A trip to Africa may come only once in a lifetime and there are way too many options for the African wildlife lover to choose from. No matter where you travel or how long you stay, you will probably just see a snippet of what this vast landscape has to offer. Here are three of Africa’s most popular destinations that offer us a fun filled week, with a wide and diverse array of activities.

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Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe/Zambia

Many people visit Victoria Falls for just a day, usually seeing the spectacular waterfalls and then moving on to their next location. This is a shame as the site itself is set in amongst 6 thousand acres of national park, offering the chance to explore plains, rivers and rainforests.

If you are planning your week long trip here, you will find an abundance of travel accommodation, from traditional African style hotels to fabulous lodges. A personal favourite that is guaranteed to get you up close to the African wildlife is Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. This decadent lodge is set around a water hole that is a popular choice with the local big game animals; during your stay here you are likely to come face to face with elephants, rhinos and many, many monkeys.

The lodge is well located close to the falls and the Zambezi River that runs through the middle of the national park. This is the perfect location for spending your days exploring all that the land has to offer, with organized trips leaving from the lodge, you will not miss out on a single thing in this land of wonder.

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Pyramids of Giza – Egypt

The majority of people who pick to holiday in Egypt, traditionally choose to stay in Sharm El Sheikh due to its popular beaches and organized travel to the Pyramids. But if you want to explore the Pyramids in as much details as possible then staying in Giza for a week is a much better option.

Giza’s Plateau is a collection of the most famous pyramids and monuments that Egypt has to offer. It includes the Sphinx and some of the most beautiful desert that Africa has to offer. A desert holiday may not be to everyone’s taste, but if you choose your accommodation wisely then you can be pleasantly surprised by the experience. The Amarante Giza offers its guest a peaceful and unique experience that many other hotels don’t offer. The hotel is centered around its own personal tropical swimming pool that is encased within exotic gardens, palm trees and waterfalls. Each of the 153 rooms overlook this beautiful, desert garden and the swimming pool makes up for not being near a beach.

If you have been around the pyramids in half of your week long trip, then Giza has many more sights to offer including the Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza Zoo and the Mohammed Mahmoud Khalil Palace. There is so much to explore that you will definitely be getting your money’s worth.

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Masai Mara – Kenya

The Masai Mara is possibly the most popular destination in Africa due to being at the heart of Safari Country. If you are traveling to Africa with the purpose of viewing the wildlife, then this is the place to come to.  There are many Safaris that you can take part in, but the Masai also offers activities for the adventurous and nature lovers alike. If you don’t want to tour a safari in a 4 wheeled drive, then you can take part in a walking safari – an organized one with a guide of course. This way you can get closer to some of the country’s most loved animals and be safe. Another fabulous day trip is the Mara River where you can witness the game animals drinking and Hippos enjoying a bath – it is peaceful, calm and thoroughly enjoyable.

It is always advisable to stay in a hotel that offers guided trips and pick up/ drop off points, as wandering in the African bush alone is not advisable. One of the best hotels for blending comfort and activities is Elephant Pepper Camp. This luxury lodge/camp is set in the middle of a Mara nature reserve, often frequented by elephants, native birds and deer, becoming the perfect spot for witnessing the local animals in their natural habitat. The complex offers comfortable rooms, a fabulous spa and organized safari trips across the Masai Mara – what more could you want?

Have you visited the continent of Africa? What places do you suggest?

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This post was supported by Accommodation.com

Whether you’re just learning to dive, or are a seasoned veteran, it’s imperative that you select the right destination, which is calm and has excellent visibility. With this in mind, here’s our list of the top diving destinations for 2013. 

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Egypt

Sharm el Sheikh, located at the Southern tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, is one of the world’s premier diving destinations, as well as one of its newest.

As little as two decades ago, the reefs of Sharm el Sheikh were inaccessible to all but the most committed underwater explorers, given the requirement to trek through the desert in order to get to the sea.

Nowadays, Sharm el Sheikh is proving to be one of the world’s most magnetic diving sites, attracting divers from around the globe. The four and five star resorts situated on the coastal line make the dive sites of Na’ama Bay, Ras Um Sid Cliff and Sharm El Maya easy to explore.

