The Not So Distant Past...

Nearly 2 million people were killed during the reign of the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970's.  More Cambodians have since been killed or injured as a result of landmines planted at that time.  After touring the floating village we had a chance to visit a Landmine Museum and a Genocide Memorial in Siem Reap.  I don't remember learning much in school about what happened.  Even in my Asian Studies class at USU it was just briefly touched on.  I am glad I had the opportunity to come to a better understanding by touring these museums and reading the book, "First They Killed My Father" by Loung Ung.

"Most people here lost a family member in the genocide, and everywhere you look there is a story." -Youk Chhang

At the Landmine museum there were piles of detonated grenades, landmines, and explosives.  Paintings and artwork by children who were affected by landmines covered the walls.  A recreated field showed just how easy it was to run across a buried mine and how many different types of explosives there could be in an area. 

The Genocide Memorial was housed between a Buddist temple and a monastery where some Monks lived in town.  A simple glass house contained the skulls and bones of some of the murdered.  There was also a list of villages and towns with an estimate of the number of people killed there.

The Buddist temple was beautiful and full of some really bright colors.  A blind lady greeted us at the door and handed us some incense to give in prayer to Buddah.