For the love of Phnom Penh...

Hello Cambodia! Dad and I have had a full week starting with a 13-hour flight to Seoul followed by a 6-hour flight to Phnom Penh. We were exhausted but found the energy to visit the beautiful sites of the city. We started out with a “tuk tuk” tour with our newfound Cambodian friend/tour guide. The first stop was the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh. It has not been occupied sense the reign of Khmer Rouge.

Our fun out look from the back of the #1 way to get around in Cambodia, a "tuk-tuk". 

We headed off to our second stop, Wat Phnom. Wat Phnom is a buddhist temple that is known for being the tallest religious structure in the city. We found many friends along the roofs and in cages waiting for the next tourist to pay for there freedom. 

We finished our day by visiting the National Museum, which contained many priceless statues of Hindu gods, ancient tablets with Sanskrit and old Khmer, and artifacts from prehistoric burial sites. 

Our second day was packed full with orientation, a tour of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a visit to the crazy Russian market and a needed massage to ease my aching feet! 

This was the view from our orientation in Phnom Penh. *Fun Fact* Cambodians don't use toilet paper and use a hose that is called the "bum water". 

The Tuol Sleng was one of the 150 execution centers in the country. It was formally a school that they turned into a prison for 20,000 Cambodians. Only seven were documented to survive out of the 20,000.  This weighed heavy on all of the volunteers and helped bring perspective to just how recent this country was in turmoil. 

Until we meet again, Phnom Penh was an amazing beginning to our adventure in Cambodia. Cannot wait for what is to come.