What A World We Live In.

Now in Phonm Phen, we arrived this afternoon from Kampot. Yesertday we did a tour up to a place called Bokor Hill, it is part of a nature reserve in southern Cambodia. The drive up the peak (1080 metres high) wasn't so bad on the way up, because we were inside the pick-up cab. We drove up a steep road that was little more than a dry river bed, for 40Km or so. It was hard going, but worth it.

We arrived at what had been an area that the former King had lived in, and saw his house and house for his concubines. This dated from circa 1900-ish. We then trekked for 2 hours to a ghost town on top of the hill. The French had it built around the same time. Everything was till there, the post office, church, hotel, police station and the huge casino that overlooked everything eles. The casino also overlooked the hug visa that stretched for miles in front. We were level with the coulds and could see the coastline go off in the distance for miles and miles.

The casino has a special distinction. It was used by the Khmer Rouge for torture and murder during their nightmare reign. People were kept in the basement and either killed or worked to death.

After seeing this strange and at times errie place we headed back down the hill, to have a tranquil sail on a fishing boat back to Kampot. The ride down was anything but tranquil, as we had to sit in the back of the pick-up this time. Being bounced all over, lifting six or more inces off the floor sat on a small bench in the back of a pick-up, is not my idea of fun. I did however start to laugh at the madness of it all, and also got to see aspects of the jungle close-up, rather than through the window of a pick-up cab.

Overall we all had a good time. One thing that killed our time in Kampot was the child sex trade that goes on under your nose. Sickos! I want to say more, but will not subject the readers of this blog to a torrent of four letter words. Just to say, that to see these perverts and to know what they are doing or at least arranging, in full view of everyone is beyond belief.

Anyway to cheer ourselves up we are doing the death tour tomorrow. The torture chamber in Phonm Phen and the famous Killing Fields.

I'll let you know what I think of that another time.