Cambodia/Kampuchea/Kemboja.
Gained independence in 1953, once a kingdom and turned to republic in 1970. In 1975 - 1979 the communist influenced Khmer Rouge took possession and later carrying the Cambodian genocide known as "The Killing Field". In this reign of terror, over a million of innocent civilians including children, women and old men were savagely tortured and murdered in most inhumane ways!
At present People Republic Cambodia is developing moderately, attracts foreign investors especially from China. Apart from that tourism is blooming due to numerous attractions particularly its culture, ancient and historical sites, some had been declared as the World Heritage by the United Nation.
The map of Cambodia
I spent my holidays in Cambodia on the 5th until 9th October 2018. This brief holiday and limited time only took me around Phnom Penh, its capital city
and the surrounding areas and places.
and the surrounding areas and places.
1. One of the genocide sites
House of skulls, skeletons and bones of the murdered
The genocide sites and mass graveyards
mass graveyards
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| Torturing equipment |
2. By the River of Mekong, where we sat and sailed.
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| Phnom Penh by the Mekong |
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| Mekong River |
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| Phnom Penh by dusk |
3. At the Muslim settlements.
The Muslims are minority and only 2% of the total population, the Chams, one of the Malay ethnics. They live in a small group, isolated and deprived from development and earn their living as fishermen. Mekong River provides abundant of marine life.
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| The riverine settlement |
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| Fishing gears for sale |
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| The tasty ikan bakar |
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| A Cham boy |
At the Tahfiz and religious school sponsored by the Malaysians donors.
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| The mudir or school head, Kamaruddin in white kurta |
The surplus from the Mekong
4. The Boat People and Settlement
The landless, mostly the Chams dwell in boats and stilt huts earn a hard living, live in peril and extreme poverty. They harbour the river sides just outskirt of Phnom Penh. The building materials are donated by the Malaysian donors
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| The boat settlement and the city of Phnom Penh in the fore ground |
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| Surau or praying place |
5. Something to know.
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| One of the halal restaurants in Phnom Penh |
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| The USD 3 million mosque sponsored by Saudi Arabia |
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| Exotic |
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| Sausage, glutinous rice stuffed in cattle intestine |
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| A tahfiz student reciting Al Quran |
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| Abundant in the market and road sides |
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| Catfish heads expose in the sun |
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| Graceful dancers demonstrating a cultural dance almost similar to manora and mak yong |
Well, you are welcome to Cambodia to explore hidden knowledge, to seek and sharing experience about this developing country. Cambodians are nice and kind people and welcome you with hospitality.
