Phnom Penh: Shadows of the Past

Phnom Penh hums with life, but beneath its energy lies a quiet, painful history. At Tuol Sleng (S-21), a former school turned Khmer Rouge prison, the silence is heavy. Stark rooms lined with photographs remind visitors that this was a place of suffering—where thousands were detained, tortured, and disappeared.

Outside the city, the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek are haunting in their stillness. A stupa filled with skulls stands as a stark memorial, surrounded by grassy mounds that conceal mass graves.

These sites are hard to visit—but necessary. They offer a sobering reminder of Cambodia’s darkest chapter and honour those lost.

Yet Phnom Penh is not frozen in the past. Today, it pulses with resilience—sunset cruises on the Mekong, buzzing night markets, and the warmth of a people who carry history with grace and strength.

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Post by PascalLC | Aug 7, 2025