Packed with 250 different coral reefs and over 1,000 species of fish, including sharks, turtles, blue spotted stingrays, crocodile fish and lion fish, Sharm el sheikh is a true diver’s paradise. If you are feeling a little more adventurous, the Thistlegorm, voted one of the world’s top 10 dives, also provides a good start point for wreck diving.

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 Australia

The Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated off the coast of Queensland and stretches over 1,800 miles. It is home to one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world, as well as some of the most visually stunning underwater scenery.

One of the seven wonders of the natural world, the Great Barrier Reef is bursting at the proverbial seams with must-see sights for the diving aficionado. The Reef is home to the world’s largest collection of corals, rays, dolphins, over 1,500 species of tropical fish, in excess of 200 species of bird and around twenty types of reptile, including sea turtles and giant clams.

If the diversity of the marine life wasn’t enough to tempt you, perhaps the promise of seeing humpback whales migrating from the Antarctic to breed will be enough to convince you that the Great Barrier Reef is one of the must-see dive destinations in 2013. 

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Thailand

The waters of the Andaman Sea, off the coast of Phuket, Thailand, are some of the world’s most hospitable, especially suited to the first-time diver.

With water temperatures of around 28 degrees Celsius, a calm and peaceful sea and visibility in excess of 30 metres, the Andaman Sea makes a great dive location for divers of all levels.

Stunning reefs, quirky rock formations, shipwrecks, vibrant colours and a wide array of marine life, including whale and leopard sharks, await those willing to take the plunge in 2013.   

This post was supported by Co-operative Travel and GreatBarrierReef.org.

However you choose to view it, the Beijing Night Market has a little something for everyone to enjoy. Brightly lit stalls teem with red and gold-clad vendors screaming out a host of culinary options, including tantulas, scorpions, and starfish on a stick, to name only a few. I, personally, am not big into eating these types of foods, but I do enjoy photographing such places. Justin, however, was actually quite enthusiastic to try most of the more controversial, nausea-enducing options.

We’ve compiled some of our favorite photos from our visit to the Dong Hua Men Night Market in Beijing’s Wangfujing area. Enjoy!

Roasted baby chickens. Oh, how could I resist?

We befriended a group of very large Russians who insisted on sharing their vodka — and their silk worms! — with us.

A vendor dishes up some Jiao Zi, a Chinese pastry filled with meat and/or vegetables.

This guy was really insistent on getting me to try the pig stomach. I politely passed.

A delicious treat in China, sugar coated fruit on a stick. Strawberries, kiwis, pineapple, and more covered in melted sugar. Yum!

I love the expression on this guy’s face.

A crab-filled Jiao Zi.

Ok, so now for the really gross stuff …

Pig testicles, made to order. Yep.

Silk worms.

Multiple varieties of scorpion. Justin chose the smaller of the two options.

Deep-fried tarantula. Check out the video below to find out what Justin thought of this eight-legged treat!

And finally, star fish on a stick. Irresistible.

Want to watch Justin actually eat all of this stuff? Knock yourself out:

The Dong Hua Men Night Market in Beijing is one of the most unique and enjoyable experiences we’ve had so far during our time in China. Although some of the fare found here is not usually our idea of a good meal, we really enjoyed sampling new things. I’m not sure if this place exists more for the locals (do they really eat scorpion on a regular basis?) or for the tourists who will fork out loads of money to say they’ve tried something as exotic as tarantula. Either way, it’s a great place to visit whenever you’re in Beijing!

Have you visited the Beijing Night Market? What foods were you brave enough to try?

It’s also hard to believe that as I write this, I’m sitting in Bangkok, Thailand!

When we moved to China, we knew we would have quite a few opportunities to travel throughout Asia, but I don’t think we quite realized just how many! In the eight months we’ve been here, we’ve seen more of Asia than we ever thought we would, and frankly, than we ever wanted to! I don’t mean that to sound critical of Asia at all, but we just never really had much of a desire to see Asia, with the exception of visiting the temples of Angkor in Cambodia.

Now that we’re here, now that we’ve seen it, we’re so glad we did!

