Phnom Penh

Finally in Cambodia!

Since I extended my visa for Vietnam for a few days, there were some complications, but I finally made it across the border without any major issues and took a boat upstream to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

Unfortunately, Cambodia is plagued by a lot of poverty, and on the second day, I encountered a young Frenchman who had just had everything important to him (money, credit card, phone, passport) stolen. However, it must be said that it's really foolish to have all your belongings in one bag and then walk around at night where it's dark and there are no people (in this case, at the port). No, I'm not that silly. I carefully distribute my belongings, have my reserves and secret hiding places, use my intelligence, which my parents have taught me so valuably, and stay safe on my journeys. Thank you both, Mom and Dad. In the end, what you have taught me is what I have become today.

So, warned about human dangers, I started full speed ahead in Cambodia.

The temples of the former kings here are stunning! All finely decorated and pompously designed. I was blown away.

Unfortunately, what still lingers here is the rampage of the Khmer Rouge.

Yes, and it's even much more severe than the war in Vietnam and borders on the Holocaust in Germany. The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, slaughtered 3 million out of 8 million inhabitants in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. Almost half! Their own people! Note that these people were also from Cambodia. Entire families were brought to camps for execution. And why? Simply because they were educated. Teachers, doctors, scientists, journalists, and their entire families were killed.

I thought Vietnam was crazy enough, but now I'm completely losing faith in humanity. It takes a country almost 4 years and kills half its population to put a stop to something so stupid. My father will now throw his hands up in despair and not believe it, if he didn't already know. Yes, we humans are that foolish. And gradually, nothing can shock me anymore. They're crazy, these Asians.

Anyway, the killing fields and prisons were really tough to see, but even there: It's part of it.

And now it's getting even better: A week's vacation on Koh Rong Samloem! Beautiful island and sandy beach. Bahamamama Chickas!