Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, has witnessed as much violence as the concentration camps in Auschwitz, Poland and Dachau, Germany. During the Pol Pot regime that ruled from 1975 to 1979, unspeakable horrors were perpetrated in this Cambodian city that resulted in around 2.5 million victims, most of whom were buried in mass graves. Genocide in Cambodia occurred in a rather crass manner and though it could be argued that genocide itself is rather crass inherently, the Pol Pot regime sought to kill babies and infants by smashing them into a tree, known as the Chankiri Tree i.e. Killing Tree, while others were killed by being beaten. Some were tortured immensely prior to being killed and some died during torture as well.
With such a horrifying history as a backdrop, visiting the city of Phnom Penh is a sobering experience. While many opt to reside in luxury hotels Siem Reap when exploring the city, it appears to some as making little sense for an inherent aspect of travel is being able to understand and immerse oneself in the socio-cultural context of the city. When viewed from a practical standpoint, however, making reservations at luxury accommodation such as Anantara Angkor Resort & Spa will make many people appreciate their good fortune after witnessing the horrors that have been catalogued at attractions such as the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.
The vast history of Phnom Penh also acts as a buffer, to remind travellers to disassociate themselves from the horrors perpetrated by Pol Pot and appreciate Cambodian culture. A wonderful embodiment of this culture is seen in the Silver Pagoda which can be found on the side of the Royal Palace. The Pagoda and surrounding temple is home to a number of Buddhist statues and is used for many royal ceremonies indicating its national and religious importance in modern Cambodia. The Silver Pagoda is an architectural marvel and the serenity that exists effortlessly within its grounds provides a wonderful contrast to the bloody history of Cambodia.
Intrigued by history, art and food, Shazzana Hamid is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary. Disguised as Lavinia Woolf she writes of the exhilarating and enchanting.