But we’re not the only ones experiencing more of Asia than we ever expected. Both of my parents are flying out this Spring to visit us while we’re living in Asia. My dad and I met up in Bangkok and spent two weeks traveling through Thailand, and my mom will travel to China later this month. This will be her first time ever to leave the United States! Isn’t that exciting?!

For those of you who have followed our adventures for quite awhile, you know that we post our real-time updates regularly on our Facebook page, while our blog content is always several months behind so that we can have time to edit our photos, do a bit of research, and devote sufficient time to telling the story of each place we travel.

But since I’ve promised to provide monthly updates to you about our life in China, I couldn’t resist giving you a sneak peak into some of my experiences while visiting with my dad in Thailand. Don’t worry, there will be much more to come down the road on Thailand, and there will be more to discuss on China in future months, but in the meantime, here’s a glimpse of Thailand!

Songkran Festival

Thailand’s New Year’s festival, celebrated April 13 – 15, is basically one big, country-wide water fight. Businesses close for the day as locals and tourists alike don water-resistant clothing and prepare to take up arms — squirt guns! Prepare to get wet!

The roofs of Bangkok

Although my dad has traveled more in his lifetime than most Americans ever do, he has not really been to a “developing” country. This was his first in-person exposure to buildings constructed using corrugated tin for their roofs or their walls. Although this is an aspect of the developing world that I fail to even notice anymore, it was very striking to him.

Wats, Wats, everywhere!

Wats, or Buddhist temples, are ubiquitous in Thailand, and their pointed golden chedis dominate the Bangkok skyline. While in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, we visited endless temples, admiring the architecture and observing the religious practices of Buddhism. My dad lives in a small mid-western community in the U.S., where there’s a Starbucks Coffee and a Christian church on every street corner, so to spend two weeks surrounded by the temple stupas and monks in flowing saffron robes was quite a change of scenery for him.

A boat ride on the Chao Praya River

While in Bangkok, we took an hour long ride on a Thai-style Long Tail boat along the Chao Praya River. As the boat meandered its way through the city’s canals, we marveled at the wooden stilt houses along the river. I was originally upset because I knew we had been ridiculously overcharged for the trip, but my dad, who had never witnessed such a lifestyle or seen poverty of that magnitude, felt the experience was priceless for the insight it provided him into life in another culture. It was at this time that I realized two things: 1.) I have become a complete cheap skate, and 2.) I have been traveling for so long and have seen so much that I am no longer as impressed, no longer as moved, by the sights and sounds of the places I visit. Both realizations make me quite sad, actually.

Ayutthya

One of the highlights of the trip for sure was our day trip to the former Thai capital of Ayutthya. Although I’ve seen endless temples and ruins across the world, these were actually quite different. They kept my interest and left me impressed. If I could do it again, I would spend several days exploring Ayutthya independently.

Bridge on the River Kwai

We took another day trip to the Kanabuchuri region, a few hours outside of Bangkok, where we visited the famous Bridge over the River Kwai.

Other aspects of Thailand that we enjoyed were the friendly people, the fun-loving children, and the delicious (but potent!) food.

Pad Thai anyone?

I can’t wait to share with you more photos, stories, and reflections from my two weeks in Thailand over the coming months. In the meantime, here’s how you can keep up-to-date with our latest adventures, including our upcoming visit to Jordan, where we’ll be volunteering with organizations aiding refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria.

Stay tuned over the coming weeks for:
– Continuing coverage of our recent trip to Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as Justin’s weekend hiking and camping along the Great Wall
– Updates on our upcoming trip to Jordan, where we’ll be volunteering in Syrian refugee camps (find out how you can help!)
– Details on Ellen’s upcoming return to Cambodia — this time to conduct community outreach and education for children who have been (or are at risk of) being trafficked into the sex industry

If you’re new to this website, catch up on some of our other updates from our time in China:
6 months in China and I’m not afraid to cross the street anymore (and other updates)
In Photos: The Nine Dragon Wall at the Forbidden City in Beijing
Why we’re struggling to settle in to expat life in China
10 places you absolutely must visit in China
In Photos: The Temple of Heaven in Beijing
Thoughts on celebrating Christmas in China
Celebrating 30 years of life on the Great Wall of China
18 lessons we’ve learned from living in China (so far!)
The time I got a medical exam in China and there was a hole in my pee cup
The day we moved to China
10 reasons we’re looking forward to living in China
We’re moving to China! (and other life changes)

You can also keep up with our adventures in real-time by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

For students the world over, the on-set of spring is the signal to start planning an adventurous getaway for their always too short summer vacation. And there is perhaps no better place for students seeking to escape than Europe. It has history, it has scenery, it has culture, and it has night life.

