Phnom Penh

Bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh was fine although I couldn't get comfortable. The highlight of our trip was a nice restaurant that quickly became a "no" because everyone there was eating rice and crickets. Students were further put off when the bus attendant stopped to buy grilled spider for everyone to try. Nope, I passed. You only eat the legs by the way.

A van was waiting for us at the bus station which was merciful. The bus station is unbelievable. Tuk tuk drivers literally try to grab your luggage, they certainly enjoyed trying to grab the girls. The girls handled themselves quite well.

Phnom Penh (PP) is an interesting study in contrasts and it's because of the Khmer Rouge. The city was evacuated in 1974 and was not repopulated until 1979. I thought I saw one building that was over three stories and it is under construction. The streets have that Asian smell which wears on me as much as I like it here. It's the smell of auto, tuk tuk, and bus fumes mixed with garbage, feces, urine, and spices from outdoor cooking.

The government can't seem to get anything done with water, sewage, and garbage control. So many people spend so much time on the streets and the stuff piles up.

You may wonder why I brought the students here. The answer is that they need to see how people in Southeast Asia in the 21st century and how a despot can destroy everything.

I really love the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. My experience here reminds me that those documents are some of the most profound ever written by the hand of man. Our freedom, our dignity, and our rights as humans are protected. Not so under Pol Pot who finally died in 1989.

I took the students to both the Killing Fields and S-21 memorials. There was a lot of chatter among the group until we got inside the Killing Fields to find Pagoda filled with skulls. It is estimated that 17,000 people were executed and buried at the Killing Fields. The property is littered with depressions that served as their mass graves. Signs indicate how many people were buried in them. Loud speakers and chemicals were used to cover the sound of peoply dying and the subsequent stench. There was no more talking.

S-21 is a former high school in downtown PP where Cambodians were interrogated and tortured. Some rooms have what was found in them, minus the bodies. Other rooms were filled with pictures of victims; men, women, and children. There were hundreds of manicles.

Half-way through S21 I had experienced about all I could handle. I felt strongly that the students needed to see this, me too. Yep, I'm a fan of the Constitution and Bill of rights. I may start humming that old Lee Greenwood song, "I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free." Thank God.

Overall, I like PP and our place where we stay is excellent. This is a vibrant and alive place where the streets are crowded and people are trying to get on with their lives and find some success. I wish we could help them a bit more than we do.

Travelling here is tough and it wears on you. It's showing on the students. The heat, smell, different food, and moving around a lot takes it's toll. K. Decker and Neely Edwards had a rough day. But I think everyone has had times when it's been rough on them. I will say they've done a good job remaining happy and optimistic.

I think there are some changed people with me. Tonel Sap Lake really got to some of the students (Siem Reap area). The level of poverty unnerved them and they didn't like looking at it. I think they would all tell you that they've had a good time and learned much. I thought our girl Krissy Yapaolo expressed everyone's sentiments, they are glad the came, had a good learning experience, but it may be a while before they come back. However, I think Mike has gotten the bug and Declan has really really enjoyed himself. It's a lot to take in for everybody.

Next we travel by bus to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), then on to Bangkok, and then home a week from now. Everyone has remarked about how fast time goes.