam Day 6 (Part 2): White Rose Restaurant - Hoi An. Lo Banh Bao Banh Vac

Previously:

Vietnam Day 6: Hoi An Central Market And Banh Mi Phuong

What the hype about this restaurant which famous with their 2 menus?  Wait a second, but that's what they serve, 2 food only.  With only two food in the house, of course it has to be good.  The 2 menus are white rose dumpling (as named of the restaurant as well) and fried wonton (Hoi An pizza).  The steamed dumpling is the original recipe since third generation ago.  The shrimp filling was tasty wrapped in translucent dough.  Similar like har gow, but this one is more special with deep-fried shallot sprinkled on top.  The name is white rose dumpling, not because there is rose filling in there, but they lay out together and shaped like a rose.

White Rose Dumpling 70,000VND

Fried wonton - Hoi An pizza 100,000VND

For me, this fried wonton or what they called Hoi An pizza is a better dish than the rose dumpling.  It was like eating a seafood- Hawaiian pizza with a super crunchy base.  It was a great combination of flavor with sweet sour came from pineapple and tomatoes, then the choice of shrimps instead of any meat made it light and fresh.  The wonton skin-base was so thin and crunchy.  It was completely a flawless dish.  Definitely a must try dish while you were in Hoi An.

Back again to Ho Chi Minh the next day, before we were heading to Phnom Penh.  And we made a short stop for lunch at one of the famous restaurant according to our local friend.  Quan An Ngon is a huge restaurant serving local Vietnamese delicacies.  It was a slightly pricey compared with any street food out there.  However, you guarantee getting the clean tasty dish with a big portion size as well.  So, it definitely worth the money spent.

Bun Thit Nuong 57,000VND

Com Tam Bi Opla 57,000VND

White Rose (Lo Banh Bao Banh Vac)
533 Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An

Quan An Ngon 138
138 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Nghé, Hồ Chí Minh, Bến Nghé, Vietnam

Tel: +84 8 3852 7179

 

Stay tuned for the next blog in Cambodia:
Phnom Penh Day 1: Mekong Express Limousine Bus And Angkor International Hotel, Phnom Penh

Vietnam Day 6: Hoi An Central Market And Banh Mi Phuong

Previously:
Vietnam Day 5 (Part 3): Pretty Hoi An Ancient Town At Night

Breakfast at hotel was good, we then catched the hotel' shuttle bus to Ancient Town stopping in front of Bebe tailor shop and walked from there to Central market.  Not for shopping but mainly to digging into their local delicacies.  There are zone for cloths and fabric, there are also another zone for fresh produce and ready food. 

fried spring roll 40,000VND

This spring roll was very crackly delicious.  The skin was unlike any other spring roll.  This consisted of a few layers of thin flaky sheet that turned out to be very crispy.  With a combination of flavorsome filling and a good match sauce.

 

Ban xeo 30,000VND

The ban xeo from this seller was equally good as their spring roll.  The crispy batter, having it with crunchy fresh vegetables.  It was so delightful. 

After having a good walk at Central market, we came back to the Ancient Town.  While waiting for the shuttle bus to take us back to our hotel, we wandered around the colonial site.  We got some refreshing iced drinks in some random small cafe and also banh mi phuong, the famous banh mi shop that appeared in Anthony Bourdain's show (No Reservation).

Iced chocolate 35,000VND

With the help of paper city map on our hand, we found this banh mi shop.  However, what we saw is a closed store but with notice paper is sticked on the door.  Apparently the store has moved further down the road.  We were already here, so why not make a few more steps to tick our food bucket list. 

Then here we were.  The sign with Anthony's photo on it were standing in front of the shop, therefore we were sure that we were in the right place.  There were a few people queueing but it moved pretty quick as many people are serving.  In no time we got our appetising banh mi on our hand ready to be eaten. 

25,000VND exactly same with Anthony had

We just sat on the chairs outside the shop and unpatiently made the first bite.  We asked the one exactly the same with what Anthony had.  It was tasty with a real yummy pate and actually so many things were going on in there.  It was a good banh mi but not extra ordinary.  Maybe it is just too commercial.  

Banh Mi Phuong
Dc 2/28 Phan Chu Trinh - Hoi An
Tel: 0905 743 773


Stay tuned for the next blog still in Hoi An:

Vietnam Day 6 (part 2): White Rose Restaurant, Hoi An