Europe is still a hotbed of cool new venues, fresh scenes and a full-blooded night life. The music is loud, the alcohol is plentiful and the party never stops. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea (or shot of vodka,) but for hedonists the world over, finding a new party destination is a constant thrill.

Here are five great places in Europe to enjoy the history and geography by day, while letting loose at night:

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Manchester, England

Head north to Lancashire’s premier party city, where they’re still mad for it and the city boasts a huge club scene. With bars, pubs and gig venues spread across this great city, revelers are spoilt for choice. Underground dance parties, punk gigs and everything in between keep the city’s revelers and the huge student population partying all year round. Do yourself a favor and get yourself up there. Book your digs at Expedia sooner rather than later—the party’s already started!

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Prague, Czech Republic

Cheap, grade-A quality beers, the best DJs from all over the world and a party that doesn’t end, Prague is quickly turning into the city for the party hound par excellence. As the best representation of the bourgeoning Eastern Europe club scene, Prague has only a few venues, but what it lacks in choice is more than made up for in quality. Head over to Industry where you can kill it on either the dance floor or the foosball table, whatever you prefer.

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Berlin, Germany

The rave mecca of Europe, Berlin’s transformation into one of the great metropolitan capitals in the world is complete. The Germans’ taste for techno and electro means the city is teeming with clubs and parties. Berghain, set in a monstrous behemoth of a former power station, is the ultimate Berlin techno club, playing house in the Panorama Bar and minimal techno in the vast main room- an experience no dance music fan should miss.

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Krakow, Poland

With an emerging party scene like no other, Krakow is the real ‘city that doesn’t sleep’. Parties go on well into the morning and are numerous. The city’s tiny size means bar-hopping – or the Krakow Crawl – is both easy and essential. Head down to the Market Square, which has the most drinking establishments per square foot in Europe, and experience all that this city has to offer.

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Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza is a stone-cold classic. No self-respecting party animal would miss this off their itinerary; it has beach parties by day, drinks in the evening and the best party you’ll ever have all through the night and into the next. The greatest DJs and the craziest entertainment in the world come together here to give you the ultimate party experience. After all these years, Ibiza is still king.

Share your recommendations for the best places to party in Europe below!

This post was supported by Expedia.co.uk.

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We decided to spend our second 24 hours in Phnom Penh just relaxing and exploring the sites and sounds of the city. Our day started out unassuming enough, with an expansive view of the colorful rooftops of Phnom Penh from the roof of the lovely River Palace Hotel, which overlooks the cityscape on one side, the Mekong River on the other. We were staying as guests, courtesy of AsiaRooms.com, and were really enjoying the views!

Phnom Penh Riverfront Park
The hotel conveniently provides its guests with a free tuk tuk ride into the main part of the city each day, so we had our driver drop us off along the Mekong River waterfront park, which runs for several miles along the river. We decided to take a lazy approach to the day, not rushing to get anywhere by a certain time, nor holding to any expectations of how much we would cram into the day’s activities. Instead, we enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the walkway, taking in the sites and sounds of Phnom Penh at play early in the morning. Children flew kites and played football, while parents kept a watchful eye on their kids.

Veal Preah Man
We then headed over toward the Royal Palace to find out what time the Silver Pagoda would be opening that day. It had been closed for quite awhile as the nation observed a period of mourning following the passing of King Norodom Sihanouk in October 2012.

After nosily strolling around the Palace gates, trying to catch a glimpse inside, we meandered over to Veal Preah Man, a public park lying just north of the Palace. Until the day before we arrived, the King’s remains had been on display here since his passing. His funeral was held just days before we arrived in Phnom Penh. When it’s not being used for funerary purposes, Veal Preah Man is a beautiful park showcasing Khmer architecture that is open to the public.

National Museum of Cambodia
Located diagonal to the Royal Palace and right behind Veal Preah Man is the National Museum of Cambodia and that’s where we were headed next. The museum is not very large and can easily be visited in less than two hours (probably even one hour if you’re a super-fast reader!). I highly recommend visiting the museum as a prelude to visiting the Temples at Angkor as it houses a large collection of Khmer sculptures and helps provide a good overview of both Hinduism and Buddhism as observed at the Angkor temples. For those who are less familiar with the teachings of the two religions, or who know little of ancient Khmer culture (which is probably most of us), it gives a bit of context for what you will encounter throughout the rest of your time in Cambodia.

The Silver Pagoda at the Royal Palace

Of all the sites in Phnom Penh (except for the genocide museums), we most wanted to see the Silver Pagoda at the Royal Palace. Fortunately for us, it re-opened on our first full day in the city. You can check out some gorgeous photos of it here! If you plan to visit the Silver Pagoda, be sure to dress appropriately. Tank tops are not allowd and pants should cover the knees. I made the mistake of wearing a tank top that day, but fortunately a friendly kid from Chicago lent me a spare t-shirt he was carrying around. The Pagoda is the place of worship for the royal family, so your dress and behavior inside the complex should be respectful. 

 Wat Phnom Park
Wat Phnom is one of the most beautiful settings in Phnom Penh. This Wat, or temple, is located atop the city’s only hill and is a beautiful place to visit and relax. The temple itself is not much to behold from the outside, but its interior is quite impressive. A visit to the temple and the park made for the perfect way to start winding down our day — and our time in Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh Night Market
On our way to dinner, we stopped briefly at the Phnom Penh Night Market, located along the river front, just north of the Royal Palace. The market is separated into two sections. The area closest to the river hosts dozens of tent vendors selling anything from cell phones to tacky t-shirts to Cambodian crafts. The other end of the market is the more lively side, where you will find a variety of delicious Khmer and Southeast Asian food options. Tourists and locals both frequent the market, so it’s a great way to interact with locals without venturing too far off the beaten path, if that’s not your thing. Carpets line the center of the market, so once you get your food, you can enjoy a picnic under the stars!

Take time to relax!
After two days exploring Phnom Penh (one of which was quite depressing!), we were ready to relax and enjoy Cambodia’s beer of choice: Angkor!

We then headed back to the lovely River Palace Hotel, where we enjoyed a relaxing evening in our beautiful room. The hotel offers a number of evening entertainment and relaxation options for guests, including a bar with live music, an exercise center, computer services, and a full-service spa. Although these may be luxuries that you don’t always indulge in while traveling, we highly recommend taking advantage of them while in Phnom Penh. The city can be loud, busy, and overwhelming. Combine that with a full day learning about the horrors of Cambodia’s recent genocide and you may find you could use the extra opportunity to relax. After all, it is your vacation!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Phnom Penh and we hope our coverage has inspired you to spend a few days there on your next visit to Cambodia. It provides a wonderful, yet sobering, overview of the country’s history and offers a different perspective on Cambodia than you will find at the touristy town of Siem Reap, the launching point for visiting the Temples at Angkor.

Have you visited Phnom Penh? What would you recommend for anyone planning a visit to the city?

Our stay in Phnom Penh was provided courtesy of the lovely folks at AsiaRooms.com. All opinions are our own.

One of its most popular attractions is the Silver Pagoda, which is certainly a welcome reprieve from the somber sites connected with the Khmer Rouge. The Silver Pagoda is located on the south side of the Royal Palace compound. Notable features of the pagoda include the silver tile floor for which the structure is named. Over 5,000 silver tiles, weighing over 1 kg each, span the length of the pagoda’s floor. Also worth seeing is the Emerald Buddha inside the Pagoda. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside the Pagoda itself, so we cannot show you these features. 

Without question, the Silver Pagoda was definitely one of the highlights of our time in Phnom Penh.

Here are some of our favorite photos from inside and outside the complex:

The front of Cambodia’s Royal Palace, just days after the King’s remains were laid to rest in February 2013.

A monk passes in front of the walls of the Royal Palace.

Elephants adorn the side gates of the Silver Pagoda complex.

Stupas surround the Silver Pagoda. 

Buddhas inside the Silver Pagoda complex.

View of the Silver Pagoda.

The beautiful red doors of the Silver Pagoda.

Visitors walk around the balcony of the Silver Pagoda. Although visitors are allowed inside the shrine, cameras are not.

Elaborate decorative elements on the doors of the Pagoda.

The courtyard of the Silver Pagoda boasts beautiful gardens, statues, and stupas.

Decorative elements on the side gates leading into the Silver Pagoda complex.

Murals adorn the walls enclosing the Silver Pagoda, separating it from the Royal Palace.

A side view of the Silver Pagoda provides a beautiful view of the pagoda’s ornate, Khmer style roof. 

Buddha found outside of the main Pagoda complex.

 Monkeys roam outside the Silver Pagoda complex. I liked this little guy’s expression.

Our time in Phnom Penh was supported by AsiaRooms.com. As always, all opinions are our own.

Although thirty years have passed since the brutal reign of the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia is still recovering and the evidence is all around. Dilapidated, grungy buildings hover over you from either side, while street children approach you from all directions imploring you to buy bracelets, post cards, and pirated travel guidebooks. At the same time, posh storefronts boasting internationally renowned brands and new construction sites are everywhere. It is an eerie marriage of both poverty and opportunity; past and future; stagnation and growth.

Horns honk. Exhaust pipes sputter. People chatter endlessly in a cacaphone of languages.

The best way to get a feel for the paradox of all that is Phnom Penh is from the seat of a Tuk Tuk, the preferred method of transportation in Cambodia. Sure, there are cars, there are buses, but if you’re looking for an authentic Southeast Asian experience, hitch a ride in a Tuk Tuk. A tuk tuk is an open-air taxi, essentially a carriage hooked up to the back of a motorbike. Travelers with heavy bags or multiple members in a group will find the tuk tuk to be the easiest way to navigate the city. For solo travelers with small backpacks, it’s easier to hitch a ride on the back of a motor bike. Both options abound on nearly every street corner, especially in areas frequented by tourists.

We found the Tuk Tuk to be an exciting way to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the streets and alleyways of Phnom Penh. But don’t take our word for it: Hop on in and experience the thrill for yourself!

Sit back, relax, and watch the streets of Phnom Penh pass you by!

We hope you enjoyed the ride!

Our stay in Phnom Penh was courtesy of AsiaRooms.com. All opinions expressed are our own.

The Killing Fields.

Oh, don’t worry. That’s not all we did. We also visited a genocide museum.

People often look at us like we’re crazy when we tell them what we do on our “vacations.” I suppose they’re reactions are not completely unjustified. After all, most people are probably just content to lounge on the beach for a week or, at most, exhaust themselves at Disney World. But our vacations have never been what our friends would consider normal. We tried sitting on the beach in Belize, but even that got boring. Instead, we prefer to spend our vacation time hiking the mountains of New England, volunteering in under-resourced communities, or learning about less than pleasant moments in world history.

So visiting places like the Killing Fields or the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) is not unusual for us. We feel a strong conviction that we have the responsibility to learn about some of the most tragic events in history; a responsibility not just to learn, but also to act. If we don’t witness the effects of violent conflict first hand, how we will ever learn to appreciate the relative peace we enjoy in America? How will we ever understand just how bad things could really get? How will our country ever know how to avoid the mistakes of the past if we don’t understand what happened and why?

We are separated from such tragedies by less than we like to think.

We must continue to learn from the mistakes of the past. We must remain painfully aware of just how depraved mankind can be. And we, as recipients of this knowledge and as witnesses to the long-term effects of such tragedies, must speak up against injustice wherever we see it happening in the world, both at home and abroad.

And that is why there was never really any question as to whether or not we would visit the sites telling the story Cambodia’s genocide and honoring the lives of its victims — even if we were on “vacation.” So as we concluded our time at S-21, we hopped in a tuk tuk and began the long, nearly half-hour dusty ride outside of Phnom Penh to visit the Killing Fields, where prisoners of the Khmer Rouge were taken to be executed.

Below, in photos, we tell their story:

Over 3 million people were killed during the 3 years, 8 months that the Khmer Rouge terrorized Cambodia. Although many people died of exhaustion or starvation while working in the fields, millions were outright executed. Above is the actual “killing field” where victims were executed. It looks rather unassuming, doesn’t it?

The Killing Fields contain dozens of mass graves, in which the remains of hundreds of victims have been recovered. The victims were thrown into these pits following their execution. Often, the victims appeared to have something in common, either in terms of their manner of death or their gender. One mass grave, for example, contained victims who were all naked; another contained only women and children; still another contained the headless remains of hundreds of victims.

Visitors offer prayer beads and other tokens in honor of the victims.

The bones of victims are still surfacing from the mass graves, even thirty years later. As you walk the paths surrounding the mass graves, it is not uncommon to walk over the bones of victims.

Below are a few of the mass graves:

Just as the bones of victims still appear along the paths surrounding the mass graves, so also do remnants of the victims’ clothing. Such sights are absolutely nausea-inducing.

You can’t help but wonder, To whom did this shirt belong?

A sign keeps visitors from walking across the mass grave.

An example of the condition of victims found in the mass graves.

A display case holds bones and clothing remains of victims.

A tree against which the Khmer Rouge beat young  children to death.

The memorial stupa erected to honor the memory of those who lost their lives to the Khmer Rouge.

The sign as you enter the memorial stupa. Please remove your shoes and remain silent as you enter the stupa. 

Inside the stupa, a 17-level shelf holds the skeletal remains of the victims that have been recovered from the mass graves.

The Killing Fields are a sobering reminder that although the Khmer Rouge genocide ended in 1979, the effects of its reign continue to plague the people of Cambodia today. Many people who lived through its horrors still remain, while others, born after the genocide have nonetheless inherited its scars.

I hope our coverage of the Khmer Rouge genocide has done more than just depress you; I hope it has provided you with some insight into Cambodia’s tragic, recent past to help better put into context the condition of the country today as we continue to post on our experience and observations from our time there. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the Khmer Rouge, I recommend the following book, which documents its horrors through the eyes of a young girl.

Nothing was really wrong, but my body was clearly dreading the day ahead. We rose early to prepare for a very somber day; a day which would be completely devoted to confronting Cambodia’s tragic past: the genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge from 1975 – 1979. If you missed my post on the history of the Khmer Rouge regime, you should read it first. 

We decided to devote an entire day to learning about the Cambodian genocide for two reasons: 1.) We felt it was extremely important — vital — to personally visit the historic sites associated with this crime to gain a better appreciation for what happened in Cambodia; to understand how it continues to impact the people today and to develop a deeper appreciation for the privileged lives we lead as Americans. It’s easy to forget how blessed you are if you’re not reminded of the struggles facing other countries and people groups around the world; 2.) We knew these activities would be extremely depressing, so we decided to sacrifice an entire day to this depression, rather than spreading out the depression in bits and pieces throughout the week. We recommend you do the same if you ever find yourself in Cambodia’s gritty capital, Phnom Penh.

Our first stop would be the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, otherwise known as S-21. We decided we would start where the victims started: a former high school campus turned torture chamber; a prison where victims were taken to be interrogated, intimidated, and tortured before later being taken to the Killing Fields, where they would meet a brutal death. As morbid as it sounds, we really wanted to walk in the footsteps of the victims as much as is possible. Little did we know that we would literally have that opportunity.

S-21 includes several three-story buildings, each of which serve a different purpose today. We headed first to the back of the campus to view a brief video introduction to the horrors that occurred there just over thirty years ago. We walked somberly and silently through the campus and climbed the stairs to the third floor of the last building. The video detailed the story of a married couple who were separated, enslaved, imprisoned, tortured, and eventually killed during the Khmer Rouge. The story was recounted by the man’s mother, whose emotional narrative revealed the trauma and pain she still experiences from their loss.

After the video, we returned to the entrance of the museum and began our self-guided tour with the first building. This building showcases the rooms that were used to interrogate and torture victims until they gave in and wrote “confessions.” These interrogations were meant to break people down until they would give up names and locations of friends and family members. They were then forced to write these confessions, documenting everything their captors told them to write. Despite their “confessions,” prisoners were taken away to be killed anyway.

 The rooms have been left mostly untouched since they were used by the Khmer Rouge. The torture rooms continue for all three floors of this building. Many contain metal bed frames and weapons of torture used by the Khmer Rouge to break down prisoners.

 More weapons of torture used by the Khmer Rouge. 

Some of the rooms are totally vacant, which is somehow even more haunting. Because so many of the rooms look the same or have nothing in them, many visitors just walk by and peek in the door. We went into every room, spending time looking at details on the floors and walls. We also silently prayed for healing and restoration for the people of Cambodia as we stood in the stark, empty rooms.

The putrid yellow walls have not been repainted.

We said we wanted to walk in the footsteps of the victims, and we were later presented with a gruesome opportunity to do so. As I mentioned, we paid close attention to details on the floors and walls in each of the rooms (thanks to a tip from fellow traveler Breakaway Backpacker!) and what we would find on the floor of one of the empty rooms was nothing short of bone-chilling. 

 The bloody footprints of victims covered the floor. We stood there in silence and prayer as we came to terms with the reality of what we we seeing: people — real people just like us — had been tortured and beaten on the very tiles on which we now stood. They had suffered unbelievable pain and trauma here, something which we will likely never have to endure. So many questions run through your mind when you see something like this … but perhaps the most simple, but poignant, question was the one for which I most wanted an answer: What were their names? 

We stood there for ten minutes or so, just reflecting, photographing, and praying. Dozens of visitors passed by while we were in there and not one of them stopped to notice the footprints. Watching people pass without noticing these footprints of real people broke my heart and frustrated me at the same time. A European tourist with a fancy camera poked his head in the door. I couldn’t stand to watch one more person pass, so I motioned him in and pointed to the floor. As he realized what he was seeing, he looked up at me in horror, but then nodded in gratitude that I had pointed it out as he, like so many others, would have overlooked this sobering reminder of the victims tortured in that very room. He, like me, then took to photographing each footprint.

 Although the museum remains fairly authentic in its preservation of the facility, Building “C” is the one building that has been left almost entirely untouched. The sign pictured below explains the layout of the building and explains the reasoning behind the use of barbed wire on the balconies.

One of the brick cells of Building C. A chain remains, to which the prisoner would have been tied, as a pool of dried blood lies next to it. 

The view through the window of one of the wooden cells.

 The view from the upper-level of Building C. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to have been on this side of the barbed wire during the time of the Khmer Rouge. I stand here as a tourist. They stood here as torture victims.

What a privileged life I lead.

After more than three hours spent making our way through each of the buildings and checking out some of the exhibits dedicated to the victims, we were an emotional mess. We stopped to re-fuel with a soda when we noticed a book display and an older gentleman asleep under a tree. As we approached the table, a woman roused the man and he came to greet us, introducing himself in Khmer while we spoke to him in English. We learned that he is one of only a few people to survive being confined at S-21. He survived only because of his skills as a typist, which the Khmer Rouge were in need of.

We thanked him for his time and purchased a copy of the book, which he proudly autographed for us. It was so humbling to meet someone who had endured the horrors of the Khmer Rouge. We tried to swallow the lumps in our throats as we turned to leave, in search of a tuk tuk to take us to our next stop along the Khmer Rouge trail: the Killing Fields of Phnom Penh.

Recommended Reading:
I have been reading this book written by a woman who, as a child, survived the brutal regime of the Khmer Rouge. I highly recommend it as a way to learn more about the impact the genocide had on families throughout Cambodia.

 Check back later this week for the conclusion of our series on the Khmer Rouge: Confronting Cambodia’s Tragic Past, Part 3: The Killing Fields.

Our stay in Phnom Penh was provided courtesy of AsiaRooms.com. All opinions are